Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-10-05
LETTER FROM C. A. p.
The Yellosc Ferer Discussed,
.INGATE COTTAGE,
WIN
pENnncrnr

Editor &dr:-This Is the season for swail.
Ing winds and meadows brown and sere;"
but so far the wind has walled less than
usual, and recent rains here kept the grass
quite green, so that the meadows, with their
rich fringes OF autumnal foliage are even
more attractive TO the eye than In summer
time. In this vicinity there have been but
one or two slight frosts, but our summer
visitors fed long before they came. Speak
ing of frost, reminds me of
THE YELLOW FEVER,
now raging In the south, AID OF the popular
failsctes concerning 1t. Ibave acquired some
knowledge OF this disease, having passed
through two epidemics in New Orleans. and
also noted its effects elsewhere, and have,
moreover, by study of its statistics, and
conversations with experienced nurses and
medical experts, famiiiariZed myself with
It's characteristics, mode of treatment, etc
In the FIRST place, doubt IL there is an au-
thenticated case OF yellow fever which orr
glns1ed 10 tnls country Certainly the more
tation OF the disease, and 1t may be traced
readily from its starting point to other
places places; For instance, the epidemic OF 1867
fever into Indianola, Texas, from q Mexican
port. From thence 1t was carried to Gal
weston and the interior towns; then to little
town In Louisiana. from which 1t was car
red TO New Orleans, where 1t ragged for
months. The per centage of deaths was less
in New Orleans than elsewhere. The ravages
of the disease In the interior towns Of Texas
were frightful. The reason for this is easily
told. In New Orleans physicians and nurses
are alike experienced, and medicine, ice and
stimulants readily procurable. In these In
terior towns there were no experienced ply
siciaDs or nurses, no ice, and medicines etc,
were Let always obtainable. In nine cases
larger. yellow fever yields readily to proper
treatment, and when such can be had is
In my opinion, less to be dreaded thpn
msiariai fevers THESE are a az 1h xss
lid of, and, indeed, are rarely en- irely eraii-
Gated from the system, while yellow fever
leaves no traces behind, and its aft effects
are rather beneficial than otherwise But
actual contact with the disease and personal
experience on the part OF the physician, are
experienced nurse, however. there is but It,
tie need for hysician. The great danger
lies In letting the disease get too firm hold
on the system. On the first symptoms ap-
pear1.g- headache and pains in the back
ard limbs-the patient 1s given q dose OF
castor oil. The feet are then immersed in q
hot, and very strong, mustard bath, and as
IA :ch OF the body as posi- BILE 10 b0 thed at the
sametime. Having been rubbed perfectly
dry. the patient Is put to bed, warmly COW
cred, and given hot tea, made from orange
ted IL care Is taken to prevent q draft upon
the invalid. II Precipitation can be kept up
The fever is room broken, and then, such Is
me Condition ditto OF the peryous system, that
sIamm1ng OF door, or any sudden and vIo-
lent noise, may bring on a relapse, and has
been known to cause almost instant death.
Stimulants and cooling drinks are freely
administered during convalescence, for the
disease is terribly prostrating, and it is q
long time before the patient regains hisi
strength.
1T IS A POPULAR FALLACY
that white frost, or, as some say, black
Frost, will at once check the ravae es OF yell
low fever. One effect 1t undoubtedly does
have, and that is to kill all the sick wno are
10 critical condition; and no doubt IL puri-
mes the air somewhat and thus does good;
but 1t never yet stopped an epidemic A
says he chad experience in nearly all the
epidem1cs OF the last forty years, and with
one exception no theory has stood the test OF
an eminent physician OF New Orleans In 1S4I
The epidemic OF that year having come at q
very early period <here was much despond
ency, growing out OF the belief that IL mu
continue until frost. The physician then de.
clared that epidemics lasted but twelve
weeks under any circumstances; the irs
stand-still with slight fluctuations, and
the last four On decline, when they die out,
frost or no frost" II should, perhaps be
stated, for the benefit OF the uuinftiat ted, that
= disease Is called an epidemic when the
death from 1t exceeds those from all other
diseases.
pamphlet published in 1868, also declares 1t
an erroneous opinion that white frost puts
an end to the fever, and says that no cOrclu-
sions can be deducted from meteorological
and does not credit the Introduction OF fever
from abroad, and these are the views OF the
medical men of New Orleans generally
mercantile class rather than with facts. 1t
mas been generally supposed that nlth gen.
crates fevers and tends to increase toeir vir-
in the course OF q lecture delivered in New
York In 1861, said that yellow fever was q
disease peculiar to warm climates, and was
the result OF something purely atmospheric
and which totally differed from ali other
causes OF disease. The filth OF cities and un-
healthy surroundings, though OF course they
lowering the vitality and lessening the
powers of resisting 1t, he declared could
never generate yellow fever. He believed
yellow fever TO originate in some peculiar
condition OF the atmosphere, and to be
spread, not by personal Infection, but by the
trans mission through the atmosphere OF the
poison which constitutes this peculiar and
dangerous disease. he was especially anx-
ious 1t should be clearly understood that the
fever was not personally contagious, because
OF It's bearing on the quarantine question,
etc.
Notwithstanding the weight OF this
authority the facts concerning the epide mic
OF lSS., and OF nine recent epidemics, shov
co tayious, that 1t is imported, that q strict
quarantine Is the only sure preventative. 1t
these facts. One bit Of evidence viii ' suffice.
In 1867 the president OF the board of health
OF New Orleans caused communications to
nc scut 70 tQ6 VdTlOus LOCALITIES IN FLORIDA,
Louisiana, and Texas, where the yellow
fever had made its appe aranoe that season,
making inquiry as To The origin Of the dis
ease in those places This inquiry was gen.
orally responded to, and to the effect that 1t
is the belief Of physicians aud citizens that
the disease had been disseminated by COM
meTcial intercourse or propagated by per-
sons or articles infected by the poison, and
that quarantine regulations, strictly en-
fore; d, are protection against the disease.
Ofcourse an imperfect quarantine or one es-
fablished after the disease has been futr
duced, can do no good, and 1t is such quar-
entines that have caused the system to be
decried by some. The chief clamor against
guarantees comes, however, from those
whose business interests are affected by
them. The calls for aid from the afflicted
southern cities trust will be literally and
responded TO. i know from expe.
Renee the necessity for such outside aid TO
avert horrors Of which few who have not
dwelt In apegtilence-hauntedc city can have
an adequate idea. In rejoicing over the end
Of the epidemic Of 1861 the New Orleans
Times said
ga disease 80 Widespread In its operations
one which held over stxty thousand OF our
citizens and the strangers within our rates
for days and days In mortal peril, TREMBLING
betwfxt life and death, involves IN amount
of suffering, OF patient nursing and climate