The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06

Its CAaracter 2sd the Faiiseaes
Current About Id.

1t mas been frequently aSserSsu 1NAt sS
low fever would destroy more Of our sol
.iisrs than yro...d the arm, OF the Span
iaris, and that Spain could look on while
the yellow jack did the work OF war.
Here it might be asked. how about the
Spaniards? All this talk about yellow
fever might be put down In great part
as nonsense. This fever In no more 20 De
dreaded than other maiarial diseases thar
spring from the same cause. Yellow tever
Is a typical malarial disease. 1t occurs
In limited districts where certain eomhi-
nations of circumstances prevail, namely.
Oh Continuous high temperature OF ABOUT
SIS degrees for one or two months 90 ex-
cessive moisture in the atmosphere,
90 vicinity to ocean or to a large Ilss1
emptying into it. This fever prevails only
during certain Of the warmer months. ana
when II becomes epidemic 1t Is evidently
due TO a miasma, as TO the nature OF which
we have as yet no positive Information.
The medical profession. however. from
analogy classes II as miasm, and ike
certain other diseases, springs from micro
seoplc vegetable organism. Strange tnat
all the places visited by this fever, WITHIN
the history OF medicine, are situated upon
or near the Atlantic coast. II has never
visited the Pacific coast or either ASA OK
America: nor has 10 ever been seen IN
the interior towns OF any continent "hich
were not situated upon large rivers empty
a.
fever is generally very abrupt, thousn
in a majority of cases il nay be precedeo
for a few days by a general indispositloh:
languor wandering pains and occasioua.
shiyerings The attack Is usually ushe.eu
In by a chill Of some violence, AFTER wute"
the fever follows. The intensity ana oura-
ton of the fever vary considerably. In
-nanv cases the heat Of the skin seems
hut little raised, and the fever appears OUT
of proportion to the severity or the gem
eral symptoms. During the fever tne
thirst is extreme, the tongue IS hea'ny
coated, though perhaps moist, ,aeIe
usually nausea and vomiting, Win slea.
pain in the small OF the Dach, rau.a.in -
down the thighs, and wandering pains IA
various parts OF the body. The eyes are
Redeemed and watery-a very Constant
mark of the disease. The bowels are usu-
ailv constipated; and there Is oehriun. AZ
severe cases. The fever. with aceosrp -.
ing symptoms, continues TOT seVsfai noa..'
and sometimes two or three Gays. a. VAC
In tha severity Of the symphonic, IKE inc
rem;ssion of remittent fever. All the
symn.oms NAV subside, though CONSIDER
ah,a fe,ar may remain. This CONDITION 10
ca,,ad the .calm'' At this stage UT re-
mission the yellowness or the shin ~.
comes quite marked. In MID eases -.
severity of the symptoms may &ot te
covers However, In the majority OF cases
tbera occurs the dreaded collapse. DuI-
;n, th,s neriod there Is extreme pfostra.
tion OF the nervous system anu se
ash,,,tv of the muscles. The pulse ~
rand. Irregular and almost NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The skin Is intensely yellow. Inc Ionsue
brown and parched. delirium' consusaons
- observation-disclosures mark the impairment OF
.ha mind At this stage occurs the oisck
,ror,it and generally death. The blacK
,omit consists OF blood that has escaped
,rto The stomach and has been cnapseu
from red to black by the action OF ING
stomach Juices Sometimes blood issues
from the eyes and ears, and from arouno
the finger nails.
Up to this time no treatment mas zen
aisrovered which shortens the duration
- Tho attack or changes its course with
anv certainty, and mo- one treatmen, IS
worthy OF general adoption. The yellow
faver like other infectious diseases. Is
self-limited.
Tn the msider cases no active measures
are required for treatment. the paueht
must be kept quiet. the diet must De iighe
and nutritious Special care should pe
1,vsr m ventilation. During the height
Of the fever apply cold applications to the
head. frequently sponge the body with
lnke-warm water, give cold and enerves-
cling drinks. In malignant cases sponge
the body with hot water. use zee IN
the mouth. mustard plasters on the stom-
ach and abdomen In case OF collapse
brandy or alcohol should be used 10 fuo
the body and also given ihteruaiis III Ao-
eral quantities.
During the great epidemic OF 1878 the
total deaths from yellow fever numbered
1881 OF this number 3,9T died In the
city Of New Orleans from July Il 10 Sep
tembe- 26 I passed through the cpl
denies of 1873. 1915 and 1873. and had the
fever In 1878. In 1878 myself and family
we're stricken. I was in Havana az an
officer of our government IN the early
SIXTIES when II was raging, but was not
attacked believe that fear OF disease
often occasions an attack, and In such
cases It is usually fatal
The yellow fever is no more to be
dreaded than any other disease, IL intel
ligence and sanitary conditions are In
yoked With proper sanitary and medical
precautions our soldiers may be landed IN
Cuba at any season without fear OF
ravaee from yellow fever. First. cloth
ing and foo6: then camps that are ele-
waited, and where drainage, II necessary.
can be applied. Follow this with strict
sanitary rules, and reasonat e amount
of daily exercise In drill. Poor food
should not be allowed in soldiers camps
anywhere but especially should they b.
free from such in the tropics. Another
essential thing Is good water. Our SOL
d,ers when landed In Cuba or the Philip
nine islands should not unnecessarily be
expossd TO the sun. or made 20 take long
marches until they become Injured to the
hea. and SUMS rays. With these precau-
tons and enforcement they need not be
afraid OF yellow jack" and know they
are not afraid Of the Spanisrd.
Would not this he a good time for the
people OF this state to honor Commodore
Dewey and hts flagship. the Olympia. and
thus his whole squadron. by holding pub
lsc demonstration 20 show our appreciation
% his great victory. At these gatherings
let steps be taken TO provide for a suita-
BILE memorial The eommodore's flagship
was named for our capital city. Let
wash!ngtouians show TO their country
men and the world their love Of country
and high appreciation o0 the gallant
Dewey and his sailors
p. p. CARROLL
ONE SOLDIER DEAD.