The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-09-06
THE DREAD DISEASE.
Something About the Yellow Fever.

The DREAD UlSEaSE.
Something About the Yellow Fever.
The yellow fever scare is abroad in
the land.
Further down South where the disease
is frequent visitor it is known as "old
yellow jack, The appellation is sort
of ghastly joke, ard it is used much like
frightened child calls the huge New
Foundland dog ugly names while the
tears of fear yet tremble on its eyelids.
Yellow fever never comes twice in
exactly the sane form. The symp-
toms are unlike, and the progress ofthe
disease is not the same. The length of
the disease, however, never changes
that is, it takes the sane time to run its
course.
In 1867 when it visited Southern cities
the FIRST symptom felt by patients, was q
severe pain in the head and a burning
feeling over the eyes as if they had been
scalded. In 1871 slight chill was the
frat warning of ''yellow jack" In 1873
aching bones and an excruciating back
ache first told Of the approach of the
disease.
The cure for the disease was different
with each season. Once champagne gave
the proper relief, another time hot tea
and blankets was the remedy, and once
cracked ice and fans we're freely used.
WHAT. is YELLOW FEvER?.
Physicians who have had lifelong
experience with yellow fever have not
yet reached a satisfactory conclusion as
what the disease really is. DR.. Jerome
Cochran, of Mobile, a man of great
learning and a medical scientist, has
stated that the disease is a blood poison,
aud originates from germ in the shape
oflivipg amimacu'e which impregnRtes
the atmosphere and is breathed into the
system.
This theory isdoubted by many doctors
who have had considerable experience
with the malady.
It lis matter Of dispute as to whether
or not the disease is infectious. Whole
families have taken the disease, one after
another, aud yellow fever under such
circumstances appeared to beas conta-
gious as small po1. Then, again, mem.
ber ola large family would take it and not
another member of the household
be. stricken, while some person in
neighborhood remote from the disease
would have q severe case.
FEAR KILLS THE PATIENT.
Whenever a patient, stricken with
yellow fever, becomes frightened death
is almost certain to follow. The reason
of this is due, probably, to the prostration
which accompanies the fever.
People who use alcoholic stimulants
rarely every recover if attacked.
Men who smoke great deal are not.
apt to take it, and DR.. Cochran, alludiug
to this, while speaking of his germ
theory, says the tobacco smoke kills the
germs before they are breathed into the
lungs.
Full-blooded negroes are exempt to
great degree, and even mulatoes are
not as apt as Caucassians to take the
disease.
People do not have the disease twice
unless they move away and then re-
turn to the place where they first bad
it.
HOW TO AVOID TAXING IT.
It is not disputed that yellow fever can
do no harm to those who do not sleep
wherein the disease is. In infected cities
families move into the country, and the
men go to the city after the sun isup
and the dew is dried from the grass, and
work during the day.. returning to the
country before sunset.
The fever ruus Its course in thirty.si1
hours, unless there is relapse. When
the fever leaves the patient, which usual
ly occurs about twelve o'clock at night,
and there is a feeling ofgreat prostratioD,
recovery only depends upon few days
of careful nnrsing; if the patient feels
perfectly we'll and talks about getting up
when the crisis is reached, it will not be
out. t.of place to order coffin.
THE YELLOW FEVER FLY.
There is q superstition in the seacoast
certain 10 be a "yelllow fever year." The
cities that when certain kind of winged
insect makes its appearance there is
insect is known as the yellow fever fly,
and it looks much like species of flying
ant.
When the fever makes its appearance
in July, which is considered very early,
the type will not be very fatal. The
later it comes the more malignant it will
be. A heavy frost is the only thing
which will check the spread of the
disease. "Frsst kills the germs, Essays
Dr.. Cochran.
There is danger, however, of the
disease showing itself in midwinter if
infected clothing has been kept in q
warm, close place. Refugees from the
fever always have everything in their
houses fumigated before returning home.
THE BLACK vOMTT.
DR.. George A. Ketchum, of Mobile,
has laid down the rule that black vomit
always kills, that is, that the patient
cannot recover when black vomit makes
its appearance. "For," says DR.. Ketch.
um, "black vomit is the inner coating of
tbs stomach, which has mortified and
given away"
Other physicians claim that black
yomit is nothing but coagulated blood,
which comes from the stomach, aud that