ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY
       FOUNDED 1836
WASHINGTON, D.C. 
 
 
HISTORY






  OF THE
AS IT APPEARED IN THE
cm o¥ Satchel,
IN THE MONTHS OP
August, SeytemW & October, !$£$,
r* «
'VY'P%>„
BY HENRY TOOLEY*  LA /*jf ^>^,\
    (SECOND EDITION,)




  WASHINGTON: MISS.




PAINTED BT ANDREW MARSCHALK, 
 
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY  OF NATCHEZ.
    18 PRESENTED  THE FOLLOWING HISTORY
      OF  OUR LATE BESOLA,TING EPIDEMIC.

  Like the author the language is plain and easily understood.

  The author has had ample opportunity of acquiring facts concern-
ing the Yellow Fever of 1817 and 1819, and of the  late disease in
particular.  To obtain the requisite information, he has had in in a
manner to  wade through death  and destruction for nearly two
months.

   In  detailing the causes and cure  of this  tempestuous disease,
truth  and the interests of the City require that no fact should be o-
mitted through fear or favor, that may lead to a better regulation
of the city or a more judicious treatment of the  disease.

   The author gives his own opinion, founded upon facts and reason
 and hopes that no gentleman will take offence at the plain  and
 pointed style of                         TH£  AUTH0R<

   Natchez, 15th October, 1823.
3ctfOO£ 
* 
      History of t\ie YeYtow ¥c\eY, &&.




                     J. TOPOGRAPHY.

   1.  NATCHEZ, the chief commercial city of the State of Mis-
sissippi, is situated on the east bank of  the  Mississippi River, in
latitude 31 deg. 32 min. North.  The City occupies a piece of hilly
J [round on a bluff nearly two hundred feet above the common sur-
 ace of the river.   Between the city and the bluff there is a strip of
"commons," the whole length of the city,  and  about  one hundred
and fifty yards wide.   The bluff descends very steep to a strip of
•alluvion of the average  width  of seventy-five  yards, on which is
built that place within the chartered limits of the city called  "Un-
der the Hill," or " The Landing."  From the south-west corner of
the city,  at the distance of about four hundred  yards, in a westerly
direction stands an old  fort on a hill; and to the south, upon ano-
ther hill, another old work.   Between  these two  hills  is a gorge,
along which runs an old road to the river.  To the west of the old
fort is a portion of land sunk nearly one hundred feet below the le-
vel part of the old fort, bounded  on the south .by a bluff from fifty
to one hundred feet, terminating in a po'nt on the river  bank, at
the mouth of a deep gully.   From  this point the  ground ascends
with an easy slope along the old road to the gorge before mention-
ed.  This piece of ground is in  the form of an amphitheatre and
breaks off abruptly in a bluff to the south of the Landing, in a wall
from fifty to one hundred feet  high.   Below the old* fort, and in the
gorge between the two hills,  have been depositsd for years all the
animals that have died in and about the city, and  all the trash, of-
fal, and  stable dirt of  the city, making a Golgotha—a hot-bed of
pestilence and death.    Below the mouth of  the deep gully, on the
river bank, a bluff extends downwards, varying in height from one
to two hundred feet.
   2.  From the Landing,  the course of the river downwards, for
five or six miles, is nearly  south-west; and upwards for two or
three miles,  a northerly course.  The bottom  land on the west of
the river is from twenty to thirty miles wide, and gradually widen-
ing to Red River.
   3.  The country above, below, and to the east of the city, is high
and hilly, and scarce of water. 
6
   4.  *roro the southern «nd ef « ThirirStwset," in the plan of the
 city, a western course passes through the lots occupied as a butche-
 ry, along the old road through the gorge, over the carcases under
 the old fort, and  over the Mississippi swamp towards Catahoula, a
 distance of not less than forty miles.
                     II. CITY POLICE.
   1.  The police of the city of Natchez is vested in seven  Select-
 Men, elected annually by the citizens, one of whom is chosen Pre-
 sident,  and commissioned by  the  Governor, City Magistrate and
 Justice  of the Peace.   The President and Select-Men are,  ex-offi-
 pi©, the Board of Health.   They are authorised by their charter to
 pass ordinances for the government of the health of the city, by in-
 ternal cleanliness,  quarantine, and non-intercourse  of travellers
 coming from sickly places.
   2.  The police" of the city is very vigilant and attentive to pre-
 vent the accumulation of any material prejudicial to health, keep-
 ing the  streets clean, carefully attending to cellars and vaults, dust-
 ing the  streets and gutters in sickly seasons with lime, and remo-
 ving all dead animals and dthei: offensive  matter  to  the  place of
 carcases below the old foijt;  also, occasionally enforcing the (anti-
 quated, barbarous and unscientififci) quarantine of vessels and boats
 ascending  the river, and prohibiting by severe penalties the  com-
 ing in of travellers from suspected places without written  permis-
 sion from the Health Officer.
   3.  By this policy the city is watched, a sharp look-out is kept
 after  steam-boats and strangers, and all decomposing animal antj
 other substances are deposited at a place from whence the pestilen-
 tial gas arisiog therefrom is returned to the city, by the first  west-
 erly wind that blows,
                   III. REMOTE CAWSE.
   1.  Although the  citizens of Natchez are a well-behaved and
 -moral people, liberal in their  charities, and patriotic  in their pub-
 lic undertakings, yet it is to be< lamented that among them very
..manv have entered for the purpose of speculation, 'taking in the un-
 wary, imposing ur*on unsuspecting credulity, and leading captive
 silly youth.   I' is n.»t to be wondered  at then,  that our disorderly
 -taverns, {the devil's  churches,) are filled with wine-bibbers ami
 gamblers.   The theatre and  circus, (the devil's  school-houses,)-are
 re-f tpd to with  such unusual frequency as to  become a nuisance.
 JBf'l moms and dpince-houses, (the devil's banqueting-house^,) are
 flW- <! with 'counterfeit £le«aneesand virtae.  Drum-shops and por-  <
 ter  liw«w, (*he -deal's hog-sties,) are thronged  with vagabonds,
 dr" V  rds and thieves.  These places are frequented by too many
 *<rf n't-  nrnmi*ine-youth, and  Who-aredeatpoyed in tlte meshes of si-
 ten pleasure, like the silly fly caught ar«i-devs»ure4by the fell spider. 
s
  $.  To fill up the measure dt iniquity, in  the  month of August.
a mob of male persons, with a vagrant piper at their head, paraded
the streets night after night, singing hymns and praising God in
mockery, and to cap the  climax  Of  wickedness, fell upon thew
knees and addressed the throne of the Eternal Jehovah in horrible
blasphemy and derision!  Seven of these persons are now in death,
and where are they ?
   3.  The aforesaid intemperate, dissipated and blasphemous prac-
tices prepared the persons guilty thereof as fit recipients for pesti-
lence.and death, as after facts  fully verified.
   4.  The spring months were moderate as,to wet and heat, and
presented nothing unusual.   From the middle of July to the middle
of August the weather was dry and  sultry, the, mean heat at 8/ deg.
   6.  From the last week in July to the 34th' of August, the winds
varied from west to south-west, blowing briskly in the day, and mo-
derate «t night, attended with heavy dews.
   6.  The flood in the Mississippi river was higher this year than
ever known, the year 1815 excepted, destroying innumerable ani-
mals and reptiles, and laying under water  very many  plantations
of corn  and  cotton.  The fwod subsided so as to uncover the bot
torn lands by the first of July.
   7.  During the month of Jnly, thirteen persons died of bilious fe
ver, a child of a bowel complaint, and one person reported  by tb*
attending physician as having died on July 24th of Pneumonia; but
from  various circumstances and symptoms, there is reason to be-
lieve that this lady died of a sporadic Yellow Fever, attended with
violent arterial action. She died at the house of George R. Wi!<
Uamb, on lot No. I of square No. SI, in the plan of the city.
              IV. THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE.
   1. The pestilential gas that issue9 from  rotting^ vegetable sub-
stances, is called, in medical language, miasma; and that which is
extricated  from  putrefying animal  substances, is called   $ept<ty,
l"hese gases never extend above three miles from  the place where
extricated, and never rise  exceeding  thirty feet above the  surface
of the earth.
   2.   A combination of these gase9 may be  termed miasmo-septtc
£as, and is to the human system a  deadly poison.
* 3.  Tliat these gases, either separate or combined, have power to
   ftoduce Yellow Fever, need not here  be proved, as the fact  is well
   oown to all well rea!d and scientific physicians.
    4.x This poisonous gas "being  received  into the mouth, imx.es
 with the saliva, is swallowed and passes through the  stomach into
 the duodenum, where it effects a lodgment, and if any predisposing
  cause  ftte and  prepares that tew*! for disease, * viwtnt actio* 
6
commences, and progresses more or less rapid  until: gangrene  efi
sues and death closes the scene.
  5.  From the  violent inflammatory action in the  duodenum, aa
from a centre,' a consecutive inflammation extends to the liver and
the surrounding parts.  The liver becomes torpid, its functions are
deranged, bile is thrown into the circulating system, and the body is
tinged therewith more or less yellow.
  6.  The inflammation creeps up to the pyloric orifice  of the sto-
mach, a pertinacious vomiting ensues.
  7.  By <a chemical  combination by a  mode as yet unknown, the
fluids of the inflamed duodenum are changed black: by the actios
of mild but effectual purgatives, this dark matter passes off through
the bowels.  The boujels become torpid, a retrogade  action ensues,
and that  matter is ejected from the stomach called " black vomit,'*
and is generally a fatal symptom.
  8.  The south-west and west winds that prevailed from the last
week in July to the 24th of August, sweeping over a 'wide  extent 1
of swampy  lands, brought with them a pestilential gas, extricated
from innumerable decomposing  animal and other substances;  on
arriving at the point below the old fort, they are forced up in the di-
rection of the old road to the Golgotha or hot-bed of pestilence and .
death, and are there charged with the poison issuing  from hundreds
of carcases; the pestilence  passing on, receives more poison in the
gorge; it takes itscou'rse over the butchery, where it receives a re-
inforcement of septon, and thence to Quigless' house, on lot  No. 4
of square 21, where it received a deadly addition of poison exhaling
from a quantity of putrid bacon there deposited.  In that house the
work of death bejran.  It was in that hpuse that Mrs. Wing died ou
August 9th and  Mrs. Vancampen on the  12tb, both of malignant
fever; and on August  13th Terence Still, and on the 16th  Henry
M'Guire, on the opposite side of the street, both of  Yellow Fever.
On August 19th, Samuel Thornberry died, having taken the disease
at lot No. 1 of square 22, opposite Quigless' house.  On the same
lot Bela  Metcalfe sickened  on the 22d, went into the country, and
departed this life on the 27th, by which truth loSt a friend and the
bar an ornament.  The deadly pestilence taking a sweep to lot No.
2of square 2, opposite the  "Traveller's Hall," met with a rein-
forcement of septon from fifteen or twenty loads of putrid  oysters
and shells, where on  the 20th August, Hugh Moore and his wife di-
ed within a few  minutes  of each other, of most malignant fever, at-
tended with black vomit.  On this day and the ensuing day, eight oth-
er persons died, all of whom  were in the southern end of the city, and
within t'.e range of the westerly  wind  that  brought death  and
destruction.
   9.  After the 21st August, the disease bursted forth with fearful 
strength in'every part of the city, and raged with terrific mortality
Great was  the alarm among the people—with lamentations and bit-
ter <rie* they ran to and fr>—a day of vengeance had arrived—the
arrows of retributive justice flew thick around—terror and dismay
overtook the  wicked—the people fled  from the city with the confu-
sion and swiftness of a routed army.
   10.   The  city is  deserted—the  din of commerce and trade-has
ceased-^the  voice of mirth and jollity is turned into mourning—
the sound of the violin is not heard,  and the gallant gay ones no
longer tread the giddy dance—the oath  is  choked in the blasphe-
mer's throat—*the sabbath -breaker laid low.
   11.   The fever did not attack the people under the hill until ten
days or  two weeks after it began its ravages in the city, for the fol-
lowing  reason.  The westerly wind  charged with the. pestilential
gas from the  swamp and carcases, striking against the hill of the old
fort, by the law of fluids takes a northerly direction, and passes o-
ver the  heads of the people  under the  hill, dropping among them
portions of pestilence  frofn eddving  currents,  so that it was the
work of many days  to saturate tfie atmosphere under the  hill  with
mortal poison.   From this  circumstance they began with high heads
and stretched out necks to rejoice, that they should  be  preserved
When the city was tiesolating ; but while the sound of triumph was
yet on their lips, the fever  came with the fury of a tornado.—They
fled or died. ***** *
   12.   In  consequence of the desertion  of  the  city  by  those citi-
zens who had ability by money or otherwise, to assist the sick poor,
they suffered greatly from disease, want of the common necessaries
of life, and medical attention, until, on the 26th August, the trus-
tees of the  Natchez Hospital threw open their doors, and invited the
sick poor of the'city to resort thither, and receive the advantages of
that humane  institution.  Many  accepted the  proffered,  benefits:
The wards  were quickly filled,.but so great was  the panic that had
seized the public, that it was with the utmost difficulty, and at an
enormous price, that the superintending trustee could procure nur-
ses, and a suitable person to administer medicine to the sick.
   13. This humane  proceeding of  the trustees  proved to be the
more valuable to the sick poor, as the practicing  physicians of the
city (one excepted)  had prudently  withdrawn  themselves  to the
Country, with the citizens of better circumstances, on or  about the
25th August, leaving the dead to bury their dead.
   14. In consequence of the  flight of the physicians aforesaid, the
Hospital was but indifferently attended, one physician only humane-
ly making  a visit about meridian  of each day.  On September 6th,
the superintending trustee  solicited an  intelligent and  well-read
physician to abide with the trustee's family in the  city, and  attend
                               2 
10
 the hospital and sick poor.  To his credit be it recorded that he ac-
 cepted the invitation,  attended the hospital and sick poor with di-
 ligence and humanity, without fee or  reward, such excepted as a
 good  conscience can only bestow.
   15.  On Saturday and Sunday, the 13th and 14th of September,
 there blew a tremendous storm of wind and  rain  from  the north-
 east.   On Monday, the 15th, the weather  cleared away cool,  the
 mean degree of the thermometer being at 65- for the two succeed-
 ing weeks,  Within a few days after the storm, the  number of new
 cases of fever began to diminish, and comparative! v but few  were
 taken sick afterwards within the city,  although the surrounding
 country was still sorely visited.
       V.  SYMPTOMS AND APPEARANCES IN LIFE.
  1.   A deep seated painful sensation  at  the. pit, of the stomach.
 This sensation  becomes more and more painful, extending to the
loins, until at a time longer or shorter before death it ceases.
  %  Acute pain in the head, generally across the forehead.
  3.  The eyes more or less inflamed, of a muddy yellowish  red,
and  towards dissolution,  running with a  bloody  watery  matter.
This latter  symptom  generally occurred wTiere an injudicious at-
tempt had been made to'salivate the .patient with mecurial oint-
ment.
  4.  The face flushed with ayellowish red.
  5. A concentration of heat at the pit of the stomach, attended with
  6.  Coldness in the extremities.
  7.  Bleeding from the nose.
  8.  bleeding from the gums and mouth.   This symptom occurred
where an  injudicious  attempt had  been made to salivate  the   pa-
tient with  calomel, combined with opium, and was generally fatal.
  9.  An indescribable appearance of distress, extreme restlessness,
universal trembling, frequently succeeded by spasms.
  10. In the last stage of the disease, an involuntary discharge  of
urine and fceces of a sooty black.
  11. In some  cases, the body before death assumed a bright  yel-
low ; in others, a  dark, reddish yellow; and in others, a dark  yel-
low, with livid spots.
  12. According to the previous health  or condition, the crisis va-
 ried from  sixteen hours to the fifth day.   In most cases the third
 was the critical day, and very few passed beyond the fifth.
           IV. APPEARANCES  AFTER  DEATH.
  1.  J. B. died on the  fifth day, of the fever.__
  Th$ stomach shewed no sign of inflamation, excepting the  mu-
 cous membrane near the pyloric orifice. 
11
  The duodenum violently inflamed throughout its whole substance
and gangrenous.   The texture, so destroyed as to scarcely bear its
own weight.
  This  bowel  was filled with the matter of  black  vomit, a small
portion of which  was also in the stomach.
  The lower bowels not diseased.
  The liver somewhat enlarged.
  The gall bladder filled with a dark green bile.
  2. NT B. died on September 12th.—
  The mucous membrane of the stomach slightly  inflamed towards
thepyloric orifice.
  The duodenum inflamed throughout, and three holes through it,
caused by mortification.  This bowel and the  stomach were filled
with the matter of black vomit.
  The liver somewhat enlarged.
  The gall bladder natural.   This man had an unmanageable bleed-
ing from the gums, caused by  an  injudicious attempt to salivate
him by calomel and opium, before he came to the hospital.
  3. D. H. H.  died on the 13th September.  How long be had been
sick was not known, as he was brought into the hospital in a dying
state, with bleeding from the gums, caused by calomel and opium.
  The stomach was sound, excepting slight inflamation at the lower
orifice.
  The duodenum violently inflamed throughout.
  The lower bowels sound.
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  4. M. B. died in the hospital of a relapsed yellow fever, attended
with bleeding from the gums, caused by  previously attempted sal-
ivation from calomel and opium.
  The stomach shewed no signs of disease.
  The duodenum was not in an inflamed state, but  appeared wast-
ed away, and so weak in its texture as to be easily pierced through
with the finger and torn in any direction.
  The lower bowels were sound.
  5. S. G. was brought to the hospital in  a dying state on the 15th
September.
  The stomach was inflamed  and filled with black vomit.
  The duodenum was violently  inflamed throughout its whole sub-
stance, and filled with black vomit, slime and purulent matter.
  The lower intestines distended  with a horibly foetid gas.
  The liver  much enlarged.
  The gall bladder natural.
  6. A Spaniard, name unknown.  He was brought into the hospital
in a dying state,  and died soon after, sixteen hours from the a^ack. 
  The stomach was inflamed throughout.
  The duodenum violently inflamed, and a part as a large-as crown
piece mortified,
  The lower intestines sound.
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  The brain showed mark* of inflamation.-
  7. A. G. died on the third day of of the fever.  •
  The stomach was soilnd in all iis parts.
  The duodenum  was highly inflamed throughout its whole  sub-
stance.
  The brain was in a state of inflammation.
  8. —S. a Dutchman died on the third day  of the fever.
  The stomach showed no marks of disease,  although  filled  with
black vomit.
  Tlie duodenum violently inflamed throughout its whole substance
as well as the membranes connected there with.:
  'The pancrease inflamed.
  The liver and gall bladder natural*
  9. J. L. died on the third day of the fever.
  The stomach was sound ih all its 'parts.
  The duodenum highly inflamed in all its substance.
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  The ventricles  of the  heart were filled  with  membraneous sub-
stances.
  10. C. Y. was  brought into the hospital in a dying  state, with
bleeding from' the mouth  and nose.
  The stomach showed no marks of disease, excepting  the mucous
membrane was inflamed in spots.
  The duodenum highly  inflamed and gangrenous.
  The stomach and duodenum had in them  a quantity of darkish
matter.
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  The ventricles of the  heart were obstructed with  membraneous
substances.
  11. J. J. sickened in the country, was brought to the hospital and
died the 1st October with black vomit.
  The stomach was slightly inflamed in its mucous coat;
  The duodenum  highly inflamed, and  mortified-in many places,
and the parts not mortified so tender as to be easily torn.
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  TKe jejunum was slightly inflamed, and filled with the matter of
black vomit.
  12. W. M'l. died in the hospital  the 4th Octobor, but how Ion*
sick was not known, as he was brought there in a dying state.
  The stomach was slightly inflamed in its mucous coat. 
13
  The duodenum was highly inflamed,  black, and rotten in places.
  The livSr and  gall blander natural.
  The lower boWels were very  much  distended, and the  rectum
filled with the matter of black vomit.
  13. D. P. sickened in the country, and died in the hospital Oct. 6.
  The st'.mach  was sound in all its parts, and  had in it  a small
quantity of black vomit
  The duodenum was  highly inflamed.in  all its  substance,  and
mortified in three nlaoes, and contained a quantity of ugly  looking
puruleit matter. '
  The liver and gall bladder natural.
  14. D. R. died on the 12th day of the fever.
  The stomach and duodenum, and particularly the latter,  were so
tender that they tore as easily as paper; and could not bear their
own weight when raised up.
  The spleen much enlarged, and so soft'as to  fall to pieces  like
clotted blood when handled.
  The ventricles of the  heart were obstructed with membraneous
substances                                           _    ,
  15, T. P. was brought into the hospital in a dying state, trom the
steamboat Magnet.
  The stomach was sound.
  The liver and  gall bladder natural.
  From the pyloric orifice of the stomach  inflammation extended
throughout'the bowels.                      #
  N. B. Those fifteen dissections were made in the Natchea nos-
nital from the  10th September to the 9th October, in succession.
P                VII. RECAPITULATION.
  In the foregoing fifteen dissections—                       .
  The stomach was slightly inflamed in five cases, and sound in
ten ; black vomit in two cases :                          .
  The  duodenum was inflamed in every case, mortified in six,
black vomit in one, Mack matter, slime and purulent matter m  one

^The liver somewhat enlarged and slightly diseased in  a few ca-
ses, but inflamed in no case:
   The pancreas inflamed in one case:
   The  spleen enlarged, like clotted  blood, and easily falling to
pieces in one case:                 ,                __      .
  The  ieiunum inflamed and filled with black vomit in one  case .
   The  rectum filled with the matter of black vomit it one case:
   The  bowels, from the lower orifice  of  the stomach, inflamed m
 one. case :
   Thje  brain slightly inflamed in two cases :
    The lungs sound in every case. 
H
                     VIII.  DEDUCTIONS.
   1st Argument.  'In'every-disease where any part  exhibits the
 greatest ravages, common sense teaches that that part is the seat of
 such disease.
   In the foregoing fifteen dissections, the duodenum in every case
 exhibited the greatest ravages;
   Therefore, the duodenum  is  the seat of Yellow Fever.
   2nd Argument.  In every disease where parts are slightly affec-
 ted, common sense teaches that those parts are  affected  consecu-
 tively and secondarily.
   In the foregoing cases, the stomach, liver, lower bowels, pancreas
 and brain were slightly affected i
   Therefore,  the disease in  those parts was consecutive  and
 secondary.
   3d Argument.  In a disease  where an unusal and unnatural fluid
 is produced, common, sense teaches that the  part most  violently
 affected is the place where the unusual and unnatural  fluid is pro-
 duced.
   In the foregoing fifteen cases, the duodenum was the most  vio-
 lently affected:
   Therefore, the duodenum is the place where the unusual and un-
 natural matter of black vomit is produced.
   4th Argument.   If the poisonous gass that is the immediate cause
 of yellow lever is received into  the  system through the medium of
 respiration, the lungs would show primary and  violent affection.
   In the foregoing fifteen cases, the lungs were sound :
   Therefore the lungs  cannot be the medium  through which the
 cause of yellow fever gets into  the system.
   5th Argument.  If the cause of yellow fever is received into the
system through the alimentary  canal, the part most fitted to retain
it, there a lodgment would be effected, and there the ravages would
be the most violent.
  In the foregoing fifteen cases, the duodenum was  the most vi-
olently affected:
  Therefore, the  cause of yellow fever cannot  effect a lodgment
until it passes to  the duodenum, the bowel mos,t fitted and prepared
 to retain it, and where  its ravages are the most violent,
               IX. INDICATIONS  OF CURE.
  If the deductions in the foregoing section are  correct and reason-
able, the following indications  of cure will also be  found reason-
able.
   1.   Blood-letting.  If the  arterial  action  should  be excessive,
blood should be drawn to reduce it to a proper standard.
  2. Vomiting.   To reduce the inflammatorv action  in the duode-
 num, remove any poisonous matter therein, and rouse the liver from
torpidity, emetics are of first  importance, and in the commence- 
15
mentof the disease should never be neglected.   By this remedy the
liver is shaken and pours boil into the.duodenum: that bowel is agi-
tated, and its secretions increased: by a retrogade motion, the con-
tents thereof are  forced into the stomach  and vomited.  By this
means much  poisonous matter is evacuated, and a diminished and
betted action produced.  This remedy should be repeated as symp-
toms may indicate.                           *
  3. Purging. This remedy is all-important, and should be used so
as to keep up a  constant motion  in  the bowels until all offensive
matter  is evacuated, the dejections  assume • a natural appearance,
and the disease removed.   As the duodenum is in an inflamed .and
irritated state, the purgative medicines should be of the mildest
kind: Castor oil, an  infusion of senna, Epsom salt, jalap in small
doses; and calomel, when  combined  with some other active purga-
tive, and judiciously prescribed, are  the best purgatives.  To assist
these purgatives, injectious of warm water, in which a small  quan-
tity of common salt is dissolved, should  be  frequently thrown  into
the bowels.
  4. Sweating. This remedy is  of more consequence than physicians
are generally willing to allow. To pioduce this salutary evacuation,
the body  should be frequently  sponged with warm water, in which
a quantity of common salt is dissolved. By this method the skin is
cleansed, the pores opened, and by the friction the cutaneous  ves-
sels are stimulated to  healthful action.  Hence all  greasy applica-
tions,  of whatever kind or description, should be peremptorily for-
bidden.   To assist the sweating, the patient should drink such teas
or ptisans as are agreeable to his taste,  and,  if desired, cold water
in small quantities.
   5. Regimen. The diet during the disease should consist of nicely
made gruel,  panada, thin soups of chicken or mutton.   During con-
valescence, the diet  should gradually become more solid.  The drink
should be teas, water and milk.
   6.  Admonition. Here let it  be impressed upon  the  mind as for
life, that what is done must be  well done, and done quickly, as this
tempestuous disease admits of no temporising—no delay—no half
work.  And let it be further remembered, as for eternity,  that no
stimulant drinks, high seasoned  food, irritating anodyne,  salivate
ing  or drastic medicines, should be administered on any account.
                     X. PREVENTATIVES.
   Premonition.  Mankind are unwilling to allow that they are by
 nature very  wicked, and a thousand  times more so by practice, and
 by consequence the filthiest part of the creation in thoughts, words,
 persons andactions.  By this moral depravation the world has become
 a hospital, a golgotha, one wide sepulchre of rottenness and dead men's 
IS
 bones. It by any means men could be convinced that sin is the  cflitse
 of all calanities dangers, diseases and deaths, common sense, inde-
 pendent of"reSatioS would teach them the necessity of reversing
 their aotions-thatthev should be chaste in their thoughts, caution
 in their Words, cleanly in their persons, and righteous in their deal-
 ings.  In such case disease, with all its  retinue of evils, would dis-
 appear, and men would descend to the grave like falling  asleep, ere
 long to awake in eternal life.
  In this happy state of things the physician would have to contend
 no longer with perverse dispositions, loathsome diseases and  pesti-
 lential stenches; courts to arraign, condemn and punish monsters
 in wickedness; gospel ministers to strive against the children  ot sa-
 tan, and wear out their lives in the warfare against sin.   This earth
 would  again become a paradise*   All hail happy day!
  1st Preventative. Be cleanly in person, dwelling, food and drink.
  2d.  Burn or bury all putrefying animal  or  other substances, and
 never suffer their poison to be within striking distance.
  3d.  Avoid high seasoned food and spirituous liquors.
  4th.  Be temperate in eating, drinking, sleeping and labouring.
  5th.  Be chaste and moderate in enjoyments.
  6th.  Avoid anger and contentions.
  7th.  Seek peace with all men, and be honest.
  8th.  Avoid the company of the gambler, drunkard, blasphemer,
blackguard, and unclean person, as you would the devil.
  9th.  But above all, and to crown all, become a Christian in deed
and in  truth.
  The  blessing. By careful practical attention to the  foregoing pre-
ventative rules, the "Eternal Triune  Jehovah"  "shall  become
thy refuge and thy fortress. He shall deliver thee from the noisome
pestilence.  His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.   Thou shalt
not be  afraid  for the  terror  by night,  nor  the arrow that flieth by
day; nor for the pestilence that walketh' in darkness; nor the destruc-
tion that wasteth at noon day.  A thousand shall  fall at thy side,
and  ten thousand  at thy  right  hand; but it shall not come nigh
thee; only with thy eyes shalt thou behold  and  see the  reward  of
the wicked.  Because thou hast made the  Lord thy refuge and the
Most  High  thy habitation, there shall no evil  befal  thee,  neither
shall any plague come  nigh thy dwelling.   For  He  shall give his
 Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."—Psalms. 
17
XI REGISTER OF DEATHS.
Month,	City,	Hosp.	Total	. S Month,		City.	Hosp.	Total
Aug. 9	1	0	1	<, Sept	. 15	5	» 1	6
12	2	0	2	\	16	4	2	6
13	1	0	1		17	3	0	3
16	2	0	2	S	18	1	1	2
17	1	1	2		19	3	0	3
18	1	1	2	s s	20	3	0	3
19	1	0	1	$	21	1	0	I
£0	3	0	3	■1	22	1	1	2
fcl	7	1	8		23	2	4	6
22	5	2	6	?	24	3	0	3
23	5	0	; 6V	s	25	2	2	4
24 25	8 12	0 1	*13	s s	26 27	3 1	1 1	» 4 2
26	8	0	8		28	3	0	3
27	7	1	8		29	2	0	2
28	9	3	12		30	0	1	1
29	4 >' 1		5	\ Oct' s	r. 1	2	2	4
30	12	3	15		2	1	0	1
♦ 31	5	0	5	s	3	1	0	1
Sept. 1	9	4	13	s*	4	2	1	3
2	4	3	• 7	s	5	3	0	3
3	4	2	6		6	2	1	3
4	4	3	7	?	7	2	2	4
5	3	3	>■.- 6	fc	8<	0	1	1
6	3	4	7	5	9	1	4	5
7	3	- 3	6	s	10	3	1	4
8	5	2	7		11	5	0	5
9	5	1	6		12	2	0	'-. 2
10	7	4	11		13 ,	r *	0	1
11	4	o	6		15	1	1	2
12	6	2	8	i	16	2	0	2
13	7	3	10	\	17	1	0	1
14	4	2	6		18	0	0	0
	_	—-	_—			——	——	_-~
	162	52	214			66	27	138
Total in the City,            228
Ditto in the Hospital,          79

                Aggregate,  307
3 
18
  Observations.   The population of the city of Natchez amounts to
about three thousand.   On and about the  25th August, two thous-
and three or four hundred fled to various parts of the surrounding
country, leaving seven or eight hundred in the city and its suburbs.
Out of this  remnant, the foregoing number of three  hundred and
twelve persons perished with the epidemic from  the 9th August to
the  18th October,  when its ravages ceased.  A dreadful and unpar-
alleled mortality!                                    *
                  XII. RECAPITULATION,

  Showing  the residence, moral character, and religious profession
of those who perished by the epidemic :
  1.  Residence :
    Permanent  citizens,          .   -     - -       55
    Ditto  children,            -       -       <■       14
    Transient men,            -       -'*            234
    Ditto  women,            -       -       -        9—312
  2.  Moral character:
    Sober men,                -       -       -       67
    Ditto  women,            -       -       -       57
    Children,                 ...       14
    Drunken men,      .       -                     119 ■></,
    Ditto women,                    -       -        4
    Drinking men,     -       -                      51— 31£
  3;  Religious profession:
    Professors of religion,      ...        6
    Nominal christians,        -        -            119
    Practical athiests,          -       -       -      173
    Children,                      .  -       .       14—^312
  Closing Remarks.  The foregoing statement of deaths, residence,
moral character and  religious profession of those  cut off by pesti-
lence, should solemnly .-impress the minds of the  reflecting part of
mankind as^to the loss sustained by neglect of gospel rules.  To the
dissipated and drunkard it should speak in thunder.   It shows, as
in a flash of lightning, the terrific consequences of a life of sin.  It
should write a lesson upon their hearts, as with the point of a dia-
mond, never to be  forgotten.

  "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they
shall eat the fruit of their doings.                              J

  Woe unto  th* wicked! it shall.be ill with him; for the reward of
tus hands shall be given him."—Isaiah. 
19
                      REGISTER
Of the Names of tho&  cut  off by the Pestilence in Natchez.
         cut.
   9 Mrs. AV irig,
fc
Aug.  _
>•  .   12 Eliza Blake,
       Mrs^Van Campen,
     13 Terence Still,
     16 John  Hahna,
   ^^Henry M'Guire,
     17 William Coleman,
  »   13 John  Roberts,
     19 Samuel Thornberry,
     20  tr^t  Maisneld,: |^
       Hugh Moore,    '{'
       Catherine Moore,'
     21' Mrs. Wbitehouse,
     / Miss Whi^eKouse,
       Misa,Burbinlc,B
          MissMilR^
          hn Aridms,
           M Cullough,,
      ^William Welsh,  *>
     ^PBeth Cocks,
        William Howard,
       "Miss Sarah White,
  >*"    David Thomas,
        Negro Man Jerry,
     23 John S, White,
      v Joseph,Ross,
     ^:>Mrs. Dyer'aCtuW,
        J. B. Emerson, W
        Southworth's Negro man
      24 Edward Turner, jun.
        Cornelius Shannahan,
k)u      Catherine E. Lum,
"      Henry Oysterkemp,
        Miss Robinson,
■L     Mrs. Wilson,
             EngrosJ,
        Free Betsey,
      25 Nathan Stout,
        Nicholas  Gray,
         William James,
         Isaac Edmunds,
           CITY.
Aug. 25 W. M. Watkins, M. D.
       Charles Chillies,
       Nancy Riack,
       Henry Green,
       Miss Burbank,
       Mrs. Walker,
       William's Negro Mar,
       Negro Child,
     26 Mrs. Bui bank,
       Mrs. D. Briell,
       Cynthia Hitchcock,
       Frederick Richtor,
          illiam G.Page,
       y. illiam Houghton,
       Robert Holliday, *
              Carter, . -
     27 Henry Postlethwjite, esq
      « Otto's Dutch boy,
       T. Munce's Negro,
       J. O'Hanlon,
       Thomas Turner's child,
       May's Negro Man,
     28 Richard Bagby,
       Miss Beck,
        Mary Swaine,
       Jane Gray,
       Hage|»an's ChinJ -
        John P.  Cahusac,
        Margaret Wjniaras,
        Stephen H. =W. Cisna,
       Joseph M'GaiUard,
      29 Mrs. Fish,   5|
        Mra^ Trimbly,
        Mrs. Segur,
        Miss Robinson,
      30 Mrs. M'Caffrey,
        Daniel Little,
        Free Hannah,
        Man in  the street,
        E. D, Gallagher,
        David Rob****"? 
20
            CITY.
Aug. SO Daniel Shane,
              Evans,
       Negro Child,
       Thomas Parker,
       Mr. Hagerman,
       Amanda Blair
    31 Maria Fosdick,
       John Rice,
       George E. Rowland,
       Hiram Hitchcock,
       Wm. Patton, (bank Mis.)
Sept. 1 Sylvester Russell,
                Marble,
       Mary Anne Smith,
       Ann Clark,
       Archibald Hun^nr,.': k
     .  Mrs. Fail,      C'yf
       Deiderick Briell,  '.
       Mr. Coleman,
      . Bracken's Nego woman,
     2 Stephen Remington.
       John Ely,
       Thomas Tiernan, *
       Eliza Jones,
    3 Willoughhy L. Pratt,
       Thomas Curry,
       Samuel Hunter,
       Smith's Negro woman,
    4 Francis West,
       Ai|ne Rulon,'
       ^VVard's Negro man,
       Kyle's Negro James,
    5 John Happer^
      J^eorge Adjths,
       susan Wilson,
    6 Michael Farrel,
       Bradly Lee,
       M'Graw's Negro man,
    7 John Hosington,
           Duncan,
       Thomas Ralston,
3ept. 8 John Frame,
      . Christopher Schwabe,
       R. R. Edwards.
            CITY,
 Sept. 8 Mrs. P, Briell,
        Polly Masters,
     9 James Knolls,
        Thomas P. Abbott,
        Mrs. Wilson's child| f
        Negro Man*,
        Negro child,
      10 Frederick Young^t
        Arden Brown,
        Augustus Millensack,
gk     Jrlicjjael Short,
™ ^^^>Frederick Engle,
   j*?SrJohn Peters,'
  £  If Thomas White,
  \  *' Elihu J$nes,
        Thomas Turner,^
     ,    ^  ,  Wilson,^
     12 JamejSB. Fitzimons,
    _v,   Julian YOunkef.V -
        George Western!* ^^
        Mrs. Western,
        Mrs. Newman, ■*$,"
     V- ^eorge Stewart,*!
     13%Iizabeth Obrey,
        Lydia Tiernan,     %
    i   Augustus Rierman,
        Charles B. Thomas.
        Mrs. Bullp \
        John Newman, A-
        NSfro Child,
     14 Jacob Green,     *
     v   William Sairs,
        George Parkin;.
        John Vansant,
     15 James B. Ralston,
        John Nokes,
        Peter Witsell,
        Benjamin Murphy,
     16 Robert Caldwell,
        Duncan Sullivan,
               Xambert,
        Free Betsy,
     17 Nancy Grant,
        Lot Hackley,
1 
21
I
            CITY.
Sept. 17 Mrs. Peters,
     18 Michael Otto,
     19 Francis Caravajol,
       William Hageman,
       Mrs. Bergfeldt,
    ' 20 John Shillinglaw,
:ij0r    John Brower,
       Mrs. Rice,
     21 Sarah Atkinson,
     22 Henry Walker's child,
     23 Sarah Anne Frith,
       Sorrel Aldridge,
     -34 Frederick Guibert,
        Dr. Lattimore's child,
        Patrick Keenan,
     25 Charlotte Moore,
        Jesse Dorman,
     26 Henry Wohlentz,
     -„,  Jacob Bobb,
     «'  Columbia Cisna,
     27 Tiernan Zanes,
     28 William Bobb,
       * John  Atkinson,
        Bergfieldt's child,
      29 Elizabeth Zanes.
  Oct.  1 Samuel Baughart,
              .Schwartz,
#
S
5 Oct.
%
*
I
     *■ HOSPITAL.
Au». 17 James Workman,
   °18 Timothy Hart,
    21 A man unknown,
    22 Henry L. Powers,
       A man unknown,
    25 Mrs. Gardiner,
    27 Miss Gardiner,
    38 Samuel Ball,
       Edward Hughs,
       William Livingston,
       Mary Grissard,
        Henry Grissard,
        Francis Maas,
Sept,
       CITY.
2 James Gorely,
3 James O'Keefe,
4 Matthew Provan, M. D.
           Hunt,
5 Elizabeth Rourke,
  William Burton,
  Jame3  Tully,
 6 William M. Roberts,
              Roark,
7 James Duncan,
  Sally Willeford,
9 Thomas  Green,
10 Uriah M'orraw,
   Henry  B. Smith,
   Joel Beach,
11 John Smith,
   Eunice Shillinglaw,
   William Shillinglaw,
   George Hodge,
   John Holtship,
12 William Hagerman, jun.
   Joseph Shillinglaw,
13 Conlon Rice,
 15         Blade,
 16 Jacob  R. Myers,
   Margaret  Rice,
 17 A man unknown,
1 John Morris,
  John Davis,
  WiM'nm Gentry,
  Margaret Gideon,
2 Daniel  Buckner,
  Jacob Jordan,
  Thomas Downs,
3 Richard Wilson,
  •Samuel Moretta,
4 Abner  Coleman,
  Lewis  Love,
  Hyrus  Morris,
 5 H. Maddox,
      Parker, 
22
     HOSPITAL.
 5 John Lucas,
 6 Albert Rankin,
    Lydia Harris,
    John Holvy,
    Joseph Baker,
 7 Joseph Newsome,
         Rogers,
    Benjamin Winters,
  8 William.Daws,
    Alexander Cathers,
  9 Stephen Green.
 10 John Parsell,
   Elizabeth Nigh,
   James Brown,
   Man unknown,
 11 Sailv Little,
   Nancy Webber,
 H-John Cunningham,
   Nimon Bigelow,
 13 Thomas R. Hazenwood,
   Mary Bailey,
   Daniel H, Hartley,
 14 WilU,m Atkins,
   William Wilson,
15 Unkown man,
   A Spaniard,
         HOSPITAL.
     16 Giles E. Weld,
     18 John Neale,
     22 Andros Gello,
     23 Peter Cummings,
             Schlegel,
        William Dow.
       Jacob, a Dutch boy,
     25 James Symes,
        Christopher Anderson,
     26 James Lee,
     27       M'Laughlin,
     29 Benjamin Shirley,
Oct.  1 Claiborn Young,
       Joseph Johnson,
     4 William M'Intyre,
     6 Daniel Pucket,
     7 Thomas Parson,
       Edward L. Horsey,
     8 Johnson Elliott,
     9 Daniel Rourke,
       Thomas  Place,
       Cordelia Reynolds,
       John  Marshall,  ,
    10 Joseph Murray,
     15 Amos Reynolds, *$
On the 18th of October, the Yellow Fever ceased its ravages^
NOTES.
tV-
     Page 8. Ball-Rooms and Dance Houses, $c.

  Ball-Rooms are masquerades, where fictitious characters are act
ed.   The pencilled eye-brow, the painted cheek, the whitened neck,
the corsetted bosom,  and mincing step, surely  never represented
that  beauty, which

             -Needs not the foreign aid of ornament,
      But is when unadorned,- adorned the most."

  This lovely character can only be found in private circles.
  The corsetted waist and white glove of the Dandy ill represe nt
the  elegant symetry of manly beauty.                    ■ 
%
                              23

  The epithet counterfeit elegance applies to the masked characters
alluded to, whose morals are not questioned.

  The epithet counterfeit virtue applies to masks of a different de-
scription, whose morals are questioned.

  Page 11, Queegless House Sec.  Not the dwelling house of Joseph
Queegless, (than  which there is not a neater kept house in the ci-
ty,) but a house owned by him on the same lot, at that time occupied
by Fleming Wood, who had the putrid bacon.

  Page 13.—It is an act of justice to state, that doctor Lattimore
removed  to the country  at the earnest solicitation of his friends,
with a sick wife and child—and that doctor M'Pheters was confin-
ed  on  a sick bed during the greatest part of the epidemic. 
 
Med. Hist.
   w x
£o 

mi.
■>K\.v-
:'::'^'>.^;'^i|

'^;S
1