114 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



fore the pneumonic symptoms are developed, it is called head pleurisy ; and symp- 

 toms of prostration and continued debility, with pain in the chest, and cough, be- 

 ing usually present, the term typhoid pneumonia is most commonly applied to it 

 by physicians: in the fall or spring, when bilious symptoms exist, it is called 

 bilious pleurisy. 



It occurs musily during the prevalence of long-continued cold spells, and more 

 frequently with wet weather. It is rarely found on highland plantations, and if 

 at all, is confined to such negroes as are more or less exposed to work in low 

 and wet grounds. On swamp plantations the disease is epidemic ; but as far as 

 mv experience extends, I have known but few cases on upland settlements.* 



I have met with most cases ia January and February, although it frequently 

 commences in November and continues until spring. During the winter of 1841, 

 the weather was unusually variable, with much rain, but so little intense cold 

 that there was no ice continuing for more than a day or two, and none thick 

 enough to be preserved. On the plantations in my charge, where there are about 

 twelve hundred negroes, there were then fewer cases than usual — in all, proba- 

 bly, not over fifty — while during the next winter, on one place, among three 

 hundred there were seventy-two cases, and on another, forty-seven among a hun- 

 dred and fifty. 



Old negroes, and such as are weak from any previous disease, are more liable 

 to be attacked. Children under ten years are not often affected ; yet I have 

 known several cases of five or six years of age, where death has been sudden, 

 with similar symptoms as in the adults ; these have usually been such cases as 

 the old women call luormy — children of weakly constitutions, who have suffered 

 more than others from worms. When such children are attacked, they rarely 

 recover. 



Where the disease is violent in its attack, the patient suddenly becomes cold 

 and pulseless, lethargic, and often insensible, without previous complaint ; and 

 I have known cases found dead, or die within three or four hours from being ap- 

 parently well.* 



''Jan. 12, 1842. I Avas sent for to-day to see a case which I found in articulo 

 mortis, January, «t. 32, strong and active ; plowed yesterday until 12 M. : felt 

 badly ; had pain in head and chest ; came home ; was very giddy ; skin cold and 

 pulse very small and quick ; sinapisms were applied to the extremities, and a 

 blister to the chest ; a dose of ipecac, was given to him by the overseer ; he vom- 

 ited freely, but no reaction came on. 1 found him at 11 A. M. with a cold skin, 

 thread-like pulse, brcatiiing quick ; complained of pain over the eyes ; his in- 

 tellect icas perfectly clear ; tongue red at the edges, covered Avilh a dry, brown 

 crust ; throat and mouth dry and parched, with sordes about the teeth ; chest 

 .sounded clear over its whole extent ; v/as powerless. Hot applications and 

 stimulating frictions had no effect on his skin : carbonate of ammonia with whisky 

 toddy had no inffucnce on his pulse ; he died at 6 P. M." 



In this case the patient seemed to die from a direct prostration of nervous 

 power; and the clearness of intellect was a remarkable symptom. 



Jan. 30. I was called to a case taken late last night with chill and cold skin ; 

 pulseless; pain in head; lethargic; unable to move himself; he bad sinapisms, 

 stimulating frictions, pepper tea (infusion of capsicum): was dead at 10 A. M. 

 when I reached him. 



" Bob, at. 35, was apparently well ; about 12 M. said he felt cold and weak ; 

 the overseer sent for me a distance of seven miles; 1 reached him in about lour 

 hours ; he was then dead. 



Several other cases of the disease occurred on this place at this time, of mild 

 form ; others more severe occurred afterward : 1 did not fot a moment doubt that 

 he died from it. I have frequently been called to cases of twelve or twenty 

 hours' standing, and found them dying. 



" Nat, set. 55, worked in the field and did his full task ; came home in the 

 evening well ; sat by the lire and talked as usual ; about 9 P. M. complained of 

 feeling weak and cold ; the nurse was not sent for ; he was covered with blank- 

 ets and remained, as was supposed, asleep until moruiag. 1 was called to see 

 him ; found him cold, insensible, i)ulseless. The nurse had givea him warm 



* rhirinf! the ptift sjuin^ ■'t'- H^) \ undorvltini;! it ha? prcviiiU'd on «cvciul upUind pliiccs in i^t. .Mmthew's 

 pohcb, K. C. 



