Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-02
LECTURE ON YELLOW rEvER.
Its History, Character and Treatment

Stone Is q native Of Massachusetts, Tor
New Hampshire p and graduate Of
Berkshire Medical college, but since 1888
he has resided in New Orleans, and has
for many years been regarded as the
leading surgeon of the south. He now
holds the position Of professor of surgery
in the Medical college at New Orleans,
connected with the University Of Louis
lana.
/ DR.. Stone was introduced by Professor
Austin Fluit. and after a graceful ac-
acknowledgement Of the kind reception he
had met 10 this city, which he had not
visited for seven years previously, he
took Up the subject Of yellow fever, In
which be said there were many points
open for discussion. 1t was q disease Pc
culiar TO warm latitudes, but its limits
could not be defined by any exact tenn
perature or climatic conditions, for eX-
ceptions would frequently occur to falsify
any such restriction. Nothing more
definite could be said than that it was a
disease incident 80 warm climates, and
induced by a peculiar poison totally in
tangible and disconnected from any
known causes of disease. There was no
combination of filth, no combination Of
circumstances calculated to deteriOrate
health and excite typhoid or typhus fe-
|
generation of yellow fever. This re-
markable fact was not generally known.
| Some federal officers had taken credit to
themselves for keeping yellow fever out
Of New Orleans during their occupation
I OF that CITY; but it was notorious fact
that the city was not cleaner then, in the
suburbs and low regions, than IL had
often been before. The weather hap
pened TO he cooler, and there was less
rain but there was no material differ
ence in any other respect. They had had
six years Of exemption previously, when
there was no quarantine whatever.
Yellow fever fixed upon high and healthy
localities, and proved as virulent there
a. in the low regions. The magnolia
ridges, back of New Orleans, was one Of
the healthiest regions in the world, yet
the yellow fever proved quite as destTuc-
tive there as in less favored regions. In
I deed, the disease was always more viO-
/ lent in the country, when it once pre-
vailed there, than in cities.
I In regard to the etiOlogy or causes of
4 yellow fever there had been much dis
pute. II had been a question whether it
was imported or of local origin. 1t GER
tainly was not imported in ships. The
epidemic influence was waited through
I the atmosphere in waves or cycles, and
/ always made gradual and regular ap-
proaches: so that in New Orleans they
knew when it was coming by its preva-
/ leDce IN the islands in the Gulf In the
year 1851 it began in Brazil, and after
! passing over the northern part of South
/ America and the West India islands it
! reached New Orleans in 1858. In 1855 it
/ had Travelled as far as Memphis, and was
! severe 10 many Of the interior towns.
/ It's history in New Orleans the present
l year was remarkable. 1t frat appeared
/ in a mild form, and In several places at
! once, in June, and though the weather
was favorable 10 its spread, it did not in-
! crease in intensity, and only about nine
/ cases Occurred per week. These cases
[ evidently originated in the city. But
! later in the season q fresh wave sp-
preached from the direction of Mexico,
/ appearing in q violent form in Indian
I ola, Galveston aud New Iberia, and
/ lastly in New Orleans, where it appeared
/ in a severe form, and in increasing ratio,
l though the weather was Of the kind con-
sidered unfavorsble TO its propagation.
This was the general history of the dis
ease. It fiXeG upon place and ran its
course, increasing in a definite ratio, de-
clininR In the same way, and finally dis
appearing, but for the time being affect
ing all who were exposed to its influence.
It was true, however, that debility and
other reasons rendered some persons
mU IN more susceptible than others to the
/ peculiar poison but this was the case
with all diseases.
The question Of its cOntagiOusness was
I o. great Importance, and which ought to
/ be settled, both for the interests Of sUf-
/ ferers from the disease, and as 2 guidance
/ in the matter Of quarantine. II am
perfectly convinced" 4" said the. doctor,
/ beyond all doubt or hesitation, that
personally il Is not contagious; | k7lOJD
that IL is nOt.n If the disease were con-
/ tagioUs once it would always be so, for it
was the same disease in all places. It
was a specific disease, and the same per-
son bad it but once; acclimation was
/ perpetual, but it was very hard to con-
| vince the human understanding where.
/ There were exceptions to these rules, as
/ there were to those governing small pox.
! He had observed, honestly at least, If not
/ closely, and the result of his observations
! bad led him 70 believe yellow fever nom
/ contagious. In 1888 he arrived in New
/ Or leans, and went into the Charity hos
nitst on duty. The hospital became full,
I and as there was great scarcity OF help
| If became filthy. The passages were
often filed with bed sacks covered with
/ excrement and black vOmit, so that
Esort OF typhoid fever was generated; yet
! the persons employed there escaped yel-
! low fever, and he did not have il HIM
7 salf until late in the season, after these
conditions had been remedied. In 1858
] he had an infirmary in which three hun
/ drpd cases Of yellow fever, treated by ten
/ or twelve Sisters of Charity, all Of whom
were unacclinated, yet they were the
ve " last TO get the disease, because the
attn Cospheric influence did not prevail
WIZ ve the hospital was situated. In
1877 IN 1853, and 1854, and in 1853, the
exneri. suce bad been substantially the
same IN 1853 some forty cases Of yellow
fever we re o. ,'sced in the Charity hospi'
faI anon q u '1mber OF other pslenJs'
who were unacol. mated, and though a
large mum Der of the Jorty uieu, LOT
solitary new case Occur yea III me ~ Iouse' use
Cases were constantly OF SuI mug vi PeI-
sons who " ent into infec ca GistIte :,
took the disc ase, were taken 10 VninIeoteu ne 'l
regions. trea ted and nursed, Al yeI ~
one took the disease from them. n 100
and 1857 yell.ow fever Of q severe C. "sr-
acter prevailed in New Orleans, but " y
strictly confined to six squares. No in
tercourse with vessels had taken place,
and it was evident the disease had oTigi-
mated there. Ia the country the doctor
had made diligent inquiries, and with
the same result. 1t did not spread from
person to person. 1t was quite possible
that a quantity Of the poisoned atmCs-
phere might be conveyed in the hold of
a ship TO distant piaces, and that persons
breathing that atmosphere might have
the disease, but they could not impart it
to others. Just how much air would
suffice to render the fever portable, it
was impossible to ascertain.
The disease itself varied in the mode
of attack. The most favorable cases
were those where it was ushered in at
once with the prominent symptoms,
which consisted OF a rigor followed i'm
mediately with pains in the limbs, back
and head, with heat Of the skin and fe-
yer. But many OF the cases were insid-
ious, and the patient continued Up and
about, complaining of pain in the limbs
and g chilly feeling. The d isease was
progressing all this time, and the physS
clan was not likely 10 see the patient
until it was too late to do anything. 1t
was for this reason that more violent at
tscks were really more favorable to ulti-
mate recovery than the mifder cases.
The mild cases were Just as sure to kill
as any other, If they were neglected
Almost all cases would prove fatal unless
the patient was properly managed and
kept quiet. In the well marked cases
there was rigor, pains in the head, back,
and limbs, and sometimes a peculiar
capillary engagement, particularly in
the eye. II the patient is placed in bed
at once, with little assistance he breaks
into q sweat, as in common Intermittent
fever. This gives some relief, but not
much. The pains continue; but II the
case Is favorable, it will go on until the
sweating and heat sUbside together at
the end Of three days. The patient
must be kept perfectly quiet, and If he is |
then nourished be will have no return of |
the suffering. He must not even be al |
lowed to raised his head. II be gets I'D |
a faintness comes over him, and the |
whole process Is often renewed, with the |
addition Of nausea and loathing Of food. |
In this case he almost certainly /
dies This IS the history Of IA !
vorable cases. Purgatives are not essen !
tial, and may do much harm. A mild I
dose Of oil may be given if there is any !
thing in the stomach likely to ferment |
and prove irritating. Asimple injection |