DISEASES. 141 



separate ward in the Royal Gaol. A colonial asylum, however, 

 was established in 1858, and the lunatics removed thereto. In 

 the year 1876 a comprehensive ordinance was passed, and pro- 

 visions were made for the care and custody of all classes of lunatics. 

 I will conclude this notice of the principal diseases of the 

 island by the following" remark. Nearly all the diseases in 

 Trinidad — no matter what may be the nature of the complaint — 

 have a tendency to assume the remittent or intermittent form, 

 as a complication. 



Intermittent sore-throat and dysentery are very common, 

 and remittent pneumonia is not rare. An individual accidentally 

 confined to the sick room — for instance, from a broken leg or 

 any other cause — is almost certain to get an attack of intermittent 

 fever after having been laid up for two or three weeks. Quinine, 

 combined with some other co-efficient medicines, is a certain cure. 

 I may say, in addition, that sporadic cases of disease are the 

 exception, whilst the epidemic form the rule. It is evident that 

 the latter type is determined by the existence of certain condi- 

 tions which we cannot always discover or fully appreciate ; but 

 which, nevertheless, become apparent in the uniformity of their 

 pathological effects. These conditions may subsist for a shorter 

 or longer period; but, during the whole time of their persis- 

 tence, prevalent diseases undergo some uniform modification, and 

 also exhibit a few characteristic and identical symptoms which 

 cause them to bear a sort of resemblance to each other, and for 

 the cure of which the same treatment is generally successful, 

 although otherwise the diseases may be of a different nature. 

 And not only do these conditions vary at long intervals, but 

 sometimes more than once in the same year ; so that the treat- 

 ment which has been most successful against fever in the com- 

 mencement of the year, will not be so effectual at a later period. 

 The pathological phenomena exhibited in Trinidad are highly 

 illustrative of the doctrine of medical constitutions, so admirably 

 advocated by Hippocrates among the ancients, and by Sydenham, 

 as well as others, among the moderns. 



Immediately after, and on several occasions since emancipa- 

 tion, attempts were made for securing medical aid to the class 

 of artisans in towns, of labourers located on estates, and of small 

 settlers generally, on their contributing the small sum of ten 

 cents per week for each working person — children and old people 



