New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12
THE YELLOW FEVER.
What 1t Is and Its Treatment.

What Ii Is and Its Treatment.
The Secretary of the Treasury having in
structed the supervising surgeon of the
Marine Hospital Service, John NJ Wood
worth, IN accordance with a resolution of
the Senate, to prepare a brief and succinct
history of the yellow fever as it prevailed in
the various ports of the United States, that
gentlem IN has submit ed report, in which
be gives history in detail of the appear
ance and progress of the disease in 1873,
and incidentally alludes to ca, ller vista.
tons. He concludes as follows
In conclusion, l will state that my ideas
in regard to the nature and origin OF yellow
fever have been so well expressed by Sur
geon George NJ, Sternberg, United States
army, that will simply copy them:
First-The yellow fever poison is not an
emanation from the persons of those sick
with the disease. | must interrupt the
quotation at this point to observe that.
while this hypothesis may possibly be cor
rect, am not prepared t, assert it as fact,
but in all Of the following opinions fully
concur. And now to resume
Second-It is not generated by atmos-
pheric or teliuric influences. A certain ele
walton of temperature is, however, neces-
sary for its multiplication, and it's rapid in
crease is promoted by moist atmosphere,
and probably by the presence of decOm
posing organic matter.
Third-The poison is portable in ships,
goods, clothing, ETC., and minute quantity
is capable of giving rise to an extensive cpl
demic.
Fourth-Exposure to Temperature Of
800 Fahrenheit completely destroys it.
Fifth-It may remain for an unknown
length OF time in quiescent state when
not subjected to a freezing temperature or
exposed to the condition necessary to its
multiplication, and NAV again become ac-
tiva and mariana inlatnirelv when thesa
conditions prevail.
Sixth-While liability to the disease and
its severity when contracted depend, to
certain extent, upon age, sex, temperament,
previous habits, reclamation, they also de-
pend to great extent upon the degree of
concentration of the person; that is to say,
the larger the dose the greater the posi-
bility OF an attack and the greater its Sc
verify. In coinciding with this statement,
/ wish 1t understood that / have only refer.
enee to the disease as it Occurs in the United
States. l was under the impression that it
originated in New Orleans until the con-
trary was proved. during the occupancy of
that city by the United States troops during
the late war. There is, / think, indubitable
evidence to prove that yellow fever is q ma
tive of the tropics, and that its importation
into the United States could be prevented
by strict quarautile that is, total isolation.
l consider the most reliable method of dis
injecting ship is to batter down her
matches and reduce the temperature of her
hold to 800 Fahrenhe and to keep her in
that condition for four or five days, SO that
the bilge water may remain frozen Tor that
length of time. No further danger need
after that be apprehended, and any subse-
.quent appearance of fever on board must
arise from fresh exposure to its influences. |
We do not find that vessels remaining
here all summer, no matter how dirty they
ho 40
only occurs with ships from latitudes below
the regions of frosts, and where this disease
prevails for nearly the entire year.
In regard to treatment, l have very little
to add to what has already been written;
but as have been quite successful in the
last two epidemics, it may cause some
slight desire to know the mode adopted.
in the first stage during the fever, lin the first
twelve h0urs, if possible resort to q hot
mustard bah, either full bath or only to
the knees, according to circumstances. The
patient is then put to bed and well wrapped
or covered with blankets, and supplied with
ice water, and permitted to drink it ad
hbitum. If there be any irritability of the
stomach, q mustard plaster about the size
of the palm of the hand is applied to the
cardiac portion of the stomach,
and as it becomes uncomfortable,
moved to another place, and so on
around that organ, thus keeping up
the action for an indefinite length of time.
When the stomach is not too irritable, cas-
tor-oil or the 0leum ,icini, capsules are given
by the mouth; otherwise an enema of oleum
ricini, two drachms; Oleam terebn,thia,
twenty drops ritel, unius 0ui; aqua pur,
one pint, to be used and repeated till the
actions are free. / generally find, however,
that the oleum Yicini is well borne by the
stomach, aud when the dose is large acts
efficiently; If there be suppressionS urine,
q cloth FLANNEL is preferably we'll soaked
with oleuDs terebinthing is applied over the
region of the kidneys; this application is
repeated until the flow of urine Ia oopious.
1t is usually brought on by this means In
two or three hours, if not sooner. The hot
bath 10 repeated If at any time the perspi-
ration becomes checked, as also are mus
tard plasters, if required, for irri-
liability of the stomach, or to act rs
revulsives or counter irritants. The doors
and windows are to be kept closed, and all
draughts are to be avoided and sudden
CHANGES Of temperature are to be guarded
against. ~ believe, with Surgeon Gibbs,
United States navy, that sudden change
or IooYpwiiI proye M: Draurhis produos
equally serious results when the patient 10
sweating profusely. When there IL only
one sick person In the room, l consider
ample vontilation IL afforded BY the cracks
In tho door and windows, end, when there
i one in the room, BY. the hreplace, and /
belisys that the word "ventilatlon' has, in
this dissaAs, killed more ,psrsen. than any
ding else, 8 al hare undeystendit to mean
sthas doog1 and Wind0we aro 70 Be kept open,
% pe<14y .. day pnd Night, south wind o.
nos3k66 n patlonf b peeu Of ons tzne
,kUoot1ng ytof6Do1U, much improved, I'D
nexA Gi61g thess "yeakilstions," with > dry,
.kis 4sIl1!sss, tsyiag e 81 gp: q oonp'sis,