The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn. : Embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere / By J.M. Keating.
- Keating, John McLeod, 1830-1906
- Date:
- 1879
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn. : Embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere / By J.M. Keating. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
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![the functions of the economy arc in abeyance, in consequence of the circula- tion of a fluid other than tliat wiiicli nature lias designed for the maintenance of their action. The kidneys becoming as impermeable and useless as a foreign body, the abnormal death fluid seeks the great work-shop of the sys- tem, and oozes through its parietes, to be known to the observer as hiack vomit. The moral treatment is by no means uuimj)ortant in yellow fever. Fear being the most potent agent for evil, the patient should not be alarmed by being made acquainted with the nature of his case; neither shonld those nearest him be better informed, unless absolute necessity arises. The medical attendant should never betray doubt or anxiety as to the result; a confident look, kind words, and a manifestation of a friendly interest in behalf of the patient, encouraging him to h.ope for a successful issue, will do more good than medication. None but congenial, cheerful, and discreet persons should be allowed access to the sick-room; the exclusion of all disagreeable f)r de- pressing influences should be enforced, and the patient sliould be relieved of all personal cares of wdiatever nature, and feel himself perfectly secure in the hands of those to whom his physician has intrusted the management of his case. Dr. R. W. Mitchell, recently appointed a member of the National Board of Health, who, as IMcdical Director of the Howard Association of IMempliis, in 1878, enjoyed unusual opportunities for obtaining a thorough knowledge of the effects of yellow fever upon the human system, and of the value of almost all the known remedies, and who enjoyed the confidence of every physician who served under him as well as that of the public at large, by request furuislies the following as his method of treatment, which, it may be remarked, was very successful: The natural histor}' of yellow fever suggests the plan of treatment which observation and experience have proven to be the best. Being a self-limited disease, and one of very short duration, what could possibly be the aim of rational treatment beyond warding off' complications and sustaining nature? To fulfill this indication, I have sought always to enforce absolute rest of mind and l)ody during the entire course of the disease, to the full establishment of convalescence; to protect my ])atients fi-om all perturbing and deleterious influences, such as might arise from the conversa- tion of injudicious friends, or from changes of temperature; to watch the bodily secretions, and insure as perfectly as possible the performance of the various func- tions. The first objects requiring attention in a case of yellow fever, are the bringing about of reaction after the chill, and free evacuation of the bowels. The first is quite easily att:iined by means of the hot mustard foot-bath, and moderate covering with Idankets, The second is, in most instances, best accomplished by a dose of castor-oil. Sometimes, ^\hcn the attack is ushered in with nausea and a coated tongue, a few grains of calomel, followed in six hours by oil, or one of the saline aperients, is better practice. Having attended to these matters, I now lay medicine aside, unless the pains in the head and back are vicdent or delirium is present. To relieve these symptoms I prefer to make use of a combination of bromide potassium and tincture gelsemium — 15 grains of the first, and as many drops of the second—every two hours during the first day of the fever. Gentle perspiration, not free sweating, should](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21354017_0057.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
