Short Account of Malignant Fever in Philadelphia – Chapter X (1793), 
Philadelphia County, PA

Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Marjorie B. Winter [marjw@cox.net]

Copyright.  All Rights Reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
*********************************************************


CHAP.  X.  Proceedings at Chestertown—At New-York —At Trenton and Lamberton—At 
Baltimore.

	THE effects produced by those tales were such as might be reasonably 
expected.  The consternation spread through the several states like wild-fire.  
The first public act that took place on the subject, as far as I can learn, was 
at Chestertown, in Maryland.  At this place, a meeting was held on the 10th of 
September, and several revolves entered into, which, after specifying that the 
disorder had extended to Trenton, Princeton, Woodbridge, and Elizabeth-town, on 
the post-road to New-York, directed, that notice should be sent to the owners of 
the stages not to allow them pass through the town, while there should be reason 
to expect danger therefrom; and that a committee of health and inspection should 
be appointed, to provide for the relief of such poor inhabitants as might take 
the disorder, and likewise for such strangers as might be infected with it.  In 
consequence of these revolves, the eastern shore line of stages was stopt [Ed.  
stopped] in the course of a few days afterwards.

	The alarm in New-York was first officially announced by a letter from the 
mayor to the practicing (Page 48) physicians, dated Sept.  11th, in which he 
requested them to report to him in writing the names of all such persons as had 
arrived, or should arrive from Philadelphia, or any other place, by land or 
water, and were or would be sick; and that such as should be deemed subjects of 
infectious diseases might be removed out of the city.  He notified them, that 
the corporation had taken measures to provide a proper place as an hospital, for 
such persons as might unhappily become subjects of the fever in New-York.  In 
this letter the mayor declared his opinion clearly, that the intercourse with 
Philadelphia, could not be lawfully interrupted by any power in the state.  The 
12th appeared a proclamation from governor [of New York] Clinton,  which, 
referring to the  act to prevent the bringing in, and  spreading of infectious 
disorders, prohibited in the terms of that act, all vessels from Philadelphia, 
to approach nearer to the city of New-York, than Bedlow's island, about two 
miles distant, till duly discharged.  The silence of this proclamation, 
respecting passengers by land, seemed to imply that the governor's opinion on 
the subject was the same as that of the mayor.

	The same day, at a meeting of the citizens, the necessity of taking some 
precautions was unanimously agreed upon, and a committee of seven appointed to 
report a plan to a meeting to be held next day.  Their report, which was 
unanimously agreed to, the 13th recommended to hire two physicians, to assist 
the physician of the port in his examination of vessels; to check, as much as 
possible, the intercourse by stages; to acquaint the proprietors of the southern 
stages, that it was the earnest wish of the inhabitants, that their carriages 
and boats should not pass during the prevalence of the disorder in Philadelphia; 
and to request the practitioners of physic to report, without sail, every case 
of fever, to which they might be called, occurring in any person that had or 
might arrive from Philadelphia, or have intercourse with them.  Not satisfied 
with these measures, the corporation, on the 17th, came to resolution to stop 
all intercourse (Page 49) between the two cities; and for this purpose guards, 
were placed at the different landings, with orders to send back every person 
coming from Philadelphia; and if any were discovered to have arrived after that 
date, they were to be directly sent back.  Those who took in lodgers were called 
upon to give information of all people of the above description, under pain of 
being prosecuted according to law.  All good citizens were required to give 
information to the mayor, or any member of the committee, of any breach in the 
premises.

	These strict precautions being eluded by the fears and the vigilance of 
the fugitives from Philadelphia, on the 23d there was a meeting held, of 
delegates from the several wards of the city, in order to adopt more; effectual 
measures.  At this meeting, it was resolved to establish a night watch of not 
less than ten citizens in each ward, to guard against every attempt to enter 
under cover of darkness.  Not yet eased of their fears, they next day published 
an address, in which they mentioned, that notwithstanding their uttermost 
vigilance many persons had been clandestinely landed upon the shores of New-York 
island.  They therefore again called upon their fellow, citizens to be cautious 
how they received strangers into their houses; not to fail to report all such to 
the mayor immediately upon their arrival; to remember the importance of the 
occasion; and to consider what reply they should make to the just resentment of 
their fellow citizens, whose lives they might expose by a criminal neglect, or 
infidelity.  They likewise declared their expectation, that those who kept the 
different ferries on the shores of New-Jersey and Staten island would pay such 
attention to their address, as not to transport any person but to the public 
landings, and that in the day time, between sun and sun.  The 30th they 
published a lengthy address, recapitulating the various, precautions they had 
taken—the nature of the disorder -- and the numbers who had died out of 
Philadelphia, without communicating it to any one.  They at the same time 
resolved, that goods, bedding, and (Page 50) clothing, packed up in 
Philadelphia, should, previous to their being brought into New York, be unpacked 
and exposed to the open air in some well ventilated place, for at least 48 
hours; that all linen or cotton clothes, or bedding, which had been used, should 
be well washed in several waters; and afterwards, that the whole, both such as 
had been and such as had not been used, should be hung up in a close room, and 
well smoked with the fumes of brimstone for one day, and after that again 
exposed for at least twenty four  hours to the open air; and that the boxes, 
trunks, or chests, in which they had been packed, should be cleaned and aired in 
the same manner; after  which, being repacked, and such evidence given of their 
purification, as the committee should require, permission might be had to bring 
them into the city.
	
	The 11th of October, they likewise resolved, that they would consider and 
publish to the world, as enemies to the welfare of the city, and the lives of 
its inhabitants, all those who should be so selfish and hardy, as to attempt to 
introduce any goods, wares, merchandize, bedding, baggage, etc. imported from, 
or packed up in Philadelphia, contrary to the rules prescribed by that body, who 
were, they said, deputed to express the will of their fellow citizens.  They 
recommended to the inhabitants to withstand any temptation of profit, which 
might attend the purchase of goods in Philadelphia, as no emolument to an 
individual, they added, could warrant the hazard to which such conduct might 
expose the city.  Besides all these resolves, they published daily statements of 
the health of the city, to allay the fears of their fellow citizens.

	On the 14th of November, the committee resolved that passengers coming 
from Philadelphia to New York, might be admitted, in future, together with their 
wearing apparel, without restriction, as to time, until further orders from the 
committee.
	
	The 20th, they declared that they were happy to announce to their fellow 
citizens, that health was restored (Page 51) to Philadelphia; but that real 
danger was still to be apprehended from the bedding and clothing of those who 
had been ill of the malignant fever and that they had received satisfactory 
information, that attempts had been made to ship on freight considerable 
quantities of beds and bedding from Philadelphia for their city.  They therefore 
resolved that it was inexpedient, to admit the introduction of beds or bedding 
of any kind, or feathers in bags, or otherwise; also, second-hand wearing 
apparel of every species, coming from places infected with the yellow fever; and 
that whosoever should attempt so high-handed an offence as to bring them in, and 
endanger the lives and health of the inhabitants, would justly merit their 
resentment and indignation.

	The inhabitants of Trenton and Lamberton associated on the 13th of 
September, and on the 17th passed several resolutions to guard themselves 
against the contagion.  They resolved that a total stop should be put to the 
landing of all persons from Philadelphia, at any ferry or place from Lamberton 
to Howell’s ferry, four  miles above Trenton; that the intercourse by water 
should be prohibited between Lamberton, or the head of tide water, and 
Philadelphia; and that all boats from Philadelphia, should be prevented from 
landing either goods or passengers any where between Bordentown and the head of 
tide water, that no person whatever should be permitted to come from 
Philadelphia, or Kensington, while the fever continued, that all persons who 
should go from within the limits of the association, to either of those places, 
should be prevented from returning during the continuance of the fever; and 
finally, that their standing committee should inquire whether any persons, not 
inhabitants, who had lately come from places infected, and were therefore likely 
to be infected themselves, were within the limits of the association, and if so, 
that they should be obliged instantly to leave the said limits

	The 12th of September, the governor of Maryland published a proclamation, 
subjecting all vessels from Philadelphia to the performance of a quarantine, 
(Page 52 ) not exceeding forty days, or as much less as be judged safe by the 
health officers.  It further ordered, that all persons going to Baltimore, to 
Havre de Grace, to the head of Elk [River], or, by any other route, making their 
way into that state from Philadelphia, or any other place known to be infected 
with the malignant fever, should be subject to be examined, and prevented from 
proceeding, by persons to be appointed for that purpose, and who were to take 
the advice and opinion of the medical faculty in every case, in order that 
private affairs and pursuits might not be unnecessarily impeded.  This 
proclamation appointed two health officers for Baltimore.

	The people of Baltimore met the 13th of September, and resolved that none 
of their citizens should receive into their houses any persons coming from 
Philadelphia, or other infected place, without producing a certificate from the 
health officer, or officer of patrole; and that any person who violated that 
resolve, should be held up to the public view, as a proper object for the 
resentment of the town.  The 14th, a party of militia was dispatched to take the 
possession of a pass on the Philadelphia road, about two miles from Baltimore, 
to prevent the entrance of any passengers from Philadelphia without license.  
Dr. Worthington, the health officer stationed at this pass, was directed to 
refuse permission to persons afflicted with any malignant complaint, or who had 
not been absent from Philadelphia, or other infected place, at least seven days.  
The western shore line of Philadelphia stages was stopped about the 18th or 
19th.

	The 30th, the committee of health resolved that no inhabitant of 
Baltimore, who should visit persons from Philadelphia, while performing 
quarantine, should be permitted to enter the town, until the time of quarantine 
was expired, and until it was certainly known that the persons he had visited 
were free from the infection; and that thenceforward no goods capable of 
conveying infection, that had been landed or packed up in Philadelphia, or other 
infected place, should be permitted to enter the town—nor should (Page 53) any 
baggage of travellers he admitted, until it had been exposed to the open air 
such length of time as the health officer might direct.