162 TRINIDAD. 



warm, will rather cause an attack of bilious remittent fever than 

 an inflammation either of the lungs or the pleura. Consumption 

 is no uncommon malady ; it comes to a fatal termination with 

 great rapidity. 



Ophthalmia, and the inflammation of the cornea in particular, 

 is rather frequent; its apparent cause is cold, for it generally 

 occurs during the dry season, and after exposure to the chill and 

 damps of night. 



Hepatitis, and other liver complaints, are rather prevailing, and 

 abscesses of that organ are often the consequence. Dr. Clarke, 

 an army surgeon, and a resident for many years in the different West 

 India Islands, tells me that he has found hepatitis more prevalent 

 in Trinidad than in any of the other islands. A sort of atrophy 

 of that organ is also a common disease ; the result is, a diminution 

 in the quantity, with an alteration of the quality, of the bile, and 

 a consequent diarrhoea, which may be said to be incurable. 



Of all inflammations, however, the most frequent is that of the 

 lymphatic glands and vessels ; it often terminates in elephantiasis, 

 or in suppuration. 



Ulcers, particularly of the legs and feet, are a disgustingly 

 common sight ; they attack almost exclusively those who travel or 

 labour, as many of the lower classes do, with bare feet or legs, 

 but they may also generally and justly be considered as the con- 

 sequence of neglect and filthiness. They are also frequently caused 

 by certain insects, viz., chigoes and betes-rouges. The latter, almost 

 invisibly small, attack the legs, their bite producing much itching 

 and cutaneous irritation ; the former penetrate into the toes, 

 heels, and soles of the feet, causing also an itching sensation, and, 

 if not extracted in time, produce, first, a very small ulcer, which 

 soon increases by its own extension, or the formation of fresh ones, 

 so as almost to honeycomb the edges and surface of the sole. By 

 constant irritation and exposure, they assume an unhealthy appear- 

 ance, the bones by degrees become diseased, whilst the inflam- 

 mation sometimes extends to the whole foot ; at this stage ampu- 

 tation is found to be the only remedy. These ulcers are generally 

 of difficult cure. Newly imported Africans and Coolies, and even 

 the native labourers, are particularly liable to them. 



Leprosy is, unfortunately, very prevalent, and, of late years, 

 appears to be even on the increase. There are two distinct species 

 of that cruel and loathsome malady here, the anesthesic or dry 



