Remarks on some of the opinions of Dr. Rush respecting the yellow fever which prevailed in the city of Philadelphia in the year 1793 / By William Patterson.

Patterson, William

Date:: 1795

Credit: Remarks on some of the opinions of Dr. Rush respecting the yellow fever which prevailed in the city of Philadelphia in the year 1793 / By William Patterson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$[ X'X ] The fpfeading abroad of contaminated clothes' to dry, or to be aired, without a previous fumi- * gation of them, may be of dangerous confequen* ces. A damp air gives ftrength to contagion, and a dry wind rnay fpread the mifchief; and \t was before obferved, that contagion is not always checked nor ameliorated by cold weather. All fuch fufpeded fubftances ought therefore to be firll fumigated in a clofe place, in the manner above diredled; and afterwards they may be fpread abroad to air^ or to undergo the fireine^ as it is termed. t The linen, and fuch clothes as will admit of being wafhed, ought never at firft to be put into hot water, as it is dangerous for any perfon to receive the fleam that may arife from fuch tainted articles in this fituation. Ipor however efficacious the pure vapour of boiling water may be in im-' proving bad air; when arifing from z fames^ it may become a vehicle of contagion, rather than 1 an obflrudtion againft it. Such articles, therefore, I fliould firft be fteeped iri cold water, in cold foap ^eys, in cold vinegar, or in lime water. —• Where Lazarettos are eftablifiicd, letters and pa- I pers prefen ted at the barrier of the pratique I houfe, or office of health, are always dipped in i vinegar before’they are received. i ‘ D a$