Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 4: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the AuthorRush, Benjamin
History
Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 4: The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the Author
Rush, Benjamin
Medicine; Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
For the introduction of several of those new surgical remedies, and for
the discovery and improvement of others, the citizens of Philadelphia are
indebted to Dr. Physick. They are likewise indebted to him and Dr.
Griffitts for many of the new and successful modes of practice, in the
diseases that have been mentioned. Even the few remedies that have been
suggested by the author of these inquiries, owe their adoption and
usefulness chiefly to the influence of those two respectable and popular
physicians.
Before I dismiss this part of our subject, I have only to add, that since
the cure and extraction of the teeth have become a distinct branch of the
profession of medicine, several diseases which have arisen from them,
when decayed, have been detected and cured[68].
[68] The late Mr. Andrew Spence was the first regular bred dentist that
settled in Philadelphia. There are now several well educated
gentlemen in the city of that profession.
We have thus taken a comparative view of the medical theories and
remedies of former and modern times, and of their different influence
upon human life. To exhibit the advantages of the latter over the former,
I shall mention the difference in the number of deaths in three
successive years, at a time when the population of the city and suburbs
was supposed to amount to 30,000 souls, and in three years, after the
population exceeded double that number.
Between the 25th of December, 1771, and the 25th of December, 1772, there
died 1291 persons.
Between the same days of the same months, in 1772 and 1773, there died
1344 persons.
Within the same period of time, between 1773 and 1774, the deaths
amounted to 1021, making in all 3,656. I regret that I have not been able
to procure the returns of deaths in years prior to those which have been
mentioned. During the three years that have been selected, no unusually
mortal diseases prevailed in the city. The measles were epidemic in 1771,
but were not more fatal than in common years.
Between the 25th of December, 1799, and the 25th of December, 1800, there
died 1525 persons.
Between the same days of the same months, in the years 1801 and 1802,
there died 1362 persons.
Within the same period of time, between 1802 and 1803, the deaths
amounted to 1796, making in all 4,883.
Upon these returns it will be proper to remark, that several hundreds of
the deaths, in 1802 and 1803, were from the yellow fever, and that many
of them were of strangers. Of 68 persons, who were interred in the
Swedes' church-yard alone, one half were of that description of people.
Deducting 500 from both those causes of extra-mortality in the three
years, between 1799 and 1803, the increase of deaths above what they were
in the years 1771 and 1774 is but 727. Had diseases continued to be as
mortal as they were thirty years ago, considering the present state of
our population, the number of deaths would have been more than 7,312.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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