394 SANITARY CONDITIONS 



After frequent microscopic examinations, I finally discovered at Clarence 

 Harbor, Long Island, in the blood of three natives undoubted crescent and ovoid 

 forms of the aestivo-autumnal malarial parasite. 



The malarial parasite in all instances showed Hie finely granular pigment 

 closely collected at the center of the crescent, and corresponded to the type of 

 subtertian variety figured by Dr. Patrick Manson J in his work on tropical 

 diseases. 



The fever in these cases was of the irregular remittent type. The pa- 

 tients were prostrated, showed large spleens, had more or less pigmentation 

 of the skin, and, in the more severe cases, a fever of 104 degrees and over. Tho 

 patients from whom we removed the parasites were in a fair condition of 

 nourishment. I believe that malaria is fairly prevalent in these Islands at the 

 height of the autumn months and a number of the natives show evidences of 

 malarial cachexia although having no parasites in the circulating blood. 

 Strange to say, the Anopheles mosquito was singularly absent, as is shown in 

 another part of this volume. 



RHEUMATISM AND LUMBAGO. 



Chronic rheumatism and lumbago, owing to Ihe exposure to which the 

 natives are subjected, is quite prevalent. Almost all the older people com- 

 plain of misery in their back and legs. We did not, however, meet with a single 

 case of acute inflammatory rheumatism among all the patients treated and 

 I do not believe that this is a very common disease among these Islands. 

 Neuralgias and myalgias, however, are quite common. 



GASTRIC AND INTESTINAL TROUBLES. 



Owing to the poor quality of food on which the people of the Bahamas 

 subsist, it is not surprising to find a considerable amount of stomach and 

 intestinal troubles. This, however, does not seem to be of a very severe type, 

 and is associated more with feelings of discomfort in the abdominal region, 

 than with any especial pain. We found in a few settlements some acute 

 diarrhea, which was usually due to an over-indulgence in tropical fruits, and 

 did not present any typhoidal or infectious characteristics. On one of the 

 islands we found a small boy with acute dysentery. This, however, was of 

 short duration, and owing to the fact that we had only time to remain on the 



1 Tropical Diseases, p. 73. 



