.388 SANITARY CONDITIONS 



The inhabitants of the various islands also exhibit different degrees of 

 civilization, depending on their accessibility to the rest of the world. For 

 instance, we can contrast the refinement and culture found at New Providence, 

 where Nassau, the capital city, is located, with the almost barbarism in some 

 parts of Andros, one of the largest islands of the group, inhabited chiefly by 

 blacks, and practically unexplored. 



In some of the white colonies where black blood has been excluded, and 

 where, owing to their isolated positions, frequent intermarriage has taken place, 

 as for instance at Spanish Wells, and Hopetown, much degeneracy is present, 

 manifested by many abnormalities of mind and body. Another very important 

 study is that of leprosy, which is becoming prevalent among these Islands. As 

 yet no means of excluding such conditions or isolating them from the rest of 

 the inhabitants have been adopted, except at Nassau where there is a lazaretto, 

 but which is used only at the volition of the patient. In view of the com- 

 mercial and geographical relations of these Islands, it is important that this 

 disease should be thoroughly studied and segregated. Finally a number of 

 interesting tropical conditions, such as diseases of the special senses, partic- 

 ularly of the eye, are to be found in unlimited quantities and among a people 

 crying out for treatment. In fact, owing to the rarity of a doctor's visit to 

 the outer islands, often the most trifling conditions, as for instance a bad tooth 

 or slight infection, may assume the most alarming proportions. 



If the service which the medical staff was able to render hundreds of these 

 poor, neglected people were the only work accomplished, we would have felt 

 fully compensated for whatever hardships were endured. In fact, we were 

 often compelled from the standpoint of humanity to neglect our own research 

 work and attend to the needs of the suffering natives who at such times would 

 accord us the greatest ovations, following us on the streets, kissing our hands, 

 calling to us from the windows of their houses, and swarming in boat-loads 

 around our vessel. 



My assistants on the medical staff consisted of Messrs. E. B. Beasley, H. P. 

 Cole, and T. H. Coffin, all students in the Johns Hopkins Medical School, and 

 Mr. Frank Gillmore, who acted as medical photographer (Plate LXV, Fig, 1). 

 Mr. Coffin, in addition to his duties as medical assistant, was detailed to study 

 and collect the mosquitoes of the Islands. His report is given in another part 

 of this volume. 



In addition to the aid rendered by the various members of the medical 

 staff, I take pleasure in acknowledging many special favors from Sir Gilbert 



