Philada Sept 18. 1793
My dear sister,
Your affectionate letter found me preparing to go out after a recovery from an attack of the yellow fever, rendered light by my previous regimen, and by the rise of the new remedies. I am thankful for the honor it has pleased god to bestow upon me, by restoring me so soon to my duty to my fellow citizens. The disease still rages. One hundred persons died on Sunday and Monday last, -but more by the West India mode of treating it, than by the disease. Never did I witness such deep, and universal distress. My indisposition was in part, occasioned, by a last look from a beloved friend, who had been killed by a Physician. I never can forget his frantic cries to me in his last moments “help — help” — I despair of the disorder of being checked before frost or heavy rains. There are it is said 190 fresh graves in the Catholic church yard. For many days before my sickness, I visited & prescribed for above patients. During this time, I seldom kept more than two or three hours in the four & twenty eat nothing but milk & vegetables, - and drank nothing but water. Our streets are nearly deserted. No body is seen in them, but persons hunting Doctors – nurses, and grave diggers. ‘Brethren pray for us’!
Forever your affectionate brother,
Benjn Rush.
PS: no part of this letter must be published. The truths contained in it will expose me.
