EXHALATION AND ABSORPTION. 187 



under fever, to turn in bed. Being very feeble, he endeavored to 

 support himself by placing his arms round the nurse's neck, when 

 she suddenly drew back, struck by the offensive odor from his per- 

 son, and exclaiming that she had caught fever. She instantly 

 became cold, pale, and ghastly, and, appearing about to faint, had 

 to be removed to her room. Malignant fever, of a very severe 

 description, succeeded, and lasted for thirteen days. 



In the island of St. Lucia, in the West Indies, two boatmen 

 were employed hauling their canoe up on the beach, close to a dan- 

 gerous swamp, when they perceived a small cloud of vapor 

 approaching, which gradually enveloped them. One immediately 

 fell down insensible, and the other was so much affected as to be 

 unnble to render him any assistance. The vapor soon passed away, 

 and both men recovered so far as to be able to walk home. The 

 one most affected, however, was seized with fever, and died within 

 forty hours afterwards. 



Repeated instances occur in the West Indies of twenty or thirty 

 workmen being employed in cutting drains or canals in these infec- 

 tious swamps, nine out of ten of whom will be seized in a few days 

 with the most dangerous forms of tropical fever. Chiefly from these 

 pestilential fevers, also, the probability of life to Europeans in the 

 West Indies is very low. It appears, from the most accurate army 

 returns, that a young man's chance of life, which in this country 

 would probably be about forty years, is reduced in Jamaica to about 

 seven years. 



In marshy districts, the poison diffused in the atmosphere operates 

 with intensity chiefly after sunset, and produces dreadfully fatal 

 fevers and agues. We see also, in the natives of these districts, 

 the effects which the slow operation of the poison produces on the 

 health. Their appearance in highly infected districts is miserable 

 in the extreme. Stunted in their growth, with swollen bellies, 

 stupid expression, and jaundiced complexions, they linger out a 

 miserable existence, and can anywhere, at a glance, be recognised. 

 Happily their sufferings terminate life quickly. It is a curious cir- 

 cumstance that these poisons generally lie latent or inactive in the 

 body for some time. In the fevers of this country, the latent period 

 may vary from a few days to some weeks ; while in marsh fever, a 

 person will often have left the infected district, six, twelve, or more 

 months, before he is seized with it. 



We have entered into these details in order that it may be seen, 

 1st, that unnecessary exposure to air infected with the poison of 



