National Republican., 1883-07-12
PLAQUES AND FEVERS.
Some Useful Information as to Diseases, Con-
tagiOus and Other.
Ship Fever, yellow Fever, Cholera, Rus
sian Plague, and the Like,
What They Are How They Come, and How to Treat
Them.
Quarantine Regulations, Good and Bad
Some That arc senseless.

Inc tnree great dcVaStators OF tho human
race-cholera, yellow fever, and ship fever
are again rousing the apprehensons of those
countries most exposed to their ravages. The
"pestilence which walketh in darkness" now
appears to leap, almost at n bound, from the
orient to tho occdent, and the people of
these western shores can no longer coolly
contemplate the cpidemics sweep Of death
as merely an Asiatic scourge. Apprehensions
which secure proper sanitary precautions are
healthy and necessary, but ignorant fear
which leads on to wild panic is more to be
dreaded than the advent of plague. The
cholera visitations of former years, together
with the question of contagiousness, have
already been exhaustively discussed in
the columns of the Boston Herald.
The whole question of contagion and its
alliance with the most dreaded and fatal dis
eases which ravage communities is one that
should be thoroughly understood both for in.
dividual tranquility and defense and for the
guidance of state and municipal authorities
"When it is considered how very few of the
so-called contagious diseases really are such,
and how greatly even these are controlled by
hygienic measures, always within the control
of boards of health, and that the mortality OF
all epidemic diseases, aud even their occur
renee, is greatly due to the neglect or ignor-
ance of proper sanitary or hygienic measures,
the great responsibility of such boards and
the duty and necessity of wise and faithful
action on their part is very obvious" The
above opinion, from an eminent authority,
is emphasized by the following official COM
ment upon the cholera visitation of
1S49 in this city "1he experience of this
mil 10 hag inlu uiu icfn
tory evidence of the power and value of san
itary measures, for, while no person was
attacked without some obvious exciting cause,
so in every case in which those most exposed
were removed from these deleterious infiu-
ences and provided with cleanly, airy apart
ments and suitable food, an attack of the dis
ease was averted." 1t will thus be observed
that tho concurrent opinions of the closest
and ablest observers go to show that these
terrible scourges of the race can be put in
thrall, and that the words epidemic" !" "in-
fection," "contagion," may be robbed of a
great portion of their terror, and that by a
recourse to the means within the reach of the
poorest citizen when working in harmony
with the boards of health. Dirt and death 20
The English, Indian, German Russian, and
Italian governments are now reused to active
exertions for the prevention of plague incur
sions The cholera is raging in Damietta
Egypt, and other epidemics are gaining
ground. Ship fever is disease which is no
stranger on these shores 1t has, in times past,
proved to be one OF the puzzing and appalling
plaques which has swept off its thousands of
victims medical science standing pretty much
in helplessness before it. This city has had
an extensive experience with ship fever, and
on the question of its contagiousncss DIR.
Clement A. Walker, recognized authority,
testfes as follows: IAN observation of 500
cases at South Boston, during the memorable
season of 1747, and subsequent service of
three yesrs as assistant physician at the quar-
antine station on Deer island, together with
personal experience of the disease while
there, have satisfied me on this point beyond
question. Ship fever, so called because it
was originally brought to this country by em-
igrants from Great Britain, is identical with
the Jail and camp fever of Europe the con-
tagious nature of which is unquestioned.
To this may be added the death in
our large cities, particularly Boston and
New York. of so many promising physicians
and valuable public officers who contracted
the disease by exposure in the discharge of
official duty. Is ship fever more contagious
than other fevers? 1t repeatedly occurred to
me, while at Deer island, to see individuals
in good health and without much previous
exposure, attacked by the disease while en-
gagged in marking for the wash room and un-
cleansed clothing of a single recently ad-
mitted fever patient Every nurse not having
had the fever was sure to take it sooner or
later, although some would for long time
resist the contagious element, as persons who
have been known. to act as nurses in smallpox
wards for years, though unprotected, and yet
be finally and fatally seized by that loath-
some disease. DIR. Graves an old and ex-
perienced physician in the fever hospitals
of Dublin, says he has frequently seen at
tendants suddenly stricken down by the dis
ease while engaged in laying out for the grave
the sweat-bathed victim of fever. In Decem-
Der, 1851 owing to the severity ofthe weather,
some dozen fever patients were sent to
the house of industry at South Bos-
ton and placed in shanty en-
tirely unconnected with any other
building. OF so mild type was the disease
IN this instance that mot one of those thus adj
mitted died But several of the inmates of
the house were soon attacked by it in form
so malignant that it bore every one Of them,
with a sure and resistless force, to the grave
In my opinion, 1t is not so contagious as small
pox. while, under circumstances favorable to
lts development, it is equally if not more so
than scarlet fever, and vastly more so than
the common typhoid fever in New England
ship fever patients should, think, be always
Si1sstsad in buildings entirely disconnected
from all others, having separate conveniences
of all sorts and distinct corps of nurses"
Ship fever has never been known to arise
in Massachusetts or New England indepen-
IDENTIFY of communication with diseased per-
son. But ship fever exists in those not
recently arrived. 1t must certainly be
admitted that ship fever, to extend rapidly,
must, like most other contagious diseases,
find in the community certain degree of
preparation, and this preparation is afforded
by crowded and filthy habitations. II is we'll
known that medical students who may have
contracted the disease during their attend
anco upon the sick rarely communicate il to
those who take care of them in open, clean,
and airy situations, where due regard Is paid
to ventilation. 1t cannot, therefore, at present
bo considered as dangerous to the public
health, If by that is meant the health ofthose
living in such situations MS are above in
dicatcd. But that this disease will spread
among those who, from poverty or neglect
are crowded into small rooms, or who
are in unhealthy localities, there Is no
doubt. TO the health of the poor IL
is dangerous. 1t Will spread among the
inmates of a house even in healthy locality
in the country; it will spread through our
almshouses if care is not taken to separate
the diseased. Iti we'll known, however, that
generally the ability to resist contagion dimin-
ishes greatly as the number of persons in
fected increases. This is clearly shown in the
experience of fever hospitals, where the
nurses and officers may for a time remain
healthy, if the number of patients is small,
but are attacked as the house becomes full.
1t should be borne in mind that this is liable
to occur In communities. 1t should also be
borne in mind and Ia believed to be a fact