400 A DISSERTATION ON THE YAWS. 



Before our commerce with the natives of Guinea, Euro- 

 peans seem to have been unacquainted with this filthy dis- 

 order, and we can discover no traces of it in the writings of 

 the ancients, sacred or profane ; unless it be that which is 

 mentioned as having afflicted Job. 



Amongst the moderns few have treated of the yaws. The 

 first author who wrote on this disorder in Britain treats of it 

 anonymously*, in the Medical Essays of Edinburgh, Art. 7G : 

 after him M. Virgile, who practised as a surgeon several years 

 in the Island of St Domingo. Dr Hillary, an eminent phy- 

 sician in Barbadoes, has given an account of the nature and 

 treatment of this exotic disease. The next author in point of 

 time, is also anonymous. His paper is entitled an Essay on 

 the Management and Diseases of Negroes ; and on the more 

 common diseases in the West Indies, and the remedies which 

 that country itself produces -f-. The author of this humane 

 and benevolent essay was Dr James Grainger, physician 

 in St Christophers. He treats of the yaws at page 55, and in 

 this as well as other diseases, gives many excellent hints. The 

 latest dissertation I know of on Frambo?sia, is Dr Macpher- 

 son's Thesis published at Glasgow. 



Born in an island where this disorder is exceedingly pre- 

 valent, and deeply interested for the honour and welfare of 

 my native country, I have chosen this disorder as the subject 

 of my Inaugural Dissertation, in hopes to throw some new 

 light on the nature and treatment of the yaws, and contri- 

 bute my mite to the general stock. The account given of this 

 disease is in some measure consonant to that of the authors 

 before mentioned. Where I happen to differ from them, it 

 is for the sake of truth, and from my own observation amongst 



* John Hume, M. D. formerly surgeon to the Naval Hospital in 

 Jamaica, and late a Commissioner of Sick and Hurt, is the author. 



■f In 1802, I edited Dr Grainger's essay on West India diseases, and 

 subjoined a few practical notes. W. W. 



