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
"The stomach of those who died early in the disease was always
contracted; but in those who died at a more advanced period of it, where
extravasations appeared, it was distended with air.
"P. S. PHYSICK,
"J. CATHRALL."
I have before remarked, that these dissections were made early in the
disease, and that Dr. Annan attended a dissection of a body at
Bush-hill, some time afterwards, in which an unusual turgescence appeared
in the vessels of the brain.
Thus far have I delivered the history of the yellow fever, as it affected
the human body with sickness and death. I shall now mention a few of
those circumstances of public and private distress which attended it. I
have before remarked, that the first reports of the existence of this
fever were treated with neglect or contempt. A strange apathy pervaded
all classes of people. While I bore my share of reproach for "terrifying
our citizens with imaginary danger," I answered it by lamenting "that
they were not terrified enough." The publication from the college of
physicians soon dissipated this indifference and incredulity. Fear or
terror now sat upon every countenance. The disease appeared in many parts
of the town, remote from the spot where it originated; although, for a
while, in every instance, it was easily traced to it. This set the city
in motion. The streets and roads leading from the city were crowded with
families flying in every direction for safety to the country. Business
began to languish. Water-street, between Market and Race-streets, became
a desert. The poor were the first victims of the fever. From the sudden
interruption of business they suffered for a while from poverty as well
as from disease. A large and airy house at Bush-hill, about a mile from
the city, was opened for their reception. This house, after it became the
charge of a committee appointed by the citizens on the 14th of September,
was regulated and governed with the order and cleanliness of an old and
established hospital. An American and French physician had the exclusive
medical care of it after the 22d of September.
The disease, after the second week in September, spared no rank of
citizens. Whole families were confined by it. There was a deficiency of
nurses for the sick, and many of those who were employed were unqualified
for their business. There was likewise a great deficiency of physicians,
from the desertion of some, and the sickness and death of others. At one
time there were but three physicians who were able to do business out of
their houses, and at this time there were probably not less than 6000
persons ill with the fever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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