The Portland daily press., 1898-07-28

sands ot Lives--I5 Soeds Persons I'M
u.etl tn t'.s .c.opics TO Thrive and 1t
Has Always Plenty of Such Raw
Material.
{New York SUM-
Yell3w fevaT Of the Tropics is an acute
specific FOYER. Ooce developed it cannot
be mistaken foe anything else. It is ln'
fictitious and ordinarily is not deemed
contagious 4 temperature of eighty de-
gress and upward is necessary. Under
certain atmospheric conditions, Dependent
upon great heat and moisture, conolelons
not thoroughly understood, Its poison IS
Intensified and epidemics result. Its
poison IS a very active and subtle agent
easily transmissible.
In many localities it is endemic, due
almost wholly to Spanish and Spanish
American Indifference to sanitary sur
roundings and a keen realization OF the
value of human life. Its chief culture
nsds are Havana and Santiago in Cuba,
Vera Cruz in Mexico, San Juan do Porto
Rico, Colon and Panama on the lsthmus
OF Panama. The disease is part and par
eel of the seahoard cities named.
It's nearest habitat is Cuba. Cuba has
It all the time, but its chief centre of ac-
tiyity is Havana, where it becomes an ep-
idemio yearly in June, July and August.
when sufficient unacclimated material is
present. When very active in Havana
during midsummer it is almost quiescent
ii ca stern Cuba. In November, Decem-
bsr and January it takes on its greatest
activity in Santiago. Such is the ordi-
r nary state of Cuba regarding yellow fe.
vsr. At all times yellow fever may be
found in some Cuban port. Also in the
oldest cities, where pestiiential conditions
ara very marked.
Its period of incubation or Matching in
the human body by some has been fixed
at four to six days after landing in an in.
fected centre, or having been exposed to
its poison through infected material
Authenticated cases are known where
the period of incubation has been fifteen
days. Arbitrary laws may apply to some
things, but the value is nil in tropical
yellow fever. AS general statement
she tropical belt They have kept it &C
tive in Cuba for over 100 years. Men in
full health, of good life and habits, fur
nish the greater part Of its victims. The
newcomer in tie tropics constantly comes
under new conditions, both natural and
physical. The natural conditions become
tax on an organism previously i'll full
health. In temperate climates there is an
eouipoise, the internal organs doing their
own work under normal conditions. In
the tropics changes in the tissue must
follow if the individual is to stay in them
and become wholly acclimated or adapted
to the new conditions. The nice balance
CT power is upset. Many unduly expose
themselves to the scorching sunlight.
Others expose themselves to the heavy
dews. Many indulge in the fully matured
Juicy fruits of the tropics, thereby I'M
duly upsetting the already overtaxed in
ternal machinery. A fever of some kind
is mere question Of weeks or months.
1t may be simple malarial fever-a per-
nicious malarial feyer-or the dread vel
low jack.
The several elements referred to gener-
ally result in marked constipation-a con-
dition always associated with yellow fe-
YER. Other symptoms are in order When
q physician is sent for the sick man has a
red face, as scarlet as boiled lobster.
There Is the same scarlet fever tint over
the whole skin Of the body. There are
severe Headaches, generally across the
forehead; pain low down in the small of
the back, frequently of an excruciating
kind. No position gives any rest. In
quiry develops the fact that we'll
marked chill precedes the headache and
general malaria. The length and severity
of the chill have marked significance.
Intensity of 1t means a troublesome case.
Briefly stated, such are the general
symptoms leading up to case of yellow
fever. Minor details are avoided. The
chief landmarks are ample for the purpose
in hand A few cases show a different
kind of invasion or seizure. They are at
tended by sudden nausea and dizziness.
That greatly alarms the newcomer. They
pass, to be followed by the usual sy1np-
toms, as stated. The intense suffusion or
redness Of the face, the intolerable head
ache, the boring pain in the back near
the bullock, and the mans statements
generally make up the elements necessary
Ear instant treatment. 1t may be an in
sense malaIial fever. Be that as it may,
early and instant treatment may mean
life saved.
As between sharp Inalarial attack in
new conner. be it simple intermittent or
bilious remittent and yellow fever, qufn
Inc and laxatives must be the agents in
clearing ND doubts. Laxatives and quin-
inc have specific and well known ac-
ton. If they fail to reduce the fever in
ten or twelve hours, both having been
given in fall tropical doses, then the yell
low fever expert knows just what is
ahead. What faces him is Ii condition
and not "a theory. and much time has
been savsG.
Ike temperature in the first stage is
from l0a TO ia degrees. Some cases reach
I35 degrees and RECEIVER. Feyers ut 106 and
I0T degrees as rule are atal in the trop-
ics. If toe case pas as through the first
CT "initiai fayer" and enters on tie "stage
OF CAIN" as it is called. thsre is "a slight
fail Ia temperature, with marked les
sen;ng in All the symptoms. In stage of
secondary fersr" It soon runs up to the
maximum IL tn0 first stage Necessarily
with the increased fever the classic syInp-
raIns all become intensified. 4he ''psriod
90 f,Sfan is yaYy tiacrJatiya