A brief account of the epidemical fever which lately prevailed in the city of New York : with the different proclamations, reports and letters of Gov. Jay, Gov. Mifflin, the Health Committee of New York, &c. upon the subject : to which is added, an accurate list of the names of those who have died of the disease, from July 29, to Nov. 1 / by M.L. Davis.

  • Davis, Matthew L. (Matthew Livingston), 1773-1850.
Date:
1795
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief account of the epidemical fever which lately prevailed in the city of New York : with the different proclamations, reports and letters of Gov. Jay, Gov. Mifflin, the Health Committee of New York, &c. upon the subject : to which is added, an accurate list of the names of those who have died of the disease, from July 29, to Nov. 1 / by M.L. Davis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ftools, which were now perfectly black; ronvujfive motions of the fuperior extremities, and ihortly death terminated the fcene. The body now put on every appearance of immediate putrefaction. In one perfon whom I had an opportunity of vifiting, attacked in this alarming manner, the lower extremities were almoft black ; the evacuations involuntary ; the parts to which bliflers were applied, were feemingly mortified ; the blood oozed out of every part where it could find vent, and in fact he was a perfect mafs of putrefaction, before the vital functions were fuf- pendedV It may not be improper to remark, that a very great dif- erenceof opinion prevailed among the phyficians, both as to the difeafe and the treatment of it. Another circum- ftance which engaged much of the public attention was the appearance of an advertifement in the newfpapers, againft the mode of treating the difeafe by the practiti- oners in general, and challenging them to defend their practice. The author was Mr. Alexander Cuthill, tayior. Which of the parties were right is not my province,to determine; but to ftate facts is my object. ]n fome inflances the doctors pofitively refufed vifiting a patient who had been feen during his indifpofition by Mr. Cuthill; and in others difcontinued their vifits on ng that he alfo came to the houfe where the fick perfon lay. I leave the public to draw what inference they pleafe from thefe facts. A general opinion has prevailed, among medical cha- racters in particular, that the prcfent epidemic has made its appearance in a greater or lei's degree, among us du- ring the autumns of the laft three, or four years. Thai a malignant fever did rage here, during the months of September and Oct. of .1791, is a fact, and on compa- ring the fymptoms with thofe of the prefent difeafe, they will be found not dimmilar. It is worthy of no- tliatthc fever in 1791 firft made its appearance MS. OfGeoraetSivi .