An Account of the rise, progress, and termination, of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in Philadelphia. Briefly stated from authentic documents.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE MALIGNANT FEVER, Lately prevalent in Philadelphia.

AT the period when the Malignant Fe|ver made its appearance in Philadel|phia, the City, by a series of pros|perity in commerce, had grown to a state of opulence not often recorded in the historic page. Her inhabitants indulged themselves in all the gratifications of luxury and dissipation, to be procured in this West|ern hemisphere. Her streets were crouded by the gay carriages of pleasure, going and returning in every direction; new and ele|gant buildings were seen rising in every quarter; and her port was thronged with shipping from every trading country in Eu|rope, and both the Indies: like Tyre of old

her merchants were princes, and her traffickers were the honourable of the earth.

This uncommon slow of pros|perity had its too common effect. The ci|tizens too generally had forgotten the Fountain from whom all their blessings flowed; and impiously said or seemed to say

by thy great wisdom and by thy traf|fic, hast thou encreased thy riches.

By the unfortunate divisions in St. Domin|go, one of the French Islands, many of its in|habitants, to avoid the fire and sword of their stronger antagonists, had fled from their homes, and, about the time the contagion took place in Philadelphia, a large number of them sought refuge among us. Before they had left their own burning and bloody shores their hearts had been appalled by scenes of the most atrocious cruelty, and by the sight of numerous bodies of the slain which had remained unburied for many days: so that the air must have become too polluted for healthful respiration, had they been per|mitted to stay. Many of these unfortunate refugees came in vessels exceedingly croud|ed; as well as poorly provided with the means necessary to preserve health: had they even

left their homes in a state of soundness: some of course arrived sickly.

About this time, likewise, the licensed plunderers of the Ocean, belonging to the same nation, brought in their prizes for con|demnation and sale. One of these freeboot|ers, belonging to Marseilles in France, (the hot bed of pestilential disease) after a leng|thy circuitous cruize, came into our port, and brought with her the Flora, a prize ship, both in a sickly condition. HERE the in|habitants have generally agreed to fix the origin of the late dreadful visitation. And in this opinion they have been confirmed by the report of two accurate observers, Phy|sicians, who had visited the sick in the ear|liest, and every succeeding stage of the disease.

From all the evidence we have been able to collect,

say they, "the dis|order made it; first appearance in water street, at Richard Denny's lodging house, who kept an ordinary frequented by a num|ber of Frenchmen who had lately arrived in some of the suspected vessels."

"Mrs. Parkinson, who lodged at Mr. Denny's, took the disease on the third and di|ed on the seventh of August, two French

lads had taken lodgings at Denny's, a few days before the death of Mrs, Parkinson, one of whom was soon after taken ill and died. Immediately after his death, Mr. Denny's daughter says the other one took lodgings higher up the street, and died soon after. Mr. and Mrs. Denny, and two of their next door neighbours, also died of the same fever, about two weeks after the French lads. Among the next succeeding victims were Mrs. Lamaigre and Mr. Miller in the fame neighbourhood, and almost every case which occurred for the first two weeks could be traced to the same source."

"From a comparative view of all the preceding circumstances—from the conta|gious nature of the disease, and from the re|semblance of its leading symptoms to those of the yellow fever of the West-Indies, there can be no doubt that the contagion, which gave rise to the disease here, was imported. And from its occurring in that part of wa|ter street, in a few days after the Amelia, Sans Culottes, and Flora arrived, there is the strongest presumption, a presumption amounting almost to a certainty, that it was introduced and cummunicated by some of the crew or passengers, belonging to one or other of the said vessels."

"That the fever originated from the rotten coffee, as has been suggested, is altogether chimerical."

"That the dry and warm state of our atmosphere had no share in the generation of the disease is reduced to a certain|ty, from the disease being at first confined to a few particular persons, and in that par|ticular part of water street near to the suspected vessels; from its being communicat|ed from those to others, and so on, in suc|cession."

Such hath been the report of Doctors Currie and Cathrall, men of extensive skill and observation. But this opinion hath been combatted by a physician of very considerable reputation and practice, who hath offered some reasons to the public for dissenting on this occasion, from the above mentioned gentlemen, as well as most others of their profession. He supposes that the contagion was generated from the stench of a Cargo of damaged coffee, which had been landed near the same place where it made its first appearance; on a suppositi|on that vegetable putrefaction might pro|duce such a disease. This gentleman has

deservedly gained much credit by his noble and humane attention to unhappy patients of the contagion, during its most perilous stages; but the majority of his fellow citi|zens think that he has carried the spirit of discovery too far in tracing its origin.

It is certain that neither the same disease, nor any other similar to it, has ever visited, this city at any preceding time since it was founded, but what has been undeniably traced to a foreign source. The city police, perhaps, was never better administered; nor its cleanliness more attended to; and if vegetable putrefaction alone were suffici|ent to produce so dire a contagion; surely in the lapse of one hundred years it might have happened, and been ascertained be|yond a contradiction. The cleanliness of our streets and wharves has been more neg|lected in former times than lately; they have, also, been more incommoded by pu|trid vegetable substances; and we have had every diversification of seasons, wet and dry, hot and cold, that could assist in pro|ducing such an effect: and as the learned Doctor has not produced sufficient reasons to convince a number of his fellow citizens

of the justness of his opinion in this instance, he must indulge them in believing that the deleterious miasmata was introduced from abroad, and from the sick from on board one of the three vessels before mentioned.

There are some indeed, who go so far as to say that if particular men had done their duty; and had not betrayed more in|dulgence to French cruizers, than genuine friendship for this city, we should never have had occasion to dispute on so sorrow|ful a theme.

From whatever fountain we trace this poi|soned stream it has destroyed the lives of many thousand citizens and some of the most distinguished worth. Many widows and orphans are left to deplore the loss of hus|bands and parents: at the acme of its pre|dominance, the universal complexion of the city was like Ezekiels roll, inscribed from one end to the other with characters of lament|ation and woe.

A particular account of the various symp|toms of the late malignant fever have been described with great precision and perspi|cuity by the ingenious Dr. William Cur••rie,

in a piece published in an early stage of the disease. From which the following brief abstract is taken and inserted, for the infor|mation of our readers.

"THE patient first complains of weariness and weakness, which, in a few hours, is suc|ceeded by a sense of chillness, and an op|pressive dull pain and giddiness in the head, an oppressive weight and stricture about the breast, particularly at the region of the heart, as if the space was too narrow for its pulsations. The breathing is performed with quickness and uneasiness.

These symptoms in most cases, are soon succeeded by a frequent propensity to puke, and this by a quick, full, but soft and irre|gular pulse; great heat about the head, neck, and breast; the skin generally hot and moist about the neck and forehead, but dry, and but little increase of heat about the feet and legs.

IF, to these symptoms we add an extra|ordinary prostration of strength or sudden debility in the animal functions of the body, we have a perfect description of the fever

under consideration, from the first day of its attack to the third of its progress.

WHEN no amendment takes place by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or 4th day, most of the recited symptoms become more distressing and alarming, with the pulse low and sunk. Frequent vomiting of matter resembling coffee grounds in co|lour and consistence, generally occurs before the disease terminates, when it proves mor|tal, together with a cadaverous appearance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the countenance, succeeded by a deep yel|low or leaden colour of the skin and nails; the eyes become suffused with blood, and the countenance appears like that of one strangled; but no signs of jaundice appear, either in the urine or feces. In some cases, a profuse discharge of blood from the nose, concludes the catastrophe. A hiccup is a very frequent but not a constant symptom, nor does vomiting always occur. The tongue is seldom very foul or dry, nor does the patient always crave drink. His intel|lects, though always confused, are seldom so much disordered as to amount to a deli|rium. Subsultus tendinum are very rare

When the disease terminates favourably,

the symptoms generally abate on the third or fourth day, accompanied by a profuse sweat. When it ends fatally, it is general|ly between the fifth and eighth day, though some have survived the tenth and died af|terwards.

The characteristic or leading symptoms of the disease, as has already been obser|ved, are sudden debility in the voluntary powers, oppressive ••ain, giddiness and sense of fulness and distention in the vessels of the forepart of the head, and an oppressive weight, or an inexpressible sensation of tightness about the heart and lungs, accom|panied with excruciating anguish and rest|lessness."

As soon as the contagion had reached the central streets, it spread itself with dreadful rapidity on all sides. In the course of Au|gust there were more than three hundred funerals; towards the close of the month there were twenty buried in a day. Dur|ing the major part of the time the thermo|ter stood from 80 to 90 in the afternoons; the sky was mostly fair, and the winds ge|nerally westerly. From the 25th. to the

end of the month the weather was cloudy and some rain fell; during these days the mortallity encreased.

In September its malignance increased amazingly: fear impressed the stoutest hearts; the dread of infection increased with the the infection itself. Many peo|ple declined visiting their nearest relatives that were sick. The most humane seemed to have forgotten their humanity. The utmost skill in the healing art was employed in vain. Every family seemed to hug itself in a state of seclusion from its nearest neighbour. Indeed in some few sorrowful instances, all the warm "charities of father, son and brother," were palsied by the cold hand of death.

At this crisis, a crisis of inconceivable consternation, many thousands flew into the country, as choice or chance directed; and in our own state they generally met with a sympathetic reception; the farmer opened his hospitable doors to receive the affrighted fugitives, and condoled in their sufferings. A few there were who allowed

their fears to overpower their fellow-feel|ing, and refused their aid unless paid an extraordinary price. In this month four|teen hundred citizens were added to the list of mortality. The contagion was still progressive; towards the end of it there were from fifty to ninety buried in a day. By the glasses the heat of the atmosphere had abated; the mercury seldom rose above 80. The weather was mostly fair, with a few intervening days of cloud, which promised rain but discharged none. The winds still continued to be westerly. From the 19th to the 23d the air was calm; and during these five days and the day following there were near five hundred persons buri|ed. Throughout the month the heat was generally moderate, and the weather pret|ty equable; so that the increase of the mortality was owing merely to the enlarge|ment of the circle of infection.

Until the middle of October the mighty destroyer went on with increasing havoc. From the 1st. to the 17th upwards of four|teen hundred fell as victims to the tremen|dous malady: from the latter day to the 31st. the bills of mortality lessoned pretty

gradually. In the whole of this month the dead amounted to near two thousand; a dreadful number! if we consider that at this time upwards of one third of its inhabitants had forsaken the city.

People by this time had experienced the inefficacy of smelling bottles, handkerchiefs dipped in vinegar, camphor bags pieces of tarred rope, &c. as a prevention; and had very generally laid them aside; trusting rather to the protection of Providence, and a prudent care to avoid the houses of the sick. In the earlier period of the disease these precautions were almost universal; insomuch that the greater part of the peo|ple to be seen in the streets, had either one or the other applied to their nostrils. Many pla|ced an extraordinary confidence in the vir|tue of garlic and chewed it constantly, even to such a degree as to be smelled at seve|veral yards distance. Samuel Benge, who had that dangerous office, the superintend|ance of the removal of the sick from their houses to Bush-hill, used to take a few An|derson's pills, and a little sweet-oil every evening: whether this was the cause of his

escaping the disease, cannot be ascertained.

The thermometer was very variable, most|ly below 80, and above 50 until the 27th, from which day to the end of the month it was al|ways below 50, and one day below 40. The winds generally blew from the N. and N. W. The weather for the greatest part of the time fair. During the five or six last days of this month the virulence of the contagion was greatly abated; but few fresh patients pre|sented themselves—and the funerals were from 12 to 20 per diem.

From the first of November to the seventh, the mortality continued gradually to de|crease; on the ninth, the burials in all the grave-yards were reduced to so small a num|ber as six. By this time the fugitive citizens had recovered their spirits sufficiently to venture back to their homes; the streets and the various departments of business began to resume life and activity.

Let us now make a pause; a solemn pause! The visitation has passed over our heads for a time at least. Let us look back on the awful scene; and endeavour to draw

some instruction from it: it is a scene re|plete with interesting instruction.

A contagious fever hath made dreadful, and in this country unparallelled, ravages in every quarter of the city; few houses in|deed have escaped. Universal consternati|on invaded every mind: the feelings of hu|manity; the suggestions of duty; the for|titude of man, have all been absorbed by the sense of private danger, and a wish to escape the infectious calamity: every me|dical aid hath been exerted; and in most cases exerted in vain! The potent malady hath laughed to scorn our wisdom, and our ingenuity. We have been beholden to the poor; to the despised blacks, for nur|ses to attend the sick; as if Providence were determined to convince us that they are equally the objects of his care, with ourselves.

The long extended train of funeral attend|ants, heretofore too common, has been ex|changed for the solitary hearse; and weep|ing relatives have been left to mourn in a state of dis••ertion. Let the proud Lord of the crea|tion

view this picture, and it is not the pic|ture of fancy, and ask himself whether he has any reason to boast of his talents, or his virtues. Certainly he has more cause to exclaim with humiliating propriety in his address to Almighty God, "Lord! what is man that thou art mindful of him."

With this humble temper of mind he will be better prepared to receive the benefits of Heaven with gratitude; he can never fail to feel a glow of devotion, when he consid|ers that all human skill had been exhausted in most cases to no good purpose; and the gloom which hung over the city seemed to threaten to unpeople it, the forgiveness and and mercy of the MOST HIGH, burst out, like the brightness of the sun through a cloud, with healing virtue. Mercy reasu|med the ascendant on the judgment seat; and the raging mortallity ceased. Let us then with one accord lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the Heavens, and pray, that he may animate our minds with a reso|lution to profit by the late humiliating dis|play of his judgment and his mercy.

One remarkable circumstance and one

that reflects much credit on the neghbouring country people is that our markets were to|lerably well supplied with every necessary of life, usually to be found in them; and that at no considerable advance in the price.

Although the predominant feature of the city while the mortality raged at the ex|treme, was terror and dismay; and altho' most people sought their own safety with too little concern about others; there were found men, who, at the imminent risque of their own lives, stept forward, at the most trying pinch, to assist those who wanted the choice or the means of flying. In this band of worthies the poor met with friends in the day of distress; and the helpless orphan with a father.

The country seat of William Hamilton at Bush-hill being an high and airy situation▪ and at some distance from the city, was ta|ken and converted into an hospital for the poor, and such as had not conveniencies of being nursed at their own homes. It soon became crouded with patients; and, from a concurrence of causes, in a short time it fell into great disorder. Unprincipled nurses, ne|glected

the sick and consumed in riot the provisions gathered for their comfort. Clean|liness was neglected to such a degree that the chambers became too offensive and danger|ous for any but an insensible, or an he|roic mind to enter. In this state of disorder and filthiness; it will be naturally supposed, the sick had little chance of recovering: and indeed so few did recover, that the minds of the poor, who to this time had esca|ped the infection, instead of considering the hospital as a blessing, became terrified with the thoughts of being sent to it, and many, even of the sick, resisted as long they were able, the importunities of their friends to have them taken to inevitable death as it appeared to them to be.

A Committee of citizens (a list of whose names is hereunto annexed) who had under|taken to assist the ordinary and legal guar|dians of the poor, heard repeated com|plaints of this alarming evil: but the ha|zard of attending at the hospital to remove it, as well as prevent the repetition of it when removed, seemed like an immediate sacrafice of the lives of the undertakers. To search into the horors of this dismal re|ceptical,

where every breath was pestilence and every sight distress, required the humanity and fortitude of a Howard. Such men where found!—They voluntarily offered themselves.—Stephen Gerard a native of France, a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia, one of the committee, and Peter Helm, a native of Philadelphia, ano|ther member, generously stepped forth and undertook the perilous task. If an ancient Roman, who saved the life of one citizen, at the risque of his own, was crowned with a civic wreath, what rewards do these men deserve? who where instrumental in saving the lives of many! They gave up their own to help the helpless—Thanks be to Heaven! They were preserved; and their generous labours where blessed with success. The first worthless nurses were discharged, and new ones introduced; the rooms were well cleansed, and the sick were pro|perly attended.

The effects of the reformation soon ap|peared; the poor no longer considered Bush-hill Lazaretto as the Antichamber of the grave; but as a humane provision for the necessitous sick. In this dangerous post these

two worthy citizens continued their daily attendance until the disease was extinguish|ed.

Joseph Inskeep, (a name dear to all his acquaintance) another member of the com|mittee, very early devoted himself to en|quire after those that where sick and to assist them: often did this good man set at their bed sides administring comfort. Several he was instrumental in restoring to their friends and families.

Daniel Offley, another respectable citizen and member of the charitable committee, with singular fortitude braved the danger of infection, in discharge of his christian du|ty; in visiting the sick & comfortless and affording every assistance in his power.

Jonathan D. Sergeant Esq. Jacob Tom|kins, jun. James Wilson and Andrew Adgate, all distinguished themselves by their atten|tion and labours of humanity. These six valuable men are no more!—They fell victims to the contagion; They are gone from works to rewards but their memories will ever be respected by all who knew them

The truly Reverend Henry Helmuth (Pastor of the Lutheran congregation, in this city) claims particular applause. This worthy clergyman, not satisfied to wait for the calls of his people, invited them from the pulpet universally to make free to send for him at all times by day or night. Indeed he consecrated all his time, whilst the disease prevailed to assist and comfort his flock: and the sick among them were so numerous that he had but little time he could call his own.

Many more names could be mentioned, who, to their lasting honour, stepped forth at this trying season, to smooth the bed of sickness, and to relieve the necessities of the poor. But it would swell this short account beyond the compass intended, to recount the benevolent actions, the unre|mitted attentions and the hazardous exerti|ons of many of our fellow citizens besides the committee, during this dreadful period.

" Ye sons of mercy," " Who touch'd with human woe, redrest|ive search'd Into the horrors of the death-bed room;

Unpitied, and unheard, where miss'ry moan'd; Where sickness pin'd, where thirst and hunger dwelt, And friendless orphans wept their parents lost."

It is not in the tribute of praise from your fellow citizens, however justly yours, that you seek your reward: A blessing has been Pronounced on such exertions as yours by the highest of all authorities; because that you have visited the sick; fed the hungry; and cloathed the naked: your charitable offices to your poor fellow creatures are appreciated as if you had done those offices to himself.

So great a mortality among the people consequently left a large number of or|phan children in a very destitute and dis|tressing situation; some of them without a friend to administer to their wants; seve|ral of them indeed, were found wandering in the streets, not knowing where to apply for relief. Here again was a large field of labour opened for the benevolent. The chil|dren were to be provided with nurses pro|visions

and other accommodations, which was no small undertaking. The committee however in addition to their former bur|dens, also undertook this; and procured the Loganian Library which they ••••••••ed up, and appropriated to the purpose of an Orphan house. A suitable woman hath been provided as superintendant, with sufficient assistants under her. Every necessary care appears to have been taken and the children mostly healthy and chearful. Many of these have been delivered to their relatives. About two hundred have been introduced into this house of whom about sixty were infants. At present there are nearly fifty in the house and between thirty and forty out with wet nurses. Nineteen only have died.

The accumulating expence of this in|stitution as well as that at Bush-hill, with many others, obliged the committee to ne|gociate a loan of 1500 dollars with the bank of North America, and this being ina|diquate to the expence, they borrowed a farther sum of 5000 dollars of the same bank, for which the directors refused to re|cieve any interest. Several liberal contri|butions have enabled the committee to con|tinue

their parental care and provision for those unfortunate children, as well as to sup|ply a great number of poor with fire wood and other necessaries. From the citizens of Philadelphia in and near German-Town they recieved two thousand dollars; from those in the neighbourhood of Darby, fourteen hundred dollars; from the citi|zens of New-York, five thousand dol|lars; from Bucks-county sixteen hundred dollars; from Delaware-county twelve hun|dred dollars; from Franklin-county five-hundred dollars; sundry necessaries from the inhabitants of Boston, to the amount of twenty five hundred dollars; and a great many other contributions from different places.

Notwithstanding so generous as were the supplies handed us by our friendly coun|trymen, so great was the terror and dismay with which they were affected at the idea of the fugitive Philadelphians carrying the disorder with them and spreading it in the country, that the great law of self-preservation superseded every other consi|deration; insomuch that in many places resolutions were entered into, that no per|son

or goods whatever should be suffered to enter their respective towns, and corpo|rations, unless it could be proved they had been from the city at least twelve days. The inhabitants of the town of Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and most other sea-ports in the United States, made resolutions similar to the above and obliged all vessels coming from Phila|delphia, to ride quarantine for the space of time which they respectively apprehended requisite to assertain whether there was any thing of the contagion among them. However, to their credit let it be remem|bered, that they generally procured suitable hospitals, and made ample provision for those who should come from the city, and be taken with the disease.

During this melancholy period, the city in addition to the various other afflictions, lost ten of her most valuable physicians, doctors Hutchinson, Morris, Lynn, Pen|nington, Dodds, Johnson, Glentworth, Phile, Graham and Green. Most of the others were sick at different times, and those who remained alive and able to go out, were not sufficient in number to answer the

many calls for their assistance, so that ma|ny suffered for want of proper advice and many more for want of suitable and atten|tive nurses. Great hath been the charge devolved on them; great have been their exertions, and much gratitude is due by the citizens universally, to those of the fa|culty who faithfully braved the danger in performing their duty.

It is remarkable that the French who set|tled among us, and particularly those from the West-India islands, were in a particular manner preserved from this sickness: some few, however, took it and died.

The black people, likewise, were ex|empted in a peculiar manner from the con|tagion. Very few of them were taken, and still fewer died.

Had it not been for the exertions and at|tentions of some of these despised people, the calamity and distress of the city would have been much aggravated.

Some parts of their conduct may have the appearance of ingratitude to the citizens of

Philadelphia who have been their first and firmest friends, who have always generous|ly and humanely exerted themselves to de|fend and release them from the oppressive hand of slavery; yet much may be said in extenuation of their fault.

Though the conduct of some of them, in taking three and four dollars a day; ex|acting it with the utmost rigor from starving families, and then not doing their duty, is to be reprobated, and for that of others an ex|cuse is necessary, yet there are some among them whose conduct merits great applause.

Those who are acquainted with human na|ture, will readily allow that the principle of self preservation, must operate upon the blacks as strongly as upon other people. Now tho' experience has shewn that the former have almost universally escaped the contagion, yet at that time the fact was not absolutely established, and they might rati|onally be supposed to be possessed of the idea that the circulating report of their being incapable of taking the infection, was but a finesse or stratagem of the whites, to fa|cilitate the attainment of their assistance; and as they were ignorant of the physical

properties of bodies, and as even we, with all the advantages of education, have not yet been able to develope the cause of their wonderful preservation, the idea, which they may have had of the danger, would very probably prevent many from underta|king so difficult and hazardous an employ|ment. Is it not human nature? Would it not have been almost a phenomenon, had they, educated as they are, acted otherwise.

As the value of labour is generally esti|mated by the trouble it costs, or the danger which attends it, and the plenty or scarcity of hands that are willing to undertake an employment, the blacks would naturally follow the general principle and take ad|vantage of the time, to get as much for their labour as they could. I mean not to justify the exaction of exorbitant prices at such a time, but merely to offer a small ex|tenuation of a fault which the negroes were unfortunately guilty of. It should be con|sidered that their education has been such as to keep them in ignorance of the finer feel|ings of nature, that they have generally been in the habit of being imposed upon, that they are universally poor, and must

possess with others, an ambition of procuring something for future contingencies, that the time afforded tempting opportunities, and that it is too generally the case, that mankind seize with avidity every occasion of profiting.

"IT appears from authentic documents, that the same kind of fever as the one which has been described in the preceding pages, has been prevalent in Philadelphia at two different periods. The first, A. D. 1740; supposed to have been introduced by means of a quantity of wearing apparel brought in a trunk from Barbadoes, belonging to a gentleman who died of it in that Island.

THE second time of its appearance was A. D. 1762, introduced by a mariner, who ar|rived sick with it from the Havanna, and com|municated it to the family where he lodged; from whence it spread rapidly from house to house as families had intercourse with one another.

ACCORDING to the notes of Dr. Redman, the worthy President of the Philadelphia Col|lege

of physicians, it made its apearance the latter end of August of the year last mention|ed. About the 20th or 25th of September, its progress seems to have arrived to its height. From the 27th it gradually declined, so that by the 10th of October, instead of 18 to 20 pati|ents of a day, which Dr. Redman had before attended in it, he had now only two or three.

THE fever at that period was circumscri|bed between Pine-street northerly, and three or four squares from thence southerly, and extended from Water-street, to Third or Fourth-street westerly. Its first and greatest ravages were about the New Market, which lay near the source of the contagion. The fever as it appeared at that time, is thus de|scribed by Dr. Redman in a communication just presented to, and read in the College of Physicians.

"THE patients were generally seized with a sudden and severe pain in the head and eye-balls, which frequently appeared a little inflamed, or had a reddish cast, great pain in the back and limbs, and much dejection of spirits. A sick stomach generally attended, but in various degrees of violence, with fre|quent

vomiting, more or less of green or yel|low bile, and was distinguished from the cholera morbus by not having a purging with it. There was also a kind of cardial|gia, or burning heat about the scrobiculus cordis, with great oppression; but if I re|member right, not much pain like a cholic; nor do I recollect any chill generally prece|ding the above symtoms—however, it might be with some. The skin was dry with a disa|greeable burning heat in it, sensible to the hand of others. The tongue was not very dry at first, but rather moist, and covered with whitish mucus. The pulse was not generally either full or tense, but very quick in the beginning, by which the degree of fe|ver was chiefly designated. Yet in some persons previously very plethoric from high living and other circumstances, some full|ness without tension was observed in the pulse in the first stage; after which in many, the pulse became so moderate in every re|spect, as to be scarcely distinguishable from that of a person in health. Though very rest|less and often tossing about, or changing possi|tion from oppression at the praecordia, I think they were but seldom very delirious; but if the disease continued to increase, and resist

the power of medicines, they rather grew comatose, which was a bad symptom, and generally continued till death, unless the black vomiting came on and occasionally roused them. But even those who were comatose, when roused appeared quite sensible, though not capable of preserving a regular connec|tion of ideas on any one subject for any length of time. They soon became yellow in their eyes and skin universally, which became extreme in some before, and in al|most all after death: and in those that re|covered. it continued during the whole convalescent state, and in some, a great part of the cuticle peeled off.

"WHEN the disease terminated fatally, it was generally on the 4th, 5th or 6th day; some few later; but after the 7th day, or even sooner if the pulse became much calmer and slower without a Coma, and the patient inclined to a natural easy sleep, ••••ough short, with a moist skin and tongue, &c. we were encouraged to hope, and promise much and generally succeeded in our prognosti|cations, &c."