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mwtii,<;n? i. t r*cullaritle?and JnomaUeitftk* UU4 Efldfrnie tlllM , IF This subject would anpaartfjAt view toW more curious than useful 1 Imttvhen it it consi dered how far tho peculiarities and anomalies concomitant on a disease miy tend to establish the identity of it* character, it will be found not to be destitute of utility. It may atso bo of im portance to the practitioner upon liny new re currence of tlie disease* to be apprised of ita a homnlies and the consequence* to which they lead, and thereby aaved from those perplexing embarrassments which new IH singular apt pearances sometimes impose upon him. It has been the practice of medical writerato denominate ill catarrhs which have prevailed e pidetnirally by one common appellation imply fnjpan identity of character. " From Sydenham upwards to Hippocrates it was known and ia mentioned by the name of catarrhal!* febris e pidemica. Since Sydenham** time it has been variously named, hut ia now generally known by the name of influensa." How far this may be correct and propel- requires investigation*? In examining the history of epidemic catarrhs we And a very great diversity both in the symptoms and in the methods of cure | scarcely any two of them in immediate succession presenting a same* ness of character* If nosological terms are to be continued in use, it Is important that they should be applied with the utmost discrimination and strictest precision | otherwise unwary practiti oners anil others, seeing a method of treatment proscribed for a disease under the usual name by which it is known, will take it for their guide, right or wrong* and perhaps not discover their error until after the loss of several valua ble lives. A great source of this want of pre cision in'former times was doubtless the seldom recurrence of these epidemics, as according to Dr. Fothergill they hud appeared at uncertain intervals in Knglaiid during the two hundred and fifty years last preceding the year G4, on an average of only once in thirty onu years f but unfortunately for us in modern times this ex cuse docs not apply, for since the year 1768, they have returned in Kngland upon an average of once in only about every six years, and in this country since the year 1757 the average has been once in only about every .seven years. It prevailed in America in the years 1757, *flf ?72, *81, *89, *90, 1807 and '10, so that in this ratio it may return under the observation of one man, during an^ ordinary lifetime, six or .eight times, which a fiord* hut too ample an opportuni ty to industry and attentive remark to make ac curate observations and useful distinctions. III*. Hush remarks that " the influenza passes with the utmost rapidity through a country, and afTcctn the greatest number of people, in a given time, of any disease ill the world," in whiai hti is corroborated by many other writers. Hut our Jato epidemic was peculiarly slow in its progreits in pervading the country. In its march from the northward to the soiithwurd its progress an pears to hitvo been mil v from about one hundrc^ to two liurulrcdjiml fifty milea per annum. In tl,o winter of Tftl-1 it w#& ih^ rollatlelphla % In wardly an Salisbury, N. C. and in this winter it has visited most part* of South-Carolina. Since its invasion of this State,its progress from place to pluce lias been equally peculiar. * appearing in spots or neighborhood!! only .thirty or forty miles distant from each other, at pcriodsof four, five,six or eight weeks apart. It was also pecu liarly capricious in die circumscribed locality (of its prevalence,attacking one particular com* Imunitv. raging for eight or ten weeks, and then passing over u largo Intermediate tract of coun fry and sei/.ing on another circumscribed com munit v. In this way ii has been meandering through the State ever since early in last No vember, anil at this time it is still raging in aotne neighborhoods adjacent to others where it pre vailed early in the winter, and from which itnad long since passed oft*. It has been peculiar in raging^with the great est severity in the interior of the country, whilst ?the sea coast has been exempted orsufFer'd com Sarutively but littlo. And yet in the interior of ic state," the most swampy situations, mnrgiih* of rivers anil places most subject to the endemi a| autumnal bilious fevers, have suffered most, severely from the epidemic. It was likewise peculiar in its manifest predi-' lection for male subjects in preference to fe-| males. The proporiimi of femules attacked didI not perhaps exceed one tenth or one fifteenth part } but some few who were attacked seemed to have the disease eiptally as violent ,a? the males. Children under, four or live years of age were remarkably exempted, and amongst chil dren above that age the males most generally suffered. It was not peculiarly fatal to the ag ed, nor to stich as ban a prior tendency to pul monic affection", but on the contrary 'juimc Very old people recovered who had the disease se verely \ and, indeed, it fell with its greatest se verity and mortality on the robust, and on such as were in the m ime of life.??Corpulent persons appeared to enjoy an exemption j-?? ?an<I it was thought that Kuropeaus and the natixcM of the F.ustern Mates were much more exempted than the native* of more south ern latitudes. Females in a stato of pregnan cy were not more liable t abortions in thin dis ease than in others of eijv .1 violence, which un happily i* not the cane in epidemical catarrhs generally. To drunkards, a* iiinht liaxe been expected, it was generally fatal. l itis disease was peculiar in it? universal tendency to determine on the client in (lit* form of pneumonia. For although a small propor tion of caacs'dctei mined !o the head, blood .ves sels only, or throat, yet the tendency to the client was mi fie no ra I ?s almost, to warrant the denomination of an epidemic pleurisy 'Or peri piieiimony rather than that of inH*en/a. It inav ? n!/o he remarked that i elap?es were more sel dom than in ordinary influcti/a*. It was |ie? u? liailv under the influence of temperature and humidity. Upon the recurrence of cold damp weather, of which we have had an uniiaual share this whiter, the ca?es immediately multiplied, aud those who lutd been previously ill never fail ed to-beoWwofte. It. to tiling more expos ?. -o 0 <,nerilly jpold and uncomfortable.'? xpoauro to the external atmosphere ami cold, seemed constantly to predispose to tfoedUease, and hence, pevhaps, ia the reason why females, children and corpulent people were more ex empted from It than others, as corpatencesen as a defence against the lufluenco of <^ld. In two anomalous casef In this town the local determination to the brain was so sudden atiu violent in two robust men as to occasion convul sions, without an & premonitory symptoms.? UoththcRo caaos proved fatal, one within*<ttfc hours and the other withlna few days. In alaff ol 14 or 15 years Of age, tho disease was usher ed in by a sudden attack of stupor. ? He was travelling on the road in company with some others snd complained of nothing before he fell down in a state of insensibility. This case re covered. A pneumonic case occulred, of a ty phus nature, accompanied with a cough in eve ry respect resembling the hooping-cough, ex cept that the matte? of expectoration was uncom monly copious and purulent from the beginning This is a recent case, and after a tedious illness seems likely to recover. In three pneumonic cases towards the |>eriod of the criais tho dia-1 ease precipitated itself upon the cxtrciniticsa>ro* ducing an alarming state of phlegmonic inflam mation, which terminated the conatitutional dis ease by establishing copious auppuratiuns. In two or these cases it fell upon the arms, and the inflammations and enormous swelling* ex tended from the fingcra to the shoulders. The suppurations took place around the elbow in l>oth cases, forming extensive sinuses from which tho discharge kept up for many weeka, These are both recovering:,but threaten an anchylosis. Tho other case fell upon the leg, suppurated copiously and is doimr well. 1 was Informed by the physiciana of this place of three cases in which htvmorrhagcR from one or both ears occurred* in which the patients hist from ten to sixteen ounces of blood. One of these cases recovered. Three or four cases oc curred in which the eruption of a rash on the 2<l or 3d day, put AO end to the disease j nnd in one it appeared at late as the 4th or 3th week, in conjunction with the other usual symptoms at tending the crisis* and itemed to ue beneficial. Two pneumonic cases occurred in which un common copious bronchial or pulnomtry secre tions took place at a late stage of the disease, and after the condition of the patients had (riven hopes for several days of convalescence*. This secretion occurred suddenly and the matter of it wad expectorated by an exhausting paroxysm of coughing. The quantity expectorated atone time was from about four ounces to two pound?, in> the space of from fifteen minutes to two hours. In one of theso eases it recurred periodical!v witli uico precision, at the same hour and al most at the same minute in every twenty-four hours, for four or five times. The matter of this secretion had an intermedi ate appearance between pu? end mucus, of a wMio color with a taste not easily described, but more nearly resembling the taste of a raw egg than any thing else. This accretion was follow ed by evident and immediate relief to the chest. The respiration became more free, tho lungs more easily expanded, the remaining pains and uneasiness about the chest were mitigated, and the convalescence was visibly more rupid. These discharges gave an impression that they proceeded from the rupture of vomica; or absces ses which had formed in the lungs. Hut that this opinion,vWM erroneous is obvious from the following circumstances. Tho matter was ob viously different front the. matter of common ab I scesies as an experienced eve would readily per ceive. If, however, it had been real pus yet this alone would fall very far short of being proof that it proceeded from an abscess $ for itis a fact long since established that pus may be, and ve ry often is formed from inflamed secreting sur faces, and the secreting surfaces of the bronchia most especially are liable to take on this kirid<;j>f secretion. The expectoration of this matter was moreover regularly periodical after certain in tervals. It continued at each period about the same length of time and then gradually but ra ther abruptly ceased ; after which not a single I particle of it could be expectorated by any eflort of coughing, either spontaneous or intentional, until the next regular period of its recurrence. Now it is obvious that if this matter had pro ceeded from a ruptured abscess, however rapid arid copious the first discharge might have been, yet a supply of more or less matter must have been constantly formed in it until the abscess was heated | and must necessarily have been brought up, from timoto time, din ing the inter vals, by coughing. To suppose the contrary we murtt believo each dlscliarvn tu lmvi? consequence of the rupture of a distinct abscess mill the more especially as each succeeding dis charge'and wen the Inst wan equally as copious as the fir?t \ and then we must admit the prepos terous conclusion t hat each abscess was instantly healed upon being emptied. A conclusion, uii? fortunately for the subject* of pulmonary abs cesses, contrary to all ex|Mjrient'C. ffpon the whole I conclude that these dis charged were the effect of bronchial and pulmo nary accretion \ and that it was a mode of eva rnation attending the protracted crisis of the disease by which the lung* were unloaded of in farction* and possibly the whole system reliev ed of offending matter; for it ought to be re marked that both these caned had long pas ?ed the usual period of termination of the iiisease without the usual symptoms of expectoration. &c. attending thO crisis. In very many pneumonic cases a pain remain ed on the seat ot the inflammation during the whole time of convalescence. This pain from the circumstanced of its being so suddenly varia ble, omelime* better and sometimes worse in the course of n few minute*, and seldom giving any uneasiness except by an expansion of the thorax or some exertion of the muscles about the part, wan most probably of a rheumatic na ture. In one ca?c they seemed to occupy ever) intercostal muscle, giving considerable pain upon only in, their ortflftarf stAte of exertion. Al though these pain* were evidently seated in the intercostal muscles, yet there was an evident coftnexUn betwe'pn tnom aud the state of the -lungs, insomuch that a Cow. coughs and evea ?mill expectorations, would occasion ? mitigati on' of thefa for some time.' * I have given the principal peculiarities and anomalies that have attracted my attention, nn4 top leave to close this communication with a no tice of some popular .notions with regard to tho prevention of this formidable disease., 1 am in formed that the inhabitant* of Williamsburg!) district, where it has made great ravages, believe that the progress of tho dUefese has oeen com Ketelv stopped by burning their woods^ and it ?ai'i that soveral circumstances aflbrd consi tferable around* for the opinion. I am also in formed that a gentleman in the town of Granby. where the mortality has been almost unparalleled hail an early recuurBO to burninjr tar in his yard and about his doors. His family escaped the disea?c. Another gentleman of Camden, whose negroes were situated on his plantation not far from another where the negroes had experien ced uncommon mortality* upon perceiving that | the disease had made it anpearance in one of his kitchens had recourse to tne same expedient and the disease progressed no farther. In Fairfield district a notion has prevailed tlmt thosQ. who were employed in clearing lands where great quantities of brush and wood have been- neces sarily burned, huve been exempted from the dis ease. Is it int|K)ssible that these notions should have suinc foundation in truth ? The products of the combustion of various kinds of vegetable matter may contain Home active and potent a Rents. It is known to chymists that the com bustion of several substances, and especially the resinous wood of pine, produces carburctteil hy drogen-gas in very gtvat abundance. This gas from its affinities with some other spccics of mat ter is capable by combinations of totally chang ing their properties. Is it then impossible that this subntance should combine with the latent remote cause of the epidemic in the atmosphere and destroy its virulence ? Or is it impossible that carburetted hydrogen-gas should so influ ence the animal system as to destroy its suscep tibilities to the impressions of the remote cause f These ideas are altogctherhy pothetical but per haps not too absurd to demand some attention j nor to forbid a further enquiry into the eRects of combustion in arresting or destroying this all devouring monster. JAS. DAVIS. Columbia, 8. C. April 5, 1816. Errata in tail veelft '.Iccaunt of ihs F.fn'ilrmicF'.r*t column, line 18th from the top, fur cctdi read <???<#? Ine ,1l?t, read in between the word* or and l>cinfr?19tl? I ne from the bottom, for fir read tf. Bccnnd column? l.ne 6,teod in liolwcen the word* perhaps and nineteen t I ?e4i, Vor tfytpn* read ilt/tpnm ; line 46, for infraction read infarction | liive 01, for li/nunche, read cynntuhr.? Tli.rd column?line 14, insert thr hctuecn the word* ti> witrda U decline j line 48, for coaqulcncr rciul ctxtgulum i line Alt <or ormjh^nt r. trmipundrnt i line 114 for 'ft** r*?l onef>fitn*Uc. Fourth column, hue 12, for excr !/?? read exertion*. mow nir. Tru/jrum. FEMALR IIKNKVOLKNT HOCIKTY OKCOLUMWA. We noticed with much satisfaction, tlic first dawning of this respectable ami worthy institu tion, in which oil denominations of the pious and charitablu united in ah eftbrt to relieve the wants, and increase the comforts of suffering in digence. In hoped tliat other communities will imitate ho honorable an example* we take plea sure. in publishing the following address and con stitution of the society in tills place. " Mankind liavo no other means of expressing their love and gratitude to God, for the immense love and charity lie Ium* shewn them, than by practising all the acts of mercy in their power, one towards another. Kyery favor which he at any time bestows on man, lays him under an in dispensable obligation to mono God all the re turn of which he is canable. Hut how shall wo repay that Afokfity Jicing for the rich and dis tinguished blessings he. hath vouchsafed to us ? Can we ascend to tk$ fountain of eternal glory ? or enlarge the M^imrof llim, whom the Hea ven of Heavens cannot contain ? Shall man. frail man I the creature of a day, hope to extend the happiness of his Creator ? " Who hath at any time known the council of God ? Or who hath ascended up on high ?*? The only way by which wecan remunerate his goodness and mer cy, is by performing all the good deeds in our Imwer i by relieving the wants of the distressed, ly administering comfort to the unfortunate children of adversity, and'in binding up the wounds of the broken-hearted and disconsolate. Our blessed Savior in discoursing to the Jews, on the important principles of religion, after hav ing declared the love of God to be our first and greatest duty, immediately subjoined that most excellent rule of our faith, that we should love our neighbor air ourselves, and expressly declar ed that " on those two comtAandments rest all the law and the prophets." By the love of our neighbor, we arc here to understand, the great ami important duties of christian benevolcnce) charity to the poor,a zealous concern for our in digent brethren, " and all those who are any ways afllictcd in mind? bod v. or MUt#." Ami (lint our Lord intended (a impress this idea oil the minds of his hearers, in evident frotn the na? ture of hi* conversation with llio presumptuous lawyer in tin* gospel, who arrogantly enquired who was hin neighbor ? Mow admirable was the reply of the Hiviue Savior, in the beautiful and alVectiiiK narrative of the good Samaritan f How htrongly does he there inculeatc universal beuovoleiice ? The abashed eu<|uirer,stood con founded before bin Lord, and was nftectiohntely exhorted to imitate amiable a pattern of gooil works. And shall we seek to enquire," Lord who are our neighbor* ?M while they linger in our street#, and daily supplicate for the bread <>f life j while they anxiously waif at our doors fur the scanty "crumb* wliich fall from our ta bles." Lo, the cry of the orphan is heard, arid the weeping voice of the widow asking for the Heaven directed boon of chmHy ! 14 lllcssed is the man that providcth for the'sick and needy. the Lord shall deliver him in tho day of (rouble." Psalm xli. 1. We, the undersigned, convinced of'these truths, and anxious to promote the good order and welfare of our fellow creatures, have asso? elated ourselves into a society for tlie purpose of relieving all unfortunate persons who maybe re? duced by sickness or misfortune from a comfor table subsistence to poverty and distress?And that our views may ue fully realised, ami our exertions erowned with success, we have con stituted rules for the good order and govern ment of this'society, and do pledge owselvesto support and maintain them. .. Columbia, B. C. March 12th, 1810. CON8TITUTI0K.. Article 1. The object of this society shall bo (he relief of ell unfortunate persons?end it shall be denominated" The Female Benevolent So ciety of Columbia.1* 2. For carrying the purposes of the society in to effect, there snail be annually appointed a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, end Se cretary?-They sha'.t be appointed by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall constitute a choice. 3. The duties of both secretary and treasu rer, shall be performed by the treasurer and se cretary, who shall from timo to time, as the so ciety may require, exhibit a report of their stato of funds*; and their account with the society shall be examined and settled at the close of e very year, by a committee, whom the president shall appoint. 4. There shall be annually a meeting of the s(?clety in Columbia, at which timo elections shall be held for president and treasurer. ? 5. It shall he the duty of the president to di rect the secretary to notify the members of tlio time and place of every meeting, and to preside over and direct the aifuirs of the society with fidelity and y.cal. f>. ilicre shall every three months be a com i mittee of five appointed by the president, which slmll be denominated this 1'itHiit# Committee, whose duty it shall be to visit tlio siclc and af flicted, distribute such supplies as may by them be deemed expedient, and to inform the president of nil who may need the support of the society. 7. No person shall be considered a member of this society, until she shall have paid not less than one dollar ; and not less than one dollar shall by each member be annually |>aid into the hands of the treasurer. The treasurer shall al so receive all such donations, as the pious and benevolent mny at any time make for the pro motion of the purposes of the society. 8. The constitution shall not be altered unless it be at an annual meeting, with the consent of two thirds of the members, and the object of the societv shall never be changed. 9. No money shall be distributed to any per son who may come under the notice of tlio so ciety?it shall be the duty of the visiting com mit(cc to purchase clothing; and other necessaries of life, whi6h shall by them be distributed to the necessitous. 10. No money shall be paid bv the treasurer without an order from the presuleut, signed in behalf of tho visiting committee. 11. The names of the officers of the society nml the visiting committee, shall be sent (by the secretary) to all of the physicians?and "they shall be requested to give information to the so ciety, of Any person, whom, in the course of their practice, they may find objects worthy the attention of the society. 12. No new member can bo admitted into the society, without first sending a letter to the Pre sident, and then be voted in. 13. The members shall have the privilege of voting by proxy, when the absence of any one h unavoidable. 14. The president shall annually address a letter in behalf of tho society, to the different clergy residing In Columbia, praying that cha rity sermon# may be preacW to their different congregations, end collections made for the be nefit oftho society. 15. Air meetings of this society, shall be open ed and concluded with prayer. 10. The anniversary mee?Jing commences on the IGth of March 18lG ; tho society to aHsemble at tho Female Academy on the ICth, or the first Saturday after, and once every quarter?lCth of June, 16th of September, and IGth December, Officer$ of the Society. Mrs. F.I4aA DKMAtWHUItK, President. Mm. MARY PIHllP.lt, Vce.PrciMent. w Mr*. CAHOMNP.(it)l(iNAltI>,Treasurer. Mrs. P.I.P.ANOIt PttKClVAL, 8ccr?Ury. Mr*. M'f;ORJ>, Mr*. CIJFTON, ^ _ Mr*. 8 Alt AII F.VU8T, > WW//V Committee Mr*. YOONO, W Mr*. ARTHUR, i> 1 ? ^r^^^BammmKKBsasssBssBsmBsm COMMUNICATION. , I)cpartc<l tin* life, itt Ins residence in Lcx.ugtnn dis trict,on the 26th nr.March, Mr. Muth.us Wtu^ngcr.? Hi* illness wus tcdiou* nnd severe, but in th.s mo.t dit trrisiugtr.alhec/inccd the mngnaiumityof*n lione?t man vul the patient resignationoraChrUtiani bi* fum.lynnd numerous relatives have to deplore ihc Ins* of un 'affec tionate member, and ?ncielycnhn?t but feel the loss of a valuable citisen. It was particularly conni ng to hi* friends to whom his general moral character \? n* ever' conspicuous to witnc? die operation of a d.v no faith on hi* mind in the dark hour o)' death, he seemed un. dUmayed, but left his l>od of suffering under ? si rung and triumphant anurance of Ins enter.ng into the favor* of h'.a I/Mil. ? ?.i. .i hip, in i ? i?HT??mmt MORGAN Sf (MURKY, TTAVEjntt received at tfie.r Itook-Htwe, a vftrioiy of IE IIOOK8, among wh.cli arc the following vuluuMo publications i JefTcraonY Not?. 5 Mom* Umver. fs?*etuer. Minot'a lliitory. | Drowu'* lMenu, Cifelxeden'a Anatomy, { Trial of Virtue, Knox?* Winter Eveninn, ) lfolid?v* at Home, Mao'* Ancient (leogra. 2 RI.ANk HOOKH, ami |>hy With plate*, i lil.ANK f'AltOS. Hint foo Philosopher, j Btiit.Mi. ry, hr. ?<c. MORGAN Sf OIJIHKY, If AVR Jufit weeded at Uic.r Blorc,~l.5rt II p Cce* nf I'la n, fllrip'd an.l f'l <i?l NOHTIIP.HN HOMR8IM vl, Hi Wi|l lx> *ol<l very low by Uic p.eic Alto, 20 C*iVi CUT NAll/9, :.**?ric<'l ilm. Columbia, April 9. A HANK HILL WAS found by a Negro II iv, wlueh the owner may have l?y de?cril?.ng it, and paying f>r tbi? ivdvertlie ment. I^rtfpt'rf *1 thW OHl"" April9