FACTS
AND
OBSERVATIONS
RELATIVE TO THE
NATURE AND ORIGIN
OF THE
Pestilential Fever,
WHICH PREVAILED IN THIS CITT,
IN 1793, 1797, AND 1798.
BY THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF
PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA: 
PRINTED FOR THOMAS DOBSON, AT THE STONE
HOUSE, NO. 41, SOUTH SECOND STREET.
1798. 

 

FACTS, &c.
FROM the first appearance, in this city, of the
contagious malignant, pestilential or yellow fever,
in 1793, the College of Physicians, agreeably to
the principles of their institution, sanctioned by a
charter from the legislature in 1789, have used
their belt endeavours to check the progress and to
guard against the future introduction of this dread-
ful calamity. To the repeated applications made
to them, by the different departments of the state
government on the subject, they have ever paid a
prompt and respectful attention, and they now con-
ceive it a duty incumbent on them to publish a concise
detail of their former proceedings, and to explain
more fully their sentiments on the nature, origin
and prevention of this fatal disease.
About

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About the latter end of July and beginning of
August 1793, a fever of a new and very alarming
nature prevailed in this city. It first appeared in
Water street, between Mulberry and Sassafras
streets; and all the cases of this fever, were, for
two or three weeks evidently traced to this particu-
lar spot. A considerable part of the city, North-
ern Liberties and district: of Southwark became
gradually infected, and it was not until the coming
of the frost, that the disease subsided, after having
proved fatal to nearly five thousand persons.
The peculiarity of the symptoms, the remarkable
inefficacy of remedies generally used for diseases
which commonly occur in the same season of the
year, with somewhat similar symptoms, its great
mortality and contagious nature, sufficiently evinc-
ed, that a very unusual disease existed amongst us;
which was soon discovered to be what is called the
Siam, in the French, and the Yellow Fever in the
British West Indies.
The College met on the 25th day of August to
consider what was necessary for them to do on the
occasion, and next day lent to the Mayor of the
city, "Directions for preventing the further pro-
"gress of the malignant fever," which were pub-
lished.

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lished. These directions may be seen at large in a
pamphlet entitled, " Proceedings of the College of
"Physicians of Philadelphia, relative to the preven-
"tion of the introduction and spreading of conta-
"gious diseases," published in January 1798, con-
taining a regular account of all that had been done
by the College on the occasion. A copy of this
publication was sent to every member of the fede-
ral and state legislatures, and of the select and
common council of the city. These directions
plainly shew that the College regarded the disease
as highly contagious and malignant.
On the fifth day of November a letter was re-
ceived from the Governor of the state, requesting
information of the origin of the disease, the pre-
cautions best calculated to prevent its recurrence,
and the proper means to be pursued to purify the
city from latent infection. The College entered
into a careful inquiry on this subject, and although
they met with many difficulties in the investigation,
difficulties which generally occur on such occasions,
and the solution of which would criminate those
persons who are more immediately concerned, and
who are the best qualified to give the necessary
accounts, yet they obtained sufficient information
to offer the following answer to the Governor.
No

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"No instance has ever occurred, of the disease
"called the Yellow Fever, being generated in this
"city, or in any other part of this state, as far as
"we know; but there have been frequent instances
"of its having been imported, not only into this,
"but into other parts of North America, and pre-
“vailing there for a certain period of time; and
"from the rise, progress and nature of the malignant
"fever, which began to prevail here about the be-
“ginning of last: August, and extended itself gradu-
“ally over a great part of the city, we are of
"opinion, that this disease was imported into Phila-
"delphia by some of the vessels which arrived in
"the port after the middle of July. This opinion
“we are further confirmed in by the various ac-
"counts we have received from the best authorities
"we could procure on the subject."
The College also informed the Governor of the
best means to purify the city from latent infection,
and offered their services to co-operate with the le-
gislature in their endeavours to prevent, avert or
remove these dangerous calamities.
On the second day of December 1794, a com-
mittee of the College was appointed to consider the
defects in the health-laws and to point out a pro-
per

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per remedy. On the report of this committee it
was resolved, that a Memorial on the subject should
be presented to the state legislature, which was
done accordingly, January 26th; 1795. The prin-
cipal objects of this memorial were, a request that
medical characters might be appointed to assist the
consulting physician of the port to prevent the
spreading of contagions diseases when introduced
amongst us, and to authorize them to remove the
diseased and those exposed to contagion. Also that
they should be consulted respecting the quarantine
arid purification of vessels, and the construction and
regulation of the city hospital.
So much attention was paid to this memorial that
the legislature, in the hew health-law, patted this
session, empowered the Governor to appoint four
persons, members of the College, to assist the con-
futing physician as recommended, who were ac-
cordingly appointed in August following, and were
invited to hold one meeting with the Board of
Health; but another law was passed the succeeding
session which excluded them from any further share
in the business.
About the latter end of July 1797, the malig-
nant contagious fever again appeared in Philadel-
phia,

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phia: and on the fifteenth of August a letter was re-
ceived from the Governor requesting information
concerning its existence, and "an opinion on the
"best mode of preventing the calamity threatened."
The College immediately directed their President to
inform the Governor that such a disease had lately ap-
peared in Penn-street and its neighbourhood, and
on the seventeenth of the month, in a letter to the
Governor, gave their opinion of the best mode of
averting the threatened calamity, by first, prescib-
ing the methods for preventing the spreading of con-
tagious diseases when introduced, and secondly, by
preventing their introduction.
To attain the first of these purposes, they recom-
mended strict attention to cleaning and watering the
streets, habits of temperance, attention to cloathing,
exercise, &c. to avoid intercourse with the sick, and
to purify places suspected or occupied by the sick.
For the second purpose they recommended, a new
law on the subject, which will be hereafter recurred
to. See next page.
On the twenty-second day of August the Board of
Health requested the College to adopt and publish
such advice as would tend to check the progress of
contagion.

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contagion. The College, accordingly, on the twen-
ty-fifth, furnished the board with their sentiments
on the subject. Their plan consisted, generally, in
separating the sick from the well, great attention to
cleanliness, free admission of air, purification of bed-
ding, cloathing, &c. by exposing them to the
smoke of charcoal and sulphur in close rooms, the
free use of lime and cold water, and the application
of the vapor produced by mixing oil of vitriol and
salt petre, in sick rooms.
October 30th, a letter was read from the Govern-
or of the state requesting to know "what measures
"ought to be pursued to purify the city from any la-
"tent infection, and what precautions were best cal-
"culated to guard against the future recurrence of
"a similar calamity." On the seventh day of No-
vember a full answer to the Governor's letter was
agreed on and communicated to him. This letter
is here introduced as giving more fully the sense of
the College on this very interesting subject.
Sir,
We have duly considered your letter of the 24th
ult. and shall cheerfully comply with the requisitions
contained therein.
B The

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The measures to be pursued for purifying the city
from any latent infection, are such as we have hereto-
fore recommended, viz.—A strict attention to clean-
liness, washing, white-washing, and ventilating the
infected houses, bedding and cloathing; and sumi-
gating them with charcoal and sulphur, or a mixture
of oil of vitriol and salt-petre. These, with the frost,
we believe, will be found sufficient entirely to de-
stroy any latent contagion.
But the latter part of your inquiry, viz. What
precautions are best calculated to guard against the
future occurrence of a similar calamity, is an object
of such magnitude, as to demand a more particular
reply.
We have, on former occasions, communicated
our sentiments on this head; but as you now in-
form us, that it is intended to establish a foundation
for future regulations, we willingly enter into the
detail; and though this will principally consist of re-
petition, yet it may be useful to have our ideas pre-
sented in one view for your consideration. And as
these sentiments have been more fully confirmed by
recent events, we are again induced earnestly to re-
commend a strict adoption of the measures we advis-
ed in our communication of August 18th, 1797, as
being

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being the best calculated to guard against the future
introduction of contagious diseases. We now recapi-
tulate those advices with some additions.
Let an entire new health-law be made, constitut-
ing a Board of Health, to consist of five persons, two
of whom to be practitioners of physic. The small-
ness of the number will ensure responsibility, and a
constant residence in the city; and the professional
knowledge of the medical characters will be necessary
to assist in directing the measures of the Board. Let
no person whose private interest may be affected by
quarantine laws, be a member of this Board.
Let a sufficient sum of money, per annum, be sub-
ject to the draughts of the Board, who shall render
to the Assembly a yearly account of their expendi-
tures. Let this Board fit daily during the months
of July, August, September, and October; and,
during these months let every vessel from the Medi-
terranean, coast of Africa, West-Indies, and conti-
nent of America, to the southward of Florida, per-
form an effectual quarantine. Let the cargoes of
suspicious vessels be unloaded, and, with the vessels,
be purified at the Island.
Let

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Let a resident physician, or health-officer be ap-
pointed, who shall never be absent from the Island
during the above mentioned months, and a consult-
ing physician, who shall reside at Philadelphia.
Let the punishment of a master of a vessel, who
evades the law, by landing cargo, crew or passen-
gers, contrary to the intent and meaning of it, be
the same as for murder of the second degree. Let
no vessel of war ever be allowed to come above
the fort.
Let co-operative laws be procured from the
neighbouring legislatures or from congress.
Let the Board of Health have power, with the
concurrence of the Governor, to cut off the inter-
course with infected persons and places. Let the long
projected Hospital be erected.
Let the most diligent and scrupulous attention be
given to cleaning and watering the streets, gutters
and wharves, throughout the city and liberties.
Such are the precautions which we believe best
calculated to guard against the future occurrence of
calamities similar to those we have experienced. If
further

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further discoveries shall happily add to our know-
ledge on this important subject, we shall not fail to
make such communications to the Governor without
delay.
By order of the College of Physicians
JOHN REDMAN, President.
Attest,
THOMAS C. JAMES, Sec'y
Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1797.
To his Excellency, THOMAS MIFFLIN,
Esq. Governor of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
Although the College had now complied with
every requisition that had been made to them, yet,
feelingly impressed with the magnitude of the sub-
ject, they judged it proper to present to the state legis-
lature their reasons for believing the disease to be
of foreign origin, hoping that the legislature would
be induced to make such a change in the health-
laws as might secure us from its future introduction.
This Memorial was accompanied with a narrative
of facts relative to the probable origin and progress
of the malignant contagious fever, which had late-
ly appeared amongst us.
The

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The Memorial contains our most striking reasons
for believing in the foreign origin of the disease,
but for general information, it may be useful more
fully to adduce our arguments in support of these
opinions, which have been still further confirmed
by the circumstances that have occurred during the
last summer and Autumn; accompanied with such a
statement of facts as we think cannot fail of pro-
ducing conviction in every unprejudiced mind.
Our aim is the investigation and spreading of
truth on this important subject. We are equally
interested, with our fellow-citizens in discovering
the means of averting so terrible a disease. A pro-
per health-law for the purpose has not yet been
applied, and unless something more efficient be done
upon the occasion, our sea-port towns may soon
become uninhabitable.
We shall give our reasons for believing that the
disease in question is not of domestic origin, and
we trust they will prove convincing to our legisla-
ture, and to our fellow-citizens, generally.
When the destructive pestilence raged at Mar-
seilles in 1720, there were found physicians of emi-
nence, who strenuously maintained, that it was
neither

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neither a contagious nor an imported disease.* They
derived it from the poor diet of the lower class of
the inhabitants; and although they saw the vessel
that brought it, and the most unequivocal and
dreadful marks of contagion, yet they still persisted
in their first opinions. Similar contrarieties of
opinion prevailed at Messina in 1743, but efficient
quarantine laws have since preserved Marseilles and
Messina from this destructive visitant, although con-
tinually exposed.
In the present year the city of Baltimore has
been preserved in a similar manner, and we would
ask, Is the city of Boston more exposed by its situa-
tion to the generation of tropical diseases than Bal-
timore. Where do we see the first appearance of
our pestilential fever? Is it amongst the marshes
to the south west of our city, or in the neighbour-
hood of the wharves? Is it in the confined alleys; or
on the salubrious banks of the Delaware at Ken-
sington? Is it not always near those places where
vessels from foreign countries are found?
Look at the disease itself; does any fever of our
country ever assume such farms, or produce such
effects?
* See A Treatise on the Plague, by Patrick Russell, M. D.
F. R. S. and surgeon to the British factory at Aleppo.
Primed, London, 1791. 

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effects? Do our severest bilious fevers generally ter-
minate fatally in a few days? Do they steal on in-
sensibly, infecting one person after another in a
family and in a neighbourhood? Are they ever
equally severe in seasons so opposite as 1797 and
1798? Do not the rise, the symptoms, the pro-
gress and the termination of this fatal disease, de-
monstrate that it is totally different from any thing
we have been accustomed to?
But more particularly to examine the subject:
our principal reasons for believing that this disease
does not originate amongst us, are the following:
Firstly. It differs essentially from any other dis-
ease which is common to this country, and agrees
in its most essential symptoms, with what is called
the Yellow Fever in the West Indies.
Secondly. It has been regularly traced to the
vicinity of some vessel or vessels, from the West
Indies; or to persons or cloathing connected with
them.
The principal peculiarities of this fever are, its
contagious nature, the progress of the symptoms
and the mortality consequent on it. 
To

(17)
To endeavour to prove the contagious nature of
this disease would, in our opinion, be equally useless
as to prove the contagion of the plague. But in
all our observation and practice we know of no
case, where the autumnal bilious remittents of our
country have proved contagious. We are aware
that these are sometimes attended with violent and
dangerous symptoms, but this striking characteristic
of contagion being always absent, they never be-
come an object of public dread or concern.
The characteristic symptoms of this disease are,
generally, a constant fever for about three days,
which, in dangerous cases, is followed by a cessation
thereof. The concomitant symptoms of yellowness
of the skin, and vomiting of black matter, which
are so common in this fever, do sometimes, though
rarely, occur in other diseases.
The mortality which ensues is such as is common
when pestilential diseases prevail. The general
confusion and desertion of the sick, naturally add
to the fatal consequences of these diseases.
As to the second point, the origin of the fever, we
may observe, that until the year 1793, no doubts
on this subject, as far as we know, had been pro-
C mulgated 

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mulgated in America. Doctor Lining of Charles-
ton, South Carolina, one of the best, and the only
American author who had then published on this
subject, and who wrote in 1753, expressly informs
us, that the yellow fever had prevailed in that city
four times within twenty-five years, and that when-
ever it appeared there, it was easily traced to some
person who was lately arrived from some of the
West India Islands, where it was epidemical.
It may not be improper here to remark, that
very erroneous opinions on this subject have arisen
from confounding this pestilential fever with the
malignant remittents of the West Indies and Ame-
rica. The difference still holds good, that these
last are not contagious, if we may give credit to the
writings and observations of Physicians who have
practised in the West Indies, added to our own.
But the malignant fever which prevailed in this city
in 1793, 1797, and 1798, was always more or
less so, according to circumstances.
A striking peculiarity, which does not occur in
any other disease, attends the yellow fever in the
West Indies. The natives and persons who have
resided long in those islands, are very seldom seized
with this fever. It was likewise remarked, and it
is 

(19)
is a circumstance that deserves particular attention,
that very few, if any, of the Creole French in this
city, suffered from the contagious malignant fever
which prevailed here, in 1793, 1797, and 1798,
though the disease was introduced into their fami-
lies; and children born in this country, of Creole
parents, died with it last autumn, while the parents
and the children born in the West Indies, were en-
tirely exempt from it. To European French, Irish,
and other strangers, the disease was remarkably fatal.
It is an observation, founded in long and extensive
experience, and which admits not of an exception,
that strangers are the greatest sufferers from the
diseases of the country into which they migrate:
were the yellow fever a disease of our country, the
Creoles would probably have been among the first
to experience its fatal effects; but as it is of West
India origin, and their constitutions are assimilated
to it, they escaped it here as they do in their na-
tive country. The natives of the West Indies be-
ing so seldom affected with the yellow fever, has
given rise and currency to the opinion, that it
is not contagious in that country, and with respect
to them the observation is well founded; but then it
is as highly contagious to Europeans and Americans
in the sea-ports of the West Indies, as it is in this
city, when introduced here. [See Note A. in the
Appendix.]
It

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It is no new opinion that pestilential fevers are
generated in ships or transported by them from one
place to another; and that when they are brought
to a sea-port, where the climate and season favor
their spreading, they always do so in a greater or
less degree.
The plague is checked by great heat and severe
cold in the cities of Europe and Asia. We have
full proof of the effect of cold upon the malignant
contagious fever in North America.
We have equal proof that efficient quarantine
laws have latterly preserved the sea-port towns of
Europe from the introduction of the plague; and
the example of Baltimore, [Note B.] in the present
year, shews us what may be done in America in
this respect. The inefficacy of our own laws and
regulations in this important matter is well known,
and much regretted by all who have been concerned
in their execution.
Perhaps a more particular attention to the circum-
stances of the fever of the present year, may place
this subject in a clearer point of light.
In

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In the months of June and July last, twenty-seven
vessels arrived in this port from Cape Nichola
Mole, Jeremie and Port-au-Prince in the Island of
Hispaniola or St. Domingo, places which had long
been garrisoned by the British forces, and of con-
sequence more peculiarly adapted to the generation
of pestilential diseases.
It is a well known fact, that these places were
evacuated in great haste, and that a considerable
number of American vessels which lay there, were
employed to transport the British garrison; and if
we are to give credit to the facts related by Prin-
gle, [Note C] Lind, [Note D.] Brocklesby,
Young, Carmichael Smyth and others, contagion is
not only generated in such circumstances, but for a
long time retained, by cloathing, bedding, tents,
and fails, even walls and timber.
We have further proof that the yellow fever
prevailed in those ports while the above-mentioned
vessels lay there. [Note E.]
On the fifth day of July last, six or eight of
these vessels, having a large number of passengers
on board, of course a quantity of cloathing, bed-
ding, &c. brought off in the greatest haste, them-
selves

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selves exposed to all those circumstances which are
generally allowed to produce contagious fevers: in
this situation they arrived at the fort, where they
were detained on board for twenty days, [Note F.]
an occurrence well adapted to heighten the violence
of the contagion. On their arrival at the city, after
this detention, they generally lay at the wharves be
tween Walnut and Spruce streets. [Note G.] And
it is well known, that at this part of the city the
fever first appeared, about the latter end of July and
beginning of August, and spread from thence to al-
most every other quarter. These are facts too re-
cent and too generally admitted to require further
proof.
On the evening of the eighth of July, the armed
ship Deborah, captain Edward Yard, arrived at the
fort from Jeremie. She buried eight persons during
her stay there and return, [Note H.] and sent six
sick to the Marine hospital. [Note I.] She was one
of those employed to transport troops in the West
Indies. [Note K.] After a detention of ten days
this vessel came up to the city. We have been as-
sured that some of her crew were brought up be-
fore her arrival. [Note L.]
On the twenty-eighth of July, the Deborah was
moved to Kensington, where she was hove down.
We

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We can clearly trace the rise and progress of the
disease at that place to this vessel; [Note M.] and al-
so the first appearance of it in some other parts of the
city to persons who had been on board her. [Note N.]
On the sixth day of August, the College recom-
mended to the managers of the Marine and City
hospitals, that all the vessels lying between Walnut
and Spruce streets should be removed to a proper
distance from the city; instead of which they were
distributed indiscriminately to the other wharves,
except in one instance, most of them being sent to
the upper parts of the city.
From the many sources of contagion above enu-
merated, existing at the same time, and being so
generally spread, it is not surprising that the disease
had such an extensive operation; and it is to this
extraordinary circumstance that we also ascribe the
introduction and prevalence of this disease at Ches-
ter, [Note O.] Wilmington and Marcus-hook.
A disease so fatal and so destructive, has natural-
ly directed the public attention to discover the
means of preventing its future recurrence. And as
men are generally inclined to ascribe effects to sur-
rounding circumstances; so in the present case a
variety

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variety of means have been suggested to prevent
any future calamity of a similar nature.
But when we reflect, that Philadelphia is one of
the cleaned, best aired cities in the union; that
Kensington, Chester and Wilmington, enjoy all the
advantages of country air; that no possible im-
provement with respect to water or ventilation, can
make our situation more eligible than that of these
places; and particularly when we consider, that the
situation of Wilmington precludes all idea of a de-
fect of ventilation, and that New-York, being fur-
nished with water brought from a distance, the bad
quality of our water cannot be the cause. When
we observe that our city has become more healthy
by the salutary improvements made in it, that the
number of our common native diseases, such as
autumnal remittents and dysenteries, is greatly dimi-
nished. When we also observe that it is only in
sea-ports that this fatal pestilential fever prevails,
why should we refuse, in this particular instance,
candidly to deduce effects from causes, and to ad-
mit, that although local circumstances may favour
the spreading of such diseases, yet, as they can
always be traced to the shipping or its neighbour-
hood, or to persons or materials connected with
shipping,

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shipping, that there are the strongest reasons to
conclude that they are introduced from thence?
From the preceding facts and observations we
think the following conclusions may be justly drawn
That the contagious malignant fever which ap-
peared in this city in the years 1793, 1797, and
1798, is essentially different from the bilious remit-
tent fever of this climate.
That the contagious malignant fever of those
years is essentially the same, with the disease called
the yellow fever in the British, and the maladie de
Siam, in the French West India islands.
That the yellow fever or maladie de Siam pre-
vailed in a very great degree in the different ports
of Hispaniola, during the last year, and more parti-
cularly in Port-au-Prince, Jeremie and Cape Nicho-
la Mole.
That a very great number of vessels arrived at this
city from those ports, during the months of June and
July 1798.
That this disease has been several times introduced
into North America by contagion retained in the
D wearing

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wearing apparel of persons who had died in the
West Indies, although no person was sick on board
at the time the vessel arrived in this country; and
that we have demonstrated, as fully as it is possible
in a matter which is not obvious to our senses, that
the contagion of the fever of 1798 was imported
from Jeremie, Cape Nichola Mole or Port-au-Prince,
in one or more vessels, which arrived here in June
and July last.
That efficient quarantine laws, similar to those
existing in Italy, France and other countries, to
prevent the introduction of the plague into their
commercial cities, are the only effectual means to
guard against the future recurrence of a calamity
which threatens us with total ruin.
To conclude—We have, from the first appear-
ance of this destructive pestilence in 1793 to the pre-
sent time, endeavoured to discharge our duty, by
warning our fellow citizens of its appearance, and by
pointing out the means of checking its extension when
introduced, by informing the legislature of the proper
methods of preventing its return, by strict quarantine
laws and internal regulations; and although our re-
commendations have been too little attended to, yet
we

(27)
we conceive it to be a duty again thus to publish our
opinions on the subject in a more detailed and famili-
ar manner, as well for the information of our fellow
citizens at large, as of those who are called to the
very important office of legislation. In doing this we
have no design of entering into or exciting contenti-
on: our sole aim is truth and the public good.
Published by order of the College,
JOHN REDMAN, President.
THOMAS C. JAMES, Sec'y.
Philadelphia December 24, 1798.
APPENDIX.

 

APPENDIX.
PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
NOTE A.
Extract from Practical Observations on the treatment
of acute diseases; particularly those of the West
Indies. By William Wright, M. D. Fellow of
the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and
of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh;
and Physician to the Forces in the West Indies,
From the seventh volume of Medical Facts and Ob-
servations, published in London 1797, dated Edin-
burgh, December, 1794.
SOME late authors, who have written on West-
India diseases, have roundly asserted, that in tropi-
cal countries fevers are not contagious; but whoe-
ver has had the care of crowded hospitals, of jails,
of ships of war, or of transports full of troops,
must have seen numerous and fatal instances of con-
tagion in the West Indies; more especially where
cleanliness and free ventilation have been neglected.
From

30 APPENDIX.
From causes of this sort a most fatal and destruc-
tive disorder broke out in the West Indies in. 1793,
and soon after in Philadelphia, viz. the yellow fever.
Dr. Rush has classed this disorder with remittents;
but every one who has practised in the West Indies,
knows for certain, that the remitting fevers of warm
countries are not contagious. From Dr. Rush’s
book, and from the numerous letters of my corre-
spondents, there remains not a doubt, in my mind,
of the yellow fever being Typhus, exalted to a
great degree of virulence from climate, situation,
and other adventitious circumstances.
The yellow fever has appeared in America at dif-
ferent periods, as we learn from Dr. Lining's pa-
per in the Edinburgh Essays, Physical and Literary,
Vol. II.; and it was this same disorder that com-
mitted such havock amongst the troops, under Ad-
miral Vernon, in 1741.
The commencement of this fever, in Grenada,
is dated from May, 1793, soon after the arrival of
a Guinea ship from Sierra Leone, the crew of
which had been so sickly, that most of the sailors
died of the yellow fever, either in the voyage, or
soon after the arrival of the ship. It suddenly
spread over the other Leeward islands, and from
thence was carried to Philadelphia, Hispaniola, and
Jamaica.
The

31 APPENDIX.
The first account I received of this fever, was
from Dr. James Clark, a physician of eminence in
Dominica; his letter to me is dated July 23, 1793,
and runs as follows: “I have been harassed night
"and day, for a month past, by attendance on
"people ill of the yellow fever. Since its appear-
"ance in this island, it has already carried off more
"than a hundred sailors, new comers, and emi-
"grants. In its progress it has been, and still is,
"as quick and fatal as the plague; it often finishes
"its course in forty-eight hours; but if the sick get
“past the fifth day, they generally recover."
All the letters I have had from my medical friends
agree, that this fever is highly contagious, and that
new comers are most subject to receive it; particu-
larly such as are young, or are addicted to drink-
ing spirituous liquors. Next to these are the nurses
and attendants on the sick, who breathe the air in
their chambers, or handle their bodies or bed-
clothes. But such as avoid infected houses, or keep
at a distance from people convalescent, are no way
subject to the yellow fever. It appears, also, that
people of colour, and negroes, are in a manner to-
tally exempted from this disease, except such as are
employed as house servants, and fare the same as
white people.
The

32 APPENDIX.
The Creole white inhabitants, and others who
have long resided in the islands, are, it seems, sel-
dom attacked with this disorder, unless under the
circumstances above-mentioned. But why the yel-
low fever should attack some, and not others, can
only be accounted for in this way: that in order
to receive or resist contagion, men's bodies and
minds must be in a particular state; and that field
negroes should not be liable to it is to me inexplica-
ble. They, however, have their epidemics, from
which white people are exempted.
NOTE B.
Extract of a letter from Joseph Townsend to Doctor
Griffitts, dated Baltimore, 12th month, (Decem-
ber) 6th, 1798.
"I find it will be best to forward thee, the fol-
"lowing resolution, to the operation of which our
"late enjoyment of good health is attributed."
August 10th, 1798.
Board of Health for the City of Baltimore.
Resolved,
That all vessels arriving from any of the West
India islands, loaded with coffee or other produce
that may be liable to damage or putrefaction, be
not

33 APPENDIX.
not permitted to come up into port, but that the
cargoes thereof be discharged into other vessels
while it remains in the river, and every necessary
care extended to purify the same before it be ad-
mitted into the city; and that the health officer be
required to pay strict attention thereto.
On behalf of the Board,
JOSEPH TOWNSEND, Clk.
NOTE C.
"Orders coming soon after, to remove all the
sick from Germany to Flanders, they were embark-
ed in bilanders, to be carried to Ghent; but where
they did not arrive till the middle of December.
During this voyage, the fever having acquired new
force by the confinement of the air, by the morti-
fications and other putrid effluvia, it became so vi-
rulent, that above half the number died in the
boats; and many of the remainder soon after their
arrival. Its resemblance to the plague was further
evinced by this memorable incident. A parcel of
old tents being sent on board the same bilanders
with the men, were used by them for bedding;
these tents, in order to be refitted, were put into
the hands of a tradesman at Ghent, who having
E employed

34 APPENDIX.
employed twenty-three Flemish journeymen about
the work, lost seventeen of them by the distemper;
though they had no other communication with the
infected." Pringle's Observations on the Diseases
of the Army, page 26.
NOTE D.
"The infected ships were the Princess Amelia,
the Oxford, Shrewsbury, Medway, Dublin, and
Neptune. The most vigorous contagion had invad-
ed the two latter. It was said, the Neptune had
lost one hundred and sixty of her men in a few
months, and her report contained one hundred
and thirty-three sick. The surgeon had been seized
with the yellow fever, but was recovered.
"The crew of the Cambridge, an healthy ship,
enjoyed a good state of health until some of them
were ordered on board the Neptune, to prepare
that ship for the dock, which was then in great
distress for want of hands, most of her people be-
ing then at the hospitals. Three of these men be-
longing to the Cambridge were brought into the hos-
pital, one died and another narrowly escaped with
life, 

35 APPENDIX.
life, and I have reason to believe, that their
other shipmates, who were employed in the Nep-
tune, conveyed the fever to the Cambridge, as she
soon after sent to the hospital several afflicted with
the same fever.
"I would have it here observed, that this infection
did not proceed from any sick person on board the
Neptune; for during this period no sick man was
kept for an hour on board any of the ships, if the
weather did permit to send him on shore.
"Besides, in these ships, it was plain the infection
could not proceed from a foul air. They were fur-
nished with ventilators; and I have it from good
authority that the Neptune was kept uncommonly
clean and neat; and being a second rate, a prodi-
gious draught of air must have been admitted from
her having three tier of ports; and when these
ports were open, (which was all the time she lay
at Spithead and in Portsmouth harbour, while the
contagion was so violent) the ventilation and re-
newal of the air, exceeded what could be effected
in most other places.The diet of the people was
fresh beef and broth with greens.
“The sick apartment of the Neptune while at
sea was on the lower gun-deck, spacious and neat.
Two 

36 APPENDIX.
Two scuttles were cut for the admission of fresh
air; the adjoining ports were also opened, when
it could be done with safety. It was washed twice
a week with warm vinegar, and daily cleaned.
This practice of cleanliness and the benefit of the
freshest air, did not however avail to remove this con-
tagion; which continued till the ship was taken into
dock, and properly purified by fire and smoak. After
this operation, the ship and crew became perfectly
healthy. Lind, on Fevers and Infection.
NOTE E.
Letter from Doctor Stevens to Doctor Griffitts.
Sir,
During my residence in Santo Domingo and the
Cape, I received frequent information that the yellow
fever prevailed in almost all the sea-port towns in the
French part of Hispaniola, particularly at Cape Ni-
chola Mole. It raged so violently at this latter place,
and the mortality was so great, that it obliged the
British to abandon the post sooner than they intended.
About the same time this disease made its appear-
ance in the harbour of St. Thomas, and was so de-
structive to foreigners that it obtained the name of
the

37 APPENDIX.
the plague from all those who spoke of it. At Santo
Domingo I saw several cases of it, during the months
of August and September. These were entirely con-
fined to American seamen, while the native inhabit-
ants of the city were altogether exempt from it.
The privateers which frequented this port lost also
several of their crew by this fever, while they re-
mained at anchor.
I mentioned to you that a similar disease had
broke out on board of the schooner Swift at Porto-
Rico. The following are the facts respecting that
vessel, viz. On the 11th of last March she failed
from the Delaware, and after touching at Tortola
and St. Thomas, arrived at the city of Santo Do-
mingo on the 13th of April, where she continued un-
til the 26th of June, when, she went to the
Cape, and returned again on the 1st of August, with-
out touching at any other port. She remained at
Santo Domingo until the 28th of October, and then
failed for Porto-Rico, where she arrived on the 5th,
of November. She anchored at the entrance of the
harbour, at a considerable distance from any other
vessel. A short time before she left the city of San-
to Domingo the took on board, from a French pri-
vateer that had been dismantled, a quanty of rig-
ging, fails, guns and ammunition. From the time
that

38 APPENDIX.
that she left Philadelphia until her arrival at Porto-
Rico the crew were healthy, except two of the sail-
lors who were affected with venereal complaints.
The second day after she anchored at this latter port
the mate and one of the sailors began to complain,
and the greatest part of the crew, together with
the captain, were successively attacked. The two
first died after a short illness, and one of the others
during her passage to America. The captain escap-
ed in consequence of being brought on shore and
carefully attended, at the commencement of the
disorder. When she arrived at Porto-Rico, and
during her stay there, both the harbour and city
were remarkably healthy, and her crew had little
or no communication with either the shore or the
shipping. These are all the facts which have come
to my knowledge reflecting the existence of this
disease in the West Indies, during the last summer
and fall. I remain, Sir,
With due respect,
Yours, &c. &c.
EDWARD STEVENS.
Walnut street, Dec. 26, 1798.
NOTE

39 APPENDIX.
NOTE F.
See the daily papers at that time.
NOTE G.
The information referred to was procured from
the health office.
NOTE H.
Deposition of the captain of the Deborah, procur-
ed from the health office.
Questions to be proposed to masters or commanders
of vessels coming to at the health office on State
Island.
Q. 1. What is the name of this vessel?
A. Ship Deborah.
Q. 2. What is the name of the captain?
A. Edward Yard.
Q. 3. Where does your vessel belong to?
A. Philadelphia.
Q. 4. How many men belong to this vessel?
A. 37.
Q. 5. How many passengers have you brought
with you? Are they now all on board? And if not,
where were they landed?
A. 

40 APPENDIX.
A.58 on board, landed none.
Q. 6. When did the vessel enter on her voyage?
A. 7 February.
Q. 7. At what port have you taken in the car-
go, which you have now on board?—And when
did you fail from the same?
A. Port-au-Prince and Jeremie; left Jeremie
24 of June.
Q. 8. What does your present cargo consist of?
A. Sugar, coffee and cocoa.
Q. 9. What ports or places have you touched at
since you have taken your last cargo? And when
did you leave them?
A. None.
Q. 10. Have you touched at any sickly ports,
places or islands, during your voyage?
A. None.
Q. 11. How were the inhabitants and the peo-
ple belonging to the shipping of the port you have
left or touched at, during your voyage? Were
they healthy, or not?
A. Healthy on shore but sickly in the harbour.
Q. 12. Have you brought with you all the crew,
which you have taken out? if not, what has be-
come of them?
A. Brought all the crew back but 13, eight left
me. 
Q.

41 APPENDIX.
Q. 13. Have you lost any persons by diseases
during your voyage? If so, when, in what place,
and what was his or their complaint?
A. Lost 5 with the dysentery, the first at
Jeremie, and the last 24th June, seamen and three
passengers.
Q. 14. Have you any wearing apparel or bed-
ding belonging to deceased persons on board?
A. Part of the wearing apparel of the above-
mentioned 5 persons, the rest was sunk at sea.
Q. 15. What vessels have you met at sea, during
your last passage? What port were they from?
Have you sent your boat on board of them, or did
they send their boats on board of your vessel? Had
they any sick on board?
A. Boarded the sloop Friendship, all well.
Q. 16. Yourself, your people and, passengers,
are they all now in good health?
A. All well on board, but one negro woman,
with a fever and lax.
EDWD. YARD.
July 8, 1798, 6 o'Clock, P.M.
Sworn, JAMES HALL, Residt. Phyn. Port.
Two ventilators were used on board the ship
Deborah for 8 days.
JAMES HALL.
Mr. WILLIAM ALLEN, Health Officer,
No. 32, Walnut St.
F NOTE

42 APPENDIX.
NOTE I.
Health Office, 26th, Dec. 1798.
Sir,
After you left the office I found the Steward's
return of the number of sick persons landed from
the ship Deborah at the marine hospital, their
names and time of admission are as follow:
A French black girl admitted, 8th. July
John Lincoln, 9th
Robert Stone, 9th
Wm. Wallworth, 10th
Jonathan Farnham, 11th
Robert Price, 11th
The above statement may be relied on as accurate.
I am, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
Wm. NESBITT, Clk.
DR. GRIFFITTS.
NOTE K.
"On the 12th, August, John Lewis, mate of
the Deborah, informed me that she lost seven persons
with fever on board during her passage, and one by
accident

43 APPENDIX.
accident, and that she had been employed as a trans-
port in the British service previous to her taking in
her cargo at Jeremie.”
Extract of a Letter from Dr. Currie to Dr. Wistar.
NOTE L.
Mr. Thomas Town, citizen of the Northern Li-
berties, related to Dr. Wistar, that on the 1st of
August, 1798, he saw Alexander Philips, late of
Water-street, taylor in Second-street, opposite the
house of Messrs. Hamilton and Son, and inquired of
him whether it was true (as reported; that he had
brought up privately some sick men from the ship De-
borah, soon after her arrival in the river, and had
received ten dollars for so doing; and that Philips
replied, that he had brought up two or three in one
or two boats. Mr. Town believes he said that he
had gone down as low as Marcus Hook. Philips
said he had taken some of them to his own house,
and that one was dead. He added that he was for-
ry it had been done; that he was sick himself, but
hoped his complaint would turn out a cold.
He stated that he had done it as an act of friend-
ship, in return for favours received.
On

44 APPENDIX.
On the Sunday morning following, Mr. Town was
invited to Philips's funeral.
THOS. TOWN,
CASPAR WISTAR, Jun.
Nov. 16th, 1798.
The following paper was given to Doctor William Cur-
ve, by Mr. John Purdon.
Mr. Purdon says that on the afternoon of the 1st.
or 2d. day of August, being at the house of Mr.
Alexander Philips in Water street, he was informed
in the course of conversation by Mr. Philips, that he
himself had gone down to a ship at the fort, and
brought from thence one of his old lodgers, then
sick, to his own house in Water street. Mr. Purdon
observed to him with horror and astonishment that
he had acted very wrong, and immediately departed
from his house. Mr. Phillips on that day was ap-
parently in perfect health; on the Saturday night
following he was a corpse. Mr. Purdon was not in-
formed by Mr. Philips from what ship he had con-
veyed the sick man, but by Mr. Isaac Milnor, a few
weeks after, that it was from the ship Deborah, and
on the ninth night of her quarantine.
I shall

45 APPENDIX.
NOTE M.
Extract of a Letter from Doctor Daniel de Benneville 
to Doctor Griffitts.
I shall now proceed to mention a few of the early
cases of yellow fever, that occurred in the immediate
neighbourhood of the wharf where the ship Debo-
rah lay. The ship Deborah arrived at George Eyre's
wharf in Kensington on the 28th day of July, and
remained there until the 8th day of August following.
Joseph Streeton, the first victim in Kensington,
was on board the ship Deborah July 21st, 1798,
whilst she lay in the city, was taken sick July 29th,
and died August 3d.
James Porter, an apprentice boy of Joseph Grise,
who lived next door to Streeton's, was taken sick
August 1st, and died August 12th.
James Ashmore, an apprentice lad of Wm. Yard's,
whose dwelling house is opposite the wharf where the
ship lay, and who had worked on board while she
lay in the city about the 18th or 20th of July, was
taken sick August 2d and died August 15th.
James Kerr, George Adams,—Simons, ap-
prentice boys of Wm. Yard's, who worked on board
the ship, were all taken sick a few days after the first
appearance

46 APPENDIX.
appearance of indisposition in J. Ashmore, their fel-
low apprentice, and all recovered.
Two labouring men of the name of Sutton, who
worked on board the ship, were taken sick August
3d, one of whom died; the other recovered.
Samuel Baker, whose dwelling house is directly
opposite the wharf where the Deborah lay, was on
the wharf July 31st, when his nostrils were assailed
with a very offensive stench from the ship, out of
which, the people who worked on board were
heaving some lumber, and which instantly induced
him to leave the wharf, was taken sick August 3d,
and recovered.
Daniel de Benneville, who rode by the wharf in
his chaise, daily for a week before his indisposition,
and for three days previous walked twice or thrice a
day on the banks, nearly opposite the wharf where
the ship lay, the wind blowing directly from the ship,
wasting a disagreeable stench, which he observed to
Manuel Eyre, the elder, who was in company;
and which produced a violent nausea, in consequence
of which he left the shade on the bank, returned to
his house, and took some lavender water and loaf
sugar, but without any effectual relief, until he
ejected

47 APPENDIX.
ejected the contents of his stomach, with a large
proportion of bile, by vomiting; he was taken sick
August 5th and recovered.
Catherine Pecky (Daniel de Benneville's house-
keeper) was taken sick August 7th, 11 o'Clock A.
M. and died August 19th.
Elizabeth de Benneville (wife of Daniel de
Benneville) was taken sick August 7th, P.M. and
recovered.
Joshua Baker (son of the aforesaid Samuel Baker)
who had been on board the Deborah, was taken
sick August 9th, and died August 15th.
Jacob Miller, who lived about 300 yards from
the ship, and daily walked by the wharf to his
work, was taken August 9th, and died August 15th.
Jane Newman, daughter of the widow Mary
Newman, who lived nearly opposite the wharf
where the ship lay, was taken sick August 10th,
and died August 25th.
Susannah Baker (wife of the aforesaid Samuel
Baker) was taken sick August 12th, and died Au-
gust 22d.
Sarah

48 APPENDIX.
Sarah Eyre (daughter of Manuel Eyre) was
taken sick August 15th, and recovered.
Charlotta Yard (wife of William Yard) was ta-
ken sick August 15th, and recovered.
Jacob Fawns, who worked on board the ship
Deborah whilst she lay at Kensington, was taken
sick and recovered.
Three apprentice boys belonging to George
Eyre, who worked about 100 yards from the
Deborah, were all taken sick, one of whom died,
and the rest recovered.
Cæsar Maul, a negro lad living with Daniel
de Benneville aforesaid, was taken sick August 19th,
and recovered.
John M'Curdy was taken sick whilst working on
board the Deborah, and recovered.
Thomas Norris, who worked on board the ship
Deborah from two days after she arrived, until she
failed, was seized, whilst working on board, with
a violent nausea, pain in his head, loins and extre-
mities, was relieved by severe vomiting and sweating
that 

49 APPENDIX.
that ensued the night following, and felt no man-
ner of indisposition thereafter.
Henry Underwick, William Moore, George
Jenny, and Allen Robinett, who worked on
Doughty's wharf, about 100 yards from the ship
Deborah, whilst she lay at Kensington, were all taken
sick about the latter end of August and the begin-
ning of September, and died.
I have been so repeatedly interrupted in this bu-
siness that necessity obliged me to do it in haste, and
with a pre-occupied mind. The people here are in
the day time employed in their several occupati-
ons, that I have been obliged to take the evening
and best part of the night to obtain correct intel-
ligence on this subject, and that at intervals:
which of course has taken longer time to effect my
purpose; and which you will excuse.
With unfeigned Esteem,
I am, Yours,
DANIEL DE BENNEVILLE.
Kensington, Nov. 27th, 1798.
G NOTE 

50 APPENDIX.
NOTE N.
Mr. Ralston was attacked with the fever July 25:
on the 29th, I first visited him, he died on the
30th. He was at work on board the ship Deborah
the three days immediately preceding the attack.
A Mr. Beaty, who assisted to nurse him, was at-
tacked August the 1st. I attended him two days, he
was then removed from near the hay-scales, North
Front street, to a small alley in North Seventh street,
where, I was informed by his brother, he died a few
days after.
J. PROUDFIT.
DR. GRIFFITTS.
John Butcher, a seaman residing in Mifflin's alley,
worked nine days on board the Deborah, first at
Race street wharf, then at Kensington; until he was
taken sick on the 2d August last. Being opposite
my laboratory, his wife requested I would call
and see him. He appeared to me to have the
symptoms of the yellow fever. He was immediately
bled plentifully, and briskly purged; he recovered
in

51 APPENDIX.
in 2 or 3 days. Doctor Proudsit also visited him and
was of the same opinion.
This being in the evening of the 3d August and
the health office shut, I requested Captain Lawler
to inform the Board thereof, who next morning sent
Doctor Duffield to visit him; when Butcher, by the
operation of the above remedies, was so much better
that Doctor Duffield doubted his having the disease.
Yet the impression was so great on my mind, that I
immediately sent my children to the country. I am
still of the opinion, that he was the first who brought
the fever into Mifflin's alley, where it was so fatal.
GEORGE HUNTER.
Philadelphia, December 1st, 1798.
NOTE O.
Dear Sir,
I met Davis Bevan in Second street, who informed
me, as a proof of the Deborah's being an unhealthy
vessel, that seven boys of Chester went in a boat to
see a comrade on board, staid with him an hour or
two, and returned: that in two or three days, six of
them were taken ill of a fever, supposed to be the
yellow

52 APPENDIX.
yellow fever, and that five of them died in less than
ten days. He said he would take his oath of this
fact, if required.
I think I am accurate, for it appeared to me a
strong confirmation of the Deborah's importing the
yellow fever of 1798.
Yours, Respectfully,
W. SHIPPEN, junr.
DR. GRIFFITTS.
December 26, 1798.
THE END.