John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from John Charlton, 19 December 1799

From John Charlton

New York 19th. Decemr. 1799.

Dear Sir,

with respect to the pamphlet on the efficacy of Olive Oil in pestilential diseases, which I had the honor of receiveing from you last August,1 I have to remark that we have been some time in possession of it. the letter from Doctor Blane,2 whose reputation stands high, I consider as a very important communication, tho’ I must take the liberty of differing in opinion from you, with respect your proposal of laying it before the Medical Society. that body is composed of such heterogeneous materials, that such a measure would only tend to excite useless altercations. with your approbation I concieve the present season a proper one to lay it before the public, as the respectable authority it comes from, may have an happy influence on the measures of the Legislature, who will probably be engaged in deviseing the most effectual means of guarding against the importation of Contagion, which he is decidedly of opinion is an important measure. the opinion of your health officer, Dr. Rush &c. &c. &c. notwithstanding.3

I would beg leave to remark on this subject, that obligeing suspected vessells to perform quarantine, without breaking bulk, only tends to increase the activity of contagion by longer confinement, which I believe was undoubtedly the case with the Gen. Wayne last season.4

the only means (I apprehend) to render quarantine effectually usefull would be, to erect stores at Staten Island, & to unlade & cleanse such vessells, & to air & purify the goods.

if you app[r]ove of the publication of Blane’s letter, be pleased to Signify your acquiescence.5

be pleased to offer my respectfull & affectionate regards to Mrs. Jay & the young ladies, & accept the assurances of unfeigned Esteem & regard of your devoted friend & Obedt. servant

John Charlton

His Excellcy. Govr. Jay.

ALS, NNC (EJ: 08671).

1Letter and pamphlet not found.

2Gilbert Blane (1749–1834), Scottish physician. Blane studied with William Cullen and William Hunter and served as the personal physician to Admiral George Rodney. He authored A Short Account of the Effectual Means of Preserving the Health of Seamen (London[?], 1780) on health on ships, infectious disease, and statistical medicine.

The letter written by Blane referred to a public essay that he authored on yellow fever discussing the infectious and contagious vectors in yellow fever transmission, the methods to contain the disease in London and on ships, and recommendations on sanitation and the improvement of sewers. It was reprinted in the Spectator (New York), 25 Jan. 1800. David Hosack (1769–1835), medical botanist, and co-founder of Bellevue Hospital provided extracts emphasizing transmission by healthy individuals in Currie and Hosack, Sketch of the yellow fever, 93–94.

Blane’s letter on yellow fever and a letter on the same subject by James Adair were delivered earlier to JJ by RK (RK to JJ, 30 May 1799, ALS, NNC [EJ: 06702]). RK also conveyed Blane’s letter to JA, along with a copy of Blane’s Observations on the diseases of seamen, 3rd ed. (London, 1799). Blane to JA, 13 Sept. 1799, MHi: Adams.

3The Health Officer is Richard Bayley. He and Rush shared the opinion that the disease was not transmitted via contagion. For more on the competing theories regarding the spread of yellow fever, see the editorial note “John Jay and the Yellow Fever Epidemics,” JJSP description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2010–) description ends , 6: 345–60.

4The General Wayne, which docked at Ten Eyck’s Wharf, Coentie’s slip, on 14 July 1799, suffered an outbreak of yellow fever. Consequently, the ship was blamed for the 1799 epidemic; whereas Hosack blamed contagion, Bayley stated that the cause was due to “the mud and putrid materials of Coentie’s slip.” Currie and Hosack, Sketch of the yellow fever, 89–92, quote on 92. See also Bayley’s letters to the New-York Gazette, 16 Jan. 1800.

5No documentation containing JJ’s views on Blane’s letter and corresponding theories on yellow fever have been found.

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