512 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



could hardly be otherwise, while the}'' have so many ideal places to 

 breed in. The open rain-water cisterns alone are sufficient to supply 

 millions. In case of new epidemics of yellow fever or other similar 

 contagious diseases, it would be of paramount importance to reduce 

 the numbers of both mosquitoes and flies to a minimum. 



An epidemic of yellow fever occurred in 1819, which is, 2>erhaps, 

 the first one that can be identified with certainty. The disease was 

 doubtless brought from the West Indies on a vessel. 



A terrible epidemic of yellow fever prevailed in 1843. It appeared 

 first among the troops and convicts in the barracks and prisons at 

 Ireland Island, where the conditions were unsanitary, but just how 

 it first arrived there, I have not seen recorded. It soon spread to 

 Hamilton and over the islands generally, and large numbers of per- 

 sons died. Governor Reid was very ill, but recovered. 



One of the worst epidemics of yellow fever occurred in 1852 and 

 1853. Although it was most fatal among the sailors, soldiers, and 

 convicts at St. George's and Ireland Island, it spread widely among 

 all classes of people. Two acting governors, Phillpotts and Robe, 

 died of it, within a week. Of the 1600 convicts then employed on 

 the public works, 152 died of the fever. 



Another severe epidemic, which occurred in 1864, was thought to 

 have been brought in by some of the blockade-running vessels of 

 that period. 



In the early history of the islands numerous epidemics of conta- 

 gious diseases are referred to very briefly, or incidentally, but usually 

 as brought in by the vessels. We know nothing about some of 

 these except by the references to them in the proclamations for days 

 of fasting and pra} r er to cure them, which are preserved. 



In those days such diseases were believed to be direct punishments 

 inflicted on the people " by the hand of God," on account of their 

 sins of various kinds. There is mention of but one physician on the 

 islands for many years ; Mr. Walter, a " chirurgeon," was sent out 

 in 1616 ; the second, Wm. Plumsted, is mentioned in 1627. 



Most of the epidemics that are mentioned, up to 1664, were prob- 

 ably the bubonic plague, though descriptions rarely occur. But as 

 the vessels that brought the infection sailed from London and vari- 

 ous European ports, where the plague then prevailed, this was the 

 disease most likely to have been carried in them.* 



* At that time "the plague" was very pi-evalent in Europe. In 1609, the 

 second great London plague occurred, when 11,785 persons died in London alone; 

 in 1620, it prevailed especially in Holland and Germany ; in 1625, 35,417 died 

 in London; it continued in England till 1664, and in other parts of Europe 

 much longer. 



