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§n.
       MEMOIR

              ON THE

Analyfis of the Black Vomit,
                            e
     EJECTED IX fHE LAST SfAGE OF fHE

          YELLOW FEVER.

                 ./
       BY ISAAC  CATHRALL.
       ___           *">



          PHILADELPHIA:
    FROM THE PRESS OF R. FOLWELL,
         No. 63, JVbrt-6 Front-street.
               1800, 
 
               MEMOIR
                   ON THE

Analyfis of the Black  Vomit,

Read before the American Philofophical Society, on
           the 20th of June, 1800.
  I  HE inveftigation of the properties of fecreted
fluids, has long engaged the attention of the Phy-
fiologifl and Chemift :  But, their enquiries have
generally been directed to a  knowledge of thofe
fluids in a healthy ftate, while little notice has been
taken of the fecretions of fome of the moil impor-
tant vifcera after a ftate of difeafe.  The caufe of
this deficiency, in the examination of morbid fe-
cretions, and particularly in that denominated the
black vomit, muff be afcribed to the danger fup-
pofed to attend fuch an undertaking; though mofl
obfervers mull: have been (truck with the Angular
appearance of this difcharge,  and much aftonifh-
ed with the fpeedy dilTolution that enfued j yet,
none that I have had an opportunity of confulting,
have attempted  an analyfis of this fluid.   When
I  firfl contemplated an examination of the black
vomit, in  1793 and 1794, I  confidered it as an
hazardous undertaking,  and  limited my  views
o 
(  4   )
merely to diftinguifh that fluid from putrid bile :
But, after fubje&ing it to many experiments,  and
finding that it had no effect on my health, I have
been enabled to advance one ftep farther in the en-
quiry ; and I have now the fatisfaction of fubmit-
ting to  the Philofophical Society, an analyfis of
that fluid, together with its effects, when  applied
to the healthy fyftem.


          Defcription of the Black Vomit.

   THE black matter, or vomit, fo called, appears
to be  of two kinds. One, confifting of a number
of black flaky  particles, refembling the  grounds
of coffee.   The other, of a dark-coloured infpiffa-
ted mucus : of each of thefe, I {hall give a feparate
defcription.
   This  flaky  difcharge was  always preceded by
violent ficknefs and vomiting ;  and, as a precurfor
to the ejection  of this matter, in  fome cafes, the
patients vomited a fluid, like whey, or muddy  wa-
ter, or one confifting of a brown flaky fubftance,
refembling chocolate or fpoiled porter, mixed with
brownifh-coloured mucus.* Thefe fubftances were
fometimes of a lighter colour, and were fufpended
  * The chocolate, or coffee ficknefs, or the black ficknefs,
fays Dr. de Monchy, is not taken from the blackifh hue or
fhade of the ikin,  but it is derived from the fceted, blackifh
matter discharged from the  firfl: paffages.  See diseases  in
vojages to the West-Indies. 
(  5   )
in a glarey yellow-coloured fluid, which became
nearly tranfparent  when at reft, by the fubfiding
of a fmall number of brown particles. This colour-
ed matter was generally vomited in fmall quantities,
and  with  confiderable difficulty ; but, when the
black flaky difcharge commenced, it was frequent-
ly ejected in large quantities, and with fimilar force
to a  fluid from  the action of an emetic.   As the
difeafe advances, this matter affumes a darker co-
lour, and its quantity, fometimes, becomes fo much
augmented, that I have known one gallon vomited
in 48 hours, befides a confiderable quantity, which
was of a much  thicker confidence, that was dis-
charged by the bowels.   This black  vomit, after
Handing fome hours,  depofits a black flaky  fub-
itance, from a glarey yellow-coloured fluid, fimilar,
in"appearance, to an infufion of green tea. Thefe
depofitions were fometimes in diftinct particles, but
frequently in a kind of dark powder. The above par-
ticles were various in  fize, and of a very irregular
figure, not unfrequently mixed with pieces of the
villous coat of the ftomach.  Thefe may be diftin-
guifhed by their being longer in fubfiding to the
bottom of the veffel than the flaky fubftance. There
were fome difproportions between the yellow-co-
loured fluid, and the quantity of flaky fubftance, as
in the other  appearance of the vomit.  The flaky
matter  was very readily re-incorporated with the 
(  6   )
yellow-coloured fluid, by the leaft agitation of the
vefTel; and, when kept in a phial, corked for eight
or ten days, alTumed rather an agreeable, faccharine
odour, and  was extremely brifk, like fermenting
beer.  This  laft property is not peculiar to this
fluid, but common to fome other animal fecretions.
When the black vomit was kept for two years in
a ftate of reft, the flaky particles became perfectly
feparated.  On agitating the vefTel, the former was
immediately incorporated with  the latter ; and, af-
ter remaining at reft fix months, fhowed  fcarce
any difpofition to feparate.  This was the appear-
ance, if I recollect accurately, of the black vomit,
exhibited by Dr. Monro, of Edinburgh, to  his
clafs, in 1792, and which had been fent him from
the Weft-Indies: Though, as the profeflbr did not
permit it to  go out of his hand, I cannot fpeak
correctly as to the fact; but  believe it was not
feparated, and confifted of a turbid black-coloured
fluid.
  The mucus-matter which was fometimes vomited
in the yellow fever, and particularly in that which
appeared in  1797,  was very ropy, and of a black
colour.  This matter floated on a fluid of a dark
colour, which  appeared to receive its tinge from
the colouring-matter of the mucus.   When this
matter was agitated in a phial,  the mucus fhowed
no difpofition  to mix with the fluid-part of the
vomit, and when it was repeatedly wafhed in clear 
(  7   )
water, became nearly of the colour of the mucus
fecreted in the alimentary canal.  This black mat-
ter was difcharged in large quantities in the cafes
which proved mortal in 1797, and was a very in-
active fluid when applied to the molt fenfible parts
of the healthy body, and was  effentially different
from the coffee-ground vomit.


Analyfis of fluids, ejecled a few  hours before the
         commencement of black 'vomiting.

  THE fluids,on which the fubfequent experiments
were made, were obtained from three patients,
from one to fixteen hours previous to the vomit-
ing of the brown-coloufed matter, which has been
defcribed  as generally preceding the  black  dif-
charge. In all of  thefe cafes, the fick refufed every
other drink but plain water;  notwithstanding the
fimplicity  of drink,  the fluids,  which are  the
fubject of inveftigation,  were of the following co-
lours :  The  firft had nearly  the  appearance of
whey.  The fecond was of a yellowifh colour, oc-
cafioned by the mucus  it contained.  The third
appeared like muddy water, or refembled water
that had been coloured by alhes.  Thefe fluids had
a~ difagreeable, faccharine  tafte, and  emitted an
odour analogous  to that arifing from fluids which
had been ejected  from debilitated  ftomachs  after
paroxyfms of indigeftion.  They underwent  but 
(  8   )
little change after remaining at reft for twenty-four
hours, except that fome part of the mucus-matter
affumed a white afpect, and fubfided to the bottom
of the vefTel.
  (a) Thefe fluids changed the infufion of turn-
fole  to  a red colour;  paper  ftained yellow with
turmerick remained  unaltered, but when  previ-
oufly changed by  an  alkali, was reftored to its
priftine  colour.
  (F) Caloric, or diluted acids, would not coagu-
late this fluid;
  (c) Lime-water produced no clouds or  turbid-
nefs j
  (d) Solution  of fulphate of iron,  or nitrated
mercury, caufed no precipitation;
  (e) Muriated barytes occafioned no  alteration ;
  (f) Nitrated filver produced  a copious  white
precipitate;
  (g) Sulphate of copper  did  not fhow the pre-
fence of ammoniac;
  (h) Fixed alkalies occafioned no alteration j
  (i) Oxalic acid produced no change;
  (£) Alcohol of galls, or prufliate of pot-afh, did
not produce any precipitation;
  (/) Thefe fluids,  when expofed to  cold, were
congealed in the temperature in which  water
freezes ;  the ice was nearly tranfparent, and, when
rendered fluid, had the appearance of water, and
tafted like that fluid after being boiled. 
(  9   )
  The above fluid, therefore, appears to contain
an acid in a free ftate (#) ;  but no coagulable mat-
ter  (£), nor carbonic acid, in a difengaged ftate,
or combined with alkalies  or earths (c& d) ;  the
acid (a)  is proved not to be  the fulphuric  (e).
The prefence of the muriatic acid is fuppofed, from
(/) no ammoniac  is contained in this  fluid (g),
nor  earths (h), nor lime,  or the falts formed of
lime and acids (/') ; no reafon to fufpect metallic
matter (k) j but a  confiderable proportion of wa-
ter  (/).


            Analyfis of black vomit.

  We have already obferved, in the defcription
of the black vomit, that it  fpontaneoufly feparated
into yellow-coloured fluid, and black flaky fub-
ftance (No. i.). The yellow-coloured  fluid  and
flaky fubftance being thrown on a filter of two-
folds of paper, four ounces of a fluid pafled through,
which was fimilar, in appearance, to an infufion of
green-tea.  It  was moderately  vifcid, and  had a
faint fweetifh  animal  odour,  and  a  faccharine
tafte, perceptibly acrid to the lips.   The  matter
which remained on the filter, was fimilar,  in co-
lour and confiftence, to Venice treackle.  It  was
weakly glutinous, and had the fame odour as the
                      B 
(  io   )
yellow-coloured fluid.   When  this fubftance was
dry,  it weighed 30 grains.  It was  friable, and
not of fo black a colour as immediately after be-
ing removed from  the  filter.   When this matter
was obtained by evaporating the black vomit over
a moderate heat, it was brittle and  fhining, but
had no peculiar tafte or fmell;  and when expofed
to a moift atmofphere, became  foft and glutinous.
   (a) Eight drachms of the filtered fluid (No.  1.)
was  evaporated  in a lhallow  veffel, by  a gentle
heat: the vapour being condenfed, was found to
confift of water, which tailed neither acid nor al-
kaline ; but emitted a ftrong odour of the vomit.
The evaporation being continued,  until  an  ad-
hefive refiduum remained of a dark  colour, re-
fembling melted fugar.  This fubftance affected
the  lips  in a more obvioufly  acrid  manner than
the fluid did previous to the evaporation.  It was
highly inflammable when dried, but not entirely
foluble in water.
   (J?) Six  drachms of the filtered fluid (No.  1.)
and  as many of  water, were expofed in feparate
phials,  clofely corked, to an  atmofphere, when
the mercury, in the thermometer, was as low as
25.   The filtered fluid congealed  as foon  as  the
water.  The two different fluids were examined,
after Handing a whole night  j when the phial,
containing the coloured-fluid, was found entire, and 
                   C   ii  )
its contents not quite frozen; as, apart of the fluid,
on placing the phial on its fide,  flowed among the
ice. The water, in the other phial, was complete-
ly frozen, and the vefTel broken in pieces.   The
ice, in the former phial, was of a yellow-colour :
The colouring-matter of which  could be fo  much
difengaged, by warning it with water, as to give it
the ufual tranfparency of ice.   The aqueous part
of the vomit, obtained in this manner, diffolved
foap, with facility, but had not the odour of the
vomit.  This fluid was neither  acid nor alkaline,
Prulliate of potafh, or oxalic acid, did not caufe any
precipitation.
  (r) Some alcohol was poured on the adhefive
refiduum (a), and a confiderable portion of  it was
diffolved, which tinged the menftruum of a yel-
lowifh-colour, and gave to it the perceptible tafte
of the yellow-coloured  fluid.  A part of the refi-
duum remained infoluble,  which appeared to be
of a mucilaginous nature.  The menftruum was
poured  off, and, by the affufion of diftilled water,
the fluid became milky, and a refinous  fubftance,
of a yellowifh-colour,  was precipitated, that had
an  odour  fimilar to  the  yellow-coloured  fluid.
   (d) The  filtered fluid  (No. i.) betrayed the
prefence of an acid to  the infufion of turnfole,
as  the  mixture  became  manifeftly   reddened. 
(  i*   )
i. Lime-water, when added to a portion of this
fluid, occafioned no change: 3. Solution of ful-
phate of iron caufed no  precipitation, nor did
nitrated mercury, or muriated barytes.
  (e) To fome of the filtered fluid, I added ni-
trated filver ; and, a copious white-coloured preci-
pitate was formed.   Four drachms of the  above
fluid was evaporated over  a moderate fire, until
it was reduced  to about one drachm ; when fuf-
fered to remain at reft, in a cool place, cryftals, of
a cubic  figure, were formed.  Thefe decripitated
upon coals, and had all the characters of muriate
of foda, or common fait.
  (/) To feparate portions of the filtered fluid,
(No. 1.) was added oxalic  acid, pruffiate of pot-
aih, infufion of galls, and  a folution of  fulphate
of copper; but  neither of them  produced any
precipitation.
  (g) Some diftilled water being digefted on ten
grains  of black flaky fubftance (No. 1.) for twelve
days, after which it was gently heated, and com-
mitted  to the filter.  1. This liquor immediately
changed the vegetable  blue  to a red colour.  2.
Lime-water caufed no precipitation. 3. Muria-
ted barytes effected no change ;  but, on the addi-
tion of nitrated filver, a white-coloured precipitate
was produced.  Some  of the above fluid, being
cautioufly  evaporated to a certain quantity,  on 
(  i3   )
cooling, cryftals, of a cubic figure, were formed.
Thefe had  the properties of muriate of foda, or
common fait.
  (£) Some  marine  acid, a little  diluted, was
poured on ten grains of the black flaky fubftance,
(No. i.) a flight coagulation was produced, after
ftanding twelve days, the mixture was filtered, and
divided into four portions.
  The firft portion was faturated with lixivium of
mild pot-aih, but no precipitation enfued; yet, in
a few hours, a faline fubftance appeared at the bot-
tom of the veffel.
  To the fecond portion was added fulphuric acid.
This threw down a copious flocculated precipitate,
of a white colour, which  I fuppofed to be  lime ;
but, on  pouring off the fluid, a thin layer, of a
white-fatty .fubftance, was fpread over the bottom
of the veffel. This had an unctuous feel, and ftain-
ed paper like  oil;  and emitted an animal odour,
when thrown  on coals. This matter, when kept in
a phial, corked for two weeks, alTumed a yellow
colour, and had an odour like  rancid fpermaceti.
   To the third  portion, prufliate of pot-afh  was
added, and Pruflian blue produced.
   To the  fourth portion, alcohol of galls was ad-
ded, and the mixture faturated with lixivium of mild
pot-afh, which immediately ftruck a black colour.
   (/')  One hundred and  twenty grains of the ni-
 tric, and as many of fulphuric acids, were digefted 
                  (   14  )
on ten grains of dry black flaky-fubftance (No. i.)
placed in different veflels,  for twelve days.   At
the expiration of that time, the black fubftance was
entirely  converted, without  the  application  of
heat, into the fatty matter before-mentioned. That
on which the nitric acid  was ufed, was of a yel-
lowifh colour,  the acid appearing to have  under-
gone no  perceptible change.   But the fulphuric
had alTumed a  black colour, and the matter which
had precipitated, was as white as fnow.  This, in
both acids, rofe to the furface, and alTumed  the ap-
pearance already defcribed.
  (£) Some diftilled  water waa boiled  on the
unctuous matter  (/*).   This liquor was filtered;
but, on the addition  of oxalic acid, no precipita-
tion enfued.
  (/)  Two ounces and an half of black vomit was
put into  a retort, adapted to  a receiver.   This
was placed in a water bath.   Soon after, the fluid
began to boil.  Two drachms, of a brownifh white-
coloured fluid, having a fmall  quantity of  oil
on  its furface, paffed  into the  receiver.   This
had a ftrong  odour of  ammoniac, and an  oily,
difagreeable tafte.  Finding that no  more  fluid
would come over, the retort was placed in a fand-
bath,  and  a confiderable quantity, of a  fimilar
coloured-fluid  was obtained.   The refiduum, in
the retort, confifted of a dark-coloured  fpongy 
(  *5   )
coal.  This, when expofed, a lhort time, in a red-
hot  crucible, gradually alTumed  a  grey colour,
and, at length, was reduced to afhes*.
   (m) Some  diftilled water was fuffered to Hand
ten days  on fifteen grains of afhes (/), after which
it  was gently  heated and filtered.   This liquor
did not  change the colour of paper ftained yel-
low with turmerick.  Muriated barytes produced
no alteration; but  nitrated filver caufed a  copi-
ous white precipitate. On the afhes, which remain-
ed undiflblved,  two drachms  of nitric acid,  a
little diluted, were digefted.  This mixture, being
filtered,  was divided into two equal  parts. To
the firft portion, prufliate of pot-afh was added,
which  immediately  ftruck a  blue colour, and
Pruflian-blue was  produced.   To the  fecond
portion, lixivium of mild pot-afh was added, and
a  copious  precipitate was formed.   This, when
collected and dried, had  the appearance of  lime,
and was almoft entirely foluble in diftilled water.
This fluid,  when filtered, and oxalic acid added
to it, caufed a copious white fediment.   That this
precipitate  was lime, was, in fome meafure,  con-
   * Many of the preceding experiments were made  in the
prefence of a medical gentleman of refpe&ability, viz.  Dr.
Samuel Dufficld, confulting phyfician to the port of Phi-
ladelphia. 
(  16   )
firmed, by adding diluted fulphuric acid to it, with
which it formed a fubftance  like felenite, or ful-
phate of lime. I found, that, by re-diflblving this
precipitate in fulphuric acid,  and precipitating it
again with an alkali, and treating it in the manner
mentioned,  it gave  ftronger  proofs  with oxa-
lic acid of the prefence of lime.   On the remain-
ing afhes, which  was not diffolved by the nitric
acid,  I  digefted fulphuric acid  a little diluted;
after  which it was boiled  on them, notwithltand-
ing there remained a fixed refidue.   This mix-
ture,  when filtered, fhowed the  prefence of lime
and iron, to chemical tefts.
   (n) Three  ounces of  black  vomit were  put
into a retort, and the pneumatic  apparatus being
affixed,  the retort  was  placed  in a  fand-bath,
which was gently heated, after exhaufting the air
in the neck of the retort.  The firft meafure of
air that  was obtained, did not   appear  to burn
when a lighted taper was prefented to it.  The
fecond meafure of air was incorporated with water,
and fome iron-filings inferted in  the phial, which
was fuffered to remain  twenty-four hours.  This
mixture was found to precipitate lime  from lime-
water.  Alcohol of galls  produced a violet tinge.
The vomit which remained in the retort, after the
 air had been extracted, from being of a very black 
(  17   )
colour, was changed, by the application of heat,
to a light-brown.
   From reviewing the preceding analyfis, the black
vomit  appears to be compofed of the following
ingredients:
   (a £sf b) Prove it to contain a confiderable pro-
portion of water;
*  (c) A refinous and mucilaginous fubftance;
   (<i)  Proves a predominant acid,  which is not
the carbonic, phofphoric or fulphuric acids ;  but,
in all probability,  an acid analogous to the one,
contained in the fluids, ejected previous  to the
commencement of black vomiting.   In repeating
this  experiment, on the  fame coloured  fluid,
taken from twenty different patients, during feve-
ral feafons of the  prevailing  Yellow-Fever, I al-
ways found a fimilar acid to predominate.  May
not  the  inceffant vomiting, and the  ejeeftion  of
black  matter, itfelf, which has been faid to be
flopped by the exhibition of lixivium of mild pot-
afh,  or lime-water, accomplilh that  end, by com-
bining with this acid, and forming a fubftance lefs
irritating to the ftomach, than the acid in an un-
combined ftate ?
   (e) That it contains  muriate of foda or com-
mon fait;
   (f) Proves it to contain neither lime, metallic
matter, nor ammoniac.
                       C 
(   i8  )
   (g) Proves the black flaky fubftance  (No. i.)
to contain an acid, in a difengaged ftate, probably
analogous to the one predominant in the filtered
fluid.  This experiment, likewife, fhows it to con-
tain muriate of foda, or common fait.
   (b &f /')  Prove an  unctuous animal  fubftance,
and a confiderable quantity of iron.  The former
refembled, in fome refpect, fpermaceti.  How far
this fubftance is analogous to that analyfed by the
mafterly talents of Fourcroy, I cannot determine;
as I had not a fufficient quantity of it, to enable
me to endeavour  to imitate his analyfis.   From
the black flaky fubftance  being entirely converted
into  the fatty  matter (/'), it  is  probable  that  it
refembles the fatty  fubftance, defcribed by  Dr.
Gibbs* :
   (£) Shows the unctuous fubftance to contain
no lime:
   (/)  The  black  vomit yielded, on diftillation, a
brownifh white-coloured  fluid, and  a quantity of
dark-coloured oily matter :
   (m) The carbonaceous matter (/) appeared to
contain muriatic acid in  a combined ftate j  like-
wife, lime  and  iron :
   (ji) Proves carbonic acid gasf.
* See Tranfaftions of the Royal Society of London, for 1794.
  f When  the foregoing  experiments were committed to
paper, and during the period of the late yellow-fever, I fub-
mitted them to the perufal of Dr. Adam Seybert, whofe che-
mical accuracy is well-known to this fociety.  This gentle- 
(   '9  )
  The  proportion  of the  different fubftances,
which conftitute the  black vomit, I had ndt an
opportunity of eftimating,  as I could  not obtain
a fufficient number of grains, of  the black  flaky
matter, to fubject  it to  a more  regular  analyfis.


Experiments to afcertain  the effecls of black  vomit
               on the  living fy stem.

  From the  internal  furface of the ftomach and
inteftinal canal appearing,  on diflection,  inflamed
and fphacelated, particularly in fome patients who
had vomited  black, it has  been believed that the
black vomit was  corrofive, and  had a power of
acting on parts it came in contact with*.   This
power  has likewife been inferred from fome pa-
tients complaining of a forenefs  in their  throats,
immediately after the ejection of this black matter.
  To determine how  far it was capable of acting
on  the healthy body, it was fubmitted to the fol-
lowing experiments:
   lit.  In October,   1794, immediately after  a
quantity  of black vomit was taken out of the flo-
roan obligingly favoured me with his company;  on the 22d of
November ; when mofl of the experiments were fhown to him,
made  on the black vomit, referved for that purpofe, and the
refult nearly  correfponded with what has been  already de-
fcribed.
* See Defportes on difeafes of St. Domingo, p. 203, vol. 1. 
(  20   )
  mach, after  death, I applied  fome  of it to my
  tongue and lips;  to the latter it gave, a fhort time
  after application, the fenfation of a fluid percep-
  tibly acrid.  This experiment was, the next day,
  feveral times repeated, with the fame refult.
    ad. A friend of mine applied it to his lips, and
  it produced  a fimilar fenfation; but would not
  affect his tongue.
    3d. Finding the effects of this  matter fo  dif-
  ferent from what was expected, I began to believe
  that  this difcharge  varied materially  in  point of
  activity,  in different patients; but, on fubjecting
  the black vomit, procured from a number of per-
  fons, to the fame teft, it produced the fame  effect.
    4th. Two  ounces  of a fluid, refembling choco-
  late, was obtained, which was vomited a few hours
  before death.  This was  applied in the fame man-
  ner j but, there could not be perceived any dif-
  ference in the refult.
    5th. In the beginning of October, 1799,  Mr.
  Jofeph Parker, an active and intrepid member of
^  the board of  health, obligingly prefented me with
  five  ounces  of black  vomit, obtained from the
  phyficians  of the City-Hofpital.  Some of  this
  I applied to my tongue, in his prefence, but could
  not perceive the leaft corrofive effect.  When this
  fluid was applied  to the fkin, on different parts of
  the body, it  produced no other effect, than what
  water did of  the  fame temperature. I have often 
(  21   )
immerfed my hand in black vomit, immediately
after it was  difcharged from the ftomach,  and
whilfl it was  warm, without exciting the leaft un-
eafy fenfation in the fkin.
   (a)  October 4th, 1799, three cats were confi-
ned in a room, and fed with  beef, which had a
confiderable  quantity of the flaky fubftance of
the vomit inferted into it.   This manner of feed-
ing was continued until they had ate one drachm
and an half of the flaky  fubftance, and had drank
feveral ounces of the black vomit.  On the  5th,
the excretions by  the bowels were of  a dark co-
lour j yet, there could not be difcovered any dif-
ference  in  their health  ; but, from their being
ftrangers to each other,  they had a conftant pro-
penfity to combat.  This  malicious fpirit continued
until the 20th, when they were  difmifled in good
health.
   (£) A large dog was confined in a room, and,
by an afliftant, his jaws  were forced afunder, and
he was compelled  to fwallow an half-pint of black
vomit.   The  following day, the excretions by the
bowels were  fluid, and  of a black colour; but,
there could not be obferved the leaft alteration
in his health,  from the time of making the experi-
ment, until he was difmifled j  which  was about
three weeks after.
   fc) Two full-grown fowls were  confined,  and
fed with bread, fteeped in black vomit, for twelve 
(  22   )
days.  This, Mr. Parker,  as well as myfelf,  ob-
ferved, they ate with great avidity ;  but it had no
evident bad effect upon their health;  for, they con-
tinued as well after as they were before the expe-
riment, and feemed to give [the preference to that
kind of food] to every other which  was prefented
to them,  and they appeared to thrive equally as
well as if they had been fed upon corn.
   (d) On the 3d of  October, 1779,  in a fmall
yard, adjoining the houfe in which  I live, feveral
ounces of the black vomit, recently obtained, was
evaporated over a moderate heat, in order to ob-
tain the flaky fubftance.  During this experiment,
Mr. Parker held  his head over the veffel for fome
minutes, fo as to inhale the fleam of black vomit;
after which, we continued within two yards  of the
veffel, without experiencing any unpleafant effect.
   (e) The following day, I caufed the windows and
doors of a room to be clofed, and the fame expe-
riment was repeated  on  a  fand-bath,  conftructed
in the middle of a room.  The fluid was evapora-
ted until the atmofphere was fo impregnated with
the effluvia of the vomit, as to render the apart-
ment extremely  unpleafant, not only from the
odour of the vomit, but the warmth of the room.
In this atmofphere, I remained one  hour ; during
which, I had a conftant propenfity  to cough, and
had, at times, naufea and inclination to vomit;
but, after walking out in the air,  thefe effects gra- 
(  »3   )
dually fubfided.  1 experienced, however, a fenfe
of wearinefs at my  cheft for many hours after.
  From the above experiments, it appears that the
black vomit, when applied to the molt  fenfible
parts of the body, produced little or no effect.
  Secondly, It appears that large quantities of this
fluid  may pafs  through the ftomach and bow-
els of quadrupeds and other animals, without appa-
rently difturbingdigeftion, or affecting their health.
This fact inconteftibly proves the inactivity of this
fluid; and renders it  probable, that the fpeedy
death which enfues, after this difcharge in Yellow
Fever, is not from thedeftructive effects of this mat-
ter on the ftomach and bowels; but, mofl  likely,
from the great degree of direct, or indirect debility,
which had been previoufly induced, on which the
black vomit is fometimes an attendant, and ftrong-
ly exprefTes the great danger to be apprehended
from the enervated ftate of the fyftem.
  Laftly,  The experiments (d&e) tend, in fome
meafure, to prove, that an atmofphere highly im-
pregnated with the odour of black vomit, recently
obtained, would not produce fever, apparently un-
der the molt favourable circumftances.


Of the opinions of authors concerning the black vomit.
  The opinions of authors concerning the pro-
perties of the black vomit, from the days of Hip- 
                  (   24  )
pocrates  until the prefent period,  may be  redu-
ced to four heads.  Firft, that it confifted of pu-
trid bile:  Secondly, that it was putrid blood, or,
according to fome writers, a mixture of blood and
bile:  Thirdly, that it  was the  villous coat of  the
ftomach, in a ftate of diflblution, produced by in-
flammation, terminating in mortification.  Fourth-
ly,  it is fuppofed to be bile changed to  a  black
colour, in confequence of meeting with the  nitric
acid, which is fuppofed, by profeflbr Mitchell, of
New-York, to  be generated in the ftomach and
inteftinal canal.  The firft of thefe opinions, viz.
that the black vomit is putrid  bile,  I  believe has
been  adopted merely from its being found, on
difleclion, in the gall-bladder; for, their proper-
ties are very diflimilar.  The black flaky fubftance,
which is  the only part of the  vomit bearing the
leaft analogy to bile, is generally of a darker co-
lour,  of a thicker confiftence,  and is compofed of
a number of flaky particles. This fluid gives a black
or brown tinge to linen;  whereas, bile, even after
becoming highly putrid, and after being retained
in veflels for  months, and even years, imparts a
yellow colour to water and linen, and has an in-
tenfely bitter tafte.  This property  and colour of
bile is not deftroyed by a high  degree of putrefac-
tion.  The experiments  made on thefe  fecreted 
(  *5   )
 matters, render the diflimilarity of properties ftill
 more obvious.   The black flaky fubftance, by
 digeftion with fulphuric acid, may be entirely con-
 verted into the fatty matter  before-mentioned:
 But,  fulphuric  acid, when digefted  on  putrid
 bile, foon diffolved it into a blackifh green  liquor.
 This colour was rendered more apparent by  the
 addition of water;  and the mixture had  an ex-
 tremely bitter tafte.  When  diluted acids were
 added to putrid  bile, they afforded a much larger
 quantity of coagulable matter, than when mixed
 with the flaky fubftance of the  vomit.  Moreover,
 thefe fluids differ, in their fpecific gravity; for, that
 of the black vomit, compared with diftilled  water,
 is as  i is to 1-025, whereas, that of putrid bile, is
 as 1 is to 0125.
  Thefe eflential differences make it evident, that
 the black flaky  fubftance is not bile of any def-
 cription, or it fhould poflefs fome of the  diftin-
 guifhing properties of that fluid.
  The fecond opinion is,  that the black  vomit
 confifts of putrid blood.  With refpect to this opi-
 nion, fimilar obje&ions may be made, to what  we
 have  already advanced, againft its being putrid
 bile.   Blood, after becoming highly putrid,  and
kept  for fix months, will impart a red colour to
water.  This property, like that in bile, is  not
deftroyed by an high degree of putrefaction. Blood
farther differs from black vomit, in not confifting
                      D 
(  26   )
of flaky particles, likewife by fhowing no proof of
containing  an acid in a difengaged ftate.  It far-
ther differs from black flaky fubftance, in not being
converted into the fatty matter, by digeftion with
the mineral acids.  And, likewife, in  its fpecific
gravity;  for, that of the blaak vomit, compared
with diftilled water, is as i is to 1-025, whereas,
that of putrid blood is as 1 is to 0417.  Viewing
putrid blood in its fimple  ftate, it certainly bears
but little analogy to the flaky matter of the vomit,
either in colour, odour or  tafte ; but, when it is
combined with the muriatic, nitric, or  fulphuric
acids, and the mixture diluted with an infufion of
green tea, it refembles, in many refpects, the black
vomit.  The odour, arifing from this combination,
fo much refembles that arifing from black vomit,
which had been kept for feveral years, that I could
hardly diftinguifh one from the other.
   The clofe analogy  of this compound to black
vomit, would incline one to believe, that the latter
was nothing more than blood combined with a di-
luted mineral acid; but, as the prefence of thefe
acids, in the black vomit, in a  difengaged ftate,
could not be detected by the belt tefts that we are
acquainted with, and, as it is not probable that they
are fecreted by the liver,  which we fhall fhortly
endeavour  to prove is  the vifcus that fecretes the
colouring-matter of the  vomit, this  idea  of its
formation,  mult, of courfe, fall to the ground.
   The black vomit has been faid to confilt of a 
(  «7   )
mixture of putrid blood and bile. Equal quantities
of thefe fluids, when buffered to become putrid,
in a combined ftate, had a ftrong, bitter tafte, im-
parted a red tinge to water, and, in other proper-
ties, had not the leaft refemblance to the black
flaky fubftance of the vomit.
   With refpect to the third opinion, viz. that the
black vomit  confifts of the villous  coat of the fto-
mach, in a ftate of diffolution, produced in  confe-
quence of inflammation, terminating in mortifica-
tion :   That black vomiting may be induced by
gangrenous  termination of inflammation, few will
be difpofed  to deny;  but, that the  black vomit,
in yellow fever,  and  that from mortification of
the ftomach,  are the  fame, the refult of almoft
every diflection mult oppofe.  The  former of thefe
fubftances appears to come from the liver, while
the latter confifts, principally, and particularly its
flaky portion,  of the villous  coat of the ftomach.
Befides,  the black vomit is frequently thrown up
in large quantities, when the ftomach, after  death,
has not been found much inflamed or fphacelated.
In thefe cafes, it  certainly could not confift of the
villous coat of the ftomach in a ftate of diffolution,
but mull be derived from fome other fource. This
opinion is ftrongly countenanced by the dlffections
of Dr. Jackfon, and other writers, on the fubject of
yellow fever. That experienced phyfician remarks, 
                   (  28   )

that the black colour of the vomited matter was
evidently owing to a mixture of vitiated bile ; the
paflage of which might be eafily traced from the
gall-duct into the pylorus.* Dr. Lining, of Charlef-
ton, obferves, that the black flaky fubftances are,
the bile mixed or adhering to  the mucus of the
ftomach ; for, upon diflecting thofe who  died of
this difeafe,  not only in this, but in former years,
I always obferved,  fays  this accurate phyfician,
that the mucus of the ftomach was abraded, and
the bile, in its cyftis, was black, and fometimes very
vifcid; and, in fome cafes, had the confiftence of
Venice turpentine, and was extremely tough.f Mr.
Defportes,  of St. Domingo, remarks, that they
found, on diffection, the gall-bladder full of black
bile, the colour of ftrong coffee. J This circumftance
of the colouring-matter of the vomit being derived
from the gall-bladder,  is flill farther corroborated
by fome diflections made by Dr. Phyfick and my-
felf,  at the hofpital, at Bufh-hill, during the preva-
lence of the difeafe in  1793.  In two perfons who
died at an advanced period of the difeafe, the fto-
mach contained, as did alfo the interlines, a black
liquor, fimilar to what had been vomited, and purg-
ed, before death.  This  liquor appeared to be a
fluid, in all refpects,  of the fame quality with that
 * See treatife on the fever of Jamaica, p. 173,  and 174.
     t  See obfervations, phyfical and literary, vol. ii.
      $ See difeafes of St. Domingo, p. 202, vol. i. 
(  29   )
which was found in the gall-bladder*.  Thefe dif-
fections, without adducing any other of a fimilar
nature, muft, no doubt, convince every impartial
obferver,  that the black matter of the  vomit is
derived from  the  liver, and does not confift of a
diffolution of the villous coat of  the ftomach.
   The difference in the ejected matter being now
eftablifhed, and, in a manner, proved to be the
effect of different caufes, I (hall proceed to  confi-
der the fourth and  laft opinion, viz. that the black
vomit is bile, changed to a black colour by  meet-
ing with the nitric  acid  in the ftomach, and intef-
tinal canal.  The preceding diffections clearly prove
this opinion to be erroneous, as they evidently fhow,
that the black flaky particles, pr colouring-matter
of the vomit, come from the  gall-bladder ; there-
fore, it could not receive its brown or black colour
from meeting  with the  nitric acid, fuppofed to be
generated in-the ftomach and inteftinal canal.


The black vomit  confidered as an  altered fecretion
                 from the liver.
   The  colouring  matter of the  vomit appears,
from the authors already quoted, to be generally
traced, after death, to the gall-bladder. This pofi-
tion being incontrovertibly eftablifhed by diffec-
tions, the power of the  liver  to fecrete that fub-
ftance will be  admitted, of courfe, as it could not
* See a medical fketch of the Yellow-Fever, publifhed in 1794. 
(  3°   )
be fecreted by the gall-bladder, or tranfmitted into
that vifcus through any other paffage, but by the
hepatic duct. If this view of the fubject be, in any
meafure, juft, it is a fact afcertained,  beyond the
fhadow  of a doubt, that the black flaky  fubftance
of the vomit is  an altered fecretion from the liver.
This matter, being fecreted by the liver, and depo-
fited by the hepatic duct, in  the gall-bladder, in
the laft  hours of this  difeafe, is  from  thence
forced, by the contractions of the gall-bladder, and
cyftic duct, in conjunction with the violent action
of vomiting  into the ftomach.   It there receives
the addition of the yellow-coloured fluid, which is
almoft always ejected  with the flaky fubftance.
That this fluid is  combined with the flaky matter
in the ftomach, and not  in the gall-bladder, every
enquiry into  the  appearances,  after death,  fully
confirm.  This circumftance renders  the yellow-
coloured fluid fubject to  fome difference in its pro-
perties, according to the nature of the  fluids re-
ceived into the ftomach a fhort time before vomit-
ing ;  but, all that I  have had an opportunity of
examining,  have  nearly the appearance we  have
already defcribed.  That the fecretory ceconomy
of the liver may be fo far arretted in its healthy ac-
tion, by the progrefs of difeafe, as to affimulate a
fluid having not the leaft analogy to  bile, every
work, on morbid diflections, certainly prove. Lieu-
taud mentions a cafe from Rivalerius, in confe-
quence of a  difeafed liver, where the fluid, in the 
(  3'   )
gall-bladder, refembled milk; and Storke relates
a cafe of a  dropfy fucceeding an intermitting fe-
ver, wljere the fluid, in the gall-bladder, refembled
the white of an egg.   To thefe, I may add one,
that came under my own obfervation, of a gentle-
man who died dropfical, in confequence of an en-
larged liver.  The gall-bladder contained a fluid,
of a dark-colour, having not the leaft refemblance
to bile. Thefe, and many more cafes, could be ad-
duced to prove the power of the liver, under cer-
tain circumftances, to fecrete a fluid diflimilar to
bile ;  but, it would be  needlefs to recite them, as
the inftances already quoted, are, no doubt, fufE-
cient to eftablifh the fact.  This peculiar condition
of the fecretory vetTels, in the yellow fever, is not
confined folely to the liver  ; for, we find that other
fecretory functions are fometimes affecled in a fimilar
manner, during the fame difeafe, and nearly at the
fame period of time.  In confirmation of thefe ob-
fervations, I believe molt phyficians muft have re-
marked, that, in  fome cafes, the kidnies, during
the period of black vomiting, fecretes a fluid of a
dark-colour, which has a thick pellicle on its fur-
face, and appears almoft as different from urine, as
the black vomit does from bile.  This  difcharge is
frequently a precurfor to a fymptom, which never
fails to predict a fpeedy diffolution, viz. a paralyfis
of the fecretory functions  of the kidnies.
   The more I confider the material change produ-
ced in the different fecreting veffels, during the laft
ftage of this difeafe, the more this theory appears 
(  3*   )
 to be fupported by  reafon and the plaufibility of
 truth. But, though a morbid condition of the glan-
 dular ceconomy of the liver may produce the coffee-
 ground coloured vomit, it does not feem probable
 that the black infpiffated mucus-matter which was
 ejected in the cafes that proved mortal in 1797, is
 derived from the fame fource;  for, the liver, under
 no condition of difeafed action, that we are acquain-
 ted with, is capable of fecreting mucus of fuch an
 appearance;  therefore, we think it moft reafonable
 to refer it to  the furfaces, which are deftined, in a
, ftate of health, to fecrete mucus.   Now, admitting
 the axiom,  " that fimilar caufes produce fimilar
 effects, under fimilar  circumftances," why may
 not the glandular ftructure of the ftomach be affec-
 ted in a fimilar manner to that of  the liver and kid-
 nies,  fo as to enable it to fecrete the mucus-matter
 above-mentioned ? This opinion, I think, may be
 affirmed by other analogies, not only in the fthenic,
 but in the afthenic condition of fecreting furfaces,
 in which there are equally as threat a deviation from
 healthy fecretion as the one alluded to. This we
 have clearly exemplified  in veffels deftined to fe-
 crete mucus in a ftate of health; but, when labour-
ing under inflammation, evidently  fecrete  pus.
Other cafes, of a fimilar nature, might be adduced,
to prove this power in fecreting veffels.   But, it
would be taking up the time of the fociety to little
purpofe, to recite other inftances to eftablifh a fact
which appears to be already fully confirmed.
                  END. 
 
 
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