The necrological appearances of southern typhoid fever in the Negro : with hints upon its proplylaxis [sic] and therapeutic management : together with observations upon the mental and physical peculiarities of the Ethiopian : founded upon observational analysis, and autopsal results in his normal and abnormal condition : exhibiting their probable relative influence in forming the character of the disease south, and the presumed establishment of its primary origin in the Negro, upon physiological and pathological grounds / by H.A. Ramsay.

Ramsay, H. A.

Date:: 1852

Credit: The necrological appearances of southern typhoid fever in the Negro : with hints upon its proplylaxis [sic] and therapeutic management : together with observations upon the mental and physical peculiarities of the Ethiopian : founded upon observational analysis, and autopsal results in his normal and abnormal condition : exhibiting their probable relative influence in forming the character of the disease south, and the presumed establishment of its primary origin in the Negro, upon physiological and pathological grounds / by H.A. Ramsay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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ver, while his losses of Typhoid Fever are attributed to other ail- ments. We have heard of the bombastic tales of some medical men, that they have never lost a case of Typhoid Fever ; the reason is obvious, they have never had any cases. Such boasts and such char- latanry, is too contemptible for a scientific man, and he who indul- ges in it, is upon a par with the most menial quack, and will sooner or later destroy himself. This is the fate of all men who attempt to deceive the people, and trespass upon their credulity. We would fain hope there are but few such in our country, but painful to record there are some. To such, Hush was a cypher, Hyppocrates a mere cir- cumstance ; if such a man cures a case, it is a mere accident; he has no knowledge of the true principles of medicine, no system, he succeeds by- appealing to the credulity of people, and is unworthy as a safe practi- tioner because he is a humbug. These are wholesome truths, and it is time the good honest yeomanry of the country were advised of such tricks and charlatanisms. The portrait is not at all colored, but we pass on to a more genial question—the Proplylaxis of Typhoid Fe- ver. That much may be done by the way of pi-evention in this disease, we are well convinced from our observation and experience. The dis- ease among our negroes, is evidently contagious, though considerable discrepancy exists in medical writings concerning it. The safe plan for the slave owner, is to regard is as contagious, and avoid its nox- ious influences. Do not be deceived by the cry of no danger; it is too late to halloo Wolf! Wolf ! when the animal is among the fold, and the sheep are killed. The best plan is to keep your fires burning, and keep the Wolf at a proper distance ; consequently, the planter looses nothing by having his negro houses all scoured and cleansed : the walls white washed : the beds sunned and scalded : the clothing washed, the houses ventilated, and a little fire to avoid moisture: have the Cabins swept under: make the negroes wash themselves often and change their garments ; drink tar water : rise early and retire soon ; have all the weeds, decaying matter and other offensive stuff carefully removed from about the yard, and have it sprinkled well with lime : last, but not least, keep the sick from the well, do not let the latter be about the first much : let no man deceive you by saying the disease is not contagious ; get it among your negroes, and you will soon have ample and unmistakeable proof of its contagion. These are our suggestions, if they will do no good, they are at least prudent and harmless, and no man should be de- terred from adopting them. If you should perchance contract it, and your cases convalesce, by all means be careful in you dietectic regu- lations ; more negroes die in the convalescence of Typhoid Fever than any man is apprised of ; we regard it a critical period in the process of cure, and cannot too strongly urge upon our readers, the imperi- ous necessity of caution and care at this juncture. We now ap- proach an instructive part of our subject, which, in its manifold phases,

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