A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE EPIDEMICAL FEVER, &c.
WHEN I first determined on publishing the present pamphlet, it was my intention to have presented the Public with a Work not inferior to the one published by that indefatigable man, and meritorious Author, Mr. Mathew Carey, of Philadelphia▪ and to accomplish this desirable object, I applied to several medical friends to write a Dissertation upon the disease, with a statement of such important facts as came within their knowledge, and promised to furnish them with all that I could obtain. In this pleasing anticipation, however, I have been much disappointed, for each and all declined undertaking the business, for local reasons. I mention this circumstance as an apology for my coming forward, I trust, before an indulgent Public. The great satisfaction which many strangers may derive from perusing an accurate list of the deaths, and thereby discovering, in a degree, whether or not, their friends and connexions are still living, induced me to procure the statement which is annexed to the Work.
It is not my intention to hazard any opinion whatever, upon the disease, whether imported or originating in local causes; but simply to collect the several letters and other publications which have appeared on the subject, and which I conceive will be found any way interesting or satisfactory to the reader. The proceedings of the Health Committee, the different [Page 6] letters, &c. are arranged agreeable to the dates on which they appeared.
Perhaps it may be considered a duty incumbent on me to say something concerning the situation of the city, previous to the introduction or appearance of the disease: and in these remarks, as well as in any others I may have occasion to offer, I shall be as laconic as the nature of the subject will permit.
New York was, doubtless, one of the most increasing and flourishing cities in the United States. Some idea may be formed of its rapid population, by remarking, that in the year 1791 it contained about 4,700 families, and in May 1795 about 9,000. This statement is from the City Directory, which is annually taken. Since the commencement of the present war between France and the combined despots, the necessaries of life had progressively risen, till they had arrived at an enormous price, and in many particulars beyond what was ever remembered here before. Such is the effect the war had, and still continues to have on America, at least this part of it, notwithstanding our boasted neutrality: What is still more distressing, the rise of mechanical labour had by no means been equal, or bore a just proportion to the former. The one had risen, in many instances, an hundred per cent. while the other, generally speaking, had not rise more than from twenty-five to thirty. The rent of houses had also nearly doubled, particularly those which were situated in the most public streets.
These circumstances rendered it difficult for people in moderate stations, to do more than maintain and educate their families. The city, however, was fast increasing in luxury and pride, those barriers to happiness; and many who considered virtue and not numbers, the strength of a republic, dreaded the future consequences. Splendor, pomp, and dissipation, were at a shameful height. Money was in great demand: The interest frequently given was from two to three per cent a month.
[Page 7] In consequence of the enormous price of rents, many families, particularly among the Irish emigrants, were reduced to the necessity of living, or rather existing, in damp cellars, and among this class of people it will be found that the disorder was most prevalent, and operated most powerfully. I believe it may be safely asserted, that a very large proportion of those, in tolerable situations, who had proper medical aid in the early stages of the disorder, and were regularly attended afterwards, perfectly recovered in the course of ten or fifteen days.
I shall now proceed to a few remarks on the general symptoms of the disease.
"THIS malady, in many instances, has been preceded by an unusual flow of spirits, though for the most part a degree of stupor has been observed; some hours after they are attacked with violent pains in the head, back and loins: The bowels are extremely costive, seldom yielding but to powerful purgatives, and the tongue soon becomes considerably foul. In some cases, the pulse is strong and tense; the countenance flushed; the eyes greatly inflamed; the pains more violent, and respiration very laborious. In others, and more particularly those of a slender habit of body, the pulse is weak, though frequent; the face rather pale and of a yellowish tinge; a constant desire for sleep; soreness over the whole system, and extreme debility. About the third and fourth days the symptoms become more violent; the tongue is dry and covered with a black scurf; the appetite greatly impaired; respiration more difficult; the pulse scarcely to be discerned; sudden startings, when in a dose, as though affrighted; a sense of weight around the praecordia; the body more yellow, but particularly the face and breast; the extremities cold; the stomach unable to retain its contents, and what is thrown up in vomiting, has the appearance of black coffee grounds; a hemorrhage of the fauces, and frequently a discharge of blood with the [Page 8] stools, which were now perfectly black; convulsive motions of the superior extremities, and shortly death terminated the scene. The body now put on every appearance of immediate putrefaction.
In one person whom I had an opportunity of visiting, attacked in this alarming manner, the lower extremities were almost black; the evacuations involuntary; the parts to which blisters were applied, were seemingly mortified; the blood oozed out of every part where it could find vent, and in fact he was a perfect mass of putrefaction, before the vital functions were suspended*."
It may not be improper to remark, that a very great diference of opinion prevailed among the physicians, both as to the disease and the treatment of [...] Another circumstance which engaged much of the public attention was the appearance of an advertisement in the newspapers, against the mode of treating the disease by the practitioners in general, and challenging them to defend their practice. The author was Mr. Alexander Cuthill, taylor. Which of the parties were right is not my province to determine; but to state facts is my object. In some instances the doctors positively refused visiting a patient who had been seen during his indisposition by Mr. Cuthill; and in others discontinued their visits on finding that he also came to the house where the sick person lay. I leave the public to draw what inference they please from these facts.
A general opinion has prevailed, among medical characters in particular, that the present epidemic has made its appearance in a greater or less degree, among us during the autumns of the last three or four years. That a malignant fever did rage here, during the months of September and Oct. of 1791, is a fact, and on comparing the symptoms with those of the present disease, they will be found not dissimilar. It is worthy of notice that the fever in 1791 first made its appearance [Page 9] within a few yards of the spot where it has proved most fatal the present season.
"About the middle of August, 1791, a contagious fever appeared in the city of New York, which first discovered itself near Peck slip, a part of the city thickly inhabited; its houses generally small, and badly ventulated: many of the inhabitants were in indigent circumstances, which is a frequent cause of the want of cleanliness. Here it raged a considerable time; it then began to spread, as some attendants on the sick became affected, who lived in other neighbourhoods.—
By this means it was carried to different families, and most generally could be traced from this source. It likewise proved more particularly fatal near the place where it first appeared, than in any other part. Thus, at length it spread through the city, until about the middle of October, when the weather growing a little cooler, the disease greatly abated, and in a short time nearly disappeared. I have been informed by several physicians of reputation, who reside and practice in the country, that many of the boatmen who frequented the city from Long Island, and the upper part of Hudson's river, carried the disease home, where it proved fatal to several*.
At the same time in the south western part of the city, an intermittent and remittent fever prevailed, together with a few cases of dysentery. This caused much dispute among physicians as they generally named the disease from the cases which they had an opportunity [Page 10] of seeing most prevalent. Some called it a remittent, others billious; some typhus, putrid, or malignant; and others, following Sydenham, febris, biliosa remittens.
In consequence of a few cases terminating suddenly fatal, together with the very unjust, as well as ungenerous judgment of some physicians, in determining every disease to be the putrid fever, fear spread from mind to mind like a devouring famine, and terror, frequently more hideous than the disease itself, wrought on the minds of the credulous and weak. This, in some cases, greatly increased the malignity of the fever: in others again, even a slight head ache caused them to despond, and threw them into a state of languor more easily conceived than described; but without the real symptoms of the fever. Whether this diagnostic was given through ignorance, or as a professional trick, in order to gain applause, by making many and speedy cures, is uncertain; however, it was nevertheless so considered. Thus some physicians obtained a credit in curing the complaint, without possessing any real merit.
This disease, generally, in the first place, affected the person with a sense of chilliness, alternating with gentle flushings and a sense of soreness of all the muscles; the face appeared pale, the features shrunk, the body weary, as if it had undergone some great fatigue, attended with yawnings and stretchings of the extremities; a disinclination for any bodily exercise; and when any exertion was made, it was attended with sluggishness and unweary sensations. The pulse at this time was weak and frequent; the mental faculties were likewise impaired, and frequently a small pain in the head, attended with sighings and anorexy: respiration being anxious and rather small at this stage of the disease.
In some cases the following symptoms took place without the patient's knowledge of the former having past: they however, in general, preceded, violent pains in the head, back, loins; a pulse more tense, full, and [Page 11] something increased in fullness. (In one case the patient compared the pulsation of the temporal arteries, to the striking of a hammer against his temples. In some a delirium came on immediately after the cold stage, so that the persons affected got out of their beds, and wandered about their rooms or houses. Sometimes nausea and vomiting appeared early in the disease, which proved very troublesome, and greatly debilitated the patient. Respiration was now rather laborious than anxious; the skin dry and hot, belly most commonly costive, though some had a gentle diarrhoea from the beginning of the disease; no appetite, but a great desire for drink, particularly any united with vegetable acids, as the acid of lemons, &c. the adnatae of the eyes, in some, were much inflamed, so that the light became scarcely tolerable; the countenance, on the first and second days, in many, appeared much flushed, attended continually with a violent head ache, so as frequently to produce delirium, with restlessness and watchings, which greatly exhausted the patient's strength; the tongue was generally dry, and in the beginning of the disease covered with a whitish scurf, and the patient complained much of anxiety, or a great sense of weight at the praecordia; the excrementitious discharges, whether natural, or produced by art, were very fetid and disagreeable.
About the third day the inflammatory symptoms greatly changed to those of a putrid kind, or a remission took place; if the latter did not succeed, the tongue became dry, and began to be covered with brown or black [...]ordes; not long after the teeth and lips put on the same appearance; respiration became now anxious, with an increased prostration of strength: the vital functions at this time were much more disturbed; watching, or a comatose state, now took place, if it had not before appeared; and even those who did sleep, enjoyed it but for a few moments, when they waked as if in a fright: the pulse became [Page 12] smaller, weaker, and more frequent; thirst was greatly increased; nausea much more intolerable, together with the sense of oppression at the stomach: those who had not vomited before, had that direful symptom added now to the others; the contents of the stomach, which were thrown up in the act of vomiting, were generally of a fetid nature; the voice began to be changed; small petechiae appeared about the neck and breast, when the body, and even the room, unless well ventulated, had a cardaverous smell. The patient kept continually rolling or turning in the bed, and frequently picking the bed-clothes. In some, the bowels, at this stage of the disease, were very costive, so that recourse was obliged to be had to artificial means, whenever it became necessary to evacuate their contents: in others, a profuse diarrhoea considerably increased the weakness of their debilitated bodies. Most generally on the fourth or fifth day of the disease, with those to whom it proved fatal, all the last mentioned symptoms were greatly increased, together with a cardaverous smelling sweat, which would appear on the body, when the trunk was hot, and the extremities cold: the pulse became more frequent, irregular, and sometimes intermittent: the person would lay on his back, with his knees drawn up, and his body appearing as if falling down in the bed; his voice low, and scarcely perceptible: he was now senseless of persons standing around, or any of their proceedings: the pulse in this stage of the disease was so weak as scarcely to be felt; the extremities put on a livid appearance. From the comatose state, which had already taken place, the patient could hardly be roused by the strongest stimuli of sound and light, though in the beginning of the disease he was scarcely able to bear the most gentle; and if he should be roused from the situation, in a few moments the same would again succeed. The urine and stools were frequently involuntarily discharged; a hiccup followed, [Page 13] if it had not before taken place; and the person, in consequence of universal debility producing inability to discharge the natural secretion in the bronchial vessels, appeared as if choaking with phlegm, or something pent up in the trachea: convulsions, or subsultus tendinum, now affected the frame; the eyes put on a glassy appearance, and death, in a short time, closed the scene.
This was the general course of the symptoms in those to whom the disease proved fatal; but in some, they came on a little sooner, in others later: in some the petechiae, and even maculae and [...]ices, extended over the body before death, though all shewed evident signs of putrescency directly after.
In one person, on the afternoon of the second day, an entire intermission of his symptoms took place; on the morning of the third, they returned with increased violence, when a vomiting came on with apthae appearing in the mouth and fauces. Upon taking a few drops of any thing in the stomach, vomiting would immediately be produced, which terminated in hiccup; this continued a few minutes; it would then subside until any thing was again swallowed, when the same circumstances returned. Petechia appeared on his neck and breast the fifth day, and as nothing could be retained on his stomach, he was supported with glysters of broth for several days, to which, as there was no other way of administering it, the red bark was added. The pulse in this person remained good, until within a few hours of his death, when it began to diminish, weaken and become intermittent. From this time it was remarked any thing would remain on his stomach; the hiccup ceased, and death in a few hours closed the scene. This was on the morning of the seventh day.
In some the disease made its appearance in a more gradual manner, without any inflammatory symptoms attending it, and most commonly those were protracted beyond the eleventh or fourteenth days, when a remission [Page 14] or intermission took place, or the person sunk under the disease. There were some who recovered, as well as those who perished, on whom petechial eruptions appeared; and the stomach in many of those who survived was very much disordered.
Some had other accidental symptoms accompanying the disease, such as a dry ickling cough, pains in different parts of the thorax, twith other catarrhal and pneumonic symptoms; so that some physicians were induced to declare it a simple inflammatory fever and treat it accordingly. In other patients a billious yellowness appeared over the surface of the body, the vessels in the adnatae of the eyes were filled with bile, and attended with the other symptoms of Dr. Cullen's species of typhus, the icteroides.
Many of those who survived the disease were a long time troubled with rheumatic pains of a chronic nature, or a small eruption over the surface of their bodies, which seemed to be caused by the debilitated state in which the disease had left them; and the eruption appeared to depend particularly on a weakened action of the extreme vessels*."
I have thought proper to quote the preceding account of the fever which prevailed here in 1791, from Dr. J. S. Addoms' dissertation; and shall now return to the object of this publication.
In Philadelphia, "It was some time before the disorder attracted public notice§;" very opposite was the case in New York, for before the complaint made any progress whatever, the Health Committee proceeded to the discharge of their duty. The first death which created alarm was that of Dr. M. Treat, Health officer of the port, on the 29th of July. By some it is believed he took the infection by visiting a vessel [Page 15] from the West Indies, having a malignant fever on board; by others (physicians) it is positively asserted that he did not die of an imported disorder; but by all, I believe, it is allowed that he died of the epidemic which has since proved so fatal to many.
The disorder first made its appearance in July, at the upper end of Water street, near New slip, and here it continued for a very considerable time, not spreading out of that street, a few instances excepted, until the month of September, after which, in some degree, it prevailed throughout the city; but ultimately proved most mortal in the street where it commenced. Near New slip there had recently been opened a small street, called George street; it had been much neglected; was very filthy, and principally inhabited by people in indigent circumstances; not less than sixty persons were buried out of it, within the small compass of twenty houses. The disease also proved very fatal about the Fly market, and from thence, in Water street, to the Coffee house. The alarm became pretty general in the beginning of September, and the citizens at that period commenced removing into the country. The recent sufferings of Philadelphia and Baltimore, occasioned a greater fear of infectious fevers than would otherwise, probably, have existed. The hasty burials after death, was also a cause of great dread; the mode was no less terrifying: For the speedy removal of the dead, a hearse was provided, drawn by an horse, and attended by two men. As soon as the breath was out of the body, these men were sent for; they usually brought a coffin and tarred sheet with them, in which the corpse was wrapped, put into the coffin, and drove off to Potter's Field, a place purchased for the burial of strangers and the poor, and entered without the attendance of single connexion or friend to bemoan their loss. It is asserted, and doubtless is a fact, that in many instances the hearse came for the sick, while yet living, and that coffins have been in the house for some [Page 16] hours before the death of the persons for whom they were destined. No excuse can be plead for such proceedings, but the general consternation which prevailed.
The fever itself did not, in many instances, occasion more alarm than the hearse; as a proof of this many cases might be enumerated of women fainting away at the sight of it, and being sometime before they perfectly recovered; and in others it has occasioned hysteria, and a fever succeeded. One striking instance of the effect of fear, and which came within my own knowledge, was in a young woman who for some days dreaded the disease: at length she was seized with it, and a delirium in a day or two ensued; during the whole of her indisposition, which was five or six days, she constantly complained against the hearse and tarred sheet, and almost her last request when dying, was, that the family would not suffer her to be buried in this manner.
About the middle of September, some persons, by what authority I know not, undertook burning tar one night in the streets: This became a topic of conversation, and among those of weak minds increased the alarm: in short, a coincidence of circumstances like these doubtless operated to the disadvantage of the city, as the rumour spread through the country, much exaggerated, and thereby, in many instances prevented supplies from coming into town.
The sufferings of the poor were great; a Lazaretto was prepared for their reception, and a physician and nurses appointed to attend them: but unfortunately great prejudices prevailed against it, and many were of an opinion that the patients did not receive proper attention, particularly from the nurses: as I have not been able at this early period, to procure satisfactory documents on the subject, I shall suspend any animadversions.
"The Lazaretto, or pest-house at Belle Vue, a few miles from New York, on the East River, has, though a healthy place, and under good regulations, been considered [Page 17] by the people at large, as the house of death.—So odious is the very idea of being placed there, that there is high probability the objection of mind attendant upon their getting into new quarters, and the anxiety and fatigue consequent upon being moved thither, have contributed, in several instances, to lessen their chance of recovery.
The governors of the City Hospital gave directions, in pursuance of there being a Lazaretto provided for those sick of the yellow fever, that no case, supposed to be of that, or any other infectious disease, should be admitted into that charity. It was reported that several poor persons, who had been recommended as patients to the Hospital, were considered by the physicians as improper, by reason of suspected contagion, to be admitted into the house. In consequence of rejection there, it has happened that men, like calves and other live stock, have been put upon carts at the Hospital, and drawn thence in succession to the doors of several of the members of the Health Committee, over the stony roughness of the pavement, and under the scorching rays of a noon-tide fun! a procedure which stirred up indignation, as well as alarm, in the citizens who saw it.
The general anxiety, caused by a concurrence of fearful circumstances, operated so powerfully upon many persons whose children were students of Columbia College that applications for leave of absence, in order to remove to the country, became very frequent. The students participated the alarm of their parents and guardians, and became intent on departing. The greater part discontinued their attendance on the lectures, by direction of their friends, and the rest withdrew themselves by degrees, so that in a few days nobody appeared on the ringing of the bell, and the professors gave up their labours of tuition. There was never any formal adjournment of the College. The prevailing sentiment [Page 18] of the board of professors was, "That no such thing ought to take place, as not warranted by any real cause of alarm."
Much praise is due to the Health Committee for their attention to the distresses of the poor, and it is not to be doubted, but some valuable citizens were snatched from the jaws of death by their timely assistance. Mr. Frederick Steymets, a member of this body, fell a victim to the disease, much lamented by all who knew him. His attention in the discharge of his duty was unlimited, and it is expected, will ever be remembered with gratitude by all good citizens. Capt. Buchanan, who voluntarily offered his services to visit the sick, and distribute such monies as were put into his hands by the Committee, also died of the epidemic: It is only necessary to remark that this worthy man fulfilled his duty with promptitude, and that he afforded the poor and indigent all the consolation and relief that was in his power; society has lost in him a valuable member. There are many more whose services have been of equal importance with those already enumerated; but among these I shall name one man only; a man who sacrificed every kind of interest to assist and relieve the distressed, and whose philanthrophy it is hoped will never be forgotten. I refer to Mr. Levi Wayland; to enumerate his virtues would require more time than can be well spared; I shall therefore only remark that he was a good citizen, and a sincere friend: He died of the epidemic, in the 31st, year of his age, on the 12th, of October.
Having given a sketch of the principle occurrences that took place during the months of August, Sept. and Oct. I shall next proceed to arrange the proclamations, letters, &c. of the governor, Health Committee, &c.
COMMITTEE OF HEALTH
SOLICITOUS to quiet any unfounded apprehension which may rest on the minds of the citizens, with respect [Page 19] to the spread of any malignant disease, but at the same time convinced of the necessity of a faithful detail of facts, as far as they have come to their knowledge. When the public is addressed on this subject, the Committe of Health think proper to declare, that in their opinion, no circumstance has existed in this city which ought to have occasioned the alarm which is said to have gone forth. It is true that a fever precisely like one which has twice, in the course of four or five years been observed, in the autumnal seasons, in this place, has again made its appearance. Some sea-faring men have fallen victims to it. It is suspected to have originated on board a certain vessel which lay at Fitche's wharf, but of this there can be obtained no decided evidence. Notwithstanding which, the vessel has been ordered off in the stream. It is suspected also, but without decided evidence, that our late worthy health officer fell a victim to some unguarded exposure, to an infected corpse on board a vessel. Besides him, notwithstanding the most diligent enquiry, we have obtained information of not more than eight deaths happening among our citizens since the 20th of last month, from fevers, supposed in any degree malignant. The number of persons killed by the imprudent use of cold water, has been remarkable, and labourers and others actively employed, ought to be frequently cautioned on this head. The Committee have taken the most prompt and effectual measures to guard the health of their fellow citizens; a house is prepared at Belle Vue for the reception of sick persons, who may be suspected of infection, with very agreeable accomodations, subsistence, and medical aid.
All vessels coming from Foreign countries, from which there is any reason to apprehend the introduction of infectious fevers, are now obliged to remain below Governor's Island, until visited by the health officer, and a regular permit for their entry be granted. The citizens ought to consider it their duty individually to report to the committee, any person who may attempt [Page 20] to evade this precaution, that the penalty of the law may be enforced. The practitioners of physic in the city, have been particularly requested to be early and faithful in reporting any dangerous or suspicious case. A hearse is provided, and may be readily obtained by an application to the chairman of the Committee, or any one of the aldermen, for the early burial of the dead, whenever it shall be thought necessary, a practice earnestly recommended during the hottest season, it being a well established fact, that the body of a patient who during life could give no infection, may yet, when a corps, be suddenly rendered capable of so doing in a great degree. The Committee are of opinion, from taking into their consideration, the present state of the health of the city, the uncommon degree of heat in the weather, and the lengthy period it is yet to elapse, before the season arrives which is usually observed to check the progress of autumnal diseases, that great care and circumspection are necessary. Moderation, regularity and cleanliness, are especially recommended.
The cleanliness of the streets, yards, cellars and markets, and the removal of all putrescent matter, are objects of very great importance, and ought to be particularly attended to, especially in those parts of the city, which are contiguous to our Eastern waters.
On the 14th of August governor Jay issued a proclamation, forbidding all vessels from the West Indies, &c. to approach nearer the city than Governor's Island, until they had been visited by the health officer of the port, and received a certificate from him, certifying that such vessel or vessels, were entirely free from any infectious distempers and contagion.
[Page 21] The same proclamation contained the appointment of Dr. Pitt Smith, in the stead of Malachi Treat, health officer deceased; and also Andrew Van Tuyl esq in the stead of White Matlack, member of the Health Committee, absent; whereby the Committee stood as follows—
John Broome, Isaac Stoutenbergh, John Campbell, Theophilus Beekman, Gabriel Furman, Drs. Samuel Bard and Pitt Smith, and Robert Bowne, Nicholas Carmer, Robert Lenox, Nathaniel Hazard, George Jane-way, Andrew Van Tuyl, and Frederick Steymets.
The Committee appointed to prevent the introduction and spreading of infectious diseases in this city, REPORT,
That they have not ceased to make the most diligent enquiries respecting the epidemic which has of late appeared in this city; that a few cases of a suspicious nature do still occur, but none which have come to their knowledge (and they possess the best means of information) afford any reason to conclude this disease to be more contagious than fevers at this season of the year frequently are in their latter stages. That nurses, servants, friends and attendants, very generally escape with impunity, and that after the most attentive enquiry, they can hear of no more than fourteen deaths in this large and populous city since their report of the 8th instant, which can be attributed to this complaint.
On the 15th of August different practitioners of medicine met in consultation: The 17th the following notice appeared in the newspapers:
"On Saturday last, agreeable to notice, a number of physicians assembled at the City Hall, who after some conversation on the state of health in this city, [Page 22] were unanimously of opinion, that no CONTAGIOUS fever, in any particular different from what this city has been accustomed to, for some years past, at this season, exists at present."
The Committee appointed to prevent the introduction and spreading of infectious diseases in this city, REPORT,
That since their last report on the 15th inst. twelve persons have died of the prevaling epidemic, which still continues limited to a particular district of the city; out of which not above two or three cases have yet occurred, nor as yet no instance of death has happened to any nurse or attendant; and they have no information of more than twelve persons sick of the prevailing disease.
The Committee appointed to prevent the introduction and spreading of infectious diseases in this city, REPORT,
That they cannot sufficiently regret the exaggerated accounts that have gone abroad in the country respecting the state of health in this city: That they can assure their fellow citizens in the country and neighbouring states, that they make the most diligent enquiries, and that their reports contain, the whole truth, according to the best of their information.
That an epidemic fever does exist, in a small district of this city, is true, as is usual at this season of the year, but it is equally true, as yet it has exhibited no decided evidence of a specific contagion; or of a nature peculiarly infectious, not more than four instances having occurred, where either physician, nurse, or friend have even been suspected to have contracted fever, and (excepting that of our late worthy health officer) not one who has died in consequence of their [Page 23] attendance on the sick. That they have heard of seven deaths since their report of the 21st instant; that they believe about thirty may now be ill; that from accurate information, the whole number of deaths, which daily occur in this city, are considerably short of what has been usual in the same season of other years; and that the peculiar sensibility of the public mind, arising from the late sufferings of Philadelphia, New Haven and Baltimore, can alone account for the present apprehensions of our fellow citizens and neighbours.
The Committee appointed to prevent the introduction and spreading of infectious diseases in this city, REPORT,
That since their report of the 24th inst. twenty persons have died of the present epidemic. The Committee are so fully persuaded that the disorder which exists principally, if not altogether, along a part of the Eastern shore of this city, is a local malady, that they have directed various measures to be pursued for the removal of its probable sources.
The committee further report, that the number of sick have decreased since their last report, and that two persons have died in the last twenty-four hours.
The Committee appointed to prevent the introduction and spreading of infectious diseases in this city, REPORT,
That the violence of the epidemic fever, which has of late afflicted the upper part of Water-street and its vicinity, has so far abated, that few new cases occur, and that those are manifestly of a less dangerous nature. [Page 24] That since their report of the 28th instant, four persons have died in this city, and two at the hospital at Belle Vue.
After this period the reports of the Committee seldom contained more than the number of deaths. I shall, therefore, in future omit them, excepting where they occur with some remarks annexed.
To the Inspectors of the Health Office, and the Consulting Physician, and his associates for his advice, &c.
Although I am confident that you will exercise all your vigilance in executing the authority vested in you by law, for preventing the introduction of infectious diseases into this commonwealth, I cannot forbear requesting your opinion for public information, respecting the existence of a contagious disorder in the city of New-York, and upon the expediency of taking some precaution to guard against its being brought hither. The nature of my official trust, and the solicitude of our fellow citizens, on this interesting subject, will sufficiciently excuse the trouble of the present application.
The Inspectors of the Board of Health, for the city and liberties of Philadelphia, having received your letter of the 26th instant, and given it every attention which the importance of its contents required, are fully of opinion, that the prevalence of a contagious fever in [Page 25] New York, is sufficiently substantiated by a number of letters from several merchants in that city, which have been laid before them.
Though the Board of Health are fully sensible of the great inconvenience consequent to a stoppage of all intercourse between New York and this city, yet, they are confident the urgency of the case, and present anxiety of the citizens will justify the proceeding.
Under these impressions they are free to leave the subject with you, being well satisfied, you will take such steps as our exposed situation may require.
- (Signed) RICHARD TITTERMARY, Chair'n.
- (Signed) J. KAIGHN, Secretary.
THOMAS MIFFLIN esq governor of Pennsylvania.
Agreeably to your request contained in your communication of the 26th, to the Health Department, the physicians appointed by law to consult and advise respecting the necessary measures for preventing the introduction of contagious diseases into the city of Philadelphia, had a meeting this day; they have desired me to inform you, sir, that after carefully comparing the various accounts, which have come to their knowledge respecting the existence of a contagious disease in the city of New-York, there does not appear to them sufficient information to convince them that such contagious disease prevails there at present, as would render it necessary to stop intercouse with that city. They have, however, taken measures to inform themselves more particularly respecting the disease said to prevail there, at this time, and expect an answer to their enquiries by Monday or Tuesday next, when, should any [Page 26] thing further of importance be communicated, they will without delay, give the governor information thereof.
In the name and by the authority of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (L. S.) By Thos. Mifflin, gov. of the said commonwealth. A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas the Board of Inspectors of the Health Office of Philadelphia have reported to me, that it appears from authentic information to them exhibited, that an infectious or contagious disease exists in the city of New-York, in the state of New-York, and that there is reason also to believe, that a similar disease exists in the town of Norfolk, in the state of Virginia, so that the safety and health of the citizens of Philadelphia require a stoppage of intercourse with the said infected places. Therefore, in pursuance of the duty in such case on me enjoined by law, but with a sincere regret for the unhappy occasion, I, the said Thos. Mifflin, governor of the said commonwealth, have deemed it expedient to issue this proclamation, hereby prohibiting for the term of one month, or until such prohibition shall be by proclamation lawfully revoked, all intercourse between the said city of Philadelphia, and the said city of New-York and the said town of Norfolk, and any place or places within five miles thereof, respectively, as well by land as by water, under the penalty of three hundred dollars, to be recovered from, and paid by each and every person transgressing the said prohibition in the manner herein after specified, agreeably to the terms and directions of the act of the General Assembly, in such case made and provided: and to the intent, that suitable and sufficient measures may be taken and pursued for carrying into effect the said prohibition, I have further deemed it expedient hereby to request that as well [Page 27] the mayor, aldermen, and other officers of the city, as the inspectors of the Health Office of the port of Philadelphia, shall and will, with all possible vigilance and lawful authority and power, guard the various avenues or entrances into the said city of Philadelphia, by land and by water, so that any person or persons having been in the said city of New-York, or the said town of Norfolk, within the space of ten days, and attempting to transgress the said prohibition, by approaching nearer to the said city of Philadelphia, than five miles, shall be forthwith remanded to the place or places where such person or persons respectively came or shall be conveyed (at the discretion of the said mayor and aldermen, or of the said inspectors) to the Hospital on Staten Island, and there kept as long as the case may require. And all citizens, particularly those who have been in any wise concerned, or shall be acquainted with the intercourse between the said city of Philadelphia, and the said infected places, are earnestly exhorted and enjoined to give to the mayor, or some other magistrate of the said city, or to the inspectors of the Health Office, the earliest information of any and every attempt, which shall be made to transgress, or evade the prohibition aforesaid, in order that the offender or offenders may be dealt with according to law.
Given under my hand, and the great seal of the state, at Philadelphia, this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, and of the commonwealth the twentieth.
To Dr. Amasa Dingley, President of the College of Physicians, New York.
When the Committee of Health, at the commencement of the present alarm, addressed to their medical fellow citizens a letter, requesting their aid and advice, [Page 28] in the execution of their trust, it was not only thought the most prudent (because the most silent) but it was viewed and intended to be as respectful a mode of consulting them as any that could be devised. It is, therefore, with some astonishment, as well as sincere regret, they hear that many if not most, of the medical characters of this city have been so far offended at this procedure, as actually to resolve to withhold the information and advice they have solicited, and which is so necessary to their successful endeavours to serve their fellow citizens.
If this information is just, they presume it must be founded on a mistaken opinion, that it was the intention of the Committee indelicately to interfere with the attending physician in the examination or management of his patient—a conduct which they have studiously avoided, and of which they believe no instance can be produced, where the attending physician himself has given them the necessary information: but where this information has been withheld, and they have received from other quarters, well attested accounts of a dangerous case, as the only means of information in their power, they have been constrained to send and make the necessary enquiry, that they might at least save their fellow citizens from the danger which in such cases would attend a procrastinated funeral, and the neglect of proper precaution respecting the bedding, cloathing and chambers of the sick, and this explanation, will, they make no doubt, with any candid man, acquit them of the charge of inattention or disrespect. But if the information they have received is founded rather in the peculiar sensibility of individuals, than in the impression their conduct has made on the minds of medical gentlemen in general, then it exposes the profession to the unmerited censure of having suffered too punctillious an attention to etiqutte to have interfered with an important and essential duty.
At any rate, however, it is now, as it ever has been, [Page 29] the unanimous wish of the Committee, cordially to unite with the medical gentlemen in their endeavours to avert or lessen the misfortunes with which this city is threatened, and to avail themselves of their united counsel and information; they therefore have directed me to address to you this letter, and to request you will communicate it to the society, over which you preside; that no misunderstanding or trifling punctilio may lessen their utility, or in any wise defeat their exertions, in the truly important objects of this institution.
To J. Broome, esq Chairman of the Health Committee.
The College of Physicians of New-York, respectfully acknowledge the receipt of your letter, by order of the Committee; and it is, "with some astonishment, as well as sincere regret," that they find an implication of censure in the said letter, on "many if not most of the medical characters in this city," in your supposing they had formed a resolution to withhold any necessary information and advice from the Committee, and which might have been necessary for your "successful endeavours to serve their fellow citizens."
Whether the suggestion, so injurious to the practitioners of this city has arisen from the illiberal insinuations of the Dean of the Faculty of Physic of New-York, is a subject they deem highly worthy of the enquiry of the Committee, as it must have been obvious that some of the measures recommended by the said Dean, were calculated to defeat the important objects for which you were instituted, as they must inevitably operate to the great injury of the unfortunate patients to be removed, the distress and affliction of his friends, and unfounded [Page 30] alarm of the public, and an infraction of the laws of hospitality, and the social compact, without drawing the attention of the citizens to the real sources of danger.
How far this implication may have been applicable to some medical characters in this city, is not for them to investigate; but they conceive it a duty they owe to themselves and to the public, to assure you, that no such dispositions are to be found in their body; on the contrary, they have individually, after the receipt of your first letter, communicated all the information, as well as all the cases of a dangerous nature, to the Committee, which they judged necessary and proper for them to know, in order for your making the most proper arrangements for the preservation of the public health, and the alleviation of the misfortunes of those of the poor, or others who might suffer dangerous sickness.
They sincerely hope that such enquiries as the Committee may deem expedient to be made, will on all future occasions be conducted with such candor, decorum, and unequivocal information, as may not be injurious to the patient, disrespectful to the physician, or lead to any unjustifiable alarm of the public mind, at the same time preserve the dignity of the Committee.
They are happy, on all occasions, to avoid all those quarrels and disputes which have so long disgraeed the Faculty of Physic of New York, and therefore it is deemed highly inexpedient to enter into any theoretical account of the present sickness. But from all the facts that have occurred under their observation, they are not yet convinced that there is any thing essentially different in the disease, now exciting such general alarm, from what has been commonly observable at this season of the year.
They believe, and are compelled to observe, that the measures recommended by the said Dean, relative to the arrangements of Belle Vue hospital, the visitation [Page 31] of the unfortunate patients, the interment of the dead, and several other particulars are of such a nature, as are highly interesting to the reputation of this city; and it now becomes a serious question, whether it would not be wise and prudent in the Committee to adopt new and more salutary measures.
They cannot but hold in abhorrence every attempt at dictatorial usurpation; that there is not a member of their body who has not been regularly licensed as the law directs, and they flatter themselves that they are duly sensible of the sacred nature of those obligations, which ought to govern their conduct as practitioners; and at the same time they feel it an important and essential duty to countenance every man or body of men, labouring for the public good.
They also find it necessary further to remark, that there are no points of "etiquette," as you are pleased to term them, which have ever been suffered to interfere "with an important and essential duty."
They most sincerely wish, "that no misunderstanding or trifling punctillio," may lessen the public utility of either institution, by obstructing the channel of truth, but at the same time they think proper to suggest the propriety there would be in recommending to the medical department, annexed to your body, a more cautious expression of language on the nature of the supposed prevailing epidemic; by these means the alarm will not be increased from the source of ostensible authority.
They also assure the Committee of their readiness on all occasions, cordially and unanimously to unite with the Committee of Health, in their endeavours to avert or lessen the misfortunes with which this city may at any time be threatened, by epidemics or other dangerous diseases.
I am, therefore, directed to address to you this letter, and to request you to communicate it to the Committee, in which you have the honor to preside, and request [Page 32] them to pay the most serious and candid attention to the aforementioned facts.
To JOHN BROOME, esq
YOUR favour of the 25th inst. was communicated to the Medical Society on the 26th, when they had a pretty numerous meeting, and I am authorised to inform you, that they unanimously disclaimed the idea of having taken offence at any part of the conduct of the Health Committee, or of having resolved to withhold any information or advice, which may aid them in the attainment of their laudable views.
We have reason, sir, to believe, that the information that you allude to, has originated with some characters who are out of the pale of the Medical Society, and that if you have hitherto received few, or no communications from the members of that body, it is because nothing has occurred to them, which they have judged of sufficient importance to communicate.
You may rest assured, sir, that the Medical Society are heartily disposed to co-operate with the gentlemen of the Health Committee in every measure which may tend to avert or mitigate the calamities of their fellow citizens. I am, Sir, with esteem and respect,
THE physicians appointed by law to consult and advise respecting the necessary measures for preventing [Page 33] the introduction of contagious diseases into the city of Philadelphia, met this day; and they request me to inform the governor, that, by the answer they have received to their inquiries, alluded to in their letter of the 29th ult. and from other information, they are happy to find, that the disease, which has lately excited so much alarm, is rapidly subsiding in the city of New York: And consequently, that they continue of the same opinion as their last, respecting the stoppage of intercourse with that city.
Letter from his Excellency John Jay, governor of the state of New York, to governor Mifflin, relative to suspending the intercourse between the cities of Philadelphia and New York, on account of a malignant fever in the latter city.
Your Excellency's proclamation of the 31st of last month, prohibiting all intercourse between this city and Philadelphia, induced me to write the following letters to the President of the Medical Society in this city.
By a proclamation of the governor of Pennsylvania, dated the 31st day of last month, all intercourse between this city and Philadelphia is prohibited for the term of one month, or until that prohibition shall be revoked.
The reason assigned for this prohibition is thus expressed in the proclamation—Whereas the Board of [Page 34] Inspectors of the Health Office of Philadelphia, have reported to me, that it appears from authentic information to them exhibited, that an infectious or contagious disease exists in the city of New York, in the State of New York, and that there is reason to believe that a similar disease exists in the town of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, so that the safety and health of the citizens of Pennsylvania require a stoppage of intercourse with the said infected places, Therefore, &c.
This proclamation, by exciting alarms and apprehensions throughout this and the neighbouring states, and in foreign countries, naturally tends to produce embarrassments to the commerce of this city; and to interrupt that intercourse with the country which is at all times necessary to the convenience and interests of both. Hence it becomes important to examine and ascertain with precision, whether any and what degree of credit is due to the information alluded to in the abovementioned report of the inspectors of the Health Office of Philadelphia. No infectious or contagious disease can exist and prevail in this city, without the knowledge of the gentlemen who practice physic in it; and as the greater part of them are members of the Medical Society over which you preside, I request the favour of you to summon a meeting of the society, and to lay before them this letter.
They will oblige me by reporting to me an accurate statement of such facts and observations as may in their opinion be necessary to the forming a right judgment relative to the existence, nature, and extent of the disease in question.
If such a disease does really exist and prevail here, it should candidly be admitted and made known, that the dangers resulting from it may be guarded against. If, on the contrary, the reports concerning it are ill founded, care should be taken to prevent their continuing to gain credit.
Although the truth of the frequent reports made and [Page 35] published by the Health Committee has not been impeached, yet as the before mentioned proclamation appears to be grounded on information more alarming than what those reports afford, I think it advisable to enquire whether it is warranted by any facts within the knowledge of the members of your society.
To this letter I received the following answer.
THE communication which you were pleased (through our President) last evening to lay before the Medical Society, we consider of a nature the most serious and important, and the information you desire we offer with great respect, and under impressions the most scrupulously conscientious.
About six weeks ago, in a particular part of the city, being very low, and having an eastern exposure, a fever has been observed to exist, marked by the violence of those symptoms which are acknowledged to characterise those of the malignant sort. This fever, in a short time, attacked a considerable number of persons, in proportion to the space which it occupied, and proved fatal to more than is usual with us, and which (previous to the salutary and heavy rains we have lately had, and the consequent cloudy and cool weather) assumed an aspect which called for, and justified every prudent exertion that could be made to investigate its origin, and check its progress.
Unfortunately, however, the sensibility of the public mind, on a subject of this nature, giving reality to apprehension, converted the necessary efforts for security and prevention into sources of fear and terror. Hence probably have arisen most of the exaggerated reports which at first alarmed our own citizens, and [Page 36] being sent abroad, have excited the apprehensions of our neighbours, and given origin to measures more timid as they respect themselves, and more injurious to us, than the nature of the case in any wise justified.
The collective opinion of this society, as the result of attentive observation is—With regard to the contagious nature of this disease, most of the members are of opinion that it is not contagious, and all agree that it is so little so, as to afford no apprehension of its being communicated from man to man, out of the sphere of its original and local atmosphere.
As to its origin, suspicions have been entertained by a few physicians, that it may have been imported, whilst at the same time there are many among us who consider it as little more than that species of fever which has more or less prevailed in this city at the same season, for several years past, rendered, by the extraordinary heat, and some local sources of malignity, more violent and fatal than usual.
If the Board of Inspectors of the Health Office of Philadelphia have received any information respecting the disease in question, other than that from the Health Committee of this city, which they deemed authentic, we are extremely sorry that they should have been influenced by it, from a persuasion that such information was equally unfounded as unauthorised.
We assure your excellency that we have no disposition to disguise or conceal facts, nor do we hesitate to declare our opinion, that the alarm which has gone abroad, has been unreasonably great, and quite disproportionate to the actual state of the disease, which, as we have already observed, has been confined to a very inconsiderable portion of the city. It affords us great pleasure to be able to inform your excellency, that this complaint is fast diminishing, and that the general health of our city has been throughout the summer, and continues at this moment, unusually good.
[Page 37] We have the honour to be, with sentiments of great respect, your Excellency's
The Committee of Health in this city was appointed for the express purpose of guarding against the introduction and progress of infections distempers, and they have manifested great vigilance and attention to the discharge of their duty. As they possess the best means of information and will always communicate it with accuracy and candor, I wrote the following letter to them:
The alarming and exaggerated reports in circulation, that a dangerous and infectious distemper prevails in this city, will be corroborated by the proclamation of the governor of Pennsylvania; prohibiting all intercourse between us and Philadelphia.
I think it prudent to obtain from you and others, and transmit to the governor of that state, authentic and conclusive information relative to the question whether any such distemper does exist and prevail here.
The reports which you have from time to time published, are for the most part concise and summary; and it is not necessary that they should in common be otherwise. On the present occasion it may be useful to report to me a more particular and circumstantial statement.
[Page 38] In pursuance of this letter I received one from the chairman, enclosing the report mentioned in it. They are as follow:
I took the earliest opportunity to lay your letter of the 6th inst. before the Health Committee, when they made immediate arrangements to comply with your excellency's wishes. This you will find contained in the enclosed report, which after mature deliberation was adopted by the Committee; it is as particular and circumstantial a statement as they have it in their power to make, and which, I believe, is very near a real state of facts. I have the honour to be,
In answer to your excellency's letter of the 6th inst. requiring from us a particular and circumstantial statement of such facts, relative to the disease which has lately made its appearance in this city, or have come to our knowledge. We beg leave to submit the following.
On the 20th day of July, Dr. Malachi Treat, the late health officer of this port, visited the brig Zephyr from Port-au-Prince, on board of which he found three persons ill of fever, and the corpse of one that died that morning. The Doctor calls the fever in his report a billious remitting fever. The brig was ordered to ride quarantine. On the 22d day of July. Doctor Treat was taken ill, and died on the 30th of a fever marked by a yellow skin, hemorrhages, vomiting of a black matter, resembling coffee grounds, and all such symptoms as characterise billious fevers of the malignant kind. On the 25th day of July, four persons from on board the ship William from Liverpool, which arrived here several weeks before (all the crew having, previous to that day, and during the voyage, been perfectly healthy) were taken ill of fever, attended with similar symptoms, and all died within seven days.
[Page 39] The ship lay at a wharf at the foot of Dover street, in the south easterly part of this city, which lies exceedingly low, is much of it made ground, has an eastern exposure, and (from the streets having been raised about three years ago, which threw the yards and lots into hollows of considerable depth) is almost unavoidably liable to great collections of offal and filth of all kinds; is a part of the town very much crouded by poor inhabitants, and contains a great number of lodging houses in which seamen and strangers of the poorer class commonly reside: and from all these causes, is unquestionably the most unhealthy part of this city; and ever has suffered most from the regular autumnal diseases as well as from any new and uncommon complaint. From all which circumstances, we entertain no doubt, but that the seaman of the ship William contracted the disease of which they died here, and did not introduce it into this city. A little before, and immediately after the attack of the seamen of the ship William, which first called the attention of this Committee, several other persons in Water and Front streets, and in the neighbourhood of Dover street, were seized with fever, which especially in those cases which proved mortal, was marked by severe vomitings, a yellow skin, hemorrhages, and in some cases a vomiting black matter resembling coffee grounds, and which generallly terminated within seven days; and proved fatal to more in proportion to the number seized, than is usual in the ordinary complaints of this season, in this city.
From that time the disease continued to spread in that neighbourhood, extending itself to a few houses lower down towards Peck's slip, to one or two in Pearl street and Cherry street, but principally upwards, towards the ship yards; the number of deaths increasing slowly until the 9th of August, from which, to the 11th inclusive, thirteen died; from that day the number of deaths reported to us have gradually decreased, so that nine only are reported to have died within the [Page 40] last five days; and in all, from the 30th of July to this day, eighty-nine deaths have been reported to this Committee: forty-four persons in all have been sent to Belle Vue Hospital, of which the greatest number have been seamen and strangers, who have arrived in this city, sick of various complaints, and of this number, several in the very last stages of their disease; twenty have died; sixteen have been discharged cured, and eight remains in the house, most of them convalescent.
The number of deaths includes all the cases which to our knowledge have happened between the 26th of July and the 7th of September inclusive, either in this city, at the New York hospital, or at the hospital at Belle Vue, arising from fever in the least approaching to the character of this disease.
And as this Committee have made every exertion in their power to obtain the necessary information, they do not hesitate to say, that this statement is sufficiently correct to afford the basis of every public measure, which may be thought necessary for our own safety, or for the security of our neighbours.
This report, and the one from the Medical Society, have been communicated to the mayor and corporation of the city, to whom, on the 6th instant I wrote the following letter.
The suspension of all intercourse between this city and Philadelphia is inconvenient to them, as well as injurious to us. The information which induced their Health Office to apply to their governor for this suspension, was doubtless such as in their opinion justified that measure. There nevertheless is reason to believe that more credit was inadvertently given to it, than it deserved.
[Page 41] Whether a contagious disease does exist and prevail in this city, is a question to which a satisfactory answer can only be formed from correct statements of well authenticated facts, and the opinions of men well informed and meriting confidence.
On the present occasion, I think it adviseable to obtain such statements and opinions, and to transmit them to the governor of Pennsylvania.
If it should appear from them that the usual intercourse between this city and Philadelphia may be restored without any danger to the latter, the prohibition which suspends it, will of course be revoked.
I have requested and received from the Medical Society in this city their report on this subject, and when to this is added the late publication of the Medical gentlemen who compose the society called the College of Physicians, the sentiments of the faculty relative to it will be ascertained.
As the Common Council of the city is composed of magistrates and other members from the different wards and as a dangerous infectious distemper cannot be presumed to prevail here, without exciting their notice and attention; I request from them a statement of such information as they may possess, together with their opinion relative to this interesting subject.
These documents, with the report of the Health Committee, will afford to the governor of Pennsylvania the best and most authentic evidence that the nature of the case will admit of; and such as cannot fail to reduce the many exaggerated reports that are in circulation, to the standard of truth.
[Page 42] In answer to this letter I received one from the mayor, enclosing an extract from the minutes of the Board on this subject. They are as follow.
I have the honor to inform your excellency, that on this day I laid before the Common Council of this city your letter of the 6th inst. together with the copy of the report of the Medical Society of this city, on the subject of the disease said to exist in this city, which accompanied it; and also a copy of the report of the Health Committee of this date, to your excellency on the same subject.
In answer to your letter I am requested by the Common Council to inform you, that they have duly considered those reports, and that they do believe that the facts contained in them are, according to the best information they have been able to obtain, correct and true; and further, that from the information received by the individual members of the Board, it is their opinion that a much greater degree of general health prevails in this city at present, than is usual at this season of the year.
A certified copy of the resolution of the Board upon that subject, I do enclose to your excellency.
- Present, Richard Varick, esquire, mayor.
- esquires, Aldermen.
- Gabriel Furman,
- John Campbell,
- Theophilus Beekman,
- Wynant Van Zandt,
- Isaac Stoutenbergh,
- Andrew Van Tuyl,
- Nicholas Bayard,
- [Page 43] Assistants.
- Garrit Harsin,
- George Janeway,
- Frederick Stymets,
- Mangle Minthorn,
- Nicholas Carmer,
The mayor laid before the board a letter from his excellency the governor, of the 6th inst. on the subject of the proclamation issued by the governor of Pennsylvania, suspending all intercourse between this city and Philadelphia, and the said letter, together with a report made to his excellency on the 5th inst. by the Medical Society in this city, and also a report made to his excellency by the Health Committee of this city, on this day, were respectively read and duly considered, and thereupon resolved, that Mr. Mayor be requested to inform his excellency the governor in answer to his letter, that this Board do verily believe that the facts contained in the said respective reports are, according to the best information this Board have been able from time to time to obtain, correct and true. And further, that from the information received by the individual members of this Board, it is the opinion of this Board that a much greater degree of general health prevails in this city at present, than is usual at this season of the year.
Your excellency will find herewith enclosed a paper containing a letter from the President of a society of medical gentlemen in this city, called the College of Physicians, to the Chairman of the Committee of Health.
Thus, Sir, I have laid before you, and submit to your consideration, a collection of facts and opinions, which merit credit and respect.
I flatter myself it will appear to your excellency, from these documents, that it is not necessary to suspend the intercourse between this city and Philadelphia, and [Page 44] therefore that the prohibition in question will be revoked.
Governor Mifflin's answer.
On the receipt of your excellency's letter of the 9th inst. I referred the statement, which it contains to the consideration of the Board of inspectors and the Board of Physicians, appointed by law, to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases into this commonwealth; and I have now the honor to inclose copies of my letter and their report for your information.
It is a source of sincere regret to every citizen of Philadelphia, that the recent intelligence from New York renders the existence of a contagious disease in that city no longer a matter of doubt or apprehension. We are confident, therefore, that while we cherish every sentiment of a just and liberal sympathy, the citizens of New York cannot disapprove our using those precautions, which are necessary to prevent the extension of so great a calmity. It could certainly be no alleviation of their sufferings, that the inhabitants of Philadelphia should be exposed to the same affliction; and your excellency will readily allow, that every embarrassment, as well foreign as domestic, that may be the effect of a suspension of the intercourse between the two cities, will operate equally against both. This consideration of interest as well as every motive of duty, justice and humanity, will prompt me to seize the earliest moment, in which the prohibition contained in my proclamation may be safely revoked; and I shall esteem any information that your excellency may be pleased from time to time [Page 45] to communicate on the subject, not only as deserving the highest confidence and attention, but as a mark of personal favor.
Report of the Board of Health, in answer to the governor's letter of [...] inst. in consequence of the letter from governor Jay, relative to the malignant fever now prevailing in New York.
In our communication to your excellency of the 4th inst. we had the honor to inform you, that the inspectors of the Health Office proposed a further joint meeting with the Board of consulting physicians, on the Wednesday following; We accordingly met this day; the result of our consultations we have now to detail to your excellency. And first we shall notice the following passage in your letter. "That governor Jay may be apprised of the facts on which your opinions and reports have been founded, you will be pleased to furnish me with a particular statement, to accompany my answer to his letter."
Previously to our advising the intercourse between the two cities to be stopped, we have received information by a number of oral and written testimonies, that a dangerous and malignant fever existed in the city of New York. It will hardly be expected we should mention the names of those persons from whom we received information, either verbal or written; to give up the names of those we conversed with on the subject could answer no good purpose: and in respect to [Page 46] mentioning the writers of letters, or extracts of letters, from whom we derived a considerable share of information, would we conceive be an useless as well as unpardonable breach of confidence. Suffice it to say, the information was such as on which we conceived we could safely depend, and in this body of evidence it may not be amiss to mention it comprised the reports of the Health Committee of New York, and letters from their port physician.
These united testimonies tended to establish that the late Health Officer of the port, Dr. Treat, who confessedly resided in a healthy part of the city, on the 20th of July visited the brig Zephyr, just arrived from Port an Prince, on board of whom was the corpse of a man who had died that day, as also three persons sick of a fever, all three of whom died in a few days after; that Dr. Treat was taken ill about the 2 [...]d, and died on or about the 30th of the same month, of a fever; the symptoms of which was of the most malignant kind, and such as is characteristic of what is commonly called the yellow fever; that shortly after the part of the crew of the ship William from Liverpool were taken with a fever apparently of the same nature, and all died (in a statement since made by the Health Committee of New York and communicated to your excellency by governor Jay, we have to lament the omission of a most material circumstance; it is whether or not the brig Zephyr had any communication with the William; they only tell us she was ordered to perform quarantine) our private information goes to shew that there actually was a communication between those vessels; if this information is well founded, the contagion may be readily traced from the Zephyr to the William.
From about this time a fever of the same nature with that of which Doctor Treat and part of the crews of these vessels died, was observed to break out in a particular district of that city, confined within a small space and continuing to increase insomuch that in the course [Page 47] of the month of August we are told about eighty persons (some augment this number greatly) died of the same kind of fever within that district only: if this statement may be depended on, and we think it corroborated by the documents transmitted by governor Jay, we have no hesitation in saying, that the citizens of Philadelphia had cause for serious alarm, for it is much doubted if a greater number died in Philadelphia during the same month, of the disorder which prevailed in, and afterwards proved so calamitous to our city, during the summer and autumn of 1793.
In both cities the disorder appears to have broke out about the same time of the year, and is remarkable for a similarity of progress, except that in the present month it has as yet less spread over the city of New York than it did with us: but may not this be ascribed to the plentifully rains, a cool and favorable state of the atmosphere and other natural causes which have prevailed this season in a remarkable degree (the reverse of which was the case in the summer of 1793) than to a less degree of malignancy in the disorder: besides if the constitutions and habits of the citizens of New-York are indisposed to imbibe the infection, are we sure the Philadelphians are not predisposed to take it, and would it become us as guardians of the city's health to try the experiment for the sake of conviction: rather would it not be more prudent to make use of every reasonable means the most likely to avert an impending calamity; the answer is obvious.
It is of small moment to the point in question, whether the disorder was imported, or originated in the city from local causes; it is sufficient to prove it contagious; and that it is so under certain situations and circumstances few will deny, who attentively consider the foregoing statement. Dr. Treat received the contagion from visiting the brig Zephyr, and the crew of the William received it from the same vessel, from whence it was imbibed by the citizens of New York, [Page 48] more immediately contiguous to its original sources of contagion, and predisposed to take the infection.
From the above statement we think it will be readily admitted that the disorder now prevalent in the city of New York, is of the same nature with that which prevailed in Philadelphia in the year 1793, and that in certain situations and circumstances it is also contagious: if these facts are admitted, we think they will sufficiently justify the measures we recommended.
Thus we have given to your excellency the principal facts, on which were founded our opinions and reports, and our reasons for their justification.
In respect to the Proclamation prohibiting the intercourse between the two cities, we have to inform you that it was the unanimous opinion of the joint Boards, that there does not now appear any reason for revoking the said Proclamation; on the contrary, considering the prevailing hot weather, and the recent advices from New York, it was our unanimous opinion, that the Proclamation should not only be continued; but that it ought to be strictly carried into effect.
- (Signed) ROBERT SMITH, Chairman.
- (Signed) JOHN KAIGHN, Sec'ry.
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, and are happy to have it in our power to inform the governor, that from the best information we have been able to obtain, the fever, which has for some time past prevailed in New-York, is greatly mitigated, and from the late propitious change in the atmosphere, plentiful rains, we may entertain a reasonable hope of that fatal malady being soon dissipated altogether.
[Page 49] We are however unanimously of opinion, that the disorder has not so far subsided, as to justify a revocation of the proclamation suspending the intercourse for the preesnt.
- ROBERT SMITH, Chairman.
- JOHN KAIGHN, Secretary,
In September, the following gentlemen were appointed in the city of Albany to prevent the introduction of the epidemic into that place, Ebert Willet, Abraham Eights, Leonard Gansevoort, jun. Jeremiah Lansing, Elisha Kane, Henry I. Bogert, Stephen Lush, Thomas Mather, Barnet Van Alen, Sanders Lansing, Garret Van Sante, and Jonathan N. Bleecker.
On the 21st day of Sept. governor Mifflin issued his second proclamation, prohibiting the intercourse between the city of Philadelphia and the city of N. York.
On the 7th of Oct. the governor of Virginia, by proclamation ordered all vessels from New York to perform quarantine.
TWO years have not elapsed since a correspondence took place between us, on a subject, the most distressing ever know to Americans. The dreadful calamity with which our city was then visited, alarmed the United States, from one extreme to the other. We became the objects of the benevolence of many of our neighbours, and we recollect with the most lively gratitude, the part which the city of New York took in our affliction, and the generous assistance we received from thence. We lament that you are now suffering under [Page 50] a similar visitation, and we feel the most poignant distress for your calamitous situation.
Under the influence of these sensations the sum of seven thousand dollars hath been collected among my fellow citizens, which I have the pleasure of forwarding to you, at their desire, in the enclosed draft on the Bank of New York, requesting that you will be pleased to cause it to applied to the use of the poor and distressed of your city.
May a gracious providence continue the favourable change which appears already to have taken place, and shortly put a period to your sufferings, by restoring your citizens to that happy state of health which they have been accustomed to enjoy.
With sentiments of personal regard and esteem.
I had the honor (by yesterdays post) of receiving your favor of the 3d inst. covering a draft on the Bank of New York in my favour for 7000 dollars, to be applied to the use of the poor and distressed of this city, in their present afflictions.
On the last evening I communicated the contents of your letter to the Health Committee, and on this day to the Common Council of the city; they heard it with heart-felt satisfaction, and prompted by inclination as well as duty, I do with great pleasure, at their express request, in behalf of our afflicted fellow citizens, present to you, Sir, and the citizens of the city of Philadelphia, whom you have the honour to represent, our most respectful acknowledgements for the benevolent feelings and consoling sympathy which you express for [Page 51] our hapless situation, and which you and they have so fully manifested by the very liberal donations you have been pleased to transmit to us on this occasion. You may be assured, Sir, your benevolences will be faithfully applied, and will excite in your favour the repeated prayers and blessings of many a mourning father, disconsolate widow and helpless orphan.
I sincerely lament that at so early a period after a calamitous and distressing pestilence had in some measure desolated the city of Philadelphia, and excited towards her, in her afflicted state, the tear of sympathy and the hand of benevolence of her neighbours, the Almighty Ruler of heaven and earth should have found too just cause to remind us, that we also are beings dependent on his sovereign will, and that we have not requited him with gratitude for the many very signal blessings and unparalleled prosperity we have enjoyed since the late revolution, and our return to our dwellings; and by this distressing visitation, to impress on our minds, that under him human beings are dependent on each other, by making us in turn the objects of the commiseration and benevolence of our sympathising neighbours.
I fervently hope and wish that you, sir, and your respected fellow citizens, may never again witness such distressing scenes as you have lately experienced; and that the affliction which has now come to the doors of my fellow citizens, may be sanctified to the survivors, and teach us, that unless supported by the Divine Hand the things of this life, which we so highly prize, are very vanity, and life itself a mere vapour.
We were very sanguine in our expectations, about 4 weeks ago, considering the then general state of health in this city, beyond all former seasons, that the epidemic which was then confined to a small district of the city, and which since has caused so much alarm and distress, and deprived us of some valuable citizens, would have been confined there and finally subsided; but the warm weather and fears of many, and want of caution in [Page 52] others, has caused it to spread from that quarter somewhat northward and principally eastward to the ship yards, where it has been most fatal among the poor emigrants, who lived and died in filth and dirt; and altho' the cool air of the close of Sept. had much diminished the mortality, and had given us reason to hope that the judgment would be speedily removed, it has again, by the uncommonly warm weather, or perhaps unknown causes, become very alarming, and has taken off a few individuals, I suppose, not exceeding 30 or 40 in the whole, south-west of the Fly market and Crown street, and west of Broad street, continued into the Bowery, exclusive of the Hospital.
The number of deaths has however, again decreased from 29 on Sunday evening, to 22 on Monday, and 17 on this evening (the whole number now being 525) and we have reason to hope and expect, from the small number of new cases which have come to the knowledge of the Health Committee on the last evening, that, with the blessing of heaven, the disease will soon subside, and permit our affrighted fugitive fellow citizens, who are scattered in every quarter around us, to return to their dwellings in safety, and again open the intercourse between us, and our more happy neighbours; the want of which has in a very great degree enhanced our misfortunes.
Accept our unfeigned thanks, Sir, for the interesting and friendly part you have taken in our days of calamity and distress; and believe me to be with sentiments of great personal respect and esteem,
It is with the sincerest pleasure, that I find myself justified in restoring the intercourse between the cities [Page 53] of Philadelphia and New York, in consequence of the enclosed report of the inspectors of our Health Office.
Permit me, sir, to convey the cordial congratulations of the citizens of Pennsylvania to you and our fellow citizens of New York, upon the change which has taken place in the health of your city; and to assure you that nothing could equal the sympathy which we felt, during the continuance of the calamity that has afflicted you, but the joy that we experience on its cessation.
With sentiments of great respect and esteem,
COMMITTEE OF HEALTH.
But three persons have died on the last four days in this city, and but three at Belle Vue since the 27th of October, of fever in any degree resembling our late epidemic.
The alarming situation in which this city has lately been, is calculated to excite the most serious reflections—to inspire feelings of veneration for that all controling Power who in the midst of such judgment numbers mercy!—We trust that it has been under a sentiment of grateful dependance on him, that we have been encouraged to fulfil the duties you had entrusted: And we trust that while congratulations are repeated upon returning seasons of health, all hearts may be disposed to improve to moral and virtuous purposes both the threatening and felicitating dispensations of heaven. Your Committee at this period cheerfully recognise those principles of undeviating veracity, which during [Page 54] the increasing terror of their fellow citizens, directed their daily reports respecting the progress of disease. It is with great satisfaction that they have found it evinced by their experience, that such exact details as they have made to the public, instead of increasing those terrors, have tended, in a great measure, to subdue them; and the accomplishment of this is of immense importance to public happiness and convenience; fear mitigates its objects. During the existence of a calamity of this kind, circumstances will be ever exaggerated, by the timidity and credulity of individuals.
It is to be lamented, however, that falsehoods have been propagated from the basest, meanest, and the most despicable motives; by some as an apology for their panic apprehensious, by others, from the sensibilities of self interest, and to gratify a sordid lust of gain. Lies have been propagated for the sake of the wonderful, and the excitement of surprize, by persons ungenerously forgetful of the extensive mischiefs naturally originating from this source—despair, desertion, poverty, famine and death!
Perhaps an ill-judged tenderness for their reputations has prevented the publication of the names of some offenders. Had the falsehood repeated with great confidence in the country had any proper foundation, our city would long since have been nearly desolated.
We turn with pleasure to the recollection of circumstances more creditable to hmanity; and to acknowledge the liberality of those of our fellow citizens who have contributed to alleviate the distresses of the sick and suffering poor. The generous inteferences of sympathy from Philadelphia, and some neighboring villages, demand our lasting gratitude: Such instances of mutual good will and beneficence remain grateful memorials of the fraternity of a free and virtuous people.
From these resources, 8837 dols. have been received; and your Committee feel a responsibility in the faithful and just distribution. Its proper objects being numerous, [Page 55] and often probably not within the sphere of individual knowledge, each of the members of the Committee is associated with two respectable citizens in seeking out the sick, and relieving those to whom their charity is directed.
Circumstances have not been wanting to shew the happy influence of temperance, cleanliness, and cold upon the late epidemic. But while we rejoice that benevolent nature has given power to these agents to set bounds to its ravages, let us recollect that they are assiduously to be employed. We feel it incumbent on us to remind our fellow citizens of this truth, particularly those who are returning from the country. Houses which have contained the sick, should be carefully ventulated; and things that have been employed by them, that cannot conveniently be cleansed by water, should be subjected freely to the action of cold.
It is not impossible that neglect in those particulars may occasion a few solitary instances of this disease until we have experienced intense frost. For though we flatter ourselves it is extinguished as an epidemic, and our streets free from all infection, we have before us the experience of other places to impress the necessity of such precautions.
Among the arrangements made by the Committee to prevent the spread of infectious disease they consider early interments and the use of the hearse, as one of the most important. Satisfactory proofs of its utility might be detailed. It is to be wished that the good sense of the community might be exerted to conquer any prejudice which may remain in opposition to a practice of burial so much more convenient than the common mode, and so much more safe.
The present state of Belle Vue hospital is pleasing; not only from it we anticipate the speedy extinction of all disease therein, but from the happy and comfortable situation of the sick, and from the satisfaction expressed by them with respect to their medical aid and attendance. [Page 56] But three new patients have been received during the last ten days. There are now thirteen sick in the hospital, twelve of whom are considered as out of all danger. Since its first establishment, eighty nine persons have been discharged, cured; the deaths have been published with our daily reports.
It is with great satisfaction that we remark that although some of the people have been slightly affected with the epidemic no one has died.
Much to the injury of the unfortunate persons who have been sent to this place, its circumstances have been grossly misrepresented. The sick have in consequence, in numerous instances, sought this asylum with hearts aching with anxiety and despair.
A senior consulting physician was early appointed to visit it occasionally from this city. From its first establishment, one, and since the 24th of Sept. two, physicians have constantly resided within its walls. A new building has been erected during the sickness, and no expense has been spared to render the sick commodious and happy. A Committee from this Board have made frequent visits and examination of its circumstances, and from time to time have witnessed with pleasure its improving state.
A more vigilant, humane, or attentive man was never appointed purveyor to an hospital, than our late worthy member Mr. Frederick Steymets, whose death reminds us of the loss of our other friend and associate, Dr. M. Treat, who there is reason to suspect, was also a victim to the discharge of faithful duty. The public will join with us in deploring the loss of such worthy and respectable members of society.
Before we dismiss the subject of the hospital, it is but just that we acknowledge our sense of the merit of Dr. Alexander Anderson, and Dr. M'Farlin, resident physicians at Belle Vue.* Both for their persevering [Page 57] attention, humanity and fidelity to the sick, they have deserved well of their country.
The Committee being employed in arranging expenditures, and in the settlements of accounts, request that all persons having demands upon them, present the same to alderman Furman, 106, Broad Way, on or before the 20th instant.
- JOHN BROOME, Chairman,
- GABRIEL FURMAN, Alderman,
- ANDREW VAN TUYL, do.
- JOHN CAMPBELL, do.
- ROBERT LENOX, do.
- THEOPHILUS BEEKMAN, do.
- ROBERT BOWNE,
- NICHOLAS CARMER,
- Dr. WILLIAM P. SMITH,
- ISAACSTOUTENBURGH,
- GEORGE JANEWAY,
- NATHANIEL HAZRD.
N. B. Dr. Samuel Bard, absent from this city on business.