A. F. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 865 



Addenda. 



Age of the Royal Palms. See pp. 4®4 j &57. 



The five Royal palms, east of Hamilton, were brought from 

 Grenada about 70 years ago, according to Ogilvy, p. 36. It would 

 be of much interest to know the age of other large palm and pal- 

 metto trees, but such information seems difficult to procure. 



Age of the Tamarisk or " Spruce " Hedge, etc. See p. Jf33. 



Ogilvy, p. 36, states that the old hedge along the North Road, near 

 Hamilton, was planted by Governor Reid. In that case it would now 

 be about 60 years old. The large Mahogany Tree, in the grounds of 

 Archdeacon Tucker, at Flatts Village, is said to be about 60 years old. 



Former Yelloio Fever Epidemics. See pp. 511, 512, 516. 



In addition to the epidemics recorded on p. 515, Dr. Ogilvy (Ber- 

 muda, Past and Present) records, as probably yellow fever, the epi- 

 demics of 1699 and of 1779-80. The latter, at least, seems very 

 doubtful, for it originated as a " jail-fever " in the horribly filthy 

 jail where American prisoners of war were confined. He also enume- 

 rates the epidemics of 1796, a " malignant type "; that of 1818 ; sus- 

 picious cases in 1820-22 ; that of 1837 ; and that of 1856. 



Dr. Godet (Bermuda, its History, etc., 1860) gives many details 

 of the epidemic of 1856, during which he had charge of the hulk 

 " Thames," on which many convicts died. See below, p. 868. 



No epidemic of this terrible disease has occurred here during 

 many years past, owing undoubtedly to improved quarantine regula- 

 tions and the more sanitary conditions prevailing on modern vessels. 

 But it must not be forgotton that the recent discoveries in regard to 

 the spread of this disease only by means of the yellow fever mos- 

 quito, also show how it is possible that infected mosquitoes might 

 easily escape the usual vigilance of quarantine officials and thus intro- 

 duce the disease. It has been proved that an infected mosquito 

 incubates the disease germs about 12 days before its bite becomes 

 dangerous to man. But in that time mosquitoes could easily travel, 

 even on sailing vessels, in summer, from infected West Indian ports 

 to Bermuda, and yet the vessel might have a clean bill of health. 

 Therefore these recent discoveries indicate that even greater care 

 should be taken to prevent the introduction of this disease than had 

 been thought necessary previously, but in different ways. The old 

 custom of disinfecting or destroying clothing, bedding, etc., and 



Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. XI. 55 Jan., 1903. 



