Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-14
YELLOW FEW TER.
FAITH AND MUSTARD SEED RE-
MOVE MOUNTAINS.

Editors Democratic Statesman:
I no:iced in your issue Of the
3Oth ult.. the following:
Tin 1880 an American commo-
dore gave a citizen of Houston an
a:tidote for a yellow fever. 1t was
a teaspoonrul OF white mustard
seed in a dram. Of pure whiSkey,
taken three times day. The citi-
zen says this will prevent any one
taking it, and he has passed
t rough half dozen epidemics with
out self or family having it.
And give to you in this what |
know about white mustard seed az
q prophylactic or preventive Of
yellow fever.
In 1867 I was post surgeon at
Brenham. The garrison consisted
of about one hundred souls, officers
and their families and enlisted
men,. Before the yellow fever ap-
peared at Brennan it was epidemic
at Galveston and Houtson. Most
of the enlisted men then serving at
Brennan were recruits, and this
1867, their first season South. This
was the case, too, with all officers
aid their families.
The knowledge OF the havoc the
disease had made in the garrison
at Galveston had completely de-
moralized the command at Bren>
ham. When on the Isthmus OF
Panama some years before, where
the Charges fever, a most malig-
nant type Of yellow fever prevails
l was Informed by a gentleman,
whose former home was in New
England and then living in Pana
ma. tina: hciha1 taken'.. white mu s.
lard seed in doses of a thimble- full
once a day, washed down with
whiskey, as preventative of vel
low fever and that he had never
had tie disease, nor had any Of
those who had taken the mustard
seeds.
Remembering this, and although
having no faith, l determined 10
try to impress tho members of the
garrison that it possessed that vir
tue, in view of bcneficent moral
effect, and accordingly had an or
der issued by the comma pding off,
Ger that at the call Of the drum, at
IL a. M, every person connected
with the garrison should proceed
to the hospital and then take the
mustard seeds which was put into
the mouth d'y ard washed down
with whiskey. This was done and
KEEP: up until fever had disap
peared from Texas. ..
Not one member of the garrison
at Brennan who took the seed
had yellow fever. An officer was
taken sick with it day or two
after his arrival from Galveston,
where he had been exposed to it.
An employe of the Government
came to the garrison few days
later sick with it, and died. There
were several deaths within 200
yards Of the garrison. Our soldiers
were not quarantined made daily
visits to the town when whole fam
lies were dying with the disease.
Two soldiers en- route from Calves
ton to Austin came to the garrison
for Tations or transportation and
were taken sick with the disease in
a tent occupied by other soldiers
and mono Of this command, unaccli~
mated as it was, had the disease
not one.
Did the mustard seed prevent
the fever in that garrison who
knows ? We know that mustard
seed augment the cutaneous secrc-
tons. and we know that almost
universally the skin is dry at the
outset or throughout the yellow
fever. We know that in yellow
fever the gastric organs become
early involved. and that mustard
seed are beneicent in cases of
topper of the stomach and rouse
the gastric susceptibility. We
know that the very large majority
of cases of yellow fever, constipa>
ton of the bowels constitute a
predominant feature in the early
stage, resisting the action Of pow.
erful cathartics, mustard seed
swallowed whole, operate as
laxative.'and stimuli ate the action
of the bowels. In many, very
manv coseo IF ve1lou fever the