Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-10-26
The Chemistry of Yellow Fever.
Ceurier-Journal, Oct. 18th.

The Chemistry of yellow Fever
Ceurier-Journal, Oct. 18th.
There was a large attendance a
the meeting of the Microscopica
Society last night. DIR. Marvin de
livered the following address:
The literature of yellow fever il
very voluminous, but our knowl
edge of the pathological anatomy O
the disease is very meager. / be
lieve that by calling to our, aiC
chemistry and the microscope, mos
valuable additions will be made tC
our knowledge of the disease.
While Resident Physician at the
Yellow Fever Hospital l improved
my opportunity of makingchemical
and microscopic examinations.
present you now brief summary
of my work, as far as | have fin
ished. l present you bare facts,
illustrating my remarks with
mounted specimens. | offer nc
theories or deductions, believing
that our knowledge of this disease
will be. best increased by a careful
and conscientious record of facts
instead of vagaries and theoretical
hypothesis.
Pure glycerine was smeared in
the centre of a clean, new glass
slide, and held an inch or two from
the nostrils or mouth of the patient.
After a few minutes's exposure to
the breath the slide was examined
under the microscope. Large guam
titles of very active YibrOis were
revealed. They were of the short,
dot-like variety. There was also
found Irregular, roundish oval NOV
ing bodies, probably bacteria.
A drop of blood from the finger
was received on a slide in the usual
manner. The corpnscles were jag
ged and crenated. In some severe
cases there WAS a large increase of
white corpuscles. Scattered among
the corpuscles were small, rod
moving bodies, of the color
of the blood, and quite active in
their movements. They were diff
fererent from the ordinary VibrOis
or any form of bacteria that l am
familiar with. More extended OBJ
servatiOns in this and other fevers
must be made before attaching I'M
due Importance to their existence
in the blood and breath. The ques-
tion naturally suggests itself Wheth-
er these germs are the cause of the
result of the disease. | incline to
the belief that they are the result.
The examinations were made with
a Tolles 1-10 inch immersion objec-
tive and Beocular.
The points of interest in the urine
were the constant existence of gran
ular tube casts, renal epitheliun and
granular matter all more or less
stainless stained yellow with bile.
In some cases there was marked
of veiscal epitheliuln in
the beginning of the disease. The
tube casts are most valuable guides
in the prognosis of the disease.
After the stomach had been
of food the vomit was
glaizy mucus and epitheliun streak
ed with blood, bearing a strick;ng
resemblance to the spectum of
The vomit generally
bile. Frequently pure
blood was vomited in large quanti-
ties. The black vomit contains
principally blood more or less
changed and broken down. There
are large quantities of yibrois an
Dve not recognized growth and fre-
luently very large crystals ofh@ma-
toidin.
The most marked alterations are
found in the liver. The color va
ries from bright yellow to normal.
The organ is generally enlarged,
very firm and tough. On section
he hepatic cells are granular, fire.
IuentIy stained with bile, and have
almost completely fatty
degeneration. In some cases there
IS also amyloid degeneration. There
IS a large increase of the connection
issue and a consequent pressure
upon and destruction of the cells.
The kidneys are contested and in
some places considerably enlarged.
On section there is found tubal and
utertubal hem0rrage. The tubes
ire checked up with granular matter
md eXpectOratiOn. In some cases
here is beginning fatty degenera-
ion. In short, the kidneys pm-
:ent all the appearance of marked
Bright's disease. 1t is astonishing
what profound changes are produced
n the liver and kidney in such a
short length of time.
This organ presents no marked
)r constant deviations from health.
In some cases, which gave history
IF previous malarial troubles, there
S found the peculiar augmentation
of malarial fever.
In all other cases the pigment is alb
,ent.
The stomach does not appear con-
rested, as stated in textbooks. The
nacus membrane is pale, and Is not |
destroyed. In only one case was
here any marked thickening of the
membrane and rug9. l am con-
1inced that the changes stated to
nave been found in this organ are
'eally pOst-nlOrteD1 changes, due to |
he fact that examinations were not |
made until some hours after death. |
POSt-nlOrten1 changes are very rapid, |
md the sooner an examination is
made the better. On section the |
nucus membrane and but slightly
changed. The Well, especially their
'ull eXtremities, are frequently en-
Forged with blood.
The intastines present same APP |
as the stomach. In some |
,ases there is marked congestion.
In those cases where there is sup
preston of urine for any length of |
lime before death, the bladder is
very badly congested. In other |
,ases it presents no marked |
change. The gall bladder in dis
ended with bileand congested.
These organs present no constant
,hange. In several cases there |
we're recent pleuritic adhensions, in
me case bad pneumonia. The
changes are most probably second
Try.
No LESSONS were found in the cere- |
1rum. In those eases which had
marked delirium, there was con-
sestion at the base of the brain. l
nave not finished my mi3crOpic ex-
animation of this organ.
A Floral Clock.
1t may not be generally known
hat there are twenty-four varieties
If plants whose blossoms open sue
i: 81