Facts and observations relative to the nature and origin of the pestilential fever, which prevailed in this city, in 1793, 1797, and 1798 / By the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

  • College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and observations relative to the nature and origin of the pestilential fever, which prevailed in this city, in 1793, 1797, and 1798 / By the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    ( »4 ) agrees in its moft effential fymptoms, with what is called the Yellow Fever in the Weft Indies. Secondly. It has been regularly traced to the vicinity of fome veflel or veflels from the Weft Indies ; or to perfons or cloathing con- nected with them. The principal peculiarities of this fever are, its contagious nature, the progrefs of the fymp- toms, and the mortality confequent on it. To endeavour to prove the contagious nature of this difeafe would, in our opinion, be equally ufelefs as to prove the contagion of the plague. But in all our obfervation and practice, we know of no cafe where the autumnal bilious remittents of our country have proved contagious. We ^are aware that thefe are fometimes attended with violent and dangerous fymptoms, but this ftriking charaefteriftic of contagion being always abfent, they never become an objeCt of public dread or concern. The charaCteriftic fymptoms of the difeafe are, generally, a conftant fever for about three days, which, in dangerous cafes, is followed by a cefl'ation thereof. The concomitant fymptoms of yellownefs of the fkin, and vomiting of black matter, which are fo common in this fever, dp fometimes, though rarely occur in other difeafes. Tfte mortality that enfues is fuch as is common when peftilential difeafes prevail, The general ponfufion and defertion of the ftek, naturally add to the fatal confequences of thefe difeafes. As to the fecond point, the origin of the fever, ^ve may obferve, that until the year 1793» no