392 " Consolations" in Cholera. [Ocv. 



The fi-ightful ravages this disease made at Barcelona in the year 

 ] 823, exhibited the fear the Spaniards still entertained of it. The medi- 

 cal men despatched from Algesiras to visit the Gibraltar hospitals, after 

 examination of the sick, declared the malady to be nothing more than 

 bilious intermittent fever, an opinion which for a short time greatly 

 delighted some English medical sages, who exultingly reported that the 

 Spanish physicians had but confirmed their own ideas of the nature of 

 the disease. Few hours, however, had elapsed ere their eyes were 

 opened to the true opinion of the Spanish doctors. On the arrival of the 

 latter at the Spanish lines, on their return to Algesiras, the commandant 

 was informed that a yellow fever, of the most virulent description, existed 

 in the garrison. All communication was immediately suspended, and 

 a military cordon was formed across the peninsular which connects 

 Gibraltar with Spain, thus preventing any entrance of the English re- 

 sidents into the neighbouring country. Birds or beasts which acciden- 

 tally crossed the cordon were at this time pursued and shot. The 

 Spaniards were prohibited from eating fish, being told that the English 

 were in the habit of casting dead bodies into the sea, which, by poison- 

 ing these animals, might communicate the disease. Tlie inhabitants of 

 the garrison were even forbid to sail along the Spanish shore on pain of 

 death, which latter prohibition had nearly proved fatal to the writer. 

 A sudden breeze prevented a boat, in which he was sailing, from 

 tacking at the required moment, and carried him involuntarily 

 beyond a jetty which had been marked out as a boundary by the 

 sea line. A volley of musquetry from the shore, which made sundry 

 apertures in the flapping sail, soon told that a choice between that 

 of being drowned or shot was extremely probable; the former 

 alternative was chosen : leaving the boat to drive before the wind, 

 he jumped over-board, and strove, by swimming, to regain the Eng- 

 lish territory, but " ere he could arrive the point proposed" he became 

 exhausted, and, as is usual, just previous to sinking, felt all the strange 

 sensations antecedent to such a death, which those who have been in 

 similar situations can alone appreciate. With just sufficient sense left to 

 know that the rays of the bright sun, which shone full on his face, as he 

 lay floating upon the water, were the last he should ever see, he bade 

 farewell to its light ; and at the same moment he was grasped by a stout 

 hand, who, regardless of danger, and instigated by the suggestion of a 

 brave and noble heait, buffeted the contending waves, and drew the 

 tired swimmer to the shore. 



S. B. 



