CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. eg 
Another observer, Assistant Surgeon John Brooke, U.S. A., ina report tothe War Office, LS70—74, 
speaking of the execrable climate of a part of Alaska in the same latitude, as Kodiak, remarks: 
It might naturally be supposed that, in such a climate, acute rheumatism and acute pulmonary inflammations would 
be very common; but such is not the ease. During a tour of nearly fifteen months I have seen but one case of typical acute 
rheumatism, and not a single case of uncomplicated pneumonia or pleuritis. C: 
ises of sub-acute rheumatism, however, 
and pains and aches of a few days’ duration, are very frequent. Pulmonary phthisis is not uncommon, and forms a large 
percentage of the cases of disease even among the native Indians. 
Cases of sickness not infrequently occur in which there is a general adynamic condition of the system, without definable 
disease, a condition which is doubtless due to the depressing influences of almost continuous wet, and cool, and cloudy 
weather; a monotonous diet, in which fresh fruits and vegetables play an insignificant part; the almost entire absence of 
out-door amusements, and the want of opportunities for sufficient exercise in the open air. 
The subject cannot be dismissed without some furthet historical mention, for which, by the way, 
Iam largely indebted to Mr. Petroff, who has obtained his information from original Russian sources 
not generally accessible to the ordinary reader. From 1800 to 1820 no special diseases existed in 
the Russian colonies exclusive of scurvy and syphilis. At the end of 1819 a fever accompanied 
by a reddish eruption broke out, from which forty-two deaths oceurred at Kodiak and twenty-five 
at Sitka. No physicians were in the colonies at that time, except those accompanying the ships of 
the company from St. Petersburg. It seems that subsequently two hospitals were established in 
1844, one at Sitka of forty beds, and one at Kodiak of ten beds; and in 1862 the company had in 
its service three physicians, eleven stewards, five surgeons and apothecaries’ assistants, two mid- 
wives and two assistants. From 1840 to 1860 a most fatal epidemic in the form of an exanthematous 
fever prevailed at Ounalaska. The same disease in 1848 prevailed at Uniga, Sitka, and the Alaska 
Peninsula, three hundred natives having died therefrom. The reporter further says that the great 
mortality was owing to loss of courage and refusal to take medicine. Tikhmenief, in his historical 
review of the Russian colonies, says that the prevailing diseases among the native population 
of Alaska are consumption, ulcers, scurvy, and syphilis, they being indebted to the Russians for 
the importation of the latter. He also mentions the occurrence of epidemic pneumonia in 1852 
at Sitka, Kodiak, and the missionary establishment at Bristol Bay. At the first-mentioned place 
the disease occurred principally among children. In 1853 there were sixty-four cases of scurvy at 
Sitka, of which nine died; and in 1855 an epidemic typhoid fever like yellow fever occurred. It 
was believed to have been imported by a ship which had come around the globe from Russia. The 
mortality, however, does not appear to have been excessive, for out of three hundred and forty-one 
cases there were but thirteen deaths. The same year there was also an epidemic of pneumonia, three 
hundred and ninety-eight cases having occurred at Sitka and Kodiak with sixty deaths. In 1860 
epidemic measles attacked both adults and children, causing eighty-one deaths in the whole colonies. 
From a report of the Russiai American Company on the sanitary condition of New Arch- 
angel and other posts from May 1, 1861, to May 1, 1862, itis learned that for 1861 and the first 
third of 1862 and those of previous years there existed both in the number and character of the 
cases a marked difference that was very gratifying. The mean daily number of patients in the New 
Archangel Hospital was ten persons, besides the fact is worthy of attention that scorbutic and 
syphilitic diseases had almost entirely disappeared. In April, 1862, there was not a single case of 
the latter disease. Dr. Markoftski ascribes this circumstance to many judicious measures taken for 
the extirpation of these diseases by the chief director of the colony, as well as to the greatly 
improved treatment of such patients. The number of patients admitted to the New Archangel 
Hospital was 663, of whom 626 recovered and 8 died. In the Kodiak Hospital there were 360 admis- 
sions, with 330 recoveries and 7 deaths. At Afognak typhus fever appeared but was promptly 
suppressed. Inoculation (?) is reported to have been carried out generally and successfully in the 
colonies. A medical and sanitary inspection of the northern districts in 1861 showed the accom- 
modations of the unmarried workmen of the coal expedition to be in excellent condition ; the hearty 
and healthy appearance of the men showing that they had been well cared for, notwithstanding 
the difficult under- ground character of their work ; and the surgery is reported to have been in good 
condition. Dr. Markoftski also makes a favorable report for Michalowski (Saint Michael’s) and 
speaks of the new Hasharn as light, spacious, and very comfortable; and of the lazarette and 
surgery as well provided and in good order. 
H. Ex. 105——3 
