Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-12
TEE YELLOW FEVER.
ANOTHER INTERESTING ARTICLE
UPON THIS DISEASE.
Further Historical Facts as To its
Eayages- Remedies Suggested
for Prevention EXC.
MUNGER II.

and interchangeable spirit OF charity which
animates that admirable body known as
the Howard Association, reused itself to
the work Of relieving outside suffering.
Skilled physicians, and nurses, when prac-
ticable, were sent to outlying towns Dr.
Hale-his initials have escaped my mem
ory-was assigned 10 duty in Shreveport,
and, in the conference which followed, he
distinctly disavowed the work and Office Of
specialist. but asserted that after a
survey OF the surroundings and "in-
dications" he vas persuaded that
a free exhibition Of calomel and
ouiniue was in his opinion the proper
course to pursue watched the result Of
his treatment narrowly, and became con-
WINGED that he was correct. When 50 con-
WINGED. ! procured 30-grain dose of calo-
mel, one 40-grain and number Of l0-grain
doses Of quinine, placed them in my vest
pocket. and went about my daily duties. |
speak of myself further, and say, that hav-
ing made up my mind at the beginning to
stay until all was over, or | fell by the way,
| prescribed a strict regimen for myself,
consisting of daily sponge baths with tepid
water, mild catharatic twice a week, and
complete change of clothing three times 4
week and a total banishment of fear, seeing
that the latter could do no good. |
believe that every man and woman
who elects to remain in 4 yellow-feyer
stricken community will DO well to pursue
-,
in Shreveport Late in October, having
nursed friend until the doctor pronounced
him out of danger, laid down for nights
rest, and on awakening was summoned to
the house of a merchant who, together
with his wife and sister-in-law, the widow
Of physician, DR.. Allison, who died a
martyr to his duty early in the epidemic,
had been smitten down. The late Judge
Spotford. of Louisiana, was assigned to the
care of the wife, a Mr.. Dashiel TO the
widowed lady, while | took charge Of the
head of the house The day wore away,
and as night came on ! felt the pre-
monitorv symptoms, but ascribed them to
fatigue. In an hour | knew what allied
me, sent for 4 hack, called en- route to my
room for a g,.adroon nurse, and on arriving
there swallowed my calomel and soon after
wards nv first dose of quinine. | knew
nothing until morning, when, awaking to
2 moment of consciousness, | saw DIR. Hale
standing over me, who approved what |
had done. and ordered a continuance Of the
ten grain doses of Guinine. At the end OF
eighty-four hours | regained consciousness,
and found that my life was spared. A few
hours after was attacked, my fellow
watcher was seized. and there were no more
cases until, misled by the appearance of
heavy frcsts, the fugitives returned,
and. &c | have already stated
in an editorial republished by
the RBcORD-UNIoN, no attempt having
been made TO disinfect the houses in which
men and women had died, or the bedding
in which they had lain, the disease reap
peared. 1t Is ! know, the commonly ac-
cepted theory that what Is called "a black
frost" is the signal for the departure Of the
yellow fever The history Of the Shreve-
port epidemic Of 1853, which can easily be
verified by reference TO the local journals
Of that year, either disprove that theory, or
add another to the long list Of examples
which 90 TO prove that there Is no rule
without an exception. In either case
assert that the fact recited should receive
serious consideration at the hands Of the
medical profession and the State and mu-
uicipal authorities Of California in making
their preparations against the Importation of
the plague The late coming and the in
frequency Of heavy frosts in those portions
Of the State likely To be visited by this
most unweIcorne guest, furnish sufficient
reasons for this suggestion.
I do not wish to mislead either the pro
fe4sion or the public in the matter Of DR..
Haie's theory and practice in 1888. His
theory was doubtless founded upon the
patent f;.ct that the nalarial atmosphere OF
the Shreveport region naturally tended to
that type OF fever which indicates the free
use Of calotnel and quinine, which peculiar
type manifested itself in connection with
the true yellow fever type. saw DR..
Hale in New Orleans the following year,
and he specially charged me 10 remember
that he had personally demonstrated the
ineihciency of the remedies III other Locall-
ties which proved 80 successful in Shreve
port. DR.. Hale himself fell a victim 70
the same destroyer year later.
In the year 1854 the disease made It's
appearance at Monroe, Ouachita parish,
Louisiana. about 100 miles due east Of
Shreveport. just " hat was the genesis Of the
plague in that section / have no means Of
knowing. Comparatively, the number Of
people 70 be affected being taken into con-
It was rs fatal in its effects as at
Shreveport. The next year, towns on the
Mississippi river hitherto exempt were
made charuel houses Of, and II is
matter Of history how since
then Memphis, Tennessee; Vicksburg,
Natchez and Granada, Mississippi Mar
shall and other towns in Texas, and many
other localities which, until within the
at ten years were strangers To this awful
visitation, have been scourgcd and decIm-
ated.
History is silent as to any visitations on
the northern Mexican coast similar 70
those which last year wrought such fearful
havoc on the very borders, 50 to speak, Of
the State Of California. l trust that II
will not he thought strange that |, . cItl-
zen Of that State for nearly quarter Of a
century, and still hoping to return and end
nv DAYS there. sound this note Of warning.
It is not the first time that | have done -,
nor Is II the first time that | have felt out
RACED at the disregard for human life in
this respect shown by the health officers Of
San Francisco. In 1S68-l think that
was the year when the plague,
enitten sloop-of-war jamestown was an
chored opposite Vallejo, in Mare Island
Straits, and the work Of dismantling and re
fitting her was about 10 be commenced
wrote 10 q leading san Francisco Journal,
protesting against the outrage to which
protest the then Health Officer of the port
wrote tuical, nanny -pamby, supercihous
reply, pooh-poohing at the suggestion Of
danger. followed with still more Wig
orou, protest, which, however, was sup
pressed but, thanks to some cause, the
plague ship was 1oated out to 8 more re-
moved ground. and the State escaped in
fiction.
I warn the people Of California that they
must be on the alert if they desire and ex-
pect to escape the invasion by foe more
terrible than an army with banners I