Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-02
COMMUNICATED ]

Editors Memphis Appeal;
Gents. I have been very much inter-
ested in reading the chaste, and well
COTTON up articles Of some Of u physi-
clans. The communications exhibit q
thorough knowledge of the profession
mature thought and large research IN
medical lore, and calculated to do a large
amount of good. 1t has also been a
source OF intense pleasure to me, in my
intercourse with the people, to listen TO
the comments Of approval, without Gym
zeal criticisms, thereby exhibiting their
good sense in a proper a~ppreciatidn Of the
efforts on the part Of the profession 10
protect and inform the public.
That yellow fever is, n has been
upon US for q time, cannot now be a
matter Of doubt in the mind Of any intel
Iigept physician with US, and, while they
differ among themselves with regard to
disease. It is no evidence OF the superior
ity Of one who is well informed over an.
other who is equally informed, but sim
ply the result OF the fact that nature has
so organized the brain, that we arrive az
conclusions, from 8 different standpoint.
Is it 80 wonderful that doctors differ
In their opiuions with regard TO diseases
that are obscure, and cannot be SEEM
handled or touched, when the world al
large differ about objects which can be
both seen and handled2 All the differ
n that has existed in the profession
DC to q short tins past, has been The result
Of this fact, that many OF u profession,
SO well as the public, have formed their
Opinions from writers upon the subject
OF yellow fever. and rot from direction
tsct with the disease itself, as 1t exists 10
ia native country, at the same time
being unwilling TO believe that 30 terri
bic a calamity was upon US.
It is peculiarly q disease ofthe extreme
Southern climate, and like plants or
fruits, It changes its characteristics IN
many respects by being tTanspianted to
a boFeiga clime, and as 3 consequence,
must be treated accordingly. Had l tbe
lime, or the dispositionl 20 trouble you, l
would pursue these reflections upon this
subject, but my object now is TO call at
tenuOn to the facts which are before us,
/ aud provide Tor the future until the time
OF safety arrives.
IL is q fact which has long been estab-
lIshed by statistics, which can be pro-
duced. that the autumnal diseases In the
valley Of the Mississippi are much more
fatal than those diseases Of any other
( season or period OF the year, and that
from the first few days in September to
the middle OF November, or the first Of
December, the mortality has been
greater by from fifty to o hundred per
cent. Such being the fact, let not the
old theory that " the first frost will des-
troe the disease T" ecure you. Such Is
I truly thecsse 10 New Orleans, the coast,
and other extreme Southern places, but
/ here il cannot DC seriously effected IN
til we have continued cold weather, as
yellow fever has been thoroughly ANAL
/ gamated with our native diseases, and as
4 such cannot be thoroughly ersdicated by
[ the effect Of one or two frosts. At this
season, let the physician when be enters
! the sick room, turn his back upon the
outer world, and forget that there
il another case OF sickness than the one
before him, and treat 1t accordingly,
bearing In mind only the fact that the
/ elements Of yellow fever are still here,
and with Il the disease before him will
not bear the same activity OF treatment
| that it would under other circumstances,
while a. the same time the patient may
be lost from apprehension on the psri
OF the physician, which deters him from
attacking the disease vigorously. The
same amAlgamsti0n of diseases existed
during the epidemic which occurred 10
1855, at Norfolk, and many of the lead.
ing practitioners OF other places have
been sorely puzzled at times, during tbs
existence Of this disease, TO determine
and distinguish the native disease, SC
thoroughly has It been impressed with
the shadow Of yellow fever.
The writer of this bss seen the diseasl
from its native place ia the Iudies, 10 the