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

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

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C H A P.  XII.  Conflict between the law of self-preservation and the law of 
charity.  The law of charity victorious.

	WHILE our citizens were proscribed in several cities and towns—hunted up 
like felons in some—debarred admittance and turned back in others, whether sound 
or infected—it is with extreme satisfaction I have to record a conduct totally 
different, which cannot fail to make an indelible impression on the minds of the 
people of Philadelphia, and call forth the most lively emotions of gratitude.

	At Woodbury, in New Jersey, at an early period of the disorder, a meeting 
was held for the purpose of determining on what steps were requisite to be 
taken.  A motion was made to stop all intercourse with Philadelphia.  But, four 
persons only having risen to support it, it dropped, and our citizens were 
allowed free entrance.

	A respectable number of the inhabitants of Springfield, in New Jersey, met 
the first day of October, and after a full consideration of the distresses of 
our citizens, passed a resolve, offering their town as an asylum to the people 
flying from Philadelphia, and directing their committee to provide a suitable 
place as an hospital for the sick.  The Rev. Jacob V. Artsdalen, Matthias 
Meeker, and Matthias Denman, took the lead in this honourable business.  

	I have been informed, by a person of credit, that the inhabitants of 
Elizabeth town have pursued the same liberal plan, as those of Springfield, but 
have not (Page 59) been able to procure a copy of their resolves or proceedings 
on the subject.

	At Chestertown in Maryland, a place was appointed, at a distance from the 
town, for the reception of such travelers and others, as might have the 
disorder.  It was provided with every necessary—and a physician engaged to 
attend the sick.

	An asylum has likewise been offered to Philadelphians, by several of the 
inhabitants of Elkton, in Maryland; and the offer was couched in terms of the 
utmost sympathy for our sufferings.  A place on the same plan as that at 
Chester, was fitted up near the town.  

	At Easton, in Pennsylvania, the only precaution observed, was to direct 
the emigrants from Philadelphia, to abstain for a week from intercourse with the 
inhabitants.

	The people of Wilmington have acted in the most friendly manner towards 
our distressed citizens.  At first they were a little feared, and resolved on 
the establishment of a quarantine and guards.  But they immediately dropped 
these precautions, and received the people from Philadelphia with the most 
perfect freedom.  They erected an hospital for the reception of our infected 
citizens, which they supplied with necessaries.  Yet of eight or ten persons 
from Philadelphia, who died in that town, with the malignant fever, only one was 
sent to the hospital.  The others were nursed and attended in the houses where 
they fell sick.  Humane, tender, and friendly, as were the worthy inhabitants of 
Wilmington in general, two characters have distinguished themselves in such a 
very extraordinary manner, as to deserve particular notice.  These are Doctor 
Way, and Major Bush, whose houses were always open to the fugitives from 
Philadelphia, whom they received without the smallest apprehension, and treated 
with a degree of genuine hospitality, that reflects the highest honour on them.  
In the exercise of this virtue, they were not confined by a narrow regard to 
their particular friends or acquaintance—but entertained, with equal humanity, 
whole (Page 60) families of persons who were utter strangers to them.  This was 
of the more importance, and operated as a heavier tax on them, as, I believe, 
there was only one tavern-keeper, Brinton, whose house was open for people from 
Philadelphia: and it was consequently so crowded, in general, as frequently to 
render it difficult to procure admittance.

 	The instances of this kind, through this extensive country, have been very 
few; but they are therefore only the more precious, and ought to be held up to 
public approbation.  May they operate on people, at a future day, in similar 
cases of dreadful calamity, and teach them to temper their caution with as much 
humanity and tenderness to the distressed fugitives, as prudence will allow—and 
not involve, in one indiscriminate proscription, the healthy and infected.