With all these causes for the increased prevalence and mortality of the fever, it plainly exhibited in its progress and various symptoms, the most malignant character. The number of those who recovered from an attack, between the 15th September, and 10th October, the period of its greatest prevalence, was small; though the number cannot be ascertained. After the latter period, as cooler weather advanced, the disease assumed a milder character, and more frequently yielded to the powers of medicine.
In its type and symptoms it seems to have exhibited no peculiar characteristic marks or effects to distinguish it from the yellow fever of other seasons and places, as described by physicians; unless it be the greater mortality which attended it, and that is believed to be justly attributed to the causes already mentioned. Patients died commonly in one, three, or five days after taken, with all the symptoms of decided yellow fever. In the character of the disease, all the physicians agreed, but different methods of treating it were practised.
The committee find difficulty in ascertaining “the extent of the sickness and mortality” with arithmetical exactness; although four of their number were continually in town, during the prevalence of the fever, and two others a considerable portion of the time. For a while the disease seemed to be mostly confined to those employed about the river and wharves, but in a few days after the prevalence of north wind, and clear, hot sun, (September 10th,) it spread rapidly thro’ the whole town, and from that date seems to have affected the Creole inhabitants, people of colour, and even slaves. It is also noticed to have been equally mortal with the female, as the male population; though the former might be supposed less exposed to the influence of the general causes of the disease, but they were, perhaps, oftentimes more exposed to the fever in their immediate attendance on the sick. The number of deaths from the first August to the tenth September, embracing every description of people, was estimated by the physician who attended the hospital, and the greatest number of the poor, and was probably better informed on the subject than any other person, at an average of one a day—forty souls. This may be nearly correct: and of this number it is ascertained that only nine were inhabitants of the town, or embraced in any estimate of our population. These persons are known to have died of various diseases incident to the climate, excepting five or six—who are supposed to have died of yellow fever. After the above period, the fever assumed the predominant type, and spread death and dismay. From the tenth of September to the termination of the fever in November, 113 died, (four not of fever;) making the number of our inhabitants, who probably died of the malignant fever, 115. From July first to December first, the total number of deaths, including those who died out of town, and those who died by casualties, was 137. The number of boatmen, sailors, and workmen discharged from the public works, and transient persons, who died at Mobile, during the latter period named, is supposed, from the best information that can be obtained, to have equalled that of the inhabitants, giving a total of 274.
But to give an adequate idea of “the extent of the sickness and mortality,” it seems necessary to notice the population of the town at different periods of its prevalence; and here we must necessarily resort to conjectural estimates. In the month of July, the resident population of the town is estimated at 1,300 souls, and on the tenth September, 800, which were, in a few days after the known prevalence of yellow fever, reduced to 500, and it is to be remarked that a considerable portion of these were in the suburbs of the town, where the fever did not prevail.
But in a proportional view of the mortality to the population, exposed to the disease, the number of our citizens who died of other diseases antecedent to the prevalence of the fever, boatmen, sailors, and other transient persons are to be deducted, which would shew the loss of our inhabitants by the recent fever to be 115: and affords a proof of its dreadful malignity.
It was observed that the suburbs of the town, at no greater distance than one mile from the river, were as healthy, during the prevalence of the fever, as more distant parts of the country; and it is not known that the disease was communicated, in any instance, to persons out of the town, by the removal and attendance of the sick. Hence we infer that the disease is only communicable in the atmosphere where it originated; and even there, some pre-disposing causes appear to have been necessarily existing, as a number of persons frequently in rooms with the sick, the dying and the dead, in circumstances of the greatest exposure, never took the fever.
Some remarks upon the general state of the country around, in regard to sickness or health, being intimately connected with this subject, as influenced by general and common causes, may not be deemed improper. At New-Orleans, Baton-Rouge, Natchez, and perhaps, generally upon the Mississippi, as high as the latter place, the same species of fever seems to have prevailed with great mortality. Natchez and New-Orleans, it is understood, have suffered beyond any former examples; and in fact, almost all our cities upon the sea coast, from Maine to Louisiana, appear to have suffered in a greater or less degree from the same species of fever; though they were favoured by a long established and well regulated police.
In the interior of the country, upon the waters of the Tombecbe and Alabama, the sickness and mortality was greater than was ever known before. At St. Stephens, Jackson, Fort Claiborne, and other places on those rivers, bilious fevers, of the worst grade prevailed; and in many instances we are warranted in saying, that in type and symptoms it differed little from the fever, which prevailed in this town.
The season has been a very uncommon one, and has produced as uncommon effects; and wherever it has operated upon local causes, it appears to have produced malignant fevers. In the town of Mobile,[[1]] art and labour could scarcely have combined a more destructive mass, for the production of malignant fever, under the operation of such a season, than is found to have been laboriously collected together in filling up lots, streets, and wharves: and the committee would do injustice to their own feelings, and their sense of the duty they owe their fellow-citizens, were they to suppress a warning voice of the danger that yet awaits them: if they be not zealous and active in removal of the numerous causes of disease, daily trodden under their feet, daily presented to their view. While they walk the streets, disease will assail them in every quarter, while they slumber in their beds, they will breathe the poison of death, until the yards and enclosures are cleansed—until the streets and wharves are radically reformed; and then, by the blessing of God, we shall prosper in health.
| JACOB LUDLOW, | } | Committee. |
| DAVID RUST, | ||
| H. V. CHAMBERLAIN, | ||
| ADDIN LEWIS, | ||
| Dr. MAJOR, | ||
| EDWARD HALL, | ||
| PHILIP M’LOSKEY. |