Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1066

BENJAMIN RUSH (1745-1813) An account of the bilious remitting yellow fever. Printed by Thomas Dobson 1794 x, 363 pp. 20.5 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 1065

This is Rush's vivid and graphic account of the devastating wave of yellow fever which decimated some ten percent of Philadelphia's residents in 1793. His belief that the disease arose from local factors within the city resulted in much criticism from his medical colleagues and local authorities. Rush worked unceasingly in fighting the epidemic and wisely insisted upon isolation of the sick, strict sanitation surrounding the afflicted, and evacuation of healthy citizens. His therapeutic measures consisted of large doses of purgatives, hydrotherapy, starvation diet, and generous bloodletting.

Cited references: Austin 1631; Cushing R320; Garrison-Morton 5453; Waller 8325

Gift of John Martin, M.D.