NEW ORLEANS, JULY 1, 1847.

OUR FOURTH VOLUME.

With this number we commence a new volume of our Journal. For more than three years we have labored unremittingly to establish and maintain a Medical Journal in the city of New Orleans, where none existed when we undertook the task; nor indeed was there one in operation throughout the whole Southern States at the time. Since we commenced ours, two able cotemporaries have appeared on the field, and done good service. We hope and trust they have received a more substantial reward for their labors than has fallen to our lot. If not, it may be said to consist alone in the consciousness of trying to do something useful for the medical profession and the good people of the South. Such is absolutely the fact as to ourselves; we barely receive enough annually to defray the expense of publication, and we make the statement, not for the purpose of lauding our own sacrifices of time and labor, but to remind some of our subscribers that they should not take offence at being called on for the amount of subscription. On reviewing the labors of the past year, we have only to regret that we have not performed the duties assumed, with more ability. We return our grateful acknowledgments to those kind friends who have signified their approbation of our humbie efforts, and especially to those who have aided us with their pens. We have never set ourselves up, in our editorial capacity, to be teachers or rulers in the profession; our highest aspiration has been to establish a medium of intercommunication through which the physicians of the South should be kept advised of the progress of medical science, and likewise make known the results of their own observation and experience. As to the importance of the communications which have appeared in this Journal, it is not proper for us to speak; but if we may be permitted to judge by the respectful attention they have attracted abroad, we may at least conclude they have not been discreditable to their authors. We have ever believed that the respectability of a Medical Journal must depend upon the amount and importance of its original matter. Under this impression, we have made it a point to insert all communications that we deemed worthy. The result has been that, owing to our contracted limits, but a brief space has been allowed us for quotations. We trust that in this will be found a satisfactory apology for our apparent oversight of the numerous valuable papers which have appeared among our respected American cotemporaries. If we had more space, it would afford us much pleasure to aid them in the diffusion of their light. We renew the invitation to our friends throughout the country, to write, because we know it is the most powerful incentive to study; for there is pride enough in every American to make him desire to do well, whatever he attempts to do publicly. It is not presumed that the physicians of the villages and neighborhoods can enlighten the world in regard to the elements and principles of medical science. Their sphere is the application of principles to practice. To them belongs the test of all the aphorisms and dogmas proclaimed ex cathedra, and they may do important service by contributing facts and correct observations, which, after all, constitute the basis of the science.

To our city friends, particularly those connected with the Hospitals of New Orleans, we feel that we have a right to look for aid, for they can but be interested in the success of their own-their only Medical Journal. To our colaborators generally, and especially our obliging correspondents on the health of the country, we return thanks for their generous assistance and beg a continuance of their favors.

One word to the Medical Societies of New Orleans, two of which have been in successful operation for several years-we should be pleased to publish their proceedings, concisely drawn up; and are confident it would be followed by the happiest results. It would doubtless infuse new life and energy into their deliberations. Our Medical College and Societies occupy a commanding position in this great emporium, and have the power to do the community much service and themselves much honor, if they perform their duties. New Orleans must become not only a prominent seat of medical learning, but the focus of the highest order of medical and surgical practice to a vast and densly populated country around. It combines all the necessary facilities and resources, and nothing is required but talent and energy for their development. We invoke our fellow-laborers who at present occupy the field of action, to stand up to the work with manly determination, lest we live to see ourselves outstripped and superseded by the rising generation, impelled by the irresistible spirit of progress and reform.

With these remarks, we close the introduction to the fourth volume of our Journal, trusting that we have conducted the work on the principles proclaimed at its starting, and assuring our readers that with their co-operation it shall continue to be sustained.

HEALTH OF THE CITY.

Our city presents a singular spectacle at the present time. Whilst every one of its hospitals is full to overflowing, and several additional houses have been appropriated to hospital purposes, we are sure our citizens never enjoyed a greater degree of health at this season of the year. Indeed, as is customary, there is less sickness among them now than on the 1st of May, when we last went to press. Sickness generally decreases here as the summer advances, unless yellow fever becomes epidemic; and, with the exception of this occasional visitation, the summer, contrary to the prevailing opinion abroad, is always the healthiest season of the year in New Orleans. Whence then the host of invalids now crowding our hospitals? It consists of Foreign Immigrants (chiefly Irish) and the sick and discharged soldiers returning from the United States Army in Mexico. The foreign immigrants are the most miserable looking set of poor, half-starved wretches, worn out by the combined horrors of a long sea voyage, ship fever and bowel complaints, ever seen. The poor Volunteers, exhausted by the hardships of a camp life and camp diseases, and many of them mutilated on the bloody battle field, present an aspect equally horrible, and far more calculated to excite our sympathies, for they are our own brave and patriotic fellow-citizens, who, at the call "to arms," forsook the comforts and endearments of home, and voluntarily sacrificed themselves in defence of their country's honor. Poor fellows! how little did they know

of the hardships and dangers to be incurred, when they embarked in the enterprise. But it would have been all the same if they had been fully acquainted; for the American heart, excited by patriotism and the thirst for distinction, quails at no danger, whether present or prospective. We believe the U.S. Medical Purveyor at this place, Dr. McCormick, is doing every thing in his power for the sick and wounded soldiers who arrive here; but, as we stated before, the Charity Hospital and all the private Infirmaries are now as full as they can hold, and if they continue to arrive by the hundred, as they have recently, additional private Infirmaries will have to be erected. The most of the invalids arriving from the seat of war are worn out with typhoid fever and chronic bowel complaints. Many perish on their passage over the Gulf of Mexico, and many barely live to reach their country's shores, where they prefer being buried, to leaving their remains on a hostile and Foreign strand. The arrival of such large numbers of Foreign Immigrants in a diseased state, is a subject of grave importance for the consideration of our Municipal authorities. We do not think it likely that the diseases with which they are inflicted will be spread amongst our citizens, though such a thing is by no means impossible; nor are we without examples of several inmates of the Charity Hospital having contracted the ship fever there. But as matters are going on, this large Institution may be completely monopolized by Foreigners; and in case of an epidemic, our own poor will be totally excluded from its benefits. It occurs to us that they should either at once be sent up to the great West, or there should be established, beyond the precincts of the city, a hospital for their special accommodation. They are fellow-beings, and we cannot see them perish in our streets; though, from the present prospects, it is probable the benevolence and generosity of our citizens will be heavily taxed before the summer is over. We understand that a number of our benevolent fellow-citizens have already united under the name of the "Irish Immigrant Society," and have established one or more hospitals in the upper part of the city, for the relief of these unfortunate beings. This is very commendable, and we hope to see the example followed in other instances; but we think these infirmaries should be located in retired and open places, lest they become focuses of infection to the surrounding neighborhoods. The miserable objects of poverty and affliction have other claims upon the better classes of society than those of mere benevolence and charity; they bear along with them the seeds of destruction, which, after ripening and devastating their ranks, spread abroad through the community and involve all in common ruin. It is, therefore, the interest of the rich to take care of the poor; and they must see them well provided for if they would hope or deserve to escape their calamities.

The prevalent diseases among our own citizens since our last date, have been diarrhoea, dysentery, measles, intermittent and remittent fevers, bronchitis, hooping-cough and the like. During the hottest days in June there were several deaths from sun-stroke. We have seen more obstinate cases of bronchitis this year than we ever witnessed before. There has been no case of yellow fever. By reference to the list of interments furnished by the Secretary of the Board of Health, it will be seen that our mortality is unusually great for the season; yet we have

said enough to account for it, and to show that it is not inconsistent with our remark, that there is but little sickness amongst our citizens proper. Our city continues crowded with people, notwithstanding the business season is nearly at a close. However, owing to the peculiar state of the cotton market, the business season will probably be extended much later this year than customary. Among those who are detained beyond their usual time of departure, uneasiness begins to be felt, and we hear many enquiries about yellow fever. Dame Rumour now and then quickens their curiosity by reporting the existence of a case, handed perhaps through some half a dozen mouths; but we do not see the least cause for alarm as yet. We learn that the Vomito is raging severely at Vera Cruz; but notwitstanding the frequent intercourse now existing between this place and that, hardly a week passing without one or two arrivals, no cases have been brought to this city. Convalescents from yellow fever are beginning to arrive here. We shall have, this year, a rare opportunity of testing the question of the transmissibility of yellow fever; and we do hope that every physician in the city will feel it incumbent upon him to note carefully every fact bearing on the point, that may come within his view. Much is expected from the vigilance of the Board of Health, and it appears the members are duly on the qui

vive.

The weather since we last wrote has been very variable; during the most of May it was rather cool, but since the commencement of June we have had some very hot days. (See the abstract from Mr. Lillie's Meteorological Journal.)

The River. The extraordinary rise mentioned in our last number continued at this place until about the 20th of May, when the river began to fall and has continued to recede until it is now very low for the season. About the 15th of May, there was a crevasse at the town of Algiers, immediately opposite this city. The water poured over in immense torrents, and was only arrested after four or five days, by extraordinary exertions, aided by the falling of the river, which occurred most opportunely. We have thus touched upon all the points which we deem of interest in relation to the health of the city. We hear the usual prophecies and auguries in regard to coming events, but as we do not pretend to any degree of prescience, we content ourselves with noting facts, which may prove useful for future reference.

HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.

As far as we have been able to learn, the general health of the Southern country is very good. We return thanks to our obliging correspondents for the following letters, and would respectfully request them to extend their observations as far as they conveniently can beyond the bounds of their own immediate practice.

MONTGOMERY, ALA., June 15th, 1847. GENTLEMEN :-Below is our list of cases from the 10th of April, to the 9th of June, inclusive, made up from the sources before mentioned. Abscess 2, Aptha (infant.) 1, Angina (diptheretic) 1, Bronchitis (acute) 19, do. (chronic) 1, Catarrh 2, Cholera Morbus 7, Colic 6, Cystitis (sub-acute) 1, Croup (spasmodic) 1, Carcinoma (of mam.) 1,

Dirt-eating 1, Dyspepsia 2, Dysentery (acute) 21, Diarrhoea (acute) 21, do. Chronic 3, Difficult Dentition 10, Dislocation (simp. of clavicle) 1, do. (comp'd. of ankle) 1, Erythema papulatum 2, Enteritis (acute) 3, do. (chronic) 1, Epilepsy 1, Engorgement of cervix uteri 2, do. (with ulceration) 1, Fissure of Anus 1, Furunculus 1, Fistula in Ano 1, Fracture (simple of thigh) 1, do. (comp'd. of leg) 1, Foreign Body in Trachea 1, do. in sphagus 1, do. in Ear 1, Fever Int. 20, do. Remit. 34, do. Remit. Infantile 12, do. Ephemeral 4, Gonorrhea 5, Glossitis 1, Gastro-enteritis 1, Gastritis (acute) 2, do. chronic 1, Hernia (Inguinal reducible) 2, Hydrocephalus (acute) 2, Haemorrhage (uterine) 2, do. (Pulmonary) 2, Injury of Head 2, Inflammation of mamma 1, Leucorrhoea (vaginal) 1, Menorrhagia 1, Masturbation 1, Neuralgia 12, Necrosis 1, Opthalmia (catarrhal) 2, Otitis 1, Orchitis 3, Prolapsus uteri 1, Pneumonia (acute) 5, Psoriasis (palmous) 1, Paronychea 3, Paralasys 3, Peritonitis (acute) 2, Parotitis 5, Rubeola 31, Rheumatism (acute) 1, do. (chronic) 1, Scabies 3, Syphilis (prim.) 3, do. (second.) 3, Suppression of Catamenia 3, Strophulus confertus 1, Stribismus 1, Stricture of urethra 2, Spinitis 1, Synovitis 1, Tumour (fatty) 1, Tonsilitis 5, Ulcer (on leg) 1, Urticaria 3, Varicella 4, Vertigo 1, Worms 4, Wounds Incised 2, do. Punctured 4, do. Lacerated 1, Gun-shot 3.

In all there were 333 cases, and 9 deaths. To wit:-two from Infantile Remittent Fever, two from Acute Hydrocephalus, one from Acute Gastro-enteritis, one from Rubeola, one from Colic, one from Acute Dysentery, and one from a Gun-shot wound.

Very respectfully,

W. M. B.

MEMPHIS, June 10th, 1847.

GENTLEMEN :-Having been absent from home part of the time, the following report of cases is not so full as it otherwise would have been. It is however furnished as the best exhibit of the character and relative proportion of the different diseases in the past two months.

Cases. Abscess 4, Asthma 1, Abortion 1, Aracno-spinitis, 1, Bronchitis 5, Burn 2, Convulsions (infantile) 3, (epileptic) 2, Colic 8, Choleramorbus 3, Cholera-infantura 13, Cynanche Tonsilaris, 3, Cystitis (chronic) 1, Dysentery 19, Dysenteric-diarrhoea 4, Diarrhoea 33, Dysmenorrhoea 1, Dislocation (elbow joint) 1, Dropsy (general) 3, Dyspepsia 4, Endocarditis, 1, Fever (intermittent) 11, (remittent) 31, Gonorrhoea 2, Gastroenteritis (chronic) 5, (acute) 2, Gastritis (chronic) 2, Hemoptysis 3, Hysteria 3, Hemorrhoids 2. Hydrocephalus 1, Hydrocele 1, Hernia (inguinal) 1, Hepatitis (acute) 1, Jaundice 1, Leucorrhea 3, Mania-àpotu (complicated with convulsions) 1, (with pleuro-pneumonia) 2, Menorrhagia 3, Neuralgia 3, ophthalmia (acute) 2, (chronic) 1, Orchitis 1, Pleurisy 19, Pneumonia 8, Phthisis 3, Porturition (natural) 6, (tedious) 2, (convulsions requiring delivery with forceps) 1, Puerperal peritonitis 1, Purtusis 4, Parotitis 2, Rheumatism 4, Rubeola 30, Rabid Dog Bite 1, Syphilis 1, Spinal irritation 1, Splenitis (acute) 1, Tumor (adipos.) excised 1, Tabes-mesenterica 1, Urticaria 2, Varicella 1, Vicarious menstruation 2, Wounds (gun-shot) 2, (incised) 5, (lacerated) 4. Making in all 301 cases.