Report by the Central Board of Health of Jamaica / presented to the legislature under the provisions of the 14th Vic. chap. 60, and printed by order of the Assembly.

Jamaica. Central Board of Health

Date:: 1852

Credit: Report by the Central Board of Health of Jamaica / presented to the legislature under the provisions of the 14th Vic. chap. 60, and printed by order of the Assembly. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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$33i, - Appendix, Tires of a mimher of duly qualified medical men could he ohtaincd at a fair lem'.inerarion, i consider it doubtful, more particularly in llie case of young practitioners, that a prorerence wouki he given to t>uoh last named persons. No. Ii>. The nv'^yo women gcncially ap(>ly to sucli (female) quacks during the season of (liiid hear- ing. ] have known instances where unskilful treat- ment has resulted in injury to the child and mot'jer. i\o. 20, Infanticide is a rare crime in this parish. No. 21. I do think that a legislative provision, having for its ohjcct the encouragement of medical gentlemen, to visit and reside in this island, from England, Ireland, or Scotland, might be acceptable to the labouring classes of thjj coimtry, but the gen- tlemen so coming here would not be likely to meet a fair share of employment, producing a competent living In this parish, within the last three years, it was put to the test by having two additional qualified practitioners, and signally tailed. No. 22. If the legislature f-diould impose a tax for the purpose of providing medicines and medical aid throughout the dilTerent parishes or the island, under the denomination of a Medical Relief Tax. ] con- sider such an impost would i)ej;aid rather unwilling- ly. The metlnxl I would advise for laying it should' be on property. The description of property I should advise to be land antl horse-kind. 1 would advise the sam.e amount or tax to be laid on every large and small freehold, Ica.schohl, -and Sfjuattery, and a further tax on riding horses, riding mules, and asses. No. 23. I keep always a good siij;])!y of medicines, and in case of an epidemic (iiseas^ appearing in tbo parish, resort for additional medicines would be quickly had in Kingston, from which we are one day's journey. It occurs to me as possibly useful to be knDwn to the Central Eoari ol Health, tliat it might be ad- \isable to have a central depot of medicines and fresb vaccine lymph in Kingston, or Spauish-Town, avail-$