Observations upon the origin of the malignant bilious, or yellow fever in Philadelphia, and upon the means of preventing it: addressed to the citizens of Philadelphia / By Benjamin Rush.

  • Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813.
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations upon the origin of the malignant bilious, or yellow fever in Philadelphia, and upon the means of preventing it: addressed to the citizens of Philadelphia / By Benjamin Rush. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    duces the yellow fever exifls independently of fmell, and is probably not formed till after that procefs of fermentation is ended, which evolves the fetor from putrefying animal and vegetable fubftances. This fetor, like the rattle of the fnake, feems to have been intended to give us no¬ tice of our danger, and to remove, or fly from the filth which emits it. It is poflible it may in fome cafes predominate fo much in its a&ion upon the fyflem over that matter which produces the fever, as to defend the body from its morbid efle&s. It is thus, the constant flimulus of fpirituous liquors has been found efie&ual in fome inflances in pre- ferving habitual drunkards from the yellow fever. Is the Yellow Fever a Contagious Difeafe ? To anfwer this queflion, it will be neceflary to remark, that contagion is of two kinds. • i ift. It is fecreted as in the fmall pox and meafles, in which flate it a<5ts uniformly and without the aid of exciting caufes, upon perfons of all ages and conflitutions who have not been previoufly ex- pofed to it, and is not controuled by the obvious changes in the weather. 2dly.