of thk 
H O M CE O P A T HIG 
RELIEF ASSOCIATION. 
With 
VALUABLE PAPERS ON YELLOW FEVER 
15 V 
The Leaiinj Howopathic Physicians 
OF 
NEW ORLEANS, LA. 
IS'ZS- 
A. H. Nelson print, 57 Camp Street. the 
Homoeopath 1C 
RELIEF ASSOCIATION 
w i rr ii 
Valuable Papers on Yellow Fever, 
U\' 
The Leading Hoimptliic Pliysicians 
< ) F 
NEW ORLEANS, LA. 
1878. 
A. H.-Nelson, print, C,7 Camp Street. IJSEDEEK:. 
Page 
Association Report, by C. G. Fisher, Secretary 3 
List of Contributions 16 
Account Current, by H. L. Stevenson, Treasurer 20 
Circular Treatment, by James G. Belden, M. D., President. .. 21 
Report and Treatment, by Richard Angell, M.D 24 
" " " " Walter Bailey, Sr., M. D 26 
" " " " J, G. Belden, M. D 37 
" " " " S. M. Angell, M. D 50 
" " " " A. B. de Villeneuve, M. D 54 
" " " Walter Bailey, Jr., M. D 61 
" " " " James Diet, M. D 65 
" " " " Charles J. Lopez, M. D 71 
" " " " Jesse R. Jones, M. D 74 
" " " " Wm. M. Deason, M. D 80 
Theory of Yellow Fever Poison by Walter Bailey, Sr., M. D... 81 
Paper on Quarantine * " " " " " .. 86 REPORT. 
Dr. James G. Belden, 
President of the Homceopathic Relief Association. 
I'he general "casus actio" which brought this As- 
sociation into existence during the past summer needs 
no special explanation and but little comment from us, 
as its unfortunate details are known to the civilized 
world. 
After an unusually warm wet Spring, in the heat 
of a summer month, yellow fever appeared in our city, 
assuming at the onset a very malignant type, spreading 
rapidly and attacking a class of residents-our creole 
citizens-who had heretofore believed themselves ex- 
empt from its influences; such results, with that of its 
virulence among children caused a greater panic 
among our residents than was ever produced by any 
former epidemic. 
A large number of our citizens speedily sought 
other and more healthy places of abode, leaving the 
greater mass, who unable to follow such example 
pie for safety, were forced to wait patiently if they 
could; sadly and hopelessly as they often did, the 
approach, seizure and result of this dreaded dis- 
ease. 4 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
Long general depression of business preceding that 
usually prevailing during the summer months in this 
city, found many thousands of families illy prepared, to 
provide all the con-comittants indispensable in con- 
tending with so distressing and devastating an enemy. 
For the special cause of this organization, we note 
that in August-per force of the then reputed success 
of I lomoeopathic Practice-repeated, urgent and exten- 
ded calls, both from the city and from adjacent districts, 
to which the fever was rapidly spreading, were made 
upon Homoeopathic Physicians of known liberality and 
upon prominent friends of the practice for medical aid 
and assistance in treating the fever Homoeopathically 
in families and communities; which assistance 
most of the applicants were totally unable to pay for, 
and which it was impossible for them to obtain by appli- 
cation to any then known Charitable Association. 
Believing then, what has since been more emphati- 
cally proven, that the merits of this treatment for yel- 
low feyer, far surpassed any other known or within 
reach of these plague stricken communities, and that 
by uniting under one central head all the available force 
and power of local Homoeopathic Physicians with that 
available from intelligent laymen, and then applying 
and expending such strength in a systematic manner, 
great good could be accomplished, it was deemed ex- 
pedient to organize the New Orleans Plomoeopathic 
Relief Association-embracing the local physicians and 
numerous laymen of that practice-and on the first of Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
5 
September while the fever was near its highest point 
of prevalence, an appeal was addressed to the friends 
of the practice abroad and to the public generally, lor 
funds to carry on the work. 
The great generous benevolence of northern friends 
and communities, then at their full tide of sympathy, 
gave quick response in monies, medicines, food, delica- 
cies and clothing, thereby permitting us to render not 
alone medical aid and care, as at first intended, but to 
also extend material relief and comfort to the many 
distressed applicants. The work of the Association 
rapidly assumed extended proportions-calls for med- 
ical and material aid, coming from all portions of our 
city, from Dry Grove, Canton. McComb City, Tangip- 
ahoa, Bay St. Louis, Cheniere Caminada and a score 
of other towns, villages and hamlets, in the interior 
fever districts. 
By the energetic labors of the physicians of our 
school aided by numerous laymen and nurses, we 
were able to meet with general promptness, all of the 
several thousand calls for medical attendance from 
within our city borders, but per force of the limited num- 
ber of the former, and of the decision not to accept the 
many proffers of service, made by practitioners of distant 
cities-who would have been promising and doubtless 
early victims to the fever-we could not send physi- 
cians to all distant points desired, but were compelled 
to resort to other methods of supplying the extended 
and urgent requests for Homoeopathic treatment from 6 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
interior fever localities. To meet such, we called into 
service a corps of Homoeopathic laymen, intelligent 
gentlemen, more or less conversant with the treatment 
of yellow fever, who under the advices of the Associa- 
tion Physicians and guided by your valuable Circular 
of treatment, were well prepared and capable of ren- 
dering invaluable services in those localities, in meet- 
ing and contending with the fever in its worst form, as 
they did in hundreds of cases successfully, winning 
gratitude " ad libitum" for themselves and the Associ- 
ation. 
For the rapid progress, extent, and successful re- 
sult of our work, we are largely indebted to the Ho- 
moeopathic practitioners of New Orleans, ^/Z of whom 
with one exception, aided us in our labor. 
This one exception, so-called Homoeopath, would 
be leader, (with no following), by false statements, and 
antagonistic proceedings, persistently but fruitlessly en- 
deavored to retard the work and impugn the motives 
of the Association, its organizers, and practitioners, who 
comprised nine-tenths of the local Homoeopathic Phy- 
sicians. For exercising-at such a time-such nobly 
charitable^?) and highly Christian (?) endeavors, he rich- 
ly merits the same general condemnation abroad 
whch he has won at home. 
Aside from extending our work through our phy- 
sicians, laymen, and nurses into seventeen towns and 
villages in Mississippi and Louisiana, we transmitted 
your Circular of treatment, with needed medicines as Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
7 
called for personally or by letter, to many hundred famil- 
ies, who, living beyond the reach of medical aid, had no 
previous hope of successfully contending with their 
approaching enemy, and our files are replete with let- 
ters teeming with thanks for such limited aid, which 
raised their despairing hopes and aided and guided 
them in their contest with the fever. 
In evidence of the extent, merit, and appreciation of 
such aid, that the thanks therefor may duly reach the 
original benefactors, and that the necessity for this or- 
ganization may be placed beyond question, we submit 
a few extracts from said letters. 
Tangipahoa, La., Nov. 26th, 1878. 
Secretary Homoeopathic Relief Association : 
Dear Sir, 
I enclose you a "Card" published in the New Orleans 
Picayune Nov, 17, slightly expressive of the debt the citi- 
zens of Tangipahoa owe your Association. We had made 
repeated appeals in vain to the Howards of your city for 
aid, and lienee the prompt response to our call on. your 
Association was doubly appreciated, as it will be always 
remembered with gratitude. 
Yours Respectfully, 
E. F. RUSSELL, 
President Howard Association, 
Tangipahoa. 8 
Report. of the Homoeopathic Relief A ssociation 
A CARD, 
Mr. Editor, 
Among the many friends and sympathizers who have 
ministered to our suffering people during the late yellow 
fever scourge, none have been more assiduous in their at" 
tent ions, more munificent in their contributions, or more 
efficient in their ministrations than the Homoeopathic As- 
sociation of New Orleans. Their efforts in our behalf com- 
menced early and have been constant and untiring even 
up to date. 
Mr. M. R. Powers,'an assistant, from this Association 
has been with us for weeks, and his efforts for the relief 
of the sick and suffering have been blessed beyond human 
calculation. Indeed he is looked upon by our people as a 
public benefactor. 
We desire to tender the grateful thanks and earnest 
prayers of this community to the members of this noble 
and generous Association. 
E. F. RUSSELL, 
President H. A. of Tangipahoa. 
Tangipahoa, La., Nov. 16, 1878: 
" We of .this poor stricken village do fervently bless 
your Association for the kindly interest manifested in our 
unfortunate condition, and for your promptness in sending 
medical assistants and nurses in our hour of distress. Our 
cry for succor had been in vain until you came to the res- Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
9 
cue. All our citizens willingly accept your treatment, and 
it alone seems successful where all others have failed." 
J. L. HARRIS, 
Member of Howard Association' 
Tangipahoa, La. 
I beg to tender your valuable Association the heart- 
felt thanks of myself and family for the great benefit ren- 
dered us in ohr severe affliction by one of your assistants 
sent to this place, Mr. M. R, Powers. We feel assured 
that he saved my own life and that of a darling child, 
when prostrated by yellow fever. His treatment and in- 
defatigability has apparently performed miracles in bring- 
ing the sick back from the verge of the grave! Our 
prayers will ever be for your welfare. 
W. 8. CAREY, 
Tangipahoa, La. 
The first ray of light in the dark cloud of death which 
was sweeping over this section, was the appearance of your 
Homoeopathic physicians, assistants and nurses, and though 
the former were soon stricken down, they came safely 
'J d 
through, and the work went bravely on. 
Dry Grove, Miss, • 10 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
Permit me to assure you that your prompt and gen- 
erous help will never be forgotten by the people left at Dry 
Grove, or by your friends and fellow laborers the Howards 
of Crystal Springs. Your humane and successful practice 
has given the drugging and drenching system a blow in 
this section it will never recover from. 
W. C. WILKINSON, 
Crystal Springs, Miss. Member Howards. 
Our mental distress was beyond expression as the fe- 
ver rapidly approached our home, we having no hope of 
escaping it, no knowledge of its treatment, and no physi- 
cian within reach. None but those who have been re- 
prieved from impending death can appreciate the relief and 
hope we experienced on receipt of the medicines, circular, 
and letter of advice from your Association ; but basing our 
hope on your assurance, and adhering strictly to the treat- 
ment recommended, we have carried all our little family, 
five in number, safely through the fearful scourge. Thank 
God and your Association. 
Ascension Parish,La. 
*Being a lady correspondent we> withhold name. 
Cheniere, Camanada, La-, Nov. 25, 1878. 
Secretary Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
Dear Sir,-In reply to your inquiry as to the result of 
my applications for relief for the country for which I alone 
am the Physician, I would state that early in October I Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
11 
called on the Howard Association of your city with a pe- 
tition signed by a large number of the residents of this 
locality, asking material aid, and that my services be given 
them under the auspices of said Association. I stated to 
the officers of the Association that I was a Homoeopathic 
Physician-that I had treated near two hundred cases of 
yellow fever, and had many cases still in charge-that the 
citizens of this locality were poor, destitute, and in great 
need of aid, more than f could render them unless assisted 
by foreign charity. 
Obtaining no satisfactory response to such united 
appeals I returned to my labors and excepting a few Allo- 
pathic remedies, of little or no use to me, I neither re- 
.ceived or heard aught more from that Association. 
To your Association alone are my community, my 
friends and myself indebted for medicines and material 
aid. 
Very Truly Yours, 
JAMES DIET, M. D. 
We further refer to the report of Drs. Jones and 
Deason of Crystal Springs, Miss., who as physicians of 
long practice in other schools of medicine, found them- 
selves entirely at a loss for successful treatment while 
contending with the fever in Dry Grove ! and who only 
found hope and life for themselves, and a plague strick- 
en community, by resorting to Homoeopathic treatment, 
which it was our happy province to practically extend to 
them. 12 
Report of the Homoeopathic B.elief Association 
The total number of yellow fever cases treated Ho- 
moeopathically under the auspices of this Association by 
the assisting physicians, laymen, nurses, and heads of 
families, as reported, is 5,640 : of this number 3,184 were 
within our city limits, and 2,456 were in towns, villages 
and hamlets in adjacent fever districts, mainly in Missis- 
sippi, on or near the line of the Chicago, St. Louis and 
New Orleans Rail Road. 
Of the said 3,184 treated in this city, 164 died, a 
mortality of 5, 2-10 per cent. 
Of the 2,456 treated in outlying points 174 died ! a 
mortality of 6 per cent. 
Of the entire number treated we have 2,953 re- 
ported as under fifteen years of age, with a loss of 1 24 
cases, a mortality of 4, 2-10 per cent. 
So far as our books and reports distinguish as to 
color, we note 560 cases of negroes and mulattoes treated 
by the Association, of which 14 died, a mortality of only 
2, 5-10 per cent. 
i;rom the more specific reports we find that 231 cases 
black vomit were treated by our physiciansand laymen 
of which 173 recovered. 
This last item speaks volumes for the success of 
Homoeopathy in controlling that special stage of yellow 
fever which is generally deemed a fatal one by the Al- 
lopathic School of Practice. 
But for the need of resorting to personalities we 
should be pleased to make a special note from our re- 
cords of sundry cases left by physicians of other schools Report of the Homoeopathic RHief Association. 
13 
in the last stages of the fever-black vomit or collapse 
-which our physicians, and laymen even, have reluc- 
tantly taken in charge, but successfully treated and even- 
tually cured. 
Being personally cognizant of some of these special 
cases, and having official evidence of the general result 
of our work, we take pleasure in congratulating the phy- 
sicians of the Association Upon their preeminent success, 
not alone in saving life and relieving dire distress, but in 
planting the seeds of confidence in Homoeopathic treat- 
ment, not only in New Orleans, but in other extended lo- 
calities where it was never before known, but can now 
never be eradicated, thereby eliminating from the minds 
of many thousand residents of the fever districts, much 
of the dread, and consequent danger, of yellow fever. 
To the sympathetic kindness and generous benevolence 
of communities, associations and individuals, not only in 
the United States butin foreign countriesarewe indebted 
for the means which enabled us to accomplish this ex_ 
tended work of Charity, and we owe and cordially ten- 
der to them our grateful thanks, and alike transmit those 
of the many thousands whom such benefaction aided. 
* As many reports have been withheld from the 
Board of Health by sundry physicians, it is impossible 
to give the exact number of yellow fever cases occur- 
ing in our city during the late epidemic ; but as re- 
ported, we have 23,540 cases, with 4,046 deaths. The 
latter is necessarily correct, but the former is doubtless 
a few thousand below the proper figures. 14 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
A full list of contributors, amount received, expen- 
ditures, etc., will be found in the accompanying Treas- 
urer's Statement. In the disbursement of said funds, as 
in the distribution of clothing and supplies received, 
our special aim has been first, to give medical aid and care 
to the sick, thereafter aiding the convalescent and needy 
relatives as our means would permit, and to the earnest 
co-operation of the Homoeopathic Physicians and laymen 
and the liberal countenance of many Allopathic Physi- 
ciansand laymen are we indebted for the accomplishment 
of so large amount of work with such limited resources. 
For repeated and extended favors the thanks of 
the Association are specially due to 
Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, Washington, D. C. 
" L. W. Ballou, Woonsockett, R. I. 
New York Chamber of Commerce So. Rel'f Committee. 
Citizens of Boston, Mass. 
" Worcester, " 
" Providence, Rhode Island. 
" Pittsburg, Penn. 
" Detroit, Mich. 
Ladies Southern Relief Society, Newport, R. I. 
Homoeopathic Med. So's of York & Lancaster Cos;, Pa. 
Drs. Breyfogle & Pierce, Louisville, Ky. 
Dr. Smith's Homoeopathic Pharmacy, New York. 
Boerick & Tafel " " Pharmacy, N. O. 
Angell's "' " " 
Rev. J. H. McCarty, 1). D. 
Gen'l Cyrus Bussey, " Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Asiociation 
15 
Messrs. J. J. Langles & Co., Commercial Bakery, N. O. 
Southern Express Co. 
Western Union Telegraph Co. " 
J. E. McDaniels, Esq., Agent Associated Press. 
Orleans Relief Committee. " 
Cromwell & Morgan Line Steamships, " 
Chicago, St. Louis & New Orleans R. R. 
N. O. City R. R. Co. 
C. & C. R. R. Co. 
We further submit herewith for publication, Circular 
Treatment referred to, with reports and papers from ten 
homoeopathic physicians who have practiced for and been 
identified with the Association, and we opine that much 
information, valuable both to the public and to less expe- 
rienced practitioners,will be adduced from the writings ol 
these able and most successful members of the fraternity, 
many of whom have done veteran service in yellow 
fever epidemics. 
In closing this Report we should be lacking in our 
homage to the humane system of Homoeopathy did we 
not claim for its practice the merit of having reduced 
the mortality in yellow fever to a rate not greater than 
that of many other severe diseases. 
C. G. FISHER. 
New Orleans, La. Secretary. 
December 28, 1878. 16 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED. 
Southern Relief Committee of New York Chamber of 
of Commerce, through Wm. F. Halsey, Esq.,.. $1002 50 
Hon. Albert Voorhies, Agent 100 00 
Enoch Pratt, Esq., President Farmers and Planters 
National Bank, Baltimore, Md.,. 100 00 
Southern Relief Committee of New York Chamber of 
Commerce, through F. N. Ogden, Esq., V. P. 
Howard Association of New Orleans 500 00 
Dr. J. F. Gray, New York through D. F. Kernion, Esq., 100 00 
Albert C. Janin, Esq., through Hon. Albert Voorhies, 25 00 
Southern Relief Committee, Pittsburg,. Pa., through 
John D. Scully, Esq., 500 00 
Citizens of Providence, R. I., through His Honor Thos. 
A. Doyle, Mayor, and Hon. E. Pillsbury, Mayor 
of New Orleans, 1200 00 
A. A. Roth, M. D., Frederick, Md., 5 00 
Henry Sheffield, M. D., Nashville, Tenn,, 20 00 
Hon. Thos. F. Bayard, U. S. Senator, Delaware, 
through Dr. T. S. Verdi, Washington 25 00 
Dr. T. S. Verdi's little daughter...' 10 00 
Citizens of Newark, N. J., 500 00 
Drs. Breyfogle & Pierce, Louisville, Ky., 150 00 
Samuel Bradford, Esq., Philadelphia, 20 00 
Southern Relief Committee, New York Chamber of 
Commerce, through J. Pierrepont Morgan, Esq., 
including contributions from St. John's Church, 
Tuckahoe, N. Y., 500 00 Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
17 
Relief Committee, Hopkinsville, Ky., through Messrs. 
G. H. Spick, J. M. Starling and W. S. Davison, 50 00 
Citizens of Augusta, Me., through His Honor Charles 
E. Nash, Mayor, 100 00 
His Honor John A. Vincent, Mayor of Springfield, Ill., 24 80 
Lady at Swampscott, Mass., through Messrs. Otis 
Clapp & Son, Boston, 10 00 
Southern Relief Committee, Worcester, Mass., through 
His Honor Charles B. Pratt, Mayor, and Drs. L. 
B. Nichols, W. B. Chamberlin and others 500 00 
C. H. Allen, Esq., New Orleans 3 00 
Citizens of Detroit, Mich., through His Honor George 
G. Langdon, Mayor 300 00 
Citizens of Michigan, through H. P. Baldwin, Esq.,. . . 200 00 
Dr. W. E. Green, Little Rock, Ark., through Dr. Wm. 
H. Holcombe, 150 00 
Dr. Frank Bigelow, Syracuse, N. Y., 5 00 
Citizens Relief Committee, Brooklyn, L. I., through , 
Ripley Ropes, Esq., ; 1250 00 
American Residents of City of Mexico, through 
Hon. John W. Foster, U. S. Minister, and 
Messrs. Geo. Frellsen & Co., New Orleans 80 55 
Southern Relief Committee, Cincinnatti, Ohio, through 
S. Lester Taylor, Esq., 500 00 
John Mussey, Esq., Portland, Me.,. 50 00 
Citizens of Boston, through His Honor Henry L. 
Pierce, Mayor, 2000 00 
Hon. L. W. Ballou, Woonsocket, R. I., 200 00 
Dr. A. J. Travers, North Brookfield, Mass., 9 00 
Young Men's Christian Association, Plainfield, N. J.,. . 50 00 
Citizens of Hartford, Conn., through His Honor Geo. 
G. Sumner, Mayor 35,0 00 
Emcline Smith, West Haven, Conn., 10 00 
Anonymous 2 75 
Anonymous 1 25 18 
Report of the HomoeopatJbic Relief Association 
Anonymouous-J. M. H., 5 00 
Drs. H. & J. T. Detwiller, Easton, Pa 10 00 
S. AV. Mifflin, Columbia, Pa., 18 50 
Homeopathic Medical Societies of York and Lancaster 
Co's., Pa., throng'll S. AV. Mifflin, Esq., 15 00 
Miss Sarah E. Bartlett, Westboro, Mass., 53 00 
Ladies Relief Society, Black River Falls, AVis., through 
A. E. Sawyer, Esq 96 00 
Rev. A. D. Carter, Deersville, Harrison Co., Ohio 5 77 
Southern Relief Committee, Chamber of Commerce, 
New Haven, Conn 200 00 
State University of Iowa, Homeopathic Department, 
through A. C. Cowper th waite, M. D 8 50 
John S. Fish, Esq., Marston Mills Mass 8 00 
Citizens of Utica, N. Y., through Rev. E. M. Van Dusen, 115 29 
Miss Mary Leupp, New Brunswick, N. J., through Dr. 
Samuel Long 5 00 
Ladies of Mineapolis Chapter No. 9, Order of the 
Eastern Star, (Masonic) Mineapolis, Minnesota, 
through Dr. C. W. Putnam 260 00 
King's Co. Medical Society, Brooklyn, L. I., for needy 
Homeopathic Physicians, through Dr. AV. Irving 
Thayer , 83 25 
Citizens of AVesterly, R. I., through His Honor Thos. 
A. Doyle, Mayor of Providence 200 00 
Hon. AArm. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, Washington, 
D. C., part of subscription of American Resi- 
dents of Paris 500 00 
Dr. N. A. Pennoyer, Kenosha, Wis 30 00 
Dr. S. M. Ramells, Wilmington, Ohio 2 00 
Medical Societies, Lancaster and York Co's., Pennsyl- 
vania, through Dr. AV. G. Taylor 19 00 Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
19 
St. Jacob's Reformed Church, Columbia, Pa., through 
Dr. W. G. Taylor and Dr. H. S Kehlor 16 00 
Lutheran. Church, Columbia, Pa., through Dr. W. G. 
Taylor and Dr. H. S. Kehlor 19 00 
A. L Chatterton & Co., New York 4 00 
Anonymous, through A. L. Chatterton A Co 1 00 
$12278 16 
Messrs. Brcyfogle & Pierce, Louisville, Ky., 10 barrels 
of Crackers 
Messrs J. J. Langles & Co., Commercial Bakery, New 
Orleans, Sundry barrels and boxes of Crackers, 
Buiscuits, Ac 
Dr. Janies B. Bell, Augusta, Maine 2 cases Clothing 
Ladies Southern Relief Association, Newport, R. I. 
through Mrs. Catherine M. Hunt 33 Cases and 
Barrels of Clothing and delicacies for invalids. 
Ladies of Urbana, Ohio, through Dr. Hamilton Ring 
1 case of Blankets and Clothing 
Drs. Woodward & Swormstadt, Westminaastcr, Carroll 
County, Maryland, 2 Cases of Clothing and del- 
icacies for invalids 
Greenswood Co., New Hartford, Conn., through R. R. 
Smith, Esq., 1 case of Clothing 
Smith's Homoeopathic Pharmacy, New York, for lib- 
eral donation of Medicines and sundry other 
benefactions 
H. L. STEVENSON, 
Treasurer. 20 
Report oj the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
SUMMARY. 
NEW ORLEANS HOMEOPATHIC RELIEF ASSOCIATION, 
IN ACCOUNT WITH TREASURER, DR. 
For Physicians Bills including Laymen service $2388 00 
" Needy Homoeopathic Physicians donated by Kings 
County, Medical Society Brooklyn, L. I., for 
this special purpose, through Dr. W. Irving 
Thayer, Brooklyn, L. I, 83 25 
" Nurses 2322 00 
" Medicines 94 38 
'• Sundry Cash Disbursements for Charities, Ac.... 1066 15 
" Blankets, Sheets, Mattrasses, Men and Women's 
Clothing, Shoes, Ac 1086 22 
" Butcher's Bills for Meats issued to sick and desti- 
tute 841 75 
" Baker's Bills for Bread to sick and ■ destitute. ... 809 25 
" Groceries, Milk, Ac 392 75 
" Cab and Carriage Hire 1103 50 
" Rent, Gas, Fuel, Freight, Cartages Labor and Sun- 
dries 327 40 
" Postage Stamps, Telegrams, Exchanges, Newspa- 
pers Advertising, Ac 207 48 
Funeral Expenses, Printing and Stationery 190 55 
" Ale, Brandy, Whiskey, Wines, Ac 194 60 
' ' Office Expenses, Clerks, Messengers, Ac 949 82 
Reserved for Printing Report of Association, Ac. ..... 221 06 
$12,278 16 
Cr. By Cash Received from Donations. .$12,278 16 
E. A O. E. 
H. L. STEVENSON, 
Treasurer. 
New Orleans, December 28, 1878. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
21 
OiHOlJL.Vl?. 
IIOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT, 
OF 
Y E L E O W IT E Y E It, 
ISSUED AND D1STHIBUTED WITH MEDICINES BY THE 1IOMCEOPATHIC 
BELIEF ASSOCIATION DURING THE EPIDEMIC OF 1878. 
During an Epidemic of Yellow Fever many die because they 
fail to apprehend the nature of its early attack-often considering 
the same the clicct of a cold, biliousness, etc. The true plan is, to 
consider any departure from health as the commencement of an 
attack of Yellow Fever and take in hand at once. If it prove only 
a cold biliousness, etc., no harm is done-if it be the fever, much 
is gained, as the best time to treat and control Yellow Fever is in 
its first stages. 
In the temporary absence of a physician the following direc- 
tions observed, will place the patient in a proper line of treament 
at the onset, and, under subsequent advice of the physician, be 
additional assistance in attaining successful results. 
At the first indications of the fever, the patient should be 
placed in bed, a hot mustard footh bath given, and, if constipated, 
an injection or light purgative administered. At the same early 
stage or attack, even before above treatment is commenced, dis- 
solve four drops of Aconite in a half glass of water, giving patient 
one teaspoonful every half hour in alternation with a similar solu- 
tion of Belladonna. 22 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Asiociation 
Continue the Aconite and Belladonna for twenty-four hours, 
when Bryonia should be substituted in similar solution, dose and 
time, until the fever is gone. Ice water, orange leaf tea or lemon, 
ade may be freely given in the early stage of the fever. 
When the fever passes off, careful watch should be had for 
indications of sickness of the stomach and special weakness, for 
which Arsenicum, in solution and dose as above, should be given 
every half hour. 
Diluted champagne, whiskey or brandy may also be given 
one spoonful per hour, if patient sinks with excessive weakness. 
Should there be suppression of urine, the tendency to which 
should be carefully noted, give Stramonium and Cantharides in 
alternation every half-hour-solution and dose same as previous 
medicine-and paint the back of the patient in the region of the 
kidneys with spirits of turpentine. 
For retention of the urine-when it is secreted by the kid- 
neys, but the bladder fails to pass it off-give opium, first dilu- 
tion, four drops in half glass of water, one teaspoonfull every half 
hour till the discharge is effected. In some cases it is necessary 
to draw the water with a catheter. 
Should black vomit ensue apply ice to the pit of the stomach, 
giving Arsenicum every half-hour or hour. 
OCT V 
If the head becomes hot and dry apply cold cloths frequently, 
and if the skin of the body and limbs remain very hot and dry, 
sponge with warm water under cover of the bed clothing. 
The nurse should carefully observe the following cardinal 
points, i e. •. 
Place the patient in a recumbent position as soon as possible 
and not allow the head to be raised from the pillow for five days. 
Stimulate perspiration immediately and keep up same in some 
degree continuously. Keep the room ventilated, but of even tem- 
perature, permitting no current of air to reach the patient. See 
that the patient is kept covered but never burdened by an excess 
of clothing. Report o f the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
23 
Do not disturb the patient when sleep to give medicine, or 
for any other purpose. Give no nourishment until the fourth 
day, then only commencing with a teaspoonfull of bread toast, 
barley water or thin gruel every hour. When patient becomes 
stronger, or some hours later, increase the quantity to one table- 
spoonfull. 
On the Fifth or sixth day give chicken, beef or mutton broth, 
one tablespoonfull every two hours, increasing the quantity if 
retained on the stomach and as patient gains strength. 
Permit no unnecessary person in the sick room-guard 
against excitement and encourage cheerfulness. The patient 
must not be considered free from possible relapse for twelve days 
after the fever is broken. 
I 
The different effects produced by Yellow Fever on various 
constitutions precludes the special application of any general rules 
of treatment to all cases, Hence, the early attendance of a phys- 
ician is always desirable. 
JAMES G. BELDEN, M. D. 
New Orleans, Aug. 20tli, 1878. 24 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
To the New Orleans Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
Gentlemen : 
Having been absent from the city, and con- 
fined by sickness to my room at Biloxi, Miss., during 
most of the past summer, my experience in the late yel- 
low fever epidemic was limited to a few cases in Biloxi, 
twenty-one in number, all of whom recovered. Their 
amenability to treatment would have led to the conclus- 
ion that the disease was of a very mild type but for the 
daily reports of deaths under Allopathic treatment, of 
which I am informed there was over sixty. 
The progress from disease to health was so certain 
and regular in my moderate practice that it has greatly 
confirmed my confidence in the universal success of Ho- 
meopathic treatment, when commenced early and con- 
ducted under favorable conditions, as it renders Yellow 
Fever individually a far less to be dreaded and danger- 
ous disease than Typhoid or even some forms of Malarial 
Fevers. 
I am probably the oldest Homeopathic physician in 
the South, having adopted that practice in 1844, after 
eighteen years of Allopathic experience, and have univer- 
sally relied on the adopted practice in treating yellow 
fever since 1854, and always with increasing confidence 
and success. In 1867 we had forty-four cases in the 
Protestant Orphan Home, on 7th street, attended by my 
son, Dr. S. M. Angell, without a single death ; treatment Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
25 
having commenced early, and the conditions for its perfect 
continuance favorable. 
My general treatment of the fever during the late 
epidemic was substantially the same as in former years, 
Aconite, Belladonna and Bryonia in the first stages, the 
last in place of the second named, when the stomach was 
principally affected. In the second stage, Bryonia, Ipecac, 
Arseneum and Tine. Cantharides, the latter proving very 
effective in suppression of urine, given either alone or in 
alternation with Bryonia, Arsenicum or other indicated 
medicines. 
In the black vomit stage I used, at the sugges- 
tion of my son, Plumbum Acet, with highly satisfactory 
results. 
To relieve an overloaded stomach at the earliest 
stage of the disease, emetics may be used but purgatives 
never, as I deem it inexpedient to promote irritation when 
the system is about to undergo so severe a contest as is 
liable to result from a yellow fever attack. 
To relieve excessive nervous restlessness, sponge-baths 
of warm water, carefully applied over the entire body, and 
especially the extremities has proven highly efficacious ; 
cold water to quench thirst I use freely, administered in 
small quantities, but its use, or that of ice, as an applica- 
tion for the stomach, throat, or head, I have never believed 
to be desirable. 
My habitual course of nourishing yellow fever pati- 
ents is to give, in small quantities, at consistent intervals, 
-if called for-after the first stage, any palatable light 
food that is susceptable of easy digestion. 
New Orleans, La. RICHARD ANGELL, M. D. 26 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
Col. 0. G. Fisher, 
Secretary of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
In submitting this report of my feeble efforts and 
observations in the recent epidemic of yellow fever, I beg 
leave to state preliminarily that in the hurry and confusion 
consequent upon an unusual pressure of professional duties 
I was not able to keep an exact daily record of all the 
cases received in their order ; but had to take as many as 
I could from the daily charges in my Physician's visiting 
list. I have not included any doubtful cases, but have 
carefully rejected all such where there was any doubt in 
the diagnosis at the beginning, or during the course of the 
disease. As far as I could collect my cases from the above 
named source I have made a list including name, age, 
color, and nativity of each individual case, and reported 
the same to our Board of Health, since the epidemic 
ceased. This detailed report, summarized, gives a total of 
265 cases and 13 deaths ; which latter had been reported 
in the form of death certificates as they occurred, 
For six weeks before the appearance of the yellow 
fever, we had an epidemic of malarial fever, consequent 
upon the extreme wet and warm weather which had pre- 
vailed. This malarial fever was not limited to the city 
and its suburbs, but extended through the parishes on the 
Mississippi and Bed Rivers, North Louisiana and most of 
the State of Mississippi, even to the borders of Alabama 
and Tennessee. Both in the city and throughout the 
entire range of its prevalence, it showed a remarkable lieport of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
27 
tendency to congestion. 1 had attended upon some thirty 
or forty of these cases, all of which recovered, without 
any suspicion of yellow fever. About the 10th of July, 
a case occurred in the Ackerly family, No. 123 Terpsi- 
chore St. This was similar to other cases that I had met 
with, terminating in recovery. A second case soon oc- 
curred with the same result On the 18th a third case- 
a daughter about fourteen years old-was taken down 
with similar symptoms as as the two preceding, but with 
a much stronger tendency to congestion. This case died 
on the fifth day after the attack from congestion of the 
brain, with no well marked symptoms of yellow fever 
during life, but rapidly turned yellow after death. 
Whether this was a case of yellow fever is an unsettled 
question in my mind ; if it was so, it was my first case. 
Many cases of genuine yellow fever appeared in the 
neighborhood soon after, but as 1 had attended two cases 
in the same family and several in the immediate neigh- 
borhood, preceding this case, all terminating in recovery, 
and without any symptoms in this, differing from my other 
cases of malarial fever, that I had attended for six weeks 
preceding with the exception of a stronger congestive 
tendency, I could not concede that it was a case of yellow 
fever, and accordingly gave a certificate of malarial fever. 
My first unmistakable case was Mr. G. Case, a 
clerk with sedentary habits and a dyspeptic. He was 
taken sick on the 26th of July with unmistakable symp- 
toms of yellow fever at the start, and was reported as 
such. The disease ran a natural but severe course. On 28 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
the eighth day convalescence commenced, and on the 
thirteenth day he was able to dress and sit up a part of 
the day, and the subsequent three days was steadily im- 
proving; when lie was siezed with congestion of the 
brain and died in four or five hours. I attributed this to 
the fumes of carbolic acid which was being sprinkled at 
the time to a degree almost suffocating. During the 
course of this case others occurred rapidly, and it soon 
became epidemic; although the Board of Health seemed 
to have such implicit confidence in carbolic acid as a dis- 
infectant, and through it to arrest the progress of the dis- 
ease, they neglected to pronounce it epidemic until it was 
very far advanced. 
I believe it is conceded by most experienced physi- 
cians, amateurs and nurses that our yellow fever epidem- 
ics differ considerably in some of their characteristics ; 
hence we hear it stated by a few that our last was not 
yellow fever. But there are enough symptoms always 
present in each to identify it unmistakably. It is not 
expected that all of the characteristic symptoms will be 
present in each and every individual case; nor that they 
will all be present in a relative degree in every succeed- 
ing epidemic. The most remarkable differential charac- 
teristics, distinguishing it from most other acute diseases 
is the suddenness of its onset, with complete loss 
of digestive capacity, its rapid progress, and its quick 
termination ; contrasting it with such a marked distinc- 
tion from its cousin german, typhoid, which produces, Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
29 
seemingly, somewhat similar disorganization of the blood 
and other tissues, but in a much longer time. 
In families which 1 attended and where tnere were 
subjects not yet attacked, I was able to watch carefully 
for the premonitory symptoms of those not yet siezed, in 
none of which could I discover any premonition up to two 
or three hours before the onslaught commenced. So dif- 
ferent from typhoid ; the patient during the two or three 
hours antecedent to the attack seemed to enjoy an un- 
usual exuberance of health, amounting to hilarity, until 
quite suddenly he would be siezed with a rigor and great 
languor ; soon nausea would set in, and usually if there 
was any undigested food in the stomach it would be 
ejected, which would be followed immediately by a most 
violent febrile reaction and the disease was fully develop- 
ed-all within the period of an hour or two. I always 
have favored the ejection of all crudities from the 
stomach at the onset of the attack, although surround- 
ing parents and friends were in a tremor of expectancy of 
the dreaded black-vomit at the very start. If the pati- 
ent had just eaten a hearty meal and the stomach-as 
is always the case-had become incapacitated to digest 
any food, it must be ejected at once, or remain a dead 
load and consequently a local irritant in the very organ 
that we are the most anxious, next to the kidneys, to 
preserve in its integrity so far as we can. A single case 
will illustrate. A family of four children with acclimat- 
ed lather, mother and other members, all familiar with 
yellow fever and in circumstances to use every means of a 30 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
hygeinic nature, had the first case in the oldest daughter 
(eight years old) a severe case, but was convalescing-in 
fact was nearly well. In the meantime an infant, one 
year old had a light attack and was recovering-but to 
my illustrative case: A boy three years old, naturally 
stout and hearty, some ten days after his sister was taken 
sick, and after a quiet night's sleep, was dressed between 
six and seven A. M. and was noticed to be in an unusually 
jubilant state of mind and body ; so much so as to be re- 
marked by the different members of the family. He ate 
an unusually hearty breakfast of mutton chops with 
gravy, grits, hot biscuits &c. After an hour or two of what 
seemed to be the most pleasurable excitement, he was 
suddenly seized with a rigor and intense languor. He 
was immediately put upon the use of Aconite-five or 
six drops in half a tumbler of water, a teaspoonfull of the 
solution every half hour according to previous directions 
in the anticipated emergency. 
I saw him at 11. same morning, found him covered 
with a sheet and a single flannel blanket, with a raging- 
fever but with a pleasant moisture of the skin ; the ef- 
fect of the Aconite already given ; blood temperature, 
105, F., very restless, frequently trying to vomit but 
without success. Learning of the hearty breakfast which 
he had eaten and seeing that the spontaneous efforts to 
eject it were not likely to be successful, I prepared 
a strong mixture of mustard and salt in water to drink, to 
get rid of it by emesis, but with no satisfactory results : 
no crude substance was ejected from the stomach to my Report of the Homwopat/uc Relief Association. 
31 
great disappointment. Enemas were then administered 
twice each day; the Aconite and other remedies indica- 
ted by the symptoms being given in the meantime ; when 
the bowels began to act, which was not until the fourth 
or fifth day, in spite of the enemas, the clods of fecal mat- 
ter worked up in a watery solution disclosed the meat fi- 
bre, grits and other food in the same condition as when 
ingested ; showing the absurdity of trying to suppress 
vomiting at the onset of the attack by applying mustard 
poultices to the stomach, ice to the throat, Ac., when 
vomiting is just what is most necessary. My little pa- 
tient made a slow convalescence in spite of the unfavor- 
able conditions; but had the natural efforts of the system 
alone, or with my assistance been able to rid the stomach 
of its crude contents, I am satisfied it would have been a 
slight case instead of a very dangerous one. 
Another feature of this disease it seems to me, does 
not receive the attention due to it by the profession, that 
it justly deserves : namely: the black-vomit. What is 
black-vomit ? Every physician who has attended upon 
many yellow fever patients is familiar with it and very 
naturally dreads to see it. It is very easy to answer this 
question by saying, it is a hemorrhage of the stomach, and 
that the blood meeting with an acid (hydrochloric) chan- 
ges it and gives it a coffee grounds character. The 
cautious enquirer will not be satisfied with this solu- 
tion of the question ; but will wish to know why this 
hemorrhage into the stomach should take place unless 
the blood had already undergone a change from the Phys- 
iological to Pathological condition. 32 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
By following up this inquiry we will soon perceive 
that the fault is in an altered condition of the blood, it 
has lost its plasticity, and can percolate through membra- 
nous tissues; in facta hemorrhagic condition exists, pure- 
ly from a faulty condition- of the blood. Probably every 
physician who has attended any considerable number of 
patients during the recent epidemic, more especially, has 
observed the peculiar appearance of the blood from any 
abrasion of the cuticle, mucous membrane, or a hemorr- 
hage from the nose which was so very common, ft, had 
an entirely different appearance from healthy blood, even 
to the unassisted eye. 
In the year 1855, T had the pleasure of assisting my 
revered professor of chemistry, Dr. Riddell, of the Uni- 
versity of Louisiana, in examining mycroscopically many 
samples of blood taken from patients in all stages of yel- 
low fever, from the first day of the attack until death, in 
our Charity Llospital, in post mortems one hour after 
death ; in all of which a degenerative process of the blood 
corpuscles seemed to advance from the first day of the at- 
tack until death. At first only a slight shrinkage of the 
corpuscles was observed ; next corrugated edges advancing 
in degree day by day until they became serrated and the 
entire body of the corpuscle was shrivelled to one half or 
less its natural size- evidently dead. Tn the later sta- 
ges of the disease a nitrogenous process seemed to set in in 
many of the tissues, and fat globules could be squeezed 
from (he heart, muscle, the liver and other tissues. But Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
33 
more especially to the point which I wish to enforce is 
the appearance met with, of an implantation, growth, and 
development of a variety of the fungus family in the 
blood, what seemed to be a yeast plant resembling some- 
what our common yeast ( torula cerevisea ) was 
a distinguishing feature in all stages of the disease but 
more and more abundant and developed as the disease 
progressed. 
To account for the suddenness of the onset of the dis- 
ease from a state of apparently perfect health to a most 
furious fever with a blood heat of 104 or 105 F., with 
most intense pains in the head, back, &c., excessive nau- 
sea and restlessness, in some cases its opposites-stupor, 
all within a period of an hour or two ; and the rapid sub- 
sequent changes in the constitution of the blood during 
the following two, three or four days ; we must certainly 
seek for a cause beyond the existence of mere animal 
germ growth-the process is too rapid to be ac- 
counted for by these means. The development and 
growth of animal germs requires a much greater 
length of time and so far as we now know, we have no 
illustration of so profound a change in the constitution of 
the blood as is produced by the yellow fever process. If 
we instance trichinae spiralis, or any other animal par- 
asitic growth we shall not observe such wonderful chan- 
ges in the constitution of the blood in so short a time. But 
in the fungus growth as instanced in the ordinary process 
of fermentation all the conditions will be readily accounted 34 
Report of the Homeopathic Relief Association 
for so far as the rapidity of the process is involved ; in 
which the animal germ theory most signally fails. 
Besides I doubt whether any experienced micros- 
copist, with his powerful instrument, will admit that 
any animal parasitic germ, in its growth and development 
could possibly escape his vision. 
As to the diagnosis of yellow fever very little can be 
learned except at the bed-side. We may mention the sud- 
denness of the onset, the peculiar suffusion of the eyes (a 
very marked diagnostic symptom), the pains in the head 
and back, and sometimes in the knees, the irritable stom- 
ach, de., but it has to be seen to be fully appreciated. 
As to the treatment it is very simple if we take a 
comprehensive view of the Pathological process. A poison 
is generated in the blood ; the vital forces of the system- 
vis conservatrix naturae-are aroused to drive out the in- 
vader, which takes the form of a fever more or less viol- 
ent in proportion to the vitality of the patient, and the 
gladiatorial conflict rages. The dutv of the physician is 
to sustain the vital forces by gentle means, not by excessive 
increase or decrease of heat appliances, as piling on blan- 
kets on the one hand, or ice on the other, lest we paralyze 
the efforts of nature in the, conflict. But we come 
in as a conservator to assist the vital forces. If we pile on 
blankets and produce excessive sweating, we exhaust our 
patient; if we make cold applications to forcibly lower the 
temperature,we run counter to nature's efforts; but with the 
use of Aconite we shall obtain a gentle moisture of the skin, 
and with a light covering to admit of ready evaporation, we Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
35 
shall assist nature in the conflict. If there is a dry burning 
heat of the skin that Aconite does not overcome, frequent 
sponging with vinegar and water should be applied to re- 
lax the pores. If, after we are satisfied there is no undi- 
gested food in the stomach, and there should be nausea and 
painful retching, give Ipecac or Bryonia in alternation with 
the Aconite. If the urine becomes scanty, with excessive 
restlessness; give Cantharis (6th or 12th dilution; not 
less) or the sweet spirits of nitre in from five to twenty 
drop doses in alternation ; which may be assisted by warm 
poultices of hops and'flaxseed meal over the region of the 
kidneys. But by no means resort to the use of fly-blisters 
or the spirits of turpentine over the kidneys to remove an 
acute congestion of these organs, (See Zeimssen's Ency- 
clopedia of Practical Medicine, Vol. xv. Pg. 190 to 195,) 
which will be certain to aggravate the difficulty. 
By the remarkable metamorphosis of the tissues, which 
characterizes this disease, an unusual amount of labor is 
required of the kidneys to carry off the excessive amount 
of urea (hydrated cyanate of ammonia-a deadly blood 
poison) which results from this process ; and if they fail, 
uremic convulsions and death must necessarily follow. 
The black vomit is not essentially a fatal symptom, 
as previously staled it arises from a profound change that 
has already taken place in the constitution of the blood 
through the yellow fever process, which has impaired its 
plasticity, as is expressed by the hemorrhages from the 
gums, throat, nose, and all abrasions of the cuticle or mu- 
cus membranes. To remedy this evil we naturally seek 36 
Report of the Homeopathic Relief Association. 
for astringent remedies-not alone to constringe the capil- 
lary vessels, but to arrest the process of the dissolution of 
the blood. 
In the epidemic of 1867 I introduced the use of nitrate 
of silver, in doses below the nauseating point; 
and it afforded such gratifying results that I have not used 
any other remedy for this purpose. Other physicians have 
used ergot, acetate of lead. &c., and claim to have equally 
good results. Either of these remedies may be given in 
occasional doses as an intercurrent with any other medicine 
indicated in the general conrse of the disease as a precau- 
tionary measure without waiting for the full development 
of black vomit. If however the disease has reached 
this stage, we must depend upon one of these, or other 
astringents in alternation with arsenic in palpable doses, 
owing to the extreme prostration attending it. At this 
stage much depends upon introducing nourishment into the 
system. But here we are confronted with the fact that 
the stomach has but very little power to digest food. To 
meet this difficulty there are certain articles of food that 
apparently require no digestive process-notably Ducro's 
Elixir (expressed juice of raw beef, with enough brandy to 
preserve it,) which enters the system by absorption 
through the stomach, and is assimilated without any real 
digestive process. Enemas of' strong beef broth assist us 
greatly in those cases. 
Finally the convalescence must be watched with great 
care ; a little imprudence will overthrow all the advantages 
we have gained by the most careful treatment and nursing; 
and sometimes we will be grieved-yes, I may say, really 
vexed at the loss of our patient in whom we had taken so 
much interest. 
WALTER BAILEY, Sr. M. D. Report of the Hoynoeopathic Relief Association. 
37 
Homeopathic Relief Association- 
Gentlemen : 
In writing of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 
1878, certain peculiarities of the summer are to be 
noticed, that accompanied, and may have had something 
to do in producing the disease ; first, there was almost 
an entire absence of wind during the months of July and 
August; and the nights, instead of being breezy and re- 
freshing, as our nights usually are in summer, were hot 
and stifling, the thermometer frequently standing at 91° 
F. at 8 P. • M., though the temperature of the day was 
not so warm, by three or four degrees, as in former years. 
Again, there was a strange absence of thunder storms, 
but one of any note occurring during the entire 
summer. 
The disease this year, was of a peculiar character, 
differing in several respects from that .of former years 
The type was less inflammatory, there was less pain in the 
head?anH limbs, and although apparently less formidable, 
was in reality more treacherous than in any epidemic I 
ever remember. There was great tendency to congestion 
of the kidneys, suppression of the urine being a very com- 
mon symptom, Black-vomit was also of unusually com- 
mon occurrence, often appearing without warning; though 
it does not necessarily follow that the discharge of black- 
vomit should be attended in all cases with premonitory 
symptoms. So far from this I have noticed in a great 
number of cases, not only this summer, but in former 
epidemics, that the retention of the muscular power, in- 38 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Asiociation 
tellectual functions, self-possession and courage, were pe- 
culiarly great at a^time too when every other symptom 
would lead us to fear the approach of death ; and again 
frequently I have seen this discharge make its appear- 
ance without the slightest premonition, and unaccompani- 
ed by any other dangerous symptom. 
I was attending a child, aged nine, who had appa- 
rently, a slight attack ; the morning of the third day she 
was without fever, pulse 80, skin moist and cool, tongue 
healthy, eyes clear, no headache, said she. felt well, and 
wanted to get up, an inexperienced person would have 
pronounced her out of danger, and allowed her to be fed, 
dec. Being acquainted with the deceitful nature of the 
disease, I advised abstinence and rest. The attendant 
reported that at 12 M., she fell into a quiet healthy sleep, 
at 2 P. M. she waked, and commenced throwing up black- 
vomit. I saw her about 3 P. M., applied the usual reme- 
dies, and she made a happy recovery. The peculiarities 
of this formidable symptom, are very remarkable, but 
fortunately for the sufferer, medical science has made an 
advancement since the dark days, when it was considered 
necessarily a fatal symptom. 
In my experience, during the late epidemic, more 
than two-thirds recovered : I have seen a patient throw 
up blood, bee's-wings, strong coffee, coffee grounds and all 
the different varietes of so-called black-vomit. Black- 
vomit is nothing but blood that has been exuded from 
1 he muscus membrane of the stomach, and changed by the 
gastric juice: Its appearance and character depending Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
39 
upon the time it has lain there, and upon the character of 
that juice. 
Another peculiarity of the epidemic of '78, was the 
unusual number of children attacked-particularly of 
children born here ; I know there are physicians, who de- 
clare that those born here are not subject to the yellow 
fever : but my experience in this disease, extends over a 
period of thirty-one years, and I confidently assert that 
I have attended a large number of veritable yellow fever 
patients, who were never out of this city during this last 
epidemic I attended some three hundred cases personally 
and I also prescribed for one hundred other cases through 
the medium of friends, who brought to me descriptions of 
their condition, and daily account of the progress of the dis- 
ease. f lost sixteen cases altogether; could I have visited 
them all, the loss might have been less, but in the tremen- 
dous pressure of business it was impossible to give to each 
case the attention it deserved ; among the whole number 
treated, some eight or nine were colored, all of whom re- 
covered. It may be remarked here, that in making up 
yellow fever statistics, attention should always be paid to 
the number of colored patients; since the negro has the 
disease so light that my theory is, none need die if prop- 
erly nursed and treated. The remedies which I found 
most useful in the late epidemic, were Aconite and Bella- 
donna in the earliest hours, Bryonia during the second, 
third or fourth days ; but I found that Belladonna 
seemed more necessary than in former years, and Bryo- 
nia less necessary than in 1853,'54, 57 and '58. Ar- 40 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
senicum was the remedy par excellence during the ty- 
phoid stage, and I believe we have no remedy more effi- 
cacious in this disease than this.-in black-vomit it is in- 
valuable. As a prophylactic I have some confidence in it. 
Some two hundred persons took it by my advice and al- 
though some of them had slight attacks, but one died, 
and that was a person sick in the country, who was sup- 
posed during the first two days of the illness, to be suf- 
fering with an attack of intermittent fever, and treated 
for this, until suppression of the urine, and black-vomit, 
taught the inexperienced practioner his mistake in di- 
agnosis. Gelseminum was often used in the first days. 
In suppression of urine, Stramonium and Cantharides 
were of excellent service. In retention of urine, Opium 
achieved magical results. Lachesis also acted well. 
There have been so many theories with regard to 
the contagious or non-contagious power of yellow fever : 
that it would be well perhaps to adduce some of the proofs 
on both sides of the question. It is a question of im- 
mense importance at the present day, as a decision upon 
it, affects seriously, not only the health and lives of our 
people, but the health of our commercial life : which 
must be sacrificed of course if necessary to rid our shores 
of this pestilential visitor from foreign ports ; but which 
it would be folly so to peril, if it can be proven that in- 
stead of a foreigner, the dreaded messenger of death is 
born and bred beside our own hearth-stone. In the first 
place let us consider the proofs in favor of contagion. 
It is a notable fact that yellow fever (so far as I am Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
41 
able to discover) invariably begins in a sea-port town 
never far back in an inland place, and almost invariably 
in the neighborhood of the wharves or shipping, it also 
spreads rapidly though confining itself sometimes for 
weeks to that immediate vicinity. This is not only a 
fact within the knowledge of all in our city, but it is also 
a fact as regards all sea-port towns, Mobile, Charleston, 
Philadelphia and New York, as far back as 1791. 
The thought arises, in the mind of a believer in non- 
contagion, that this fact is owing to the other conditions 
of these localities, much more dangerous and quite as ap- 
parent as their proximity to foreign vessels. But as an 
offset against the probable implication of filth and bad 
ventilation in these localities being an assistant, or as some 
even assert, a producer of this deadly disease ; we would 
mention a case which occurred in 1798, when it was in- 
troduced into the village of Germantown, situated on high 
ground about five miles from'Philadelphia, by a woman 
who had been for some time in 'the city ; from this per- 
son it spread to several of her family and the neighbors, 
though all were peculiarly remarkable for their cleanli- 
ness and the extreme neatness and general healthfulness 
of their surroundings. (See additional facts by the College 
of Physicians.) 
It is a fact strongly in favor of the contagious char- 
acter of yellow fever, that epidemics have been 
traceable to intercourse with contaminated vessels, or in- 
dividuals, or coming in contact with clothing which has 
been used by the sick,or dead. 42 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
We have many cases on record, where a strict quar- 
entine against such sources of infection has been main- 
tained, and the fever bad failed to make its appearance : 
but, can we decide whether from this cause, or some 
other? New York and Philadelphia kept a strict quar- 
entine against us this summer, and notwithstanding a few 
cases crept in : what was the Consequence ? An Epi- 
demic? We all know that these individuals died or re- 
covered, without in a single instance, the disease spread- 
ing. Does not this prove that something more than the mere 
introduction of fever into a locality is necessary ? but 
what is necessary ? That is the question-not mere filth 
and bad ventilation-even in a settlement infested with 
yellow fever; for the Dock-yard of Gibralter is situated 
under the line wall, and a very offensive drain passes 
through it, and in addition to this, there is a stagnant 
piece of water, in which boats are hauled up lor repairs, 
which has three or four feet of mud in it, and receives a 
great part of the filth of the shores at the south, emitting 
a very offensive effluvium; yet we read that during the 
sickness of 1813, there were 500 persons confined there, 
and not one case of yellow fever occurred. 
We have all noticed-and perhaps it may be adduc- 
ed as another proof of the contagious character of this 
disease-that when it first makes its appearance amongst 
us, it is almost entirely confined for weeks to one locality ; 
and that it has been carried, apparently, from that locali- 
ty by persons who frequent it. Some have sought to 
prove its contagiousness, by the protection which one at- Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
43 
tack affords against another ; but if this theory is advanc- 
ed in favor of contagion, the fact to the contrary, which, 
as many advocate, would be as strong a proof in favor of 
non-contagion ; though, perhaps, the fact that individuals 
are liable, sometimes, to a second attack, is an exception 
that only proves the rule. The proofs in favor of the 
contagious character of yellow fever might be very much 
extended ; but as my proofs of non-contagion are still 
more numerous, I must not spend more time in discussing 
this side of the question. 
In the first place: since the year 1793, in all epi- 
demics, the fever has steadily diminished ; if a contagi- 
ous disease, why should this be the case ? Some may 
say it declines for lack of material; but this is not so: 
for after it has reached a certain height, it invariably de- 
clines, in spite of there being thousands of unacclimated 
persons within its reach. 
Again, certain conditions of the atmosphere never 
precede a contagious disease. Small-pox or cholera can- 
not be predicted by any meteorological states ; but, on the 
contrary, yellow fever seems to depend upon certain me- 
teorological conditions, and if not produced, at least can 
almost surely be predicted by them. The yellow fever 
has seldom appeared any where without having been 
preceded by prolonged heat and peculiar electric condi- 
tions of the atmosphere, together with certain local cir- 
cumstances, liable to produce disease at any time. 
It has been found by the records of former years in this 
city thatjwhenever the earth has been turned up and exposed 44 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
to the heat of the sun in summer, it has been followed by 
an epidemic. In 1793, when the ramparts were built, 
and ditches dug around the city, an epidemic followed. 
When the canal was dug, when the basin Bayou St. 
John was excavated, when the foundations of the Custom 
House were laid, epidemics followed. In 1837, when 
many new buildings were erected, and new streets cut 
through, large quantities of fresh earth being thrown up, 
and exposed to the rays of the sun, an epidemic followed, 
During the past summer streets and gutters were in an 
unusually filthy condition ; vacant lots were filled up with 
garbage and fresh earth, garbage and other objectionable 
material were dumped in Tivoli Circle, for the purpose of 
forming the Lee Monument. 
Numerous ponds were left undrained along the levees, 
partly filled up with rice chaff, dead animals and other 
refuse matter calculated with the stagnant water under a 
sun of 145° to generate a miasma full of poison. 
In order, as it would seem, that the full effect of the 
poison eliminated, might be brought to bear upon the in- 
habitants of this doomed city, the authorities, unfortunate- 
ly ordered these ponds drained, consequently causing the 
poisonous miasma to be evaporated and carried up into 
the atmosphere ; the wharves also were denuded of their 
plank covering, and the unimpeded evaporation of the 
accumulated filth there, and the more thorough poisoning 
of the air breathed daily by our people, was the natural 
consequence. 
While the summer was not unusually hot, the high- 
est temperature being 96°; owing to the almost entire Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
45 
absence of wind, the nights were very uncomfortable ; 
the small amount of electricity was another noticable 
feature. 
These circumstances bad undoubtedly a great deal 
to do with the prevalence, virulence and fatality of the 
epidemic. 
During my thirty-one years residence in this city, I 
have never seen a summer without some fever. In the 
famous Butler year, there were but two cases, owing per- 
haps to the extreme cleanliness of the city, but who shall 
say, not assisted materially, by heavy storms -of thunder 
and wind. 
It is true though an epidemic, frequently follows 
the arrival of a vessel, or vessels from an infected port, 
known to have yellow fever patients on board ; it has 
been known in many instances to have broken out, where 
no such communication with infected ports, had been 
made or were possible. The occurrence of fever at Mem- 
phis in 1828, and at Natchez in 1823 are proofs of this. 
La Roche, in speaking of these facts says, some zeal- 
ous contagionist will insist that the vessels which left the 
tropical ports prior to the fever, may still have introduc- 
ed the disease into this country, or Europe by transport- 
ing the contagious germs, derived from some sporadic 
case, and which had lain dormant since some preceding 
epidemic season, they may say also, that if the disease 
could not from want of means of transportation have been 
introduced in extra tropical ports directly from an infect- 
ed place within the tropics, it may have been so in an in- 
direct manner, the disease having been brought already 46 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
formed or in its germinal state, into some other place, 
with which the one subsequently infected has communi- 
cated. 
But in the former case the explanation is founded 
on the admission of facts, the correctness of which is far 
from being proved, the transportation of contagious germs, 
their derivation from a few solitary cases, (the very oc- 
curance of which is doubtful), and their lengthened pre- 
servation from one epidemic to another. 
In the second place, it would be necessary before re- 
cognizing the validity of the explanation, to show that 
arrivals in the neighboring ports, from infected regions, 
had in every instance taken place. That it has not done 
so is proven in the history of the epidemic of Cadiz, for 
on that occasion no vessel capable of introducing the dis- 
ease arrived in that or any neighboring port. 
With regard to our epiderpic of last summer, it is 
well known that notwithstanding the most extreme pre- 
cautionary measures were taken against the introduction 
of the fever into one of our lake shore towns,* it made its 
appearance there long before it visited Biloxi, notwith- 
standing that was the terminus of the Railroad excur- 
sionists trains, and hundreds every Sunday went there 
from our infected city, where thousands lay ill and dying, 
and if there is any truth in the theory by contagion, 
surely that was a time to prove it. 
But instead of the first car load bringing over devas- 
tation and death, as it should have done, to verify this 
belief, week after week passed, and the pleasant little 
* Ocean Springs. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
47 
village continued to remain a safe resort for relaxation 
and rest for the weary watchers by sick beds, for conval- 
escents and all who who were seeking new life in the re- 
vivifying breezes from the Gulf, or the fragrant breath of 
the piney woods; and. not until the electric conditions of 
the atmosphere favored its development did it make its 
appearance there. . Hundreds "reeking with contagion," 
to use a favorite expression, had failed to bring it, though 
so many have jumped to the conclusion that an undefined 
case of fever, arriving on the "Emily B. Souder " was 
the cause of our late epidemic, that the idea has almost 
become an unquestioned fact. 
If it were necessary for the " Emily B. Souder," or 
some other vessel to bring the yellow fever to our 
city, why do we not have an epidemic every year ? Sure- 
ly vessels arrive continually from the West India Islands 
where this disease always exists ; and yet season after 
season passes without an epidemic. A few cases may be 
brought to our city, but they do not spread the disease, 
no alarm is created, nine-tenths of the people do not even 
know that there is a yellow fever case in the city. Why ? 
Because it is not contagious: there are many other con- 
ditions necessary for its propagation besides its mere in- 
troduction into any place; many instances have come 
under my notice in my own practice, that should con- 
vince the most sceptical of the non-contagious character 
of this disease. 
In 1853 I attended a woman who had lived in New 
Orleans for over thirty years, had nursed the yellow fever 
again and again and seen it in all its phases, always es- 48 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
caping the danger herself, until that year, when she took 
the fever, had black-vomit and died. 
Again in 1853 I attended a large family who all 
had the fever except two, who escaped though they were 
with the others day and night, not only exposed to the 
disease in every form, but exhausted with watching. 
Last summer my own family presented like cases, 
four members having the fever, while two escaped, though 
much more exposed than the four attacked, as the latter 
watched with the former from the first, even at times, sleep- 
ing in'the same bed with the former; all were equally unac- 
limated, this being the first season they had ever been ex- 
posed to yellow fever. 
Similar instances I could duplicate by scores ; but in 
my opinion, those who need further proof to substantiate 
the fact of the non-contagious power of yellow fever, have 
already made up their minds not to be convinced. 
It is a fact that in all countries where yellow fever is 
epidemic, the thermometer never falls below 60", proving 
that heat is necessary for its development: it is already well 
understood that heavy frosts kill it: though epidemics cease 
in those countries where frost of course never occurs, as 
they have frequently been known to do in this country, 
before the accession of frosts. 
Surely we have never had more reason to look, for an 
entire extinction of the disease, than this winter, for we 
have never had colder weather; and yet in the latter part 
of December I was creditably informed a man died of black 
vomit-a child also who had been kept out of the city Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
49 
until after Christmas, to avoid the fever, was attacked a 
few days after arriving here. 
But instances like these do not disprove the theory 
that frost kills the poison ; these persons probably came 
in contact with an atmosphere which had not been exposed 
to the frost-more natural is it to regard the general ex- 
tinction of the disease by frost as an exidence that it 
proceeds from some cause evisting in the external atmos- 
phere or in the earth, rather than in the exhalations from 
diseased persons, producing the effects of personal conta- 
gion,which must be apparent from the fact close that con- 
finement in a sick room, where the frost never penetrates, 
and where the nurse is in constant contact with the diseased 
body, does not necessitate the certainty of contagion : on 
the contrary hundreds of instances have been known where 
entirely unacclimated personshave associated closely with 
the sick without being affected at all, and others, though 
never exposed to personal contact with a yellow fever 
patient, but breathing the air of an infected district have 
taken the disease. 
We could quote numerous instances where yellow 
fever patients have been carried beyond or out of the in- 
jected localities without harm to the people brought in 
contact with them, or without spreading the disease in 
the healthy districts or countries : but it will be sufficient 
at this time to recall the facts within the knowledge of all 
-our space is too limited to admit of any more satisfac- 
tory notice. 50 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
Why if it were possible for the disease to be im- 
parted by contact with infected persons or clothing, did it 
not spread in New York, in St. Louis, in Cincinnati this 
last summer? To all of these places yellow fever patients 
were carried from here. Why if our epidemic'was caused 
by one yellow fever case, or two, or half a dozen brought 
here by the " Emily B. Souder," or any other vessel, did 
not the same number carried into those cities produce epi- 
demics there? The answer is ready and natural; because 
we do not need any visitor from foreign ports to bring us 
this pest, we have it in the bosom of our own soil, and only 
need certain hygrometric and electric-conditions of the at- 
mosphere, e&adman absence of wind, a sufficient quantity 
ofhumidity (without thunder storms) a lack of ozone in the 
air-plenty of filthy gutters, rotten vegetables ad nauseum, 
and we can have the yellow fever at any time if all our 
foreign friends neglect us, and never send another case to 
our shores. 
JAMES G. BELDEN, M. D. 
New Orleans, La. 
W. 0. Honweopathic Relief Association. 
Gentemen : 
I here wit li submit my report of fever, cases 
treated during the late epidemic, with name, age, sex, 
color and result of treatment; which in total, numbers 
350 cases of well defined yellow fever, with 75 cases not 
so well defined, but which I believe to have been more or Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
51 
less influenced by the prevailing poison. From said com- 
bined numbers my aggregate loss was 36, a mortality of 
10 per cent; but of that number 14 patients, namely 
McGuire, Patterson, McGurk, Pyott, Mrs. Glass, and son, 
Newhouse, Benzie, Kron, Owens, Pendergrass' two 
children, and Ludlow's two children were dying or un- 
questionably in a hopeless condition when I was called in. 
Five other cases-Gillis, Young, Smith, Klocke and 
Irwin-were lost by inconsistent proceedings totally con- 
trary to my instructions; and one case directly commit- 
ted suicide by taking poison. Had I refrained-as many 
Physicians did-from giving death certificates for cases 
which died without having been actually under my treat- 
ment, my loss by fever during the epidemic would have 
been but 21, and I do not consider that Homoeopathy 
can be held responsible for the first named death rate, as 
in none of the 14 cases mentioned was I called in time to 
gain any control of the patient by medication, and hence 
our practice had no more to do with their demise than it 
had with the one mentioned who committed suicide. 
Considering the general characteristics and the 
usual fatality of yellow fever among the Italian residents, 
my success among them during the late epidemic is some- 
what noticeable. So virulent and fatal has been this dis- 
ease with that nationality heretofore under Allopathic 
treatment, that all such had an abject dread of a Phvsician, 
and were universally disposed when attacked to hold 
themselves aloof from all medical treatment and let the 
fever take its (with them) universally fatal course : hence 52 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
it was only with the most strenuous exertion that I 
could induce them to accept and apply our treatment, but 
when such was accomplished, it proved highly effacacious, 
as out of 49 cases of said nationality I lost but one. To 
have broken down the barrier of doubt and dread in the 
minds of this class of citizens and convinced them by my 
work, of possible recovery from yellow fever was a highly 
gratifying result. 
The general nature of yellow fever I believe to be a 
disease of the mucous membranes of the stomach and 
bowels, of a nervous typhoid type, that of the late epi- 
demic having a meningial or neuralgic complication. 
The remedies which I have found most effective in 
ordinary cases are Aconite, Belladonna, Bryonia, Arseni- 
cum; withLeptandrin and Stramonium, when brain compli- 
cations were attendant. When excessive restlessness, ner- 
vousness or severe pain existed, I gave Morphia one- 
twentieth to one-fortieth grain-according to age of the 
patient-at intervals of one or two hours, which I found 
very effective, seldom having to give more than three doses 
without obtaining relief from pain, promoting sleep, with 
speedy action of succeeding remedies applied. 
Tn black-vomit, I used Arsenicum, Argent Nit. Tril- 
lin. Hamamelis and Ext of Ergot, both by stomach and 
Hypodermic application, but I found none of these medi- 
cines so universally effective as Plumbum Acet, 10 grains 
in 4 or 5 ounces of water, one teaspoonful every two 
hours; which in some cases I found it desirable to con- 
tinue for two or three days. My father, Dr. Richard 
Angel, to whose attention I called this latter remedy, Report of the Homeopathic Relief Association. 
53 
used it in several cases with universal success. I would 
specially like to call the attention of the profession to the 
use of Leptandrin in the treatment of yellow fever. 
From what I learned of it while attending lectures at the 
Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, I believed it would 
be valuable in this disease and during thd late epidemic I 
commenced the use of it, with the case of my wife. Her 
symptoms at 10 A. M., were, pulse 94, temperature 101, 
eyes yellow, muddy and blood shot, pain in spine, neck, and 
back part of the head. I gave Lept 1st trit., 1 gr.. di- 
rected its repetition every two hours, and on my return 
home in the evening found her feeling perfectly well, 
with pulse 80, temperature 99, eyes bright and clear. 
Repeated subsequent use of this remedy, in other cases 
produced equally gratifying results . Yellow Fever as a 
disease runs too rapid a course to properly admit experi- 
mental treatment, as frequent changing of medicines uni. 
versally proves fatal, hence all well defined courses of treat- 
ment and successful remedies should be freely made 
known, that those who have liberality enough may ac- 
cept them, as those not having such ought never to at- 
tempt treating the disease. Excess of covering, absence 
of fresh air. and use of purgatives I would specially con- 
demn, as an abundant ventilation, without draft, and 
covering sufficient to keep up a mild degree of moisture 
in the patient better meets the indications . and abstain- 
ing from the use of purgatives, I found promotion of suc- 
cessful treatment in my own family and the large major- 
ity of my other yellow fever cases. 54 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
The general use of cold applications, other than to 
the head and hands of the patient, I deem to be fatally im- 
practical and fully indicative of the needs of a return to 
the lecture room of any physician who uses them. 
S. M. ANGELL, M. D. 
New Orleans, La. 
To the Officers and Board, of Managers, 
New Orleans Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
Gentlemen, 
I have attended through this last epidemic of 
Yellow Fever, that has desolated our City, two hundred 
and two cases of fever with ten deaths, a pro rata of about 
five per cent. I think that the success of the Homoeopa- 
thic Profession, at large, has been about the same. The 
Books of the Association will show you the names, age, 
color, sex, etc., as I have not kept a personal record. 
Now Gentlemen, what is Yellow Fever ? Is it a 
specific fever caused by a germ 1 Shall we accept the 
" Germ Theory' of almost every disease, as it has been 
generally accepted in this last century ? I answer in the 
negative. 
Yellow Fever is certainly kindred to cholera, and the 
producing cause is the action of certain atmospheric con- 
ditions on the blood. These conditions are want of static 
electricity, great heat, with stillness and humidity of the 
air. Now I have a great tendency to believe, that these Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
55 
four atmospheric conditions, produce a dedoublement of 
the bile, and hence absorption of the coloring matter in 
the blood, etc., etc. 
From the pathological condition of the different organs 
and tissues shown by post-mortem examinations made, 
here I come to the conclusion that cholesteric acid must 
have been deposited in the body,-see the fatty degene- 
ration with its pathognomonic feeble and slow pulse. 
The following citation will be of some deductive va- 
lue. "Andreaud" made daily observations and experiments 
in and about Paris during the last epidemic of cholera 
there, which show a striking coincidence between the 
amount of electricity and the violence of the epidemic. 
In a letter to the President of the French Academy, he 
says : 11 The machine 1 have used for my daily observa- 
tions is rather powerful. In ordinary weather it gives, af- 
ter two or three turns of the wheel, brilliant sparks of five 
or six centimetres. 
I have noticed that since the invasion of the epide- 
mic I have not been able to produce on any one occasion 
the same effect. During the months of April and May, 
the sparks, obtained with great trouble, have neverexceeded 
two or three centimetres, and their variations accorded 
very nearly with the statistic variations of the cholera. 
This was already for me a strong presumption that I 
was on track ot the important fact I was endeavoring to 
find. Nevertheless, I was not yet convinced, because we 
might attribute the fact to moisture of the air ; or to 
the inequalities of the electric machine. Thus I waited Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
56 
with impatience the arrival of fine weather with heat, to 
prove the accuracy of my observations. At last fine 
weather came, and to my astonishment, the machine, 
though often consulted, was far from showing as it ought, 
an augmentation of electricity, but gave signs less and 
less sensible, to such a degree, that during the days of the 
4tli, 5th and 6th of June, it was impossible to obtain any- 
thing but slight crackling without sparks. 
On the 7th, the machines remained quite dumb. 
This new decrease of the electric fluid had perfectly ac- 
corded, as is too well known, with the renewed violence of 
the cholera; for my part, I was not more alarmed than 
astonished ; my conviction was complete. 
I saw only the consequence of the fact already sup- 
posed : it may be imagined with what anxiety, in these 
moments of the crisis, I consulted the machine, the sad 
and faithful interpreter of a great calamity. At last, on 
the morning of the 8th, some feeble sparks re-appeared, 
and from hour to hour electric intensity increased- 
I felt with joy that the vivifying fluid was returning 
in the atmosphere. Towards evening a storm announced 
to Paris that electricity had re-entered its domain ; to 
my eyes it was the cholera disappearing with the cause 
which produced it. 
The next day, (Saturday the 9th,) I contin ued my 
observations, the machine then, at the least touch, rend- 
ered with facility most lively sparks. Now, it is stated 
that the six days following the 8th of June, the mortality 
in Paris fell regularly from 667 to 355." lieport of the Homoeopathic .Relief Association 
57 
My observations and deductions proving that yellow 
fever is caused by certain atmospheric conditions, it follows 
that quarantines are not only useless, but detrimental to 
the welfare and commerce of our city. 
HOMCEOPATHIC THERAPEUTICS. 
In order to facilitate the treatment of Yellow Fever 
I will consider its course to consist of three distinct peri- 
ods ; 1st, Tlie fever paroxysm; 2nd, The period of remis- 
sion, with returnsand slowness of pulse; and 3rd, The apy- 
retic stage, with hemorrhage, especially from the stomach, 
with suppression of urine and collapse, 
SYMPTOMS OF THE 1st PERIOD. 
The fever is ushered in by a chill, or by mere dull- 
ness, the heat soon rises'to a high degree, with dryness of 
the skin, the pulse being frequent, full and bard. There 
is a severe frontal headache ; the face is injected, tuig- 
escent, especially the eyes are red,watery.with a glistening 
and glassy appearance, as if the patient was intoxicated ; 
there is also severe pain in the back and extremeties, which 
keeps the patient in constant restlessness, and deprives him 
of sleep. The gastric symptoms are nausea, with vomit- 
ing of ingesta and soreness in the epigastric region. 
I know but three medicines to meet and cover the 
symptoms of the first period, and they are Aconite, Bella- 
donna and Bryonia. 
FORMULA. 
No. 1. 
Aconite 3rd decimal dilution 6 drops, 
Water 4 ounces. 58 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
Belladonna 3rd decimal dilution 6 diops, 
Water 4 ounces. 
No. 2. 
No. 3. 
Bryonia 3rd decimal dilution, 6 drops, 
Water 4 ounces. 
Tablespoonful every half hour, in alternation. 
SYMPTOMS OF THE 2nd PERIOD. 
The nausea and soreness of the epigastric region is 
increased, the white of the eyes, skin, and urine a yellow 
hue; the pulse sinks below its normal pulsation, and the 
patient feels exhausted, and has a stupid expression of the 
face. 
Crotalus and Arsenicum are the medicines to be ad- 
ministered in this period. 
FORMULA: 
Crotalus 6th trituration, 6 grains, 
Water four ounces. 
No. 1. 
No. 2. 
Arsenic 3rd decimal trituration, 3 grains, 
Water four ounces. 
Tablespoonful every half hour in alternation. 
SYMPTOMS OF THE THIRD PERIOD. 
The soreness in the pit of the stomach increases to a 
severe burning pain, the tongue becomes dry, the thirst 
violent, the nausea and vomiting growing worse ; First, Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
59 
large quantities of acid fluid are thrown up ; by-and-by 
this fluid becomes mixed with blood until at last it consists 
of pure decomposed black blood; at the same time black 
blood passes from the bowels ; hemorrhage in some cases 
also from the nose, mouth, eyes, kidneys and capillaries 
under the skin. The secretion of the urine becomes scanty, 
or ceases altogether; cerebral symptoms of excitement or 
depression close the scene. The patient dies generally in 
a comatose condition. 
The remedies of the third period are Arsenic, Sulphu- 
ric Acid, Carbo Veget, Cantharis, Stramonium, Opium, 
Terebinth and Sulphur. 
FORMULA. 
No. 1. 
Arsenic, 3rd decimal trituration, six grains, 
Water, four ounces. 
No. 2, 
Sulphuric Acid, 2nd decimal dilution, (watery so- 
lution) 10 drops, 
Water, four ounces. 
These two medicines to be given during the stage of 
black vomit. Teaspoonful every half hour. 
No. 3. 
Arsenic, 6th decimal trituration, four grains, 
Water, four ounces, 
Cuprum met. 6th decimal trituration, four grains, 
Water, four ounces. 
No. 4. 60 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
This is my second prescription for black vomit, in 
case the first one does not suffice-give the same way. 
For suppression of urine with cerebral symptoms, 
give the two following remedies : 
No. 5. 
Stramonium. 3rd decimal dilution, six drops, 
Water, four ounces. 
No. 6. 
Terebinth, 3rd decimal dilution, 10 drops, 
Water four ounces. 
Teaspoonful every half hour. 
If the urine is secreted, but still is retained in the 
bladder, then give the following : 
Cantharis, 3rd decimal dilution, six drops, 
Water, four ounces. 
No. 7. 
No. 8. 
Opium, 3rd decimal dilution, six drops, 
Water four ounces, 
Tablespoonful every hour, if after a few doses the urine is 
not passed, draw it then with a catheter. 
For sinking of the pulse with prostration and coma- 
tose condition, give: 
No. 9. 
Opium, 3rd decimal dilution, six drops, 
Water, 4 ounces. 
No. 10. 
Carbo reget, 30th dilution, six drops, 
Water, four ounces. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
61 
Teaspoonful every half hour in alternation. If after three 
doses of each, no improvement should occur, substitute 
the following to the opium solution : 
No. 11. 
Sulphur, 30th dilution, six drops, 
Water, four ounces. 
Teaspoonful every half hour, in alternation with the Car- 
bo veget. solution. 
The convalescence of yellow fever necessitate the 
two following medicines, given on alternate days, one dose 
of each : Phosphorous 200th and Arsenic 200th. 
Hoping, gentlemen, that my report will meet your 
approbation, and be of some service and interest to your 
readers, 
I remain, 
Respectfully, 
A, B. de VILLENEUVE, M. D. 
New Orleans, Jan. 15th, 1879. 
Col. C. J. Fisher, 
Secretary of the Homoepathic Relief Association, 
New Orleans : 
In making my report pertaining to the 
late epidemic, I am compelled to rely upon memory for 
data, as I was unfortunate enough to lose my daily call- 
book. 
The first case of yellow fever I attended in this city 
was during the first week in August, a child, colored, 
o O ' 1 ' 62 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
about eight years of age, residing on Claiborne Street- 
died of congestion of the brain. 
I subsequently attended sixty-seven cases of which two 
died, when I was requested to go to Holly Springs, Miss., 
where the fever had then just commenced. 1 arrived 
there on the 5th of September, and found sixty cases of 
clearly marked yellow fever which had been, and was be- 
ing treated by the " Regular " (?) practice with very un- 
favorable and unpromising results. During a sojourn of 
five weeks at that place I treated one hundred and twen- 
ty-eight cases, including only such as came under my 
care from the commencement of attack, of which number 
eighteen died. Of said number three had organic disease 
of the heart, two had Tuberculosis, (pulmonary), and one 
had Albuminaria. Some of my losses I attribute to the 
lack of proper nursing and absence of many articles in- 
dispensable in such cases, as the entire community were 
perfectly panic stricken, gave up hopelessly when attack- 
ed, making no effort to resist the disease, and the cessa- 
tion of business and closing of business houses rendered 
it almost impossible at one time to obtain even mattrasses 
for the sick to lie on. 
I left Holly Springs on the 15th October for Duck 
Hill, Miss., finding but one case of yellow fever in 
the village, but in the surrounding country it was quite 
prevalent; of the seventeen cases which I treated there, 
one died, a female, six months pregnant. 
From Duck Hill I went to McComb City, where I 
remained but two days, during which time I visited five Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
63 
families, having an average of three members then sick 
with yellow fever. I left medicines and careful direc- 
tions and was afterwards informed that every member of 
said five families had had the fever, in all twenty-three 
persons-that they were all treated according to my di- 
rections, having no physician to attend them and that all 
recovered, I next visited Bay St. Louis, briefly prescri- 
bing and leaving medicines and extended directions for 
ten cases, all of whom recovered. 
Returning thence to New Orleans I ended my epi- 
demic labors by treating twelve more cases making a 
total of two hundred and fifty-seven, of which I lost 
twenty. 
As will be seen my almost entire loss was at Holly 
Springs, where the presence of a hopeless dread and the 
absence of needed care and supplies militated against my 
success, as it did not. at any other point. 
The remedies most used by me were Aconite, Bryo- 
nia and Arsenicum, many others being used as indications 
called for them. In some instances-at Holly Springs- 
I was compelled to resort to Allopathic medicines from 
temporary inability to obtain Homoeopathic Similia's. 
In my peregrinations I found the disease assuming 
different form of intensity in different places, at Holly 
Springs undoubtedly, the most virulent; the febrile move- 
ments being much more severe and the tendency to sup- 
pression of urine more marked, and yielding less readily 
to treatment. My theory for such special tendency is 
that malarial diseases are less prevalent in and about said Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
64 
place, and the systems of residents are unaccustomed to 
the action of malarial poisons and consequently are less 
able to combat them. 
The Sanitary condition of Holly Springs was good, 
the town occupying an elevation of 720 feet above the 
level of the sea and enjoys a climate usually extremely 
healthy, there being no water courses within twenty 
miles and the natural drainage of the country is rapid and 
effectual. Both cistern and well water-the latter of 
great purity-are used by the citizens; yet at such a 
place of favorable healthy indications, we find the fever 
of a much more virulent type than that at Duck Hill 
which village is situated on a low flat strip of land bor- 
dered on one side by a small stream-that overflows the 
country for half a mile on either side semi-annu- 
ally-and on the other side by hills and swampy 
valleys ; a place one would judge to be extremely malari- 
ous, yet in the village itself, there was but one case of 
yellow fever, in the hills adjoining there were a number, 
but none of them presented any such remarkably violent 
symptoms as did those at Holly Springs. Malarial fever 
were common in this neighborhood while the reverse was 
the case at Holly Springs. 
The same comparison may be drawn between Mc- 
Comb City , situated on the Jackson Rail Road, in the piney 
wood district of Mississippi-under ordinary circumstances 
a very healthy place-and Bay St. Louis, situated on the 
Gulf Coast, surrounded by a low flat country where ma- 
larial troubles are common. Here, in New Orleans-on Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
65 
every side swamps and low flat country tending to ma- 
larial influences-the fever was undeniably of a mild 
form. 
What do these facts tend to demonstrate? Is it 
not that the poison of yellow fever is of a malarial nature 
and is influenced by malaria? As we find, that in those 
parts of the country where malarial fevers are common, 
yellow fever does not assume so violent a character as 
it does where said influences are not so prevalent. 
One other peculiarity of the disease at Holly Springs 
was that the first sign of black-vomit was universally 
accompanied by suppression of the urine, which resisted 
all medical efforts both of our school and of the Allo- 
pathic, not one case being relieved to my knowledge. 
Respectfully submitting the above, 
I remain yours respectfully, 
WALTER BAILEY, Ir„ M. D. 
New Orleans, La. 
Cheniere Caminada, Grand Isle, Dec. 1, 1878. 
Col. C. G. Fisher, 
Secretary of the Homoeopathic B.elief A ssociation, 
New Orleans. 
Dear Sir.-These Islands, situated on the Gulf 
of Mexico, about 100 miles south of New Orleans, are a 
celebrated summer resort and generally regarded as the 
healthiest locality in the State of Louisiana, being open to 66 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
the sweep of the salubrious saline laden breezes of the 
Gulf. 
In 1867, several natives, two weeks after returning 
from New Orleans were attacked with yellow fever, were 
treated by the local Allopathic Doctor aided by advice 
from visiting city Physician, all died. 
In 1875. Oscar Terrebonne returned from the city, 
was taken with unmistakeable yellow fever--I was called 
-the disease ran its whole course including black-vomit, 
which last I controlled with Ars Alb 6 alternating with 
Crotalus 12. Eyes seated deep in their orbits, skin yel- 
low, patient recovered ; only case occurred that year. 
During the epidemic of 1878, under the auspices of 
your Association, have treated 319 cases of yellow fever 
in these Islands and vicinity from which I make the follow- 
ing Clinical observations. 
Mrs. Ducan, age 42, nursed a man who came from 
New Orleans, September 5th, sick with yellow fever, who 
died without medical treatment-two days later Septem- 
ber 7th, was herself taken sick and summoned me ; symp- 
toms, excruciating pain in forehead and temples, dull 
dragging headache, mainly in the occipital, mastoid and 
upper cervical region, constrictive and deep seated pains 
in the back part of eyes, congested eyes and eyelids, yel- 
low flashes, intolerance of light, dark red, livid and 
puffed face, burning heat in face, lips red and dry, ring- 
ing and roaring in ears, illusion of hearing, sound like 
distant chime of bells, intense 'dryness of mouth, tongue 
and fauces, secretion of sticky, offensive and nauseating Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
67 
mucous in mouth, tongue red top and edges, pulse 135 
degrees, animal heat 1 031 degrees, skin red, hot and dry, 
accelerated respiration, urine scanty and heavily loaded 
with sediment, contractivity of upper and lower extremi- 
ties, caused by continual shooting pains in bones, dag- 
ging pain along the spine. 
These symptoms called for Aconite 6, one drop in 
8 ounces water, teaspoonful every hour. Sixteen hours 
later atony of system partly subsided, fever increased, 
pulse 139 degrees, animal heat 105 degrees, September 
8th, continued Aconite, 9th, patient critical, had been 
delirious all night, burning sensation in pit of stomach, 
pains in back and extremities increased to such an ex- 
tent that she screamed and kept in continual movement. 
The perviglium and restlessness of this stage calls 
for Bryonia alb 12 and Arnica 12, 6 pellets each alter- 
nately every half hour ; the first palliates the gastric pain 
in pit of stomach, and the darting pains in head which 
caused the nausea, applied luke warm salt water, with 
sponge to cranium and body, gave lemonade made with 
Citric Acid without sugar, which relieved the thirst; the 
urine which had been suppressed for eighteen hours, be- 
came abundant. 
September 10th, under the influence of preceding 
treatment the course of the disease had become greatly 
modified ; in the afternoon vomiting occured of aqueous 
matter which by close inspection disclosed streaks of 
blood; within two hours the hemorraghic symptoms were 
fully developed ; prescribed Ipecacuanca 3 : 5 drops in 68 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
8 ounces water, teaspoonful every twenty minutes, six 
hours later vomiting had moderated and nature thereof 
changed, temperature lowered, disease undergone a new 
phase, fever attained its maximum ; pulse 156 degrees, heat 
105$; patient had vomited black, twice in three hours; 
brain congested and that disorder dominated all other 
symptoms ; one would almost believe he had to deal with 
Cerebral Fever ;- convulsions, cries, songs, turgescence 
of face, dilated pupils, trembling chronic spasms. Pre- 
scribed Arsenicum 3d trit one grain, Spirits Camphor one 
drop, each in teaspoon of brandy in alternation, every 
half hour. During the night eretism disappeared, vomi- 
ting and contraction of stomach which caused it, entirely 
disipated; several bovine evacuations of black color, 
resembling pulverized charcoal, with a quantity of de- 
composed blood, some excretion of bile during febrile pe- 
riod ; the urines blood red and loaded with gelatinous 
matter • same medication continued 48 hours. Septem- 
ber 13th, fever gone, patient safe; greatly prostrated; 
derma covered with a miliary-like eruption confluent 
on heart and extremities with marasmus ; gave China 12, 
6 pellets, in glass of water, teaspoonful every 6 hours ; 
rapid convalescence; gave Cal carb 12, 3 pellets each day 
to check Alopecia; this ended the treatment of this case. 
September 16th, eighteen cases some of whom had 
visited the foregoing case in first and second stages ; fif- 
teen days later had had 180 cases; many of the patients 
had been in contact with other patients or nurses, gave 
the same general treatment modified by individual 
idyosyncracies. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
69 
The Southern part of this Island escaped entirely 
which I think is due to abstention of contact and commu- 
nication with the other parts, which leads to the conclu- 
sion, that the fever being of a virulent nature, is conta- 
gious. 
Great care was taken to prevent exposure of patients 
to draughts of air ; good ventilation of apartments en- 
joined, clysters of coarse syrup and water given to promote 
free bowels and moisture of skin. 
The system of medication employed by Mrs. D., has 
been applied to at least one hundred similar cases with 
like results. 
During 1st, 2d and 3d stages, beef tea made of "Lie- 
big's Carne Extractum" which is highly nutritive and of 
easy digestion, has been of great value, administered in 
small quantities at a time , say, teaspoonful every two 
hours according to condition of patient. 
By using Citric Acid Lemonade, without sugar, I 
have had but three cases of retention of urine and these 
readily yielded to Cantharides 6, one grain every hour , 
3 doses were sufficient' 
Aconite 6, six drops in 8 ounces water, teaspoonful 
every half hour; luke-warm salt water, applied with 
sponge to head, back and articulations of extremities, re- 
duces the temperature of body and palliates pains of 1st 
stage and may be continued during 2d and 3d stages. 
Bryonia 12, necessary in 2d stage, when there are 
gastric disturbances, should be alternated with Aconite 6. 
Belladonna 12 and Aconite 6, one drop each in 70 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
glasses water, teaspoonful each every hour alternately, 
when the patient sings, cries and with furious delirium, if 
given at first symptoms, which are precursory of convul- 
sions and congestions of brain, acts promptly ; this stage 
and condition should find the physician on his guard. 
Ipecac 4, checks hemorraghic symptoms; 5 drops of 
that potency in 8 ounces water ; teaspoonful every 20 
minutes alternated with Arnica 6, have proven powerful 
in many of my cases. 
During convalescence strict hygenic measures must 
be observed : fruit and fish forbidden ; the least gastrono- 
mical digression tends to mortal relapse. 
To summarize, the remedies which I have employed 
and found most useful are Aconite 5, Belladonna 12, Bry- 
onia 6, Ipecac 4, Arnica 6, Arsenicum 3d trit, Cantha- 
rides 6, China 4th trit Carbo veg 3d trit: these two last 
named have rendered me precious service in collapses ; 
one grain each in alternation every 30 minutes. 
Hoping that the foregoing facts gleaned at the bed- 
side in gloomy days may be of some value to the Frater- 
nity. • 
I have the honor to be 
Respectfully, Yours, 
JAMES DIET, M. D. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
71 
0. G. Fisher, Esq , 
Secretary Homoeopathic Relief Association, 
New Orleans. 
Dear Sir:-In this humble essay I have not the 
pretention of bringing before the Fraternity any new 
features of Yellow Fever, nor any original treatment, but 
simply to relate my experience and do full justice to the 
great remedy which has enabled me to be victorious in 
my first struggle with the dread disease. 
I have treated for your Association 232 cases of 
various diseases, mostly fevers, from which I designate 
159 cases of genuine Yellow Fever, comprising all 
the different types of that malady from the mild- 
er to the most malignant, embracing 26 cases of 
Black-Vomit, (of which two only died), and in all of these 
excepting 17 mild attacks occurring in colored persons, 
have been led to Arsenicum by the symptoms presented, 
and the most complete। success has followed its adminis- 
tration 
In the Black-Vomit stage when the so-called inflam- 
atory symptoms had abated, and the real characteristic 
manifestations of the affection took place, dry cool skin 
hipocratic countenance, perviglium and restlessnes, aggra- 
vated at night, small, weak and irregular pulse, dry 
cracked and tremulous lips and tongue, violent thirst, 
burning pain in the epigastrium and vomiting of serous 
liquid, holding in suspension decomposed blood, Arseni- 
cum is the most complete similimum, and its action is so 72 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
quick and energetic that from 2 to 3 hours after its ad- 
ministration in most cases the Black-Vomit entirely sub- 
sided and the other symptoms began co decline. 
Looking at this stage from another point of view, 
the morbid change supposed to take place at this period 
of the career of the attack, inflammation of the mucous 
membrane of the stomach, and fatty degeneration find 
also their homoeopathic specific in Arsenicum, and even 
the accepted cause of the disease, inhalation of poison 
from decayed matter of whatever nature, point unmis- 
takeably to this remedy. 
I do not to wish to be understood to say that Ar- 
senicum will of itself be sufficient to cure a case of yel- 
low fever, nor that it should be used exclusively in the 
second stage because we need Aconitum for the onset and 
Belladonna, Opium and many others for particular symp- 
toms and special dangers, but in the whole list of medi- 
cines employed Arsenicum is the most potential, because 
it controls the essential manifestations of the affection 
and is the most rapid in its salutary effects because it is 
the most active of poisons. 
It is well known that yellow fever presents a great 
variety of types according to constitution, acclimatization 
or other accessory conditions, and that during the preva- 
lence of an epidemic all essential fevers exhibit more or 
less of the influence of the prevailing poison and some of 
its characteristic symptoms. 
In all cases of true yellow fever however mild, ex- Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
73 
cepting those in colored persons, the diagnostic symptoms 
of pulse, countenance &c., are precisely those indicating 
Arsenicum-the difference between the types being the 
absence or presence of nausea indicative of Black-Vomit 
and the intensity, not the quality of the symptoms. 
The same remark holds good in those cases of remit- 
tent, bilious or gastric fever occurring in the period and 
territory of an epidemic of yellow fever-here also the 
symptoms denote the influence of the miasm and call for 
Arsenicum, displaying the Homoeopathicity existing be- 
tween the miasm and the remedy, since tho absorption of 
the one is always followed by the exhibition of the symp- 
toms and characteristic of the other. 
I have often found myself at the bedside of some 
child stricken down with the rapid prostration of the sec- 
ond stage, when the dreaded Black-Vomit had just made 
its unwelcome appearance-family congregated with ter- 
ror struck faces, believing that the sure forerunner of 
death to their beloved one had come-and I felt happy 
to have in my hands the reliable medicine to subdue the 
danger and dispel the storm of appalling symptoms ; this 
was Arsenicum, and in most cases quickly and entirely 
successful in restoring confidence and peace to the despair- 
ing household. 
For the triumphs which have repaid my efforts 
and encouraged me during the struggle of the recent epi- 
demic. I am indebted to Arsenicum, and to that alone, 74 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
because experience in its use had inspired me with so 
much confidence as to dispense with external or eclectic 
measures. My faith in its Homoeopathicity, and conse- 
quently its efficacy at the period of greatest danger is such 
that I never hesitated when it was clearly indicated to 
give a favorable prognosis to anxious relatives, whatever 
the intensity of the symptoms, and if I were myself li- 
able to the infection, would not be unwilling to expose 
myself to it provided I had Aconitum and Arsenicum to 
cure me and the other Homoeopathic remedies to help 
them in their work. 
T have the honor to be 
Yours respectfully, 
CHARLES J. LOPEZ, M. D. 
New Orleans, La. 
Homceopatkic Belief Association. 
Gentlemen : 
To only give the-accompanying list of Yel- 
low Fever patients treated Homoeopathically in Dry 
Grove, Mississippi, and vicinity, would be but an incom- 
plete report of my labors, and the benefits derived there- 
from by the citizens of said localities during the past sum- 
mer. Such benefits may be better summed up as fol- 
lows : ' Pi,eport of the Homoeopathic Pelief Association 
75 
1 st. The aid rendered through me, by your Associa- 
tion and the Association at this place, in ways of medi- 
cines, provisions and other necessaries of life, indispensa- 
ble for the sustenance of the well and the comfort of the 
sick. 
2d. Cleaning and disinfecting places that were gen- 
erating an infection which was exerting its influence for 
o o 
miles around. 
3d. Assistance rendered Allopathic physicians, by 
visiting, consulting and advising in cases under their 
charge, and furnishing nurses-sent by you-to care for 
such. 
4th. The distribution of Homoeopathic medicines 
and Circular of treatment through the, entire country, 
thereby not only preventing mischievous medication, but 
enabling attendants of the sick to properly commence 
treatment at the earliest moments of attack, before the 
services of a physician could possibly be secured, and to 
even continue treatment if such services were not forth- 
coming. 
•5th. The restoration of confidence to the dishearten- 
ed citizens, and the effect produced upon Allopathic 
physicians by showing them the highly beneficial results 
of a more conservative course of treatment and a better 
system of nursing. 
At the commencement of the Yellow Fever in New 5 76 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
Orleans I carefully gelaned the public journals of the day, 
noted its progress and fatality and searched eagerly for 
information in regard to its peculiarities and treatment. 
Neither therein nor in the several exhaustive Allopathic 
treatise which I had,, did I find any treatment recom- 
mended which I did not regard worse than none. I 
specially noticed that the fever became more malignant 
as it reached distant parts of the country where its treat- 
ment was not understood, and where Homoeopathic or 
conservative physicians were not to be found, and I be- 
came satisfied that the mortality was the result of too 
heroic treatment- 
Seeing in daily published reports of your Association 
that aid was given wherever requested, I made applica- 
tion in behalf of the Dry Grove sufferers, which brought 
prompt-returns in medicines and full directions for treat- 
ment, consisting of a printed circular by Dr. James G. 
Belden, and written instructions by Dr. de Villeneuve. 
Their mode of treating the disease at once satisfied me as 
to its peculiarities, the necessary indications to be fulfilled, 
and the remedies recommended I saw were peculiarly 
adapted to fulfil them. In short, such seemed to bridge the 
long vacant chasm of doubt pertaining to the treatment 
of Yellow Fever; and your kindly response resolved me 
to place myself fully under the auspices of your Associa- 
tion 
The condition of affairs at Dry Grove at this early 
day of the epidemic-29th September-was very de- 
plorable. A consultation with some of the local Allo- Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
77 
pathic physicians evolved the fact that they were totally 
discouraged, having no confidence in any treatment, and 
only believed that a lack of material would alone stop the 
disease. 
Of the then thirty cases of fever only three were 
convalescent and hopes entertained of but two more. Dr. 
Deason, who had the yellow fever during a previous epi- 
demic, was again down with it, which produced a very 
depressing and demoralizing effect upon the corps of 
nurses sent from this place, as his attack seemed to prove 
that none were sure of escape, and under such circum- 
stances it seemed a Herculean task to accomplish any- 
thing. 
But at the request of Dr. Deason I became his phy- 
sician, and his was the first case of yellow fever treated 
from the commencement, and throughout the attack Ho- 
moeopathically, the result of which was highly satisfac- 
tory and gratifying to all, and especially to those who 
from the practical results of Allopathic treatment could 
see but little hope ahead. 
My work rapidly increased, and by the assistance of 
the force of able and intelligent nurses you were sending 
me, had I remained well ten days longer, almost, if not 
all of the sick in that vicinity would have been under 
Homoeopathic treatment. But after continued severe 
labors and a day's ride of thirty-eight miles, I was taken 
with a chill followed by rapid progress of the fever, which 
compelled me to entrust my work to the two worthy as- 78 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
sistants sent by you-Messrs. Mallam and Vail-and I 
am happy to state that in no case where Homoeopathic 
treatment had been commenced in due time, was the re- 
sult anything but satisfactory. 
The treatment of my own case was strictly Homoeo- 
pathic, conducted by myself, assisted by Mr. Mallam and 
nursed by Mrs. Guardia, both of whom rendered me per- 
sonally invaluable service as did your entire corps of 
nurses, in the care of my patients. 
I regret to say that at one time some slight dissatis- 
faction occurred because, of our adherence to Homoeopa- 
thic treatment, and refusal to turn over your nurses to 
Allopathic practitioners, who claimed the right to conduct 
the treatment of the neighborhood, but subsequently 
general good feeling prevailed and our good work continued 
until the fever ceased, 
To you who were so prompt in rendering every assis- 
tance requested, I am doubtless indebted for my existence 
to-day, as are many other yellow fever victims in and 
about Dry Grove. 
The general remedies used by me were those noted 
in Dr. Belden's circular, they meeting the indications in 
most cases and proving safe and effectual. 
In the febrile stage I preferred to regulate the fre- 
quency of the doses of Aconite and Belladonna according 
to the restlessness of the patient. After the febrile stage 
Stramonium proved very effective. I found tepid sponge Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
79 
baths carefully applied to the body and limbs with cold 
baths to the head when the fever was on, a great relief to 
my patients. 
I believe it very important that the stomach and 
bowels should be evacuated and the skin brought into 
action and free perspiration maintained for a few hours 
at an early stage of the disease, to eliminate as much of 
the poison as possible and allay restlessness. Only a gen- 
tle moisture should be maintained thereafter, and all mucus 
surfaces strengthened, which last indication is admirably 
fulfilled by Bryonia. 
A mustard foot bath during the early hours of attack 
will materially equalize circulation and produce a degree 
of relaxation well calculated to assist the after treatment 
in fulfilment of every desirable indication. 
Recumbent position, iced drinks, well ventilated 
rooms of even temperature are essential parts of treat- 
ment. 
Congratulating you upon the great good your Asso- 
ciation accomplished in this section of the fever district, 
I remain yours truly, 
JESSE R. JONES, M. D. 
Crystal Springs, Miss., Nov. 27, 1878. 80 
R,eport of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
C. G. Fisher, Esq., 
Secretary Homoeopathic Belief Association. 
Dear Sir.-In response to your request, I send here- 
with a list, of Yellow Fever cases treated Homoeopathi- 
cally by myself at Dry Grove and vicinity, since my own 
recovery under that treatment, and my entire adoption of 
that system of practice 
By it, you will see that my loss did not reach five 
per cent., which is a full average loss of all the cases 
thus treated in this section. 
Such results, commencing in the dark days at Dry 
Grove, when no other system availed ought in contend- 
ing with the prevailing scourge, should satisfy all, as it 
has me. that Homoeopathy is the progressive and promis- 
ing system of the age. 
The remedies most used were, for the first stage of 
fever, Aconite and Belladonna in alternation; in the sec- 
ond stage, Aconite and Bryonia, and in the third stage 
Stramonium and Cantharides; using Arsenicum when 
Black Vomit was indicated. 
The prompt and practical manner in which your 
Association responded to our call and gave the benefits 
of this practice, to a despairing community merits the 
the highest commendation, as it has our grateful thanks. 
Anything I can do for the cause of Homoeopathy or 
for your Association, command me at all times. 
Yours Respectfully, 
WM. M. DEASON, M. D. 
Crystal Springs, Miss., Dec. 18, 1878. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
81 
To the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
THEORY OF THE NATURE OF YELLOW 
FEVER POISON ELEMENT. 
As theory is the mother of science it will be in order, 
at the present time, to propound a theory for the poison 
principle of yellow fever and its manner of action. Had 
not Newton formed a theory of gravitation from observing 
the fall of an apple he could never have demonstrated its 
laws. 
The discovery of the microscope opened up wonderful 
fields for investigation upon the nature and action of veg- 
etable parasitic or fungus growths, and their destructive 
action upon both vegetable and animal tissues. With the 
aid of this wonderful instrument scientists have been able 
to elucidate the-difference between animal parasitic growth 
and development by germs, from that of vegetable para- 
sitic growth and development by conidia, commonly called 
spores. 
As I adopt the spore theory to account for the fomite 
of yellow fever, it will not be necessary at present to dis- 
cuss the applicability or inapplicability of the animal germ 
theory in explaining the phenomena of this infection. 
Vegetable parasitic or fungus growth by its spores is 
extremely simple, and under favorable conditions extraor- 
dinarily rapid and exuberant. First, starting with the 
spore as the initial, it swells, elongates, divides into two or 
more, and these dividing again and again in a similar 
manner, more or less rapidly forming chains of the same, 82 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
which have a more or less nucleated appearance, and give 
off branches in various directions usually denominated 
sporule bearers. Second, mycelium forms appear, varying 
in all designs, from fine transparent filaments up to dou- 
ble contoured tubes; these filaments interlace very freely, 
and bear, in most instances at their extremities various 
forms of fructification. Third, added to the foregoing 
forms we have the stroma-an infinite number of minute 
ceils, derived probably from the multiplication of granules 
in the interior of parent cells and filaments and is the nu- 
clear form of the growing fungus, 
o o o 
Taking these well established facts as a standpoint 
in the propagation, growth and development of the fungus 
order of plants, it will not be drawing very heavily upon 
the imagination to conceive of a higher order of the fun- 
gus growth ; and instead of the tame manner as expressed 
by the slow growth of the Aspergillus glaucus, or common 
mould, upon dried fruit and other perishable substances in 
warm and damp weather, we may very naturally expect 
to find a higher order of the fungus development-more 
mrial in its nature-yet possessing most of the character- 
istics of the fungus family of plants ; sufficiently so to 
trace it to the order to which it belongs. 
Microscopists are familiar with the extreme difficulty 
of observing the fine mycelium filaments in ordinary fun- 
gus growths. Then how much more difficulty might we 
expect to meet with in demonstrating the finer and more 
subtle order-more aerial in its characteristics-which we 
w'ill assume to predominate in transparent mycelium fila- Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
83 
incuts, containing however very numerous spores with 
their enclosed nuclei. These mycelium filaments and their 
enclosed spores grow in the most rapid and exuberant 
manner under the favorable condition of an unusually high 
degree of temperature and excessive saturation of the at- 
mosphere-in short, a tropical climate. 
Let us consider a single mycelium spore to start from 
any fixed object ; as this filament advances in growth its 
multiplicating or growing spores also developing, throw out 
from the parent filament an immense number of shoots as 
upon vines which in themselves become parent mycelia 
for further and continued development without limit. 
These growing filaments take a tendril form, probably for 
the purpose of seizing upon all fixed surrounding objects 
for a temporary support. 
The mycelium filaments aret ubular and the spores de- 
vdope within as a part of themselves and grow pari passu; 
and as each spore bursts from its parent filament it forms 
new branches for additional growth. Each span contains 
one, two or many granules or nuclei ; and as the growth 
of the plant is most wonderfully rapid, and the develop- 
ment of spores superabundant, many of them burst, dis- 
charging their nuclei, forming a fine dust or stroma, which 
floats about in the atmosphere in the greatest abundance. 
This stroma constitutes the true yeasting element, which 
lor the want of a better name I will call Toxitorzda vom- 
etonigro ; and as it is inhaled with the atmosphere in re- 
spiration, from its extreme subtlety, readily passes into the 
blood, 84 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief' Association 
If the blood is in a condition, or lias the proper ele- 
ment in it to be acted upon by this poison-yeast, a stage 
o( incubation commences which may be of longer or shorter 
duration-but is never observed by the subject or his 
friends-or, the blood may not be in a condition to be 
acted upon by it at all; no more than common brewer's 
yeast could act upon a solution not containing starch, glu- 
cose or sugar; and as a corollary, the length of time 
necessary for this incubative stage will be proportioned to 
the condition of the blood in the human subject, as in the 
amount of sugar, &e. in the brewer's solution. Hence, 
the difficulty of fixing or limiting the time of incubation 
of yellow fever. 
In 1854 a laboring man came to this city from a per- 
fectly healthy part of a neighboring Parish of the State by a 
quick conveyance, and in seventy hours after his arrival, he 
was a patient in the Charity Hospital, with well marked 
symptoms, and on the fifth day after his admission to the 
hospital died with black vomit. 
On the other hand it is not unfrequent to meet with 
cases of the genuine yellow fever after the disease is past 
as an epidemic, in people who have been attending as 
friends and nurses of yellow fever subjects during its whole 
course. However, in all such instances that have come 
under my observation, they have been of a mild form, 
yet sufficiently well marked to be unmistakable. 
The question naturally arises, how long will those 
sporules retain their vivifying properties after an epidemic 
is past? and how can we destroy them ? In contemplating Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
85 
these questions, we will naturally revert to its cousin-ger- 
man-Torula cerevisise, or common yeast. We know that 
this can be carried on an arctic exploring expedition and 
be brought back three years after as good as ever. Or it 
may be taken on a voyage to the East Indies and back, 
with like results. Thus we see that the common yeast is 
not destroyed by either extreme of atmospheric tempera- 
ture. If our poison yeast possesses the same enduring 
properties the same results must follow ; therefore these 
questions require further investigation. It is easy to per- 
ceive that these sporules, when floating about in the at- 
mosphere, in abundance during an epidemic, can take safe 
lodgment in the cracks and crevices of old walls, buildings, 
&c., and wait, even years, for a tropical summer to vege- 
tate them. 
Whether the life-destroying process of yellow fever 
consists in the growth of this fungus plant in the blood as 
a specific poison ; or, whether in its process of growth- 
fermentation--carbonic acid is generated which of itself 
destroys the vitality of the blood, is a question that re- 
mains to be solved. If the latter be true I have given 
an inappropriate name to this fungus; but if the former 
be correct, the name will give a tolerably correct index of 
its properties. 
The question of whether ozone in the atmosphere is 
a preventive of yellow fever, is sufficiently refuted by that 
in the summer of 1853, both before and during the epi- 
demic, we had more violent thunder storms than during 
1 o 
any summer since. 86 
Report of the Homceopathic Relief Association. 
Whether the decomposition of vegetable and animal 
matter and other filth will contribute to develop yellow 
fever, will be answered by the well known fact that all 
vegetation flourishes most luxuriantly in an atmosphere 
loaded with noxious vapors. 
WALTER BAILEY, Sr„ M. D. 
New Orleans, La. 
To the Homoeopathic Relief Association. 
QUARANTINE. 
Allowing for the sake of argument that any quaran- 
tine, however strictly enforced, can at all times prevent 
the recurrence of yellow fever in our section of the coun- 
try-which I most emphatically deny-what advantage 
could a national quarantine have over a local one ? 
During the past year we have had a very efficient 
Board of Health, consisting of scientific and active men, 
well versed in all that is known of epidemic diseases ; 
and they have resorted to all the means that science and 
observation could suggest to prevent the prevalence of 
this disease ; and, as we see without success; every ave- 
nue for the introduction of the disease from foreign coun- 
tries was closed from Pensacola to Galveston ; and in 
spite of this precaution we have had a severe epidemic, 
A National Board of Health Commission with any num- 
ber of medical experts, could have done nothing more. Report of the Homceopathic Relief Association. 
87 
But let us come down to the solid facts of the case 
as. illustrated in the recent epidemic, as to its importation 
from foreign countries; I deny that any reliable evidence 
has been brought forward to prove that the disease was 
imported, but insist that it originated in our midst; and 
this is a suitable place to give my views as to the cause 
of its occasional visitation in our latitude as an epidemic. 
All scientists agree that epidemic yellow fever, is a 
disease incident to a tropical climate ; simply a high de- 
gree of nearly uniform temperature, excessive degree of 
moisture to the atmosphere ; and the absence of strong 
prevailing winds-a deadness and stagnation of the air, 
1 o o' 
which we breathe, to carry on the vital functions of life 
in a healthful manner and to carry off the poisonous ac- 
cumulations of the animal economy, which are constantly 
being engendered through physiological processes. 
If this meteorological condition should exist in New 
Orleans, in Memphis, Holly Springs, Grenada, Louisville, 
New York, Boston, or even in Quebec or any other place, 
there can be no reason assigned why yellow fever should 
not be developed in any of these places as well as in Hav- 
ana, Vera Cruz, Jamaica, the Barbadoes or in any other 
part of the tropics-like causes must produce like effects, 
climate varies from year to year in all latitudes, what the 
cause or causes of these variations are, whether solar, 
lunar, stellar or planetary, is a problem for meteorological 
professors to discuss; but the past summer has been a 
most extraordinary tropical one : which coupled with the 
intensely filthy condition of our streets, vacant lots, 88 
Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
wharves, levees, etc., which the Board of Health had no 
power to remedy, as this department of our city govern- 
ment was under the control of the Street Commissioner, 
who stubbornly violated all of the demands of the Board 
of Health, gave all the conditions necessary to develope a 
malignant epidemic disease, namely : an intensely tropi- 
cal climate and an entire neglect of local hygiene. These 
combined conditions existing, it was impossible for us to 
escape an epidemic. 
Whether the first, so-called "germs" of the disease 
were imported, or not, is a matter of but little conse- 
quence ; it was, most undoubtedly indigenous with us be- 
cause all the elements necessary for its spontaneous de- 
velopment were present. 
The question is enforced upon us, how are we to 
escape these occasional visitations? We have no control 
over the climatic conditions it is true, but we have or 
should have over the hygienic. This forced neglect of 
hygienic measures over which our Board of Health had 
but little control, I consider the chief cause of our yellow 
fever epidemic of the past season ; and what applies to 
New Orleans in this instance, applies equally to all cen- 
tres where the epidemic has prevailed. In Galveston, 
Pensacola and Natchez, hygienic measures were instituted 
and carried out to a degree of perfection, and they escaped, 
Mobile also escaped with but a few sporadic cases from 
the same cause most undoubtedly, notwithstanding all 
the cities were exposed to the same climate causes. Report of the Homoeopathic Relief Association 
89 
It is only occasionally that we have a strictly tropi- 
cal summer; the past was the only one, since 1867, and 
yet we. have had some sporadic cases of yellow fever 
nearly every year. Now, how is this? Simply that the 
hygienic neglect was sufficient to produce sporadic cases 
in some instances or the infection might have been im- 
ported in others; but as the climatic conditions, were 
deficient it could not become epidemic. 
Thus, the whole question of yellow fever epidemics 
is resolved into this one proposition, namely : neither cli- 
matic causes alone, nor neglect of hygienic measures 
alone, can produce an epidemic-quarantine or no quar- 
antine-but the two conditions being coincident the oc- 
currence of an epidemic is certain ; and no disinfectants 
can prevent it. When our city can effect a proper system 
of drainage and carry out a creditable system of public 
hygiene yellow fever epidemics will be among the memo- 
rable things of the past. 
WALTER BAILEY, Sr., M. D. 
New Orleans, La. Additional Copies of this Report 
can be had by applying to 
C. G. FISHER, 
No. 30 Camp St., 
New Orleans, La.