142 TRINIDAD. 



being attended gratuitously ; incredible, however, as it may- 

 appear, these attempts have invariably failed. After a few- 

 weeks, or two or three months at the utmost, such of the sub- 

 scribers who had not been subject to any attack during that 

 period withdrew their subscription, on the pretext that it was 

 not fair they should pay for the doctor while they enjoyed good 

 health. But these very people, when ailing, are unwilling, and 

 in most cases unable, to pay the fee ; and they then throw 

 themselves into the hands of male and female quacks, or obeah 

 practisers, who bleed, cup, prescribe nostrums, and give their own 

 personal attendance, exacting more or less from their dupes, 

 according to their own status or reputation in quackery or 

 obeahism. They are punctually paid — chiefly from a super- 

 stitious dread infused into the minds of their patients — but 

 always retire in time from any unprofitable field. How manj 

 accidents occur, how many lives are lost, in consequence of thi 

 perverse neglect ! As regards midwives, matters are still worse 

 for not only do they indulge in the most silly and disgusting 

 manoeuvres in ordinary instances, but they have recourse to mos 

 abominable practices — (such as flogging, suspension, &c), 

 protracted cases of accouchement, the child or mother, or botl 

 being but too often the untimely victims of these self-confidei 

 commeres. Their directions regarding the management 

 infants, are barbarous in the extreme. 



There is a provision in the Medical Ordinance, that no 01 

 shall practise as a midwife in Port-of- Spain without a licens 

 granted by the Medical Board ; and, in the rural districts, with- 

 out a certificate signed by the medical practitioner of the 

 locality ; but as the enforcement of the law is left to the mid- 

 wives already licensed, and to the members of the profession, 

 with the view only of affording them an opportunity of pro- 

 tecting their own interest, that wise proviso remains unexecuted. 

 Surely the Government ought to interfere, if merely for the 

 sake of the public welfare. 



A ward of six beds for accouchement might be set aside at 

 the Colonial Hospital ; all women or young girls desirous of 

 practising as midwives could be admitted as pupils and act as 

 assistants. Lectures would be delivered to them, on regular 

 days, and after a certain time they would be admitted to ex- 

 amination, and, if found qualified, would receive their license to 





