It tells
you something about the primitive state of medicine at the time that it was genuinely believed,
by a qualified medical practitioner, that African Americans were immune from yellow fever. Yet
that it precisely what Dr. Rush believes. His understandingor lack thereofof this terrible
condition forces him to take desperate measures. For white people to enlist the help of
African-Americans at that time would've been considered quite desperate indeed.
In addition to scientific ignorance, Dr. Rush is motivated by racism. He sees African
Americans as strange and mysterious, not fully human by comparison with white folk. This is the
main factor in his absurd conclusion that black people are immune from yellow fever and can
therefore be called upon to help treat yellow fever victims and bury the
dead.
No comments:
Post a Comment