The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-09-08
a FEW EARNEST WORDS ABOUT YEL-
LOW FEVER.

The following excellent comm unieation ap-
peared in the Picayune last Monday aud Tues
day. It contains come invaluable information
on the proper treatment of yellow fever and
should be carefully studied and preserved for
reference by all readers of the STAR. dis
tiuguished physician of this city whose opinion
we solicited, told the writer that he was sat.
isfed nearly all doctors here would endorse
the suggee tions made by DR.. Holcombe, ex-
ceptipg, perhaps. the one concerning food, in
reference to which it is thought no general
rule con be laid down
have few earnest words to say to the
friends, nurses and physicians of yellow fever
patients. There are three great causes Of the
large mott Ality in this disease.
1. Special intensity OF the poison acting upon
the individual case. This cannot be foreseen
or prevented. This cause 10 irremediAbie.
Fortunately these malignant cases are rare.
2 IrjodiciOus inefa oient medical treat
ment. This subject, belonging especially to
the medical profession, cannot be discussed in
q newspaper.
ses especially, the public generally, and even
some professional mens need word of caution
and advice.
TIE yellow fever patient should be put to
bed after taking warm foot-bath, not soald-
ing mustard bath, and covered with one sheet
aud one blanket or quilt, The room should be
we'll ventilated, without iettiog direct cnr,
rent OF air tait upon Inc patl0ntS auu 6uOulu
BIS allowed to drink frequently, but moderate
ly, of cool or cold water.
Now, instead Of this simple and sensible me-
thod, based upon sound physiological and by.
gienic pru ci pies, what do we often see Toe
attendant, are all 10 a perfect panic of haste
to get the patient into prof1ss sweat as seon
as possible. He iS scalded in his bath, covered
almost to Buffocaton with blankets and quilts
cramued with hot drinks, and denied drop
of cold water whilst the corridors and doors
are shut, and the atmosphere Of the room made
no oearsble and unhealthy.
was called to q man lately who had been
wrapped or rolled over in blankets until he
| looked like roll of carPetipg. The room vas
as hot as q close kitchen in GUNNER. he had
been dosed with hot teas, denied water and air,
suffocated, held down by the force OF four
women for twelve or fourteen hooTs he was
furiously delrious, and died in two hours
afterwards with congestion of the brain.
This horrible case Of b I'd management, with
the kindest intentions on the part the friends,
in every sick rOou, whore the sick man iS de-
MED Code greatest blessiDgs-Air, light and
water. The fact is yellow fever can stand
more fresh air and cold water than auy other
disease A great deal of the mortality has
| been caused by overhestiDg and oversweatiuR
in the hrst stage. II must have been especial
| IL fat 81 to young children.
Another point Of bad management is the ef-
fort to keep up perspiration daring the
second stage of the dis Base, which is etaRe Of
| great debility and sometimes of utter prostea-
! tioh. If any bad symptoms OccuT, nuIsss, doc
{ 1rs and ell seem to think that II the patient
can only be made to perspire, all will bs right.
Sometimes the came violent measures used OF
fret are resorted t. sgsin and with almost iu-
| vAriably fatal result, 90 that fue perspiTa-
! tiou one day, aud black vomit sud death the
=sxs daS. are almost related Like caoss and