Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-10-02
A SPECIFIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

EDITORS APPEAL-The question is
constantly asked, is this yellow-fever?
To which some physicians reply yes,
and some no-designating it as malarial
fever. It should be remembered that
the types of all diseases change. Pre-
vious to the yellOw-fever epidemic Of
1853, il was of an infiaTnatOry or
sthenic type, and the practice was to
bleed largely, and the results justified
the practice. When the fever
appeared in New Orleans in 1858, the
old practice OF bleeding was commenced,
but the resulting fatality at once indi-
Gated the error Of the practice; the fever
was of Oongestive, or asthenic form,
entirely different from that of proceed
ing years. Creoles who had always con-
sidered themselves exempt from attacks
of yellOw-fever, were stricken down,
unlike other ePidemics, that spread to
inland districts. Therefore, that this
fever differs In some characteristics from
those Of foTmeryeal is nQthipg strange.
Malarial diseases have Of late years as
suned a very malignant form, and 1t is
reasonable to suppose that all diseases
will be Impressed to a greater or less
extent with a maiarsl character. We
might term this present q Iaalarisl yell
lOw-fever. But the distinctive eharac-
teristic of yellow-fever is, that it is
q specIfie, infectious disease. In New
Orleans eVan, where yellow-fever is an
endemic disease, Shen the first cases oc-
cur, there is always q difference Of
opinion among physicians as to whether
Il Is yellow or bilious-lever; the question
being decided by the fact that it is, or is
not infectious. There are no other
positiye and constant diagnGstic points.
consequently, / think there are no
grounds for a difference of opinion in
regard TO the epidemic. l see that many
peTsoDs give themselves much concern
about the filthy condition OF the city,
under the impression that the disease
was generated from filth. Cleanliness
Il At ali times desirable, but those per-
sons unay be assured that it has been
abundaltly pSOyen in New Orleans,
and elsewhere, thst tltisy localities are
not the chosen abOdes of yelloY-fever; I;
filth never created yellow-iever. In re-
gard to sanitary measures the burning
Of ter seems TO be a favorite, but very
little chemical knowledge is required TO
show that, admitting that tar does
possess valuable disinfectant qualities
a mere conference.-the act Of burning
efectually destroys them; the cloud of
smoke seing composed of inert particles
of carbon. The burning Of large guam
titles of wood has been suggested, Ger
tainlV no measures should be neglected
which affof 2 reasonable hope Of PROV
ing beneficial; but mg opinion is, that
Z if The money which the wool VIII cost
be expended in disinlectants, far more
/ good will be accomplished. ! should
advise that every foot Of ground In the
infected district be sprinkled two OF
three times day with the disinfect-
ants which may be selected; that every
room in every house be also disiDfected,
and if possible to put it into practice, to
/ psasi. h the removal from the district,
- any package containing drygoods
witbou, Ssing disinfected. The Intrinsic
principle of yelIow-fever IS an crga-
nized, vital matter, which is dissemi-
mated through she atmosphere and Pene-
trates everything pormeable to air. The
burning OF wood viii avail LITTLE toward
exterminating those living atomsi It gan
only affect those that come into actual
contact with Lhe fires. We must i'm
pIegpate the whole atmosphere with
something which will prove fatal &
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