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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![lows: In the case of the sponge and vapor baths, the results -were of un- doubted benefit. The patients always expressed themselves as feeling much better after their use, and frequently requested that they might have them more often. I did not resort to hot or tepid-water baths, as I fuund the i-ponge and vajwr baths to answer all purposes. I higlily apjjrove of ihcir use in this disease, provided the patient is strong enough to bear tliem ; but where there is much prostration, they are objectionable. Absolute lest of mind and body is of the greatest importance, and whatever occurs to mar it is injuricus to the patient. A^apor and sponge baths may be given to the patient while in bed, and therefore can not i)roiluce any injurious results, while on the other hand they may be of decided benefit. They may be used in any stage of the disease. Every thing necessary for their use is to be f^und in every household, while jiortable bath-tubs are frequently absent. In reference to the use of the cold bath in this disease, I can not speak from experience, as I did not resort to it. It can not, however, be made use of, except in the first stage of the disease, and even then I doubt the projjriety of its use. Ice-pellets and crushed ice were given freely to each j^atient, and were taken with relish. Lime-water was successful in allaying the irritability and acidity of the stomach, even after black vomit had occurred, and I regard it as one of the best agents we can emi^loy. Iced champagne was made use of in cases Nos. 3, 4, and 6, and was very refreshing to the patient, agreeable to the taste, and arrested irrita- bility of the stomach. Lemonade was given in two cases, but in each dis- agreed with the stomach, and was vomited. I do not approve of its use because of its excessive acidity. The salicylate of soda was given in three cases, and good results were obtained from its use. In the case of Smith, who recovered, no urine was passed fi)r twenty-four hours, ])ut alter com- mencing the acid, the flow was reestablished. I think if it had not been resorted to, condjined with the use of the bath, he wruld most certainly have died of uremic jioisoning. Cases 4 and 5 did well under its use until Tues- day night, when the sudden change of temperature produced sirch a change f<jr the worse in their condition, that they did not rally from it. It has been remarked that northern breezes are killing to yellow-fever patients, and such was the result in these cases. I was forcibly struck with the effect the change of terapei-ature produced upon them, and although every eflxirt was made to shield them, it was unavailing. The salicylate of soda is a diuretic, diapho- retic, and antiseptic, and the symptoms and course of the disease clearly in- dicate it as a proper remedy in the treatment of yellow fever, and I think' we are justified in giving it a further trial. Mr. J. Livingston, of 52 Camp Street, New Orleans, who joined the Howard Association as far back as 1841, and has passed through every epidemic in tliat city, in a pamphlet published after the epidemic of 1878, offers to tlie puljlic the ammonia cure, which, if the results he gives are well establislud, voidd seem to be advanced beyond the domain of theory and into that of fact. He says: During last summer I talked much about my treatment. Physicians would not listen, and non-professional persons had their doctors, who, in their opinion, could give yellow fever the fits. Occasionally son)e of the unlearned](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21354017_0065.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
