The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-22
THE MAINE STATE PRESS.
e. voMiTo.
Characteristics of the Yellow Fever,
Noted EpidemIcs Within Three
Centuries.

DIR. Joseph Jones, president of the Louisi-
lana board of health, an eminent physician.
made close study of the yellow fever and
its history, and the information he has fur
nished other boards of health is accepted as
authoritive. He says that it originally de-
yeloped in tropical and insular American,
and is dependent for its origin and spread
upon temperature Of not less than 70 de-
grees. 1t has two well defined stages. The
first extends from 80 to $50 hours, according
to the severity of the disease, and is marked
by rapid circulation and elevated tempera-
ture. The second stage is characterized by
depression of nervous and muscular powers,
and of the circulation, with slow and often
intermittent pulse, jaundice, diminution of
fibrin of the blood, capillary congestion,
passive hemorrhages from the mucous sur
faces, black yomit, fatty degeneration of the
heart and liver, and by commissions and de-
lirium. The disease usually occurs once in
lifetime.
The first trace of 1t was observed at the
end Of the 18th century or the first Of the 10th
at San Domingo and Porto Rico, and Column
bus, landing at the former place in 1893, lost
the greater number of his men within year
from the disease. 1t was described as
yellow and saffron or gold" From 1914 to
1886. when it appeared at Guadeloupe, there
is no record of any outbreak, but thencefor-
ward it occurred at regular intervals In the
18th century it spread along the coast Of
America as far as 81 south latitude and 42o
north latitude. appearing for the first time in
the country now known as the United States
at Boston in 1893 In the 18th century 1t ap-
peared on the west coast Of South America,
and extended even to Europe and Madigas-
car, the great commercial and military activ-
ity of the time favoring its spread. Eigteen
epidemics occurred at San Domingo within
the century. Early in 100 it reached New
York. At the beginning of this century it
reached Az north latitude in America, and
also prevailed in the Canary Islands, in
Legh0rn and the maritime provinces of Spain
and Portugal. In 1858, in 1867, in 1873 and
in 1878 it spread through cities, towns and
villages in the interior Of the continent.
During the century 1t relinQuished its hold
upon northern cities of the Atlantic coast,
and has been concentrated chiefly along the
borders of the south Atlantic and gulf coasts
Yellow fever has prevailed almost annually
as an epidemic at HAVANA from April to
December causing the largest number Of
deaths between May and August, and from
time immemorial It has been an epidemic at
Vera Cruz. 1t seldom goes outside Of mari
time regions. On the Atlantic coast it has
extended as far north as Portland. and
in the Mississippi valley as far as
Memphis.
AS its worst ravages nave occurred at in
tervals Of about 10 years, it is not unnatural
that much alarm is felt over the breaking out
of the disease in Florida, and it is apparent
that the strictest quarantine regulations
should be enforced at southern points, and
intercourse interrupted as much as possible
until frosts begin. The idea that the dis
ease may be escaped in mountainous regions
seems to be erroneous, for when the last ep-
idemic occurred in Florida and the people
fled to the mountains the disease broke out
among them there. That it can rise to great
attitudes is apparent from the fact that in
1854 and 1856 the most frightful scourge oc
CURED at CuZco, 1878 feet above the sea.
The spread of the disease is accelerated by a
density of population, and 1t is most fatal
among northern people transplanted to south.
ern soil.
The opinions concerning its chief charae.
teristics vary and may be classed under three
heads. First, that it is a disease induced
essentially and solely by contagion; second
that it is essentially Of epidemic origin
third. that being of epidemic origin, it be-
comes afterward contagious. 1t always
begins in the lowest and filthiest parts OF
towns, and it has been observed that the SUI.
prevention of storms, heavy rains or cold
weather puts an immediate check to its pro-
greSS.
Its anatomical characters are terrible
The features frequently become bl0ated, and
the skin of the face and upper part of the
trunk takes on a golden yellow color, while
the other parts of the body present mettled
purple and yellow, ecchymose appearance
Considerable quantities Of dark fluid blood
escape on sections of the muscles, becoming
bright scarlet on exposure. Bile has beer
found by analysis in the brain. The heart is
in state of acute fatty degeneration, this
being more extensive and rapid than in any
"a
congestion of dependent portions. The mu-
cous membrane of the stomach is frequently
congested, sOftened and eroded, often con-
tanning large portions of black vomit OF an
alkaline reaction, from the presence Of am
monia. The vomit contains red blood cor.
puscles. caused by hemorrhages into the
stomach, the gastric juices making the blood
black. The liver is yellow and bloodless, and
the kidneys become loaded with tat The
disease comes on with intense headache. rig
0rs, pains in the limbs and back. There is a
rapid rise of temperature, the eyes. are glis-
tening and diffused, and the victim suffers
intense thirst, nausea and vomiting. de
tears his clothes from him, and seeks cool
breezes and cool drinks and these things are
| almost always fatal.
DR.. Joseph Wilson, medical director of the
United States navy, shows, in report upon
the contagi0n as 1t came under his observa'
tlon at Pensacola, how the disease will cling
to ship, OF the commissioned officers ,ex,
| posed to the disease, all had it, and they died
at the rate of 461 to 1000. The germs were
kept in closed trunk three years and then
| generated the disease, and a sail brought
from New Orleans, when the disease was
prevalent there, conveyed the disease to 6
child who hid it In its folds in play veal
later. Children, however, suffer much les:
than grown people, and mothers will Otter
| expose them to the contagion when they art
little, so that they may avoid it when they
are big. DR.. Wilson feels sure, however
that person with ordinary clothing, ordi
nary baggage and ordinary instincts Of
cleanliness, cannot convey yellow fever tC
| people living in healthy locality.