The Hospital

The Hospital. Fort Jefferson. Two large, unplastered first and second floor rooms at the north end of the barracks served as post hospital. There was also a makeshift isolation facility on Hospital Key, almost two miles away., Though Fort Jefferson was considered a healthful post, the hospital register for 1862-1863 recorded treatments for 86 percent of the 580 men here. Eighteen percent had D and D (diarrhea and dysentery) and 19 percent came down with fevers., Yellow fever was a mysterious, terrifying killer that seemed to come from nowhere. Not until 1900 was it proved that the disease was transmitted by a mosquito, aedes aegypti. From two to eight weeks after drinking yellow fever blood, this insect is increasingly dangerous., The worst epidemic of yellow fever came in 1867. Of 400 people here, 270 were sick and 38 died, including Dr. Joseph Smith, the post surgeon, his little boy, the four hospital nurses, and Commandant Valentine Stone and his wife. Dr. Samuel Mudd, a prisoner, took over Dr. Smith's post. He was joined by Dr. Daniel Whitehurst of Key West, and later by Dr. Edward Thomas., The fever struck again in 1873, when half of some 24 cases died. This epidemic was followed by a damaging hurricane, and the Army decided to abandon Fort Jefferson. The garrison left in 1874., (caption) , "I could do more by a few consoling and inspiring words, than with all the medicine known to me." , , Dr. Mudd