Early medical Chicago / by James Nevins Hyde.

  • James Nevins Hyde
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Early medical Chicago / by James Nevins Hyde. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    it seems probable that it was he who was present and responsible for the treatment and its results. According to this report, two hundred cases were admitted into hospital in the course of six or seven days, out of the entire force of one thousand, fifty-eight of which termi- nated fatally. All the cases were treated by calomel and blood-letting, and, according to Surgeon DeCamp, this proved so efficacious in his hands, that he regarded the disease as robbed of its terrors (!). He inclines to the opinion that the disease was contagious, in consequence of the fact that severa] citizens of the village died of cholera, although, prior to the arrival of the steamer, no case had occurred, either in the fort or the village. He notes the predisposition to the disease, evident in those of intemperate habits. The table which is appended in a note,* is compiled from reports of each quarter of the year, published in the volume referred to above. Although it is a return from a military garrison, it is interesting as it is probably the first contribution to vital statistics ever prepared in Chicago. The inhabitants of the little town did not soon forget Washington, 1840. This appears to he the first of the brilliant series of publications issued from the Surgeon General's office ; and I am indebted for this, also, to the kindness of Assistant Surgeon John S.Billings, U. S. Army. * Abstract exhibiting principal diseases at Fort Dearborn for ten years: Years 1829. 1830. 90 1831. 1833. 1834. 91 1835. 96 1836. Totals. Mean Strength 91 92 104 104 668 Diseases: Intermittent Fever.. 17 18 15 1 8 22 3 10 1 12 15 1 1 1 9 19 1 32 2 19 5 31 2 136 26 2 Diseases of Respiratory Organs.. 11 30 2 16 19 4 12 10 69 22 84 3 3 i 2 10 14 53 5 10 4 20 137 23 42 1 15 2 7 14 8 15 89 809 Diseases of Brain and Nervous System.. Rheumatic Affections 9 3 3 10 7 9 41 11 26 51 7 Wounds and Injuries Ebriety All other Diseases - 57 128 29 5 2 90 Totals 118 119 30 193 185 160 93S The post was unoccupied during the year 1832, and abandoned in 1840.