Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In August 1797, Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin requests information from the College of Physicians on suspected yellow fever near Penn-street in Philadelphia. Dr. John Redman confirms a malignant contagious fever with 10-20 deaths. Dr. Benjamin Rush reports visiting patients with bilious yellow fever, attributing cases to contagion and putrid exhalations.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
AUTHENTIC.
SIR,
The alarm that prevails, respecting the appearance of the Yellow Fever in the neighborhood of Penn-street, induces me to request that you will be so obliging as to obtain from your brethren of the college of Physicians, a statement of the facts that have occurred in the course of their practice, and an early opinion on the best mode of averting the calamity that threatens.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant,
THOMAS MIFFLIN.
Philad. Aug. 14th, 1797.
To Dr. John Redman, President
of the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia.
HONORED SIR,
On the receipt of your letter, I immediately summoned the college of Physicians and laid it before them; and, from a full statement of the facts which have occurred upon the subject in the course of their practice, it is evident that a malignant contagious fever has lately appeared in Penn-street and its vicinity, of which ten or twenty persons have died.
Our opinions upon the best mode of averting the calamity which threatens us will be communicated to you as speedily as possible.
With all due respect, I am, Sir,
your aged friend and fellow-servant in the cause of humanity and the community.
JOHN REDMAN.
Aug. 16th, 1797.
Thomas Mifflin, Esq.
Gov. of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The following is a copy of doctor Rush's letter to the consulting inspector of sickly vessels, answer to an inquiry by the governor, respecting the existence of a malignant fever in this city.
"DEAR SIR,
"I now visit five patients daily, who are ill with the bilious yellow fever, one of whom probably received it from contagion: In the others, it was evidently produced by putrid exhalation. It appears to be the same fever, which has excited time out of mind, in our city, in common with most of the cities of the United States. Its late greater malignity than in former years, must be ascribed to causes which are obvious, and which have operated in a similar manner in other countries.
"From, dear sir, your
"sincere friend.
Aug. 14.
BENJ. RUSH.
"To Dr. Samuel Duffield."
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Philadelphia
Event Date
Aug. 14 17, 1797
Key Persons
Outcome
ten or twenty persons have died
Event Details
Alarm over yellow fever near Penn-street prompts Governor Mifflin to request facts and prevention advice from College of Physicians. Redman confirms malignant contagious fever in area with deaths. Rush reports daily visits to bilious yellow fever patients, some from contagion, others from putrid exhalations, noting increased malignity.