THE TRUCK SYSTEM 95 



hundreds of vessels kept calling in on their way 

 south ; for winter was then approaching, and al- 

 ready cod-trap boats going to their nets had had to 

 cut through two inches of new ice. 



On our arrival in St. Johns it was thought advis- 

 able to report the results and deductions from this 

 experimental voyage. Accordingly his Excellency 

 the Governor, Sir Terence O'Brien, invited the lead- 

 ing citizens acquainted with the fishery to meet at 

 Government House. The report showed that (i) 

 much needless suffering, limbs and special functions, 

 besides life itself, were to be saved by the possibility 

 of obtaining skilled assistance in the first instance ; 

 the famous sealing master, Captain Sam Blandford, 

 who was present, stating that while he had charge 

 of the mail steamer plying on the coast, seventeen 

 unfortunate people had died aboard without possi- 

 bility of proper treatment. (2) That even that year 

 twenty-nine persons had died at one harbour in 

 Labrador of diphtheria without being able to get a 

 doctor's help nay, more, no one would take their 

 fish or visit them to trade a winter's supply. (3) 

 That the doctor on the small mail steamer was so 

 short a time in each harbour, and the time of his 

 arrival so uncertain, that the people had little confi- 

 dence in the few moments possible to devote to each 

 case, even if they were fortunate enough to see the 

 doctor at all, while it was impossible to undertake 

 any serious case with success. (4) That poverty 

 and starvation directly result from sickness or 



