Yellow fever, Bermuda : historical sketch, abstracted from returns to Parliament, 20th December 1854, 17th February 1858, and 4th August 1866.

Date:
[1866?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Yellow fever, Bermuda : historical sketch, abstracted from returns to Parliament, 20th December 1854, 17th February 1858, and 4th August 1866. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    r^^ie average cubic space per mail here shewn is greater than the ordinary average because in the summer months a portion of the troops is always encamped. In winter the space does not average more than 512 cubic feet per man. The ventilation in the casemated forts is very imperfect, especially in the lower rooms. The foul atmosphere passes up the staircases from the lower rooms to the upper. The general condition of the drainage, latrines, and urinals at the military stations may be broadly stated to have been very indifferent, both from the position of those works and from their faulty construction; but no greater nuisance than usual was observed from these sources. The water supply at each barrack would be sufficient under ordinary circumstances for drinking and cooking purposes, but not for baths and washing linen. Rain water is col¬ lected from roofs, and from the smooth slopes of rocky hills, and stored in underground tanks, as before described. The water is generally of very good quality; the average consumption per individual is found to be about five gallons per day. There is no evidence that intemperance prevailed to a greater extent than usual among the troops. & It is considered advisable that special instructions should be sent out in reference to guards being furnished by the troops in the dockyard during similar epidemics, and also in reference to their being employed on fatigue duties. Up to the time colored labourers were obtained 38 per cent, of the soldiers employed upon this latter duty had died. The hospital accommodation at St. George’s was not nearly sufficient when the sick began to be numerous. The military hospital is constructed for 48 patients, but at 1,500 cubic feet per man ; it is not capable of accommodating more than 24. * On the 2nd September there were 78 or 79 patients crowded into the wards and verandahs. On the outbreak of the epidemic the troops were all (with the exception of a few Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers) encamped. Bell tents of double canvass were issued • they had ventilating apertures near the top of the pole. Three men lived in one tent, and had 171 cubic feet of space each ; each man had an iron bedstead and a horse hair pillow and mattress. r Several marquees were also pitched near the military hospital, at St. George's, and convalescents from fever, &c. treated in them; by this means the overcrowded hospital was by degrees relieved. The whole of the sick at the camp at Ferry Point were treated in marquees, and the acute fever cases appeared to progress very favourably. The effect of encamping the troops was very good. It appears that every man who died at Ferry Point camp contracted the fever while on duty at St. George’s. Not one man died who did not leave the camp, and the only officer who died there had frequently been in St. George’s. J The civil authorities of St. George’s showed much energy shortly after the outbreak of the epedimic; the first family was encamped and placed in strict quarantine. All houses where fever had appeared were well fumigated and whitewashed. Old hulks were removed from the vicinity of the town. Ships were ordered to anchor out in the stream, and those containing fever cases put in quarantine, and the captains were requested to enforce clean¬ liness on board. Slaughter-houses were removed from the town; nor were the colonial authorities less alive to the emergency. Three fever hospitals were opened by them. Anew Public Health Act came into operation on the 25th August 1864, giving powers to Boards of Health respecting cemeteries, slaughter-houses, manufactories, lodging-houses infected vessels, the removal of nuisances, and the cleaning oFEousesT&c]—An Inspector' of nuisances has been appointed in the town of St. George, and others should also be appointed for the town of Hamilton and the country districts. The Commission urge most strongly the immediate construction of a proper system of sewers in the towns of St. George and Hamilton. Sea-water might be used for flushing. The sewage should be conducted to some distance from the towns and allowed to escape in such a position as would ensure its being rapidly carried out to sea. The streets of St. George are being widened, and it is important that several open spaces should be left between the houses to allow the south wind to enter the town, as the two main streets run somewhat parallel from east to west. The ground floors of all new dwellings should be raised some feet above the level of the streets or roads. Ceilings should be a good height, windows of large size, reaching nearly to the ceiling ; sinks should be trapped, and no openings leading into drains should be permitted inside dwelling-houses. Walls and hedges round houses should not be permitted, but a light railing might be substituted.