APPENDIX. 421 



bilious character prevail to a greater or less extent, and dur- 

 ing the present year, (1822,) the bilious remittent or yellow 

 fever was unusually fatal at several posts, and more espe- 

 cially at and near Pensacola in Florida, the first death occurred 

 about the Tth of August; there were upwards of 20 between the 

 ISth and 20th of the month, and by the end of September it is 

 stated that more than 200 died out of a population of about 

 1000. 



By the tables it will be observed, that from the 17th of July 

 to the 2d of September, the daily mean temperature was 

 steadily as high as 80^° with the exception of one day, and be- 

 low 81 i° only three days during that period. The mean tem- 

 perature for the month of August was 82.22, and the range 

 of the thermometer but 14 ; the highest degree being 89, and 

 the lowest 75. 



Even as early as June, there appears to have been a pecu- 

 liarly unhealthy state of the atmosphere ; and the very intelli- 

 gent surgeon of the post, Dr. M'Mahon, in his report on the 

 30th of September states, that "the month of June was ushered 

 in by the prevalence of a fatal distemper among the brute ani- 

 mals, its operation was particularly marked upon dogs; foxes, 

 and panthers, in the woods, suffered very severely, the mor- 

 tality among them was indeed immense, numbers of them 

 were found dead in every direction, and it is somewhat sin- 

 gular that they were generally found in troops of four, five, 

 and six, collected about the same spot." Whether the dis- 

 eases of our country are more fatal than formerly, and if so, 

 whether it arise from the malpractices of the professors of the 

 healing art, as appears of late to be the opinion of some of 

 them, is believed to be somewhat problematical, at any rate, 

 it is but reasonable to defer a decision on so important a sub- 

 ject, until we shall have collected a series of well attested facts; 

 and not to mistake the suggestions of an overweening vanity 

 for the results of calm investigation and practical experience. 



Vol. II. 54 



