PUERPERAL FEVER 251 



and April I2th, all of which did well, and presented no 

 peculiar symptoms. It should also be stated that during 

 these seventeen days he was in attendance on all the cases 

 of erysipelas in the house where the autopsy had been 

 performed. I owe these facts to the prompt kindness of 

 a gentleman whose intelligence, and character are suf- 

 ficient guaranty for their accuracy. 



The two following letters were addressed to my friend 

 Dr. Storer by the gentleman in whose practice the cases 

 of puerperal fever occurred. His name renders it un- 

 necessary to refer more particularly to these gentlemen, 

 who on their part have manifested the most perfect free- 

 dom and courtesy in affording these accounts of their 

 painful experience. 



"January 28, 1843. 



II. ... " The time to which you allude was in 1830. 

 The first case was in February, during a very cold time. 

 She was confined the 4th, and died the I2th. Between 

 the loth and 28th of this month I attended six women 

 in labor, all of whom did well except the last, as also two 

 who were confined March ist and 5th. Mrs. E., confined 

 February 28th, sickened, and died March 8th. The next 

 day, 9th, I inspected the body, and the night after at- 

 tended a lady, Mrs. B., who sickened, and died i6th. The 

 loth, I attended another, Mrs. G., who sickened, but re- 

 covered. March i6th I went from Mrs. G/s room to 

 attend a Mrs. H., who sickened, and died 21 st. The i/th, 

 [ inspected Mrs. B. On the iQth, I went directly from 

 Mrs. H.'s room to attend another lady, Mrs. G., who also 

 sickened, and died 22d. While Mrs. B. was sick, on isth, 

 I went directly from her room a few rods, and attended 

 another woman, who was not sick. Up to 20th of this 

 month I wore the same clothes. I now refused to attend 

 any labor, and did not till April 21 st, when, having thor- 

 oughly cleansed myself, I resumed my practice, and had 

 no more puerperal fever. 



" The cases were not confined to a narrow space. The 

 two nearest were half a mile from each other, and half 

 that distance from my residence. The others were from 



