National Republican., 1883-07-12

that is, British typhus-their contagiousness
Is supposed to be the same. Scarlet fever has
probably double origin, from contagion and
endemic influence. Prominent physicians
assert that typhoid fever has never pre-
sented itself as afIording a clearly marked
case of contagion, some cases have been pub
lished rs occurring in western New York, but
they are considered as exceptions to the
rule" Ship fever is considered as decidedly
more contagious than typhoid. Tho NOR
tality of ship fever Is about one TO eight,
which is less than yellow fever and smallpox,
greater than scarlet fever, and about the same
as typhoid.
Dir. Henry G.. Clark, of this city, has made
an exhaustive study of ship fever, and has
shown the points of correspondence between
it and typhoid, and also tho difference be-
twsen them. The two have often been con-
founded. DIR. Clark asserts that they differ
widely.
Typhoid fever is slow and invidious in its
attack, often of unknown origin; only con-
tagous in modified degree and under cer-
tain circumstances not infectious; there is
generally diarrh9a and often hemorrhage of
the bowels. The duration of the disease is
from two to twelve weeks, the average being
about three weeks. 1t attacks subjects in all
conditions of life, and is not prevented by
any attention to cleanliness and ventilation.
Typhus fever, on the other hand, is of sudden
and violent access, often seizing the patient
instantly upon his exposure to the exciting
cause. II originates from well-known causes,
is confined to those exposed to contagion
from tho sick, or from exposure to bad air,
crowded with animal exhalations. 1t is in
fictitious, and in a majority of cases is unac-
companied with diarrhRa. The duration is
about two weeks" Typhus fever was first
known in Europe as "jail" or camp fever.
IL enters the damp and dirty dungeons. 1t is
familiar in tho ill.drained and ventilated
houses of the poor, it comes over with the
poor immigrant. Although there have been
occasional epidemics of typhus in this coun-
try the disease is indigenous to Great Britain
Quarantines have heretofore been enforced
upon the theory of excluding diseases sup
posed to be contagious or infectious, by isolat-
ing the persons of the sick from contact or
communication with the unaffected, and they
have often been absurdly and :gnorantly en-
forced against diseases which had neither
quality. but which, from their great mortal
ity, have unusually excited the fears of man
kind.
A foul ship is not only center of disease
to those on board, but source OF disease to
her neighborhood. From variety of evil
dence it appears indisputable that, while the
foul state of ships hold is the frequent
cause of malignant fever to her crew, the air
issuing from such hold, and the cargo taken
from it, are capable of producing disease in
loading takes place and of affecting persons
who come on board from the shore But fire.
quent instances of the fatal effects of direct
exposure to the holds and atmosphere of such
ships are not wanting in our own port. The
case of the Tea Brothers may be referred to
as one of tho most remarkable examples.
The fever, however, existed near Fort Hill
previous to this vessels arrival, the local
causes on shore operating no doubt to aggra-
vate its malignancy. Ships have arrived here
from sickly southern ports with all hands
we'll on board and after breaking bulk" have
been known to lose half their men within q
week Of yellow fever, they having been ex-
posed to the noXious emanations from the
holds and ballast. In the year 1887, u cooper
residing at AZ Prince street. having for sew
eral days been at work on some casks on
board vessel from Charleston, S. C., was
taken sick and in few days died of yellow
fever. A stevedore, living on Charter street,
having been employed in getting out some of
the cargo, had the fever lightly aud recov-
cred. A young man who had resided here
during the season, took the fever by sleep
ing on board a small vessel from the south.
which lay at the ferry wharf,and died shortly
after at Chelsea hospital. This owner of this
vessel and his clerk, beside number of we'll
known merchants Several of whom died
after similar eSposure), also had the fever.
In no instance did any person lake this dis
OTuer from exposure 10 bue VI luo dJ-
mosphere of the sick; but only those who
were exposed to the local sources of the
disease, either or board ship or to the car
go during the process of its discharge. The
two points which may be considered set.
tied are, first, that yellow lever IS not con-
tagious and, second, that it is infectious.
What, then, is the proper course to be taken
with vessels arriving here during the season
from infected places? Precisely what would
be done within a dwelling infected with a
malignant disease, viz: l. Avoiding anything
like an isolatiye quarantine; to remove from
on board at the earliest moment all the pas
sengers and as many of the crew as can be
spared from the necessary operation of cleans
ing the vessel. 2. To restrict none who are
able to take care of themselves in their per-
sonal movements but to permit them freely
to communicate with their friends and the
city. 3. To detain the vessel long enough at
quarantine to examine her, and if she is found
to have any decompOsing or fermenting sub.
stances or collections of filth in the cargo or
among the ballast, to discharge and cleanse
her thoroughly. 4. To continue these sani-
tary measures at least until the occurrence OF
q decided frost.
In addition to the contagious and epidemics
already mentioned, there is the Russian or
Siberian plague. In the year 1865 this plague
was brought to the attention of the Boston
health officials through j. u. Goodrich, the
collector of the port. The subject received
the earnest consideration of the committee on
external health, an order was issued for a sani-
tary survey of the city, and prompt and ener-
getic measures were adopted for strict quar-
antine. The board of consulting physicians
carefully went over the whole ground, and
the result was diminution by u great per
cent. of the size of the epidemic as actually
existing in foreign ports OF the nature of
the disease, it was learned on the best author
ity that its fundamental character was the
same as that which has been epidemic in some
foreign countries, and perhaps that appearing
in North America under the name of cerebro-
spinal meningitis, in which form it has been
least fatal. 1t seems it changed its form con-
siderably, for IL was otherwise referred TO in
severer forms rs typhus fever, and again
as the Siberian plague. BY physicians here it
was not considered that new disease had
form and extent of fevers, which, under names
differing according to the prominence of GER
tain symptoms at various times, had been very
prevalent and of unusual extent and fatality.
1t was also ascertained that it was u mistake
to considar 1t the same as the Siberian plague.
There were really two epidemics raging at
Russia at that time, fact which may account
for the confusion of designation. The various
plaques Of olden times were not the same rs
the Russian plague. CLAIM speaks of plague
in the Roman empire, under Antonina.
Thucydides tells of the scourge in Athens.
These and tho "black death of the sixteenth
century, and the pest of the seventeenth
all were entirely different from the Siberian
or the Russian plague. When the Russian