No. 216.] 411 



the precincts to which I have alluded. The following communica- 

 tions contain the testimony of gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with 

 the character of these places, and the condition of their inmates, and 

 whose opinions are entitled to the most weighty consideration. 



I will only add to their views, that disorders arising and fostered 

 in these low places, will sometimes become so virulent as to extend 

 among and jeopard the lives of better classes of citizens; while on 

 the occurrence of general epidemics, these localities constitute minor 

 streams, whose poisonous waters, as they mingle with the great river 

 of disease, give additional impetus to its destructive current. 



From John A. Swett, M. D., one of the Attending Physicians of 

 the City Hospital. 



JYeW'York, August 12, 1844. 

 Dear Doctor. — The epidemic continued fever, about which we had 

 some conversation a few days ago, occurred during the summer and 

 autumn of 1837, at the time I was physician to the N. Y. Dispen- 

 sary, and had charge of a district, embracing a part of the 6th, 10th, 

 and 14th wards, being bounded on the north and south by Walker and 

 Chatham streets, and extending east and west, from Allen to Mott 

 streets. The first cases occurred, I think, in July, and the disease con- 

 tinued to prevail in the latter part of September, at which time I 

 ceased to observe it, being myself attacked with the same disease, 

 which confined me until the cold weather in December, at which 

 time the disease had disappeared in the district. 



The epidemic interesting me very much, the cases were carefully 

 observed, and in many instances full notes were taken of their history. 

 The number of cases which fell under my observation was probably 

 about thirty — it is very possible it exceeded this. They resembled 

 each other very much in their history, and the more so, probably, from 

 the fact that they were subjected to a very simple and uniform treat- 

 ment. The organs principally affected were the brain, and those of the 

 abdomen. Delirium and stupor, with tympanitis, and abdominal ten- 

 derness, were very commonly noticed, and often in a very marked de- 

 gree, although vomiting and diarrhoea were seJdom urgent, and always 

 easily controlled. The tongue always became dry as the disease ad- 

 vanced, and typhoid symptoms, although not in an aggravated form, 

 usually appeared before the termination. I remember the frequent 

 occurrence of rose colored spots over the abdomen, and that in some 

 instances, they were so large and numerous as to constitute one of 

 the most marked symptoms, resembling rather the eruption of roseola, 



