Remarks on the origin and mode of progression of yellow fever in Philadelphia based on the occurrence of the disease in that city and at the Lazaretto, in the months of July, August, and September, 1870 / by R. La Roche.

  • La Roche, R. (René), 1795-1872.
Date:
[1871]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the origin and mode of progression of yellow fever in Philadelphia based on the occurrence of the disease in that city and at the Lazaretto, in the months of July, August, and September, 1870 / by R. La Roche. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/98 (page 10)
    narrator of the event was as well acquainted with the yellow fever and as capable of observing correctly every circumstance connected with the disease as Dr. Dutroulau himself. Much to the same effect and as entitled to our respect is the case of the brig Fabricius, of Marseilles, in which the yellow fever broke out at sea before it had reached Fort Royal, during the sickiy season of 1818. At the time of her arrival there the ship had several sick on board. The dis- tance at which this vessel was fron^ the coast at the time of the outbreak of the disease, forbids the idea suggested by Keraudren that the infection was due to the wafting of the effluvia from the shore. Again, we read of the Columbia, which arrived at Marseilles from Rhode Island in 1802, with the yellow fever on board, and of the Nicolino, which suffered at that place in 1821 from the same cause. In neither of these vessels could the disease have arisen from any but local causes. As regards the former especiall}'^, tlie idea of a foreign source is inadmissible; for the Columbia had sailed from Rhode Island, where, as we know well, the disease did not prevail at the time of her departure. In the same connection the case of the U. S. steamer Water Witch may be cited. This vessel arrived at the Philadelphia laza- retto on the last day of September, 1860, from a cfuise on the south side of the Island of Cuba. During the passage the Water Witch lost two mgn with decided and unmistakable symptoms of yellow fever, and, on reaching the quarantine station, landed five cases, four with a mild but well-marked form of the disease, while the other, who at his admission in the hospital had reached the fifth day of the attack, exhibited a combination of symptoms of a most formidable character. The Water Witch had lain for some time at anchor at the distance of about a mile from the port of Cienfuegos. While there, boats were sent to the town morning and evening each day—in the morning for jDrovisions, and in the evening to convfey the officers. No j^ellow fever prevailed at that place or among the shipping, which, unlike the Water Witch, were anchored at the wharves, and consequently close to the town. No sickness occurred on board of the latter vessel, except a few cases of ei^he- meral fevers (calenturas) presenting none of the characteristic symptoms of, and in no way to be confounded with, yellow fever. The vessel next went to the Isle of Pines, the healthiest spot in all Cuba, where, so far as I can learn, yellow fever seldom if ever originates, and where certainly it did not prevail at that time. There, however, the disease broke out in the vessel, and, after the occurrence of several cases, the captain determined to bring his vessel to the United States, in order thereby to arrest the furthpr