The New Hampshire Gazette Domestic News September 17, 1793

RELATIVE TO THE DISTEMPER PREVAILING IN PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA, August 28.

The Governor having directed an inquiry to ascertain the facts, respecting the existence of a contagious fever in the city, and the probable means of removing it, Doctor Hutchinson, the Physician of the Port, has made the following statement upon the subject.

Dear Sir,

IMMEDIATELY on the receipt of your letter, with the enclosure from the Governor, stating that a considerable alarm had taken place, in consequence of the appearance of an infectious disorder in this city, I endeavored to take measures to ascertain the facts, relative to the existence of such disease; for this purpose, I wrote to such of my medical brethren, who had been called on to attend persons supposed to have been infected, and from their answers, as well as from my own observations, I am convinced that a malignant fever has made its appearance in Water street and in Kensington; principally in Water street between Arch and Race streets. This part of the city I examined personally on Thursday and Friday last, and found that east of Front street, and between Arch and Race streets, sixty seven persons were diseased, many with the malignant fever. Thirteen of them are since dead, and numbers remain ill. For a while, this fever was confined to the above mentioned part of the city, but the disorder is spreading, and now appears in other places, so that several are affected in other parts of Water street, some in Second street, some in Vine street, some in Carter's Alley, some in other streets; but in most cases, the contagion can be traced to Water street. Dr. Say, who has attended more in this disease than any other physician, informs me, that he first observed it in Kensington, on the fifth or sixth of this month; that he did not perceive it in Water street, until about the twelfth or fifteenth, but that on its appearance in the latter place, the whole neighborhood were soon affected. Further informs me, that he has at this time upwards of 40 patients, which he supposes to be infected; and that he has lost about 20 patients in this disease, since its first appearance. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the number of persons who have died altogether of this fever, amounts to 40 or thereabouts.

The general opinion, both of the medical gentlemen, and of the inhabitants of Water street, is, that the contagion originated from some damaged coffee, or other putrified vegetable and animal matters; and, on inquiry, it appears, that a few wharves above Arch-street, there was not only a quantity of damaged coffee, which was extremely offensive, exposed for some time, but also some putrid hides, and other putrid animal and vegetable substances. Should, however, Dr. Say's opinion be well founded, that he observed the disease in Kensington previously to its appearance in Water street, this cannot be the original cause of the contagion.

It does not appear to be an imported disease; for I have heard of no foreigners or sailors, that have hitherto been infected; nor has it been found in any lodging houses; but it is, on the contrary, principally confined to the inhabitants of Water street, and such as have done business, or had considerable intercourse, with that part of the city. The Dispensary Physicians tell me, that out of the large number of sick, now under the care of that charitable institution, they have had but one person afflicted with this fever. In the Pennsylvania Hospital, the disorder does not exist.

The disease appears differently in different persons; it puts on all the intermediate forms between a mild Remittent and the worst species of Typhus Gravior.

I enclose you a copy of the proceedings of the College of Physicians, which contain their recommendation of the means for preventing the future progress of the disease.

I am, with the greatest respect,
Your most obedient Servant,
JAMES HUTCHINSON.
Philadelphia, Aug. 27, 1793.
Nath: Falconer, Esq.
Health Officer of the Port of Philadelphia.