32 TOPOGRAPHY 



in Gibraltar. The question is, therefore, how many 

 of these cases, if left in Gibraltar, would not have 

 terminated in death ? So that, before more conclusive 

 evidence can be brought forward, we must hesitate 

 still in forming our opinion, whether Gibraltar is or is 

 not a favourable place for phthisical patients. 



Gibraltar has, unfortunately, still the reputation of 

 being an unhealthy station, for memory calls back the 

 number of dreadful epidemics which have prevailed 

 within its walls. A medical history of the rock will 

 always be acceptable to the profession, and it is to be 

 regretted that Dr. Gillkrest, the principal medical 

 officer of the garrison, has not yet favoured^ the pub- 

 lic with all his valuable researches. Although there 

 are not very marked sources of epidemics in Gibraltar, 

 still there is sufficient room for great improvements 

 in the comfort and accommodation of especially the 

 poorer classes of its inhabitants, the filthy state of 

 whose houses is almost proverbial, though an inti- 

 mation of this kind from the governor was received 

 by the Jewish population with extremely bad grace. 

 From some cause or other, the sewers emit, in the 

 summer months, a most foetid smell ; this mephitic 

 odour, no doubt, proceeds from causes which may 

 be removed. In the summer of 1844, the stench 

 along the line wall was intolerable, and silver articles 

 belonging to persons living in houses in this locality 

 were almost entirely blackened, evidently from the 

 quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen gas composing the 

 effluvia from the sewers which open into the sea near 

 this locality. Whatever may be said to the contrary, 



