Some account of the last yellow fever epidemic of British Guiana / by Daniel Blair, surgeon general of British Guiana ; edited by John Davy, inspector general of army hospitals, etc.

  • Blair, Daniel.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some account of the last yellow fever epidemic of British Guiana / by Daniel Blair, surgeon general of British Guiana ; edited by John Davy, inspector general of army hospitals, etc. 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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    till after the lull at the end of 1837, Europeans of many years' residence, and some of the black and coloured population, and Indians, suffered from the disease. Among the old European residents, or white Creoles of the West Indies, however, when it occurred it rarely ended fatally, although the type was of the ffravior form. After 1838, the epidemic became almost peculiar to new comers from cold climates. Complexion seemed a matter of little consequence. The Negro cook on board of Nova Scotia and United States' traders was susceptible, and the dusky South Sea Islander, if prepared by previous northern residence. The lower the isochiemal curve of his native country, or home, the more virulent was the attack of the epidemic on the subject of it. Thus, while the per-centage of mortality among West India Islanders, in the Seaman's Hospital, was 6-9, that of Erench and Italians was 17'1, that of English, Irish, and Scotch was 19-3, that of Germans and Dutch was 20, and that of Swedes, Nor- wegians, and Russians 27'7. There appears an exception to this law in the case of North Americans, as their per-centage different from that where the disease originated. Late experience in Barbados proves the propriety of this. When yellow fever broke out in the 88th Regi- ment, occupying the lower barracks in the garrison of St. Ann, the encamp- ing of them on ground close to the higher barracks, in the same garrison, occupied by the 7th Royal Fusileers, who were then free from fever, and altogether escaped it, was successful. The same result occurred, for a time, when the disease appeared shortly after in the 66th Regiment, who followed the 88th, in the lower barracks ; their removal to the higher ground at first appeared to be successful, but only for a while ; ere long the fever made its appearance in the upper barracks then occupied by the 72nd Regiment, and indeed appeared more or less throughout the garrison. With the experience I now have, and the strong conviction in consequence, I am satisfied that in the instance of this outbreak of fever, whether in the 88th, 66th, or 72nd, the recommendation on the part of the medical officer, when consulted by the general officer commanding, would have been best given in conformity with the above, — to remove the regiment attacked not from one part of the garrison to another, but to a greater distance, and to a situation altogether diffei-ent from that where the disease had made its appearance. Having in my capacity of Inspector-General of Hospitals been the medical officer consiilted on the occasion referred to, I have the lesis hesitation in making these remarks. Whether in a military point of view, such a removal of the troops from tlie garrison to a distance could have been effected with propriety, is altogether another consideration. Life, it must be remembered, in the army, must always be held subordinate to duty. And, it sliould be remem- bered too, that there are many instances on record, that a removal to a very short distance has been effectual. With the medical oflicer the ]ireservation of life is tlie only consideration, with the general officer duty is the first consideration.] — Ed.