Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 3: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the AuthorRush, Benjamin
Science
Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 3: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the Author
Rush, Benjamin
Medicine; Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
From my constant exposure to the sources of the disease, my body became
highly impregnated with miasmata. My eyes were yellow, and sometimes a
yellowness was perceptible in my face. My pulse was preternaturally
quick, and I had profuse sweats every night. These sweats were so
offensive, as to oblige me to draw the bed-clothes close to my neck, to
defend myself from their smell. They lost their f[oe]tor entirely, upon
my leaving off the use of broth, and living entirely upon milk and
vegetables. But my nights were rendered disagreeable, not only by these
sweats, but by the want of my usual sleep, produced in part by the
frequent knocking at my door, and in part by anxiety of mind, and the
stimulus of the miasmata upon my system. I went to bed in conformity to
habit only, for it ceased to afford me rest or refreshment. When it was
evening I wished for morning; and when it was morning, the prospect of
the labours of the day, at which I often shuddered, caused me to wish for
the return of evening. The degrees of my anxiety may be easily conceived
when I add, that I had at one time upwards of thirty heads of families
under my care; among these were Mr. Josiah Coates, the father of eight,
and Mr. Benjamin Scull and Mr. John Morell, both fathers of ten children.
They were all in imminent danger; but it pleased God to make me the
instrument of saving each of their lives. I rose at six o'clock, and
generally found a number of persons waiting for advice in my shop or
parlour. Hitherto the success of my practice gave a tone to my mind,
which imparted preternatural vigour to my body. It was meat and drink to
me to fulfil the duties I owed to my fellow-citizens, in this time of
great and universal distress. From a hope that I might escape the
disease, by avoiding every thing that could excite it into action, I
carefully avoided the heat of the sun, and the coldness of the evening
air. I likewise avoided yielding to every thing that should raise or
depress my passions. But, at such a time, the events which influence the
state of the body and mind are no more under our command than the winds
or weather. On the evening of the 14th of September, after eight o'clock,
I visited the son of Mrs. Berriman, near the Swedes's church, who had
sent for me early in the morning. I found him very ill. He had been bled
in the forenoon, by my advice, but his pulse indicated a second bleeding.
It would have been difficult to procure a bleeder at that late hour. I
therefore bled him myself. Heated by this act, and debilitated by the
labours of the day, I rode home in the evening air. During the ensuing
night I was much indisposed. I rose, notwithstanding, at my usual hour.
At eight o'clock I lost ten ounces of blood, and immediately afterwards
got into my chair, and visited between forty and fifty patients before
dinner. At the house of one of them I was forced to lie down a few
minutes. In the course of this morning's labours my mind was suddenly
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