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Domestic News
November 11, 1809
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Dr. Ralph Cuming from Antigua describes a yellow fever cure using sponging with rum or spirits to induce perspiration and cooling, dated October 24, 1807. The remedy has been successfully applied in recent cases in Charleston.
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From the Charleston Courier.
Yellow Fever.--A letter has been addressed to the merchants at Lloyd's coffee house, by Dr. Ralph Cuming, of the Devon hospital at Antigua, dated 24th October, 1807, on the subject of a cure of the Yellow Fever. We extract, [says a London editor] the following passages:--
"I have discovered, that sponging the head, body and limbs of a patient, on the first attack of fever, with rum, or other ardent spirit, is the most effectual which can be used. The principle on which it acts, is evaporation, and the degree of cold produced will be in ratio proportioned to the strength or volatility of the spirit employed. It has a two-fold effect; due at the same time that it refrigerate the burning body, it excites by its stimulant affect on the skin, the perspiratory organs into action, and soon produces a perspiration. All the naval surgeons who have visited English harbor, and who have had the fever on board their ships, have used the remedy recommended by me, and are delighted with its speedy and salutary effects; from whom, as well as myself certificates have been transmitted to government."
The doctor afterwards directs, "that when a person is seized with pains in the head, and with a hot skin, &c. in tropical countries, he is to be stripped naked, exposed to the action of the air, and to be sponged all over with spirits, until the skin is cool, not suffering the pulse to fall below sixty: he then is to be put to bed, and to have a purge, and an opening injection or clyster. As soon as the fever returns, the sponging with spirits is to be resorted to. Bleeding, in proportion to the strength of the patient, will be necessary, which should never be deferred 24 hours after the first attack." The Doctor adds, "I hope after this information, that people destined to the West-Indies, will come home with greater fortitude, and not waste their money on the quackeries of the day, and fill their trunks with yellow fever remedies. When the skin is moist, and perspiration flows freely, the spirit is no longer to be used--after the perspiration has flowed for some time, which may be supported by lemon grass, mint, or common tea, the cure is to be completed by an infusion of quassia or decoction of bark, and former habits by degrees be returned to."
We understand that this remedy has been applied, with success, in several recent cases in this city.
Yellow Fever.--A letter has been addressed to the merchants at Lloyd's coffee house, by Dr. Ralph Cuming, of the Devon hospital at Antigua, dated 24th October, 1807, on the subject of a cure of the Yellow Fever. We extract, [says a London editor] the following passages:--
"I have discovered, that sponging the head, body and limbs of a patient, on the first attack of fever, with rum, or other ardent spirit, is the most effectual which can be used. The principle on which it acts, is evaporation, and the degree of cold produced will be in ratio proportioned to the strength or volatility of the spirit employed. It has a two-fold effect; due at the same time that it refrigerate the burning body, it excites by its stimulant affect on the skin, the perspiratory organs into action, and soon produces a perspiration. All the naval surgeons who have visited English harbor, and who have had the fever on board their ships, have used the remedy recommended by me, and are delighted with its speedy and salutary effects; from whom, as well as myself certificates have been transmitted to government."
The doctor afterwards directs, "that when a person is seized with pains in the head, and with a hot skin, &c. in tropical countries, he is to be stripped naked, exposed to the action of the air, and to be sponged all over with spirits, until the skin is cool, not suffering the pulse to fall below sixty: he then is to be put to bed, and to have a purge, and an opening injection or clyster. As soon as the fever returns, the sponging with spirits is to be resorted to. Bleeding, in proportion to the strength of the patient, will be necessary, which should never be deferred 24 hours after the first attack." The Doctor adds, "I hope after this information, that people destined to the West-Indies, will come home with greater fortitude, and not waste their money on the quackeries of the day, and fill their trunks with yellow fever remedies. When the skin is moist, and perspiration flows freely, the spirit is no longer to be used--after the perspiration has flowed for some time, which may be supported by lemon grass, mint, or common tea, the cure is to be completed by an infusion of quassia or decoction of bark, and former habits by degrees be returned to."
We understand that this remedy has been applied, with success, in several recent cases in this city.
What sub-type of article is it?
Disease Or Epidemic
What keywords are associated?
Yellow Fever
Cure
Sponging With Spirits
Dr Ralph Cuming
Antigua
Charleston
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Ralph Cuming
Where did it happen?
Charleston
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Charleston
Event Date
24th October, 1807
Key Persons
Dr. Ralph Cuming
Outcome
applied, with success, in several recent cases in this city
Event Details
A letter from Dr. Ralph Cuming describes sponging patients with rum or ardent spirits to treat yellow fever by evaporation and inducing perspiration, combined with purging, injections, bleeding, and later infusions; naval surgeons have used it successfully and sent certificates to government.