The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-23
LECTURE. ON YELLOW FEVER.
BY THE LATE DIR. WARREN sroSr, SIR.


Some years before his death the late emf
nen5 Dr. Warren Stone. of this city, deliv-
cred a lecture on yellow feyeT, its history,
character and treatment, at Bellevue College,
New York. in presence of large number
of the medical men OF that city and of the
students of the college. We copy from one
OF the New York papersiof the day. He
said
ssWith regard td yellow fever there are
many points open for discussion. 1t Is
disease Peculiar to warm attitudes, but its
limits could not be defined by any exact
temporary Te or climatic conditions, Tor ex-
captions would frequently occur to falsify
say Saeh restrictions. Nothing more def
mite eau be said Than that it is a disease
incident to warm climates, and induced by
peculiar poison totally intangible and
Disconnected from any known causes of
disease. There is no com bination of filth,
no combination of circumstances calculated
TO deteriorate health and excite typhoid or
ty plus fevers that had anything to do with
the generation OF yellow fever. This re-
maTkable fact is not generally known.
Some Federal officers have taken credit to
themselves for KEEPING yellow fever out OF
New Orleans during their occupation of
that city; but it is a notorious fact that the
city was not cleaner then (lS62) in the su-
burbs and lower districts, than it had often
been before. The weather happened to be
cooler, and there was less rain; but there
was no material difference in any other
II
exempt from the fever for some years pre-
viously, when there was no quarantine
whatever.
Yellow fever has existed upon high and
healthy localities and proved as virulent
there as in low regions. The M2gu Ola
ridges, back of New Orleans, is one of the
healthiest regions in the world, yet the
yellow fever has proved quite as destructive
there as ia less favored regions. Indeed,
the disease has always been more violent in
There.
than in cities, ..... .r. t3t..
In regard to the anthology or causes of
yellow lever, there has ALWAYS been much
dispute. Ii has been question whether il
is i'm ported or is oflocal origin. 1t certain
ly has not been ina ported in ships. The ep-
emic influence is waited through the
atmosphere in waves or cycles, and always
made gradual and regular approaches; so
that in New Orleans we know when il is
coming by its prevalence in the islands of
the Gulf and places south. of US. In the
year 1851 it began in Brazil, and after pass
ing over the northern part OF South Ameri-
ca aud the West India Islands, it reached
New Orleans in 1853. In 1855 it had trav
eled as tar as Mem phis, and was severe in
many OF the interior towns. It's history in
New Orleans the present year is remar ka-
BILE. Ii first appeared in a mild form, and
in several places at once, in the month of
June, and although the weather was favor
able to its spread. it did not increase IN
intensity, and only about nine cases Oc-
Cured per week. These cases evidently
orig ated in the city. -t-.-
But later in the season a fresh wave ap-
preached from the ERECTION of Mexico. ap
peariDg in violent form in Indianola, Gal
weston and New Iberia and lastly in New
Orleans, where it appeared in a severe
form and in increasing ratio, although the
weather was of the kind considered unfa-
vorabe to its propagation. This was the
general history of the disease 1t fixed
upon place and ran its course, increasing
-. H., Is..s 81
way, and finally disappearing, but for the
time being affecting all who were subject
to attack and exposed to its influence. De-
bility and other reasons render some per-
sons more susceptible than others to the
peculiar poison; but this is the case with
all diseases.
The question of its contagiousness is of
great i'm portance, ana ought to be settled,
both for the interest of sufferers from the
disease and as guidance in the matter OF
quarantine. am perfectly convinced be-
yond all doubt or hesitation, that personally
it is not contagious; know that it is not.
Ii the disease were contagious once it
would always be so, for it is the same dis
ease in all places. 1t is a specific disease,
and the same person has it but once. Aecli-
mation is perpetual, but il is very bard to
convince the human understanding OF that.
There are, however, exceptions to these
rules, as to every rule, and as there is to the
rule governing small pOx, for instance. l
have observed, honestly at least, if not
closely, and the result of my observations
has led me to believe yellow fever nOn-con-
tagiOuS.
In 1888 | arrived in New Orleans, and
went into the Charity Hos ital on duty.
The hospital became full, and as there was
great scarcity of help it became filthy. The
passages (halls) were often filled with bed
sacks covered with excrement and black
vomit, 50 that sort of typhoid fever was
generated, yet the persons employed there
escaped yellow fever, and l did not have
it myself until late in the season after these
conditions had been remedied. La 1853
had an intirmary in which there were three
hundred cases of yellow fever, treated by
ten or twelve sisters of charity, all of whom
were unac climated, yet they were the very
last to get the disease, because the atmos-
pheric influence did not prevail where the
hospital was situated. In 1917, in 1853 and
1856, and 1859, the experience had been sub
stantiallY the same.
In 1859 some FORTY cases of yellow fever
were placed in the Charity Hospital among
a number of other patients who were unac-
ciimated, and although a large lumber of
the forty died, not a solitary new case &C.
Cured in the house. Cases were constantly
occurring of persons who went into infect
ed districts, took the disease, were taken to
INFECTED districts, treated and nursed, and
yet no one took the disease from them. Ia
1869 and 1857, yellow fever of a severe
character prevailed in New Orleans, bu-
was strictly confined to six squares. No
and it was evident the disease had Origiuat-
ed there, In the country l made diligent
inquiries with the same result 1t
did not spread from person to person 1t
was quite possible that quantity of the
poisoned atmosphere might be conveyed in
the hold of ship to distant places, and that
persons breathing that atmosphere might
have disease, but they could not impart it
to Others. just how much air would suffice
to render the fever portable, it was i'm possi-
sibe to ascertain.
The disease itself varies in the mode of
attack he most favorable cases have been
those where it was ushered in at once with
the prominent symptoms, which consisted
| of rigOr followed imW ediately with pains
| in the limbs, back and head. with heat of
! the skin and fever. But many of the cases
/ were insidious, and the patient continued
! up and about, complaining of pain in the
limbs and chilly feeling, The disease was
/ progressing all this time, and the physician
was not likely to see the patient until it was
! too late to do anything, Il was for this
! easOh thSS more Violent attacks were really
more favorable to ultimate recovery than
| the mildeF cases. The mild cases were Just
as sure to kill as any other, il they were
neglected Almost all cases would prove
| fatal unless the patient was properly
managed and kept quiet. In the we'll
| marked cases there was rigor, pains in the
/ head, back andzlimbs and som etimes-a Pc
1 cuIiar capillary engoFgem ent, particularly
! in the eye. IF the patient is pfaced in bed
at once, with little assistance he breaks
/ into a sweat, as in common intermittent
fever; this gives some relief but NOT much.
/ The pains continue: but If the case is ia
Vorable, it will go on until the sweating and
heat subside. together at the end of
three days. Patient must be kept per-
| fectiy quiet, and if he is then nour-
! ished he Will have no return Of the
uffsring. He must not even be al
| lowed to raise his head. If. he gets up, q
faintness comes over him. and the whole
Tc
Of nausea aud loathing of food. In this
/ case he almost cerfainlv dies This In the