How Does The Fever Affect Their Bodies - 1272 Words

Introduction This semester we discussed many things within the human body. We learned about many different systems of the body, such as the muscular system, urinary system, lymphatic system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, and the reproductive system. When studying all of these systems, we would look into different diseases or illnesses that could affect each system. Different illnesses affect different parts of our body in many ways and can be life threatening in many situations. In Fever 1798 I read how the fever affected their bodies, their ways for treatment, how they reacted, and more. Topic 1 How did the fever affect their bodies? In Fever 1798 by Laurie Halse Anderson, an epidemic known as yellow fever spreads throughout†¦show more content†¦During the time of this epidemic, no one had even invented the stethoscope or thermometer. Out of all of Philadelphia about eighty people were practicing medicine when fever began to spread and some of them weren’t even trained doctors. Doctors across Philadelphia were battling each other in a sense but they were mainly divided into two groups. One group was the people that followed Dr. Benjamin Rush and the others followed Dr. Jean Deveze. Dr. Benjamin Rush’s idea for treatment was to give his patients mercury, calomel, and jalap so that it would cause them to throw up and have diarrhea. He also drained blood from them in hopes of getting rid of the disease. Many medical experts believe that he probably killed many of his patients from doing these things. Dr. Jean Deveze and other French physicians proved to h ave the better methods. They prescribed rest, fresh air, and lots of fluids. These very things are still considered some of the best ways to cure the disease now. Besides these two methods, people in Philadelphia were trying anything and everything they could to prevent or cure yellow fever. They soaked sponges in vinegar and would put the sponges up their nose. They washed themselves and their clothes in vinegar and would drink the vinegar as well. People would fire guns and cannons in the middle of the streets hoping the gunpowder would clean the air. They chewed garlic and drank vile potions of herbs. They would even bury their