A Treatise on the Eclectic Southern Practice of Medicine Page: 345 of 724

                                
CONSTIPATED COLIC.

The cases were very numerous, particularly towards
the end of July, and but few persons escaped the dis-
ease. It is, however, a singular fact, that masters of
vessels and their crews were frequently attacked with
the disease, as soon as they came into soundings, and
were fairly in view of the shores.
They came from ports where the disease was said not
to prevail. About the middle of August, the colic epi-
demic suddenly ceased, and yellow fever made its ap-
pearance on the island, which differed in nothing from
that of the previous year, except that most cases origi-
nated on the island.
My treatment was also unchanged. I witnessed no
fatal cases, though instances of black vomit occurred in
the hospital as well as at Point Isabel. This yellow
fever epidemic, if epidemic it may be called, as it was
not near as general as the first-mentioned disease, lasted
about three weeks, when it disappeared again, and gave
place to the colic, which latter remained on the island,
at the mouth of the Rio Grande and at Point Isabel,
until cool weather set in.
I never have been able to understand the cause of the
sudden cessation of the colic epidemic, and its giving
way to yellow fever, nor of the disappearance of yellow
fever and the re-appearance of the first disease. The
weather during the time was fine, and without any
marked change. The heat was rather greater than the
year previous, and the weather more sultry; we also
had more northerly winds.
In September heavy gales, with rain, occurred from
the north and north-east, and the whole of Brazos
Island was several feet under water, with the excep-
tion of the sand hills.

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