136 TRINIDAD. 



warm, will rather cause an attack of bilious remittent fever than 

 an inflammation of either the lungs or pleura. Consumption is 

 no uncommon malady; it comes to a fatal termination with 

 great rapidity. 



Ophthalmia, and the inflammation of the cornea especially, is 

 rather frequent; its apparent cause is cold, as it generally 

 occurs during the dry season, and consequent on exposure to 

 chill and damp of night. 



Hepatitis, and other complaints of the liver, are rather pre- 

 vailing, and abscesses of that organ are often the consequence. 

 Dr. Clark, an army surgeon, and a resident for many years in 

 the different West India Islands, told me that he found inflam- 

 mation of the liver more prevalent in Trinidad than in any othei 

 of the islands. A sort of atrophy of that organ is also a com- 

 mon disease ; the result is a diminution in the quantity, with 

 alteration of the quality, of the bile, and a consequent diarrheas 

 which may be said to be incurable. Chronic ulcerative enter ith 

 is not unfrequent, and generally proves very dangerous. 



Of all inflammations, however, the most common is that 

 the lymphatic glands and vessels ; it often terminates in suppu- 

 ration or in elephantiasis. 



Ulcers, particularly of the legs and feet, are a disgustingly 

 common sight. They attack almost exclusively those wl 

 travel or labour, as many of the poorer classes do, with bare f e( 

 or legs ; but they may also generally and justly be considered 

 the consequence, of neglect and filthiness. They are also fre 

 quently caused by certain insects, viz., chigoes and betes-rouges. 

 The latter, almost invisibly small, attack the legs, producing 

 much itching and cutaneous irritation ; the former penetral 

 into the toes, heels, and soles of the feet, causing also an itching 

 sensation, and, if not extracted in time, produce first a very 

 small ulcer, which soon increases by its own extension, or the 

 formation of fresh ones, so as almost to honeycomb the edges 

 and surface of the soles. By constant irritation and exposure 

 they assume an unhealthy appearance, the bones by degrees 

 become diseased, whilst the inflammation sometimes extends to 

 the whole foot; at this stage amputation is found to be the 

 only remedy. Newly arrived Africans and Coolies, and even 

 native labourers, are particularly liable to these ulcers. 



Leprosy is, unfortunately, very prevalent, and of late years 



