DISEASES. 161 



Eruptive fevers viz., measles, small-pox, and scarlatina 

 reign, epidemically, every six or ten years ; scarlatina less fre* 

 quently than small-pox, and small-pox less again than measles. 

 Measles and scarlatina are not so dangerous as in Europe, the con- 

 valescence, particularly, requiring less attention and caution. 

 Small-pox has proved very fatal on various occasions, and it is 

 much to be deplored that vaccination is not rendered compulsory, 

 and that provision is not made for its extension to the rural dis- 

 tricts Port-of- Spain and San Fernando alone being provided 

 with a public vaccine institution. Vaccination may not infallibly 

 act as a preventive, but it invariably modifies the characteristics of 

 the eruption to such an extent, as to render it comparatively 

 harmless. The majority of children in the country are not vac- 

 cinated ; and not only are they more exposed thereby, but they 

 may also become instrumental in spreading the contagion and 

 endangering the public health. 



Hooping-cough is of frequent occurrence, but not dangerous, 

 except when neglected, or accompanied with bronchitis. The 

 latter affection, but particularly laryngitis and tracheitis, become 

 very common during the season in which the chill northerly winds 

 prevail. It is very doubtful whether croup, or angina mem- 

 branacea, really exists in the island; for what is termed croup here 

 is either angina stridulosa, or angina cedematosa, both of which 

 simulate croup. Angina cedematosa almost invariably commences 

 under the form of an inflammation of the pharynx, which after- 

 wards extends to the glottis. 



Sore-throat is one of the most frequent, and may also be 

 reckoned one cf the serious diseases which prevail in Trinidad. 

 The purely inflammatory and the pseudo-membranous, or diphterite 

 forms are rare. The sedematous variety, on the contrary, is very 

 common, and, by the extension of the sedema to the glottis, may 

 prove fatal within a few hours. There exists also a peculiar form 

 of sore-throat, or pharyngitis, which may be termed remittent 

 pharyngitis; the sufferer feels comparatively easy during the day, 

 but an exacerbation invariably takes place during the night, most dis- 

 tressing at about ten or eleven o'clock. If overlooked or not pro- 

 perly treated, it may terminate fatally, especially in young children. 

 Quinine is the remedy, and to it the disease yields very readily. 



Pneumonia and pleuritis are of comparatively rare occurrence ; 

 and exposure to a draught of air, or cold bathing, the body being 



