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
Several families, who shut up their front and back doors and windows, and
avoided going out of their houses except to procure provisions, escaped
the disease.
I have taken some pains to ascertain, whether any class of tradesmen
escaped the fever, or whether there was any species of labour which
protected from it. The result of my inquiries is as follows: Three
butchers only, out of nearly one hundred who remained in the city, died
with the disease. Many of them attended the markets every day. Two
painters, who worked at their business during the whole time of the
prevalence of the fever, and in exposed situations, escaped it. Out of
forty scavengers who were employed in collecting and carrying away the
dirt of the streets, only one was affected by the fever and died. Very
few grave-diggers, compared with the number who were employed in that
business, were infected; and it is well known, that scarcely an instance
was heard of persons taking the disease, who were constantly employed in
digging cellars. The fact is not new that grave-diggers escape malignant
fevers. It is taken notice of by Dr. Clark.
It was said by some physicians in the public papers, that the
neighbourhood of the grave-yards was more infected than other parts of
the city. The reverse of this assertion was true in several cases, owing
probably to the miasmata being diluted and weakened by its mixture with
the air of the grave-yards: for this air was pure, compared with that
which stagnated in the streets.
It was said further, that the disease was propagated by the inhabitants
assembling on Sundays for public worship; and, as a proof of this
assertion, it was reported, that the deaths were more numerous on Sundays
than on other days; occasioned by the infection received on one Sunday
producing death on the succeeding first day of the week. The register of
the deaths shows that this was not the case. I am disposed to believe
that fewer people sickened on Sundays, than on any other day of the week;
owing to the general rest from labour, which I have before said was one
of the exciting causes of the disease. From some facts to be mentioned
presently, it will appear probable, that places of public worship, in
consequence of their size, as well as of their being shut up during the
greatest part of the week, were the freest from miasmata of any houses in
the city. It is agreeable to discover in this, as well as in all other
cases of public and private duty, that the means of health and moral
happiness are in no one instance opposed to each other.
The disease, which was at first confined to Water-street, soon spread
through the whole city. After the 15th of September, the atmosphere of
every street in the city was charged with miasmata; and there were few
citizens in apparent good health, who did not exhibit one or more of the
following marks of their presence in their bodies.
1. A yellowness in the eyes, and a sallow colour upon their skin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account