In the month of September, 1823, some cases of fever, with pustular eruption, first arrested the attention of the medical faculty, some of whom were, of course, called on to render professional assistance. The residence of some of the persons, thus attacked, in Water street, and their emigration from Europe, naturally induced a suspicion of this disease being no other than the small-pox, imported by, or brought in with them. Very nearly about the same time, however, some scattered cases of a similar eruptive disease, were noticed in the upper or western portion of the city, without our being able to trace any intercourse or connexion between these and the others in the lower or eastern part, viz. Water street.

The first return of death from small-pox, furnished by the Board of Health, was in the week between the 13th and 20th of September. The next was between the 4th and 11th of October. From this time to the end of the year there was a progressive increase of mortality, and the annual return for 1823, presented no fewer than one hundred and sixty deaths by small-pox. The greatest mortality in any one week was thirty-three, from December 20 to 27. During the months of January, February and March, 1824, the disease prevailed extensively, and was fatal to many. In the following months its violence subsided, and in the month of June our attendance on the temporary hospital[11] was discontinued, in consequence of a resolution of the Managers of the Alms House to close it. Though a few patients were afterwards received into it, yet the malady soon disappearing, justified its final closure. The annual return for 1824 exhibited three hundred and twenty-four deaths by small-pox. The entire mortality from this cause was four hundred and seventy-three, in a period of twelve months, from November 1, 1823, to November 1, 1824. The deaths before the first, and after the second date, were but eleven.[12] Contagious as this disease unquestionably was, we cannot, at the same time, withhold our belief of its having been in a measure subjected to epidemical influences, viz. in a particular character of the seasons and atmospherical changes. It is then within our province, as historians of events, rather than as expounders of causes, to present our readers with a summary account of the weather during the years 1823 and 1824. We do this both from a sense of duty, considering it as pertinent to our present labour, and from a wish to encourage others by our example to preserve and transmit the meteorological registers, in their respective districts, of those years, marked by new or aggravated diseases.

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.[13]

Winds—Days.
1823.MeanTemp.Variat. Therm.Variat. Barom.Snow & Rain Water. Inches.N. W. to S. W.N. E. to S. E.
January, 31 44 0.94 3.38 22 8
February, 25 42 1.17 1.93 22 6
March, 37 52 1.65 6.87 21 9
April, 55 47 1.08 1.77 16 14
May, 61 52 0.88 1.60 19 8
June, 68 46 0.65 0.87 20 10
July, 72 30 0.58 6.12 23 6
August, 72 35 0.60 4.68 21 8
September, 63 51 0.61 3.46 15 12
October, 53 42 0.60 2.02 21 9
November, 38 38 0.81 2.47 21 9
December, 34 31 1.07 7.37 21 10
————————
For the year,50-3/4 88 1.7042.54 242 109
1824.
January, 36 48 1.25 3.67 24 7
February, 31 59 1.55 3.94 21 7
March, 40 39 0.71 2.63 16 15
April, 50 45 1.08 4.54 22 8
May, 60 44 0.88 1.59 24 7
June, 73 46 0.69 6.09 25 5
July, 74 30 0.38 8.80 19 8
August, 70 36 0.45 6.39 20 11
September, 64 41 0.65 6.60 17 7
October, 54 43 0.65 1.53 23 5
November, 42 38 0.89 2.49 24 6
December, 37 43 0.95 2.11 24 7
————————
For the year,52-1/2 85 1.5550.38 259 93
The temperature of the wells and springs, in and near Philadelphia, is 52° Fahrenheit.

1823.
Maximum ofTherm.91,June 19.Maximum of Barom.30.45,Nov. 29.
Minimum"3,Feb. 7.Minimum"28.75,March 30.
— ——
Variation, 88 1.70
1824.
Maximum ofTherm.90,June 8.Maximum of Barom.30.45,Feb. 6.
Minimum"5,Feb. 2.Minimum"28.90,Feb. 26.
— ——
Variation, 85 1.55

The amount of water which fell in rain and snow during the four years, from 1822 to 1825, inclusive, was,

1822. 1823. 1824. 1825.
Inches, 35.20 42.54 50.38 33.26

We next subjoin a summary of deaths by fever, erysipelas and measles, in the above period; being more desirous of narrating all the circumstances associated with the appearance and continuance of the small-pox, than of insisting on them as supporting causes or necessary connexions. It will appear from the accompanying statement, that the diseases febrile and eruptive were in number, violence and mortality unusually great, in the above mentioned years, as we discover by comparison with the returns for 1822 and 1825.

Deaths by
Fevers.Erysipelas.Measles.Small-pox.
1822510400
182375824156160
182465428102324
182537512386