Chapter V—J^NUi^RT 

 Plague and Riot 



" Diseases, desperate grown, 

 By desperate appliance are relieved 

 Or not at all." — Hamlet. 



THREE years ago a remarkable 

 episode, savouring rather of the 

 Middle Ages than of our time, 

 occurred here. It illustrates the 

 distrust of the learned, especially of doctors, 

 which still lingers among the uneducated, and 

 it is full of lessons as to how things should not 

 be done. It threw a new light on the nature 

 of the people, previously supposed to be more 

 than docile, and unwilling under any circum- 

 stances to lift a hand against constituted 

 authority. And it had an undoubted effect on 

 their general character and demeanour. 



The Government, being well aware that the 

 ordinary sanitary requirements of a civilized 

 country are not fulfilled here, is extremely 



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