xxar. Proceedings of the Society. 



hundred and eighteen cbiidreo form part of the last number; 

 and yoa are aware that it is chiefly among that part of the po- 

 polation that the disease raged with the greatest intensity; either 

 because the weakness of that age did not offer to the evil 

 that resistance which it met with in adults, or frem other 

 circumsiances, tiie causes of which it is not beside our object 

 Co ascertain. 



» Nowyou may recollectthata few years beforetbe appearance 

 of the malady in the cane, a cruel murrain had carried off 

 almost all our cattle, and that other domestic animals, nuchas 

 pigs, goats, fowls, etc. had equally fallea victims to its effects. 



» At the very moment when we are writing these lines, the 

 ptiblic health is seriously affected, and another disease, the can- 

 sequence of which are often of an excessively grave character, 

 does exist under an epidemical form, and has already spread 

 affliction and sorrow in several families throughout the Island. 



* On the other band, the morbid aQection among sugar-canes 

 seems to have diminished in intensity ; plantations wliich were 

 diseased last year, appear perfectly sound at this moment, and 

 but a few spots, and those of little importance if we compare 

 them with those of 1848, exist scattered here and there. To 

 resume, we may ascertain this fact, that the disease in the eugar- 

 canes very closely followed that among the inferior animals, 

 and that it is man who at the present moment is paying his 

 penalty, and therefore the following extract from « Chambet's 

 joumah wouU appear to be sadly realized : a Be the oature of 



> the disease what it may, it exhibits this remarkable peculia- 

 » rity that it attacks the lower animals as well as humsu bein^; 



> very frequently it also affects vegetables, d 



» These reflections, especially when considered in a purely 

 philosophical light, seemed of so powerful an interest in the 

 opioien of your Secretary, that he has perhaps allowed hiiusc^If 

 to be carried too far by them ; if such be ttae case, he claims 

 your kind indulgence in his favour. 



I'ji 



