546 
APPENDIX. 
had elapsed sinre the appearance of the last^case of variola, and as the 
crew were prohibited from going on shore during that period, we antici- 
pated the entire disappearance of the disease. 
On the 20th of May we sailed for Coquimbo, where we arrived in three 
days. . On the 11th of June another case of smallpox was reported, and 
was speedily succeeded by two other cases. It was now placed beyond 
doubt that the contagion was in the ship, and that it would inevitably- ex- 
tend throughout the whole ship's company ; when it was determined to 
inoculate the ship's company, as by so doing the violence of the disease 
would be much mitigated, and its progress through the ship much 
hastened. On the 20th of June all hands were called to muster, and 
commencing with the officers, every individual that was not marked with 
smallpox was inoculated with pus' taken from a well-developed case of 
variola. The number inoculated was two hundred and eighty-seven. 
The ship's company were placed on fresh provisions, and the spirituous 
portion of the ration stopped for all those who had undergone the operation. 
At this time the health of the crew was very good, there being but eigh- 
teen on the list, exclusive of the cases of smallpox. 
On the 24th, examined all who had been inoculated ; when it was ascer- 
tained that eighty-five had taken the disease — many of them in a very 
mild form. Where there were symptoms of inflammation and fever, the 
patients were bled, and the snip, magnesia (Epsom salts) administered ; 
supertart. potass, (cream of tartar), in water, given as their common drink, 
and all were ordered to abstain from animal food. An eruption appeared 
in eleven cases ; , but in no instance was it attended with any unfavour- 
able symptom. On the eleventh day after inoculation the febrile symp- 
toms were most severe, after which they began to subside. There were 
thirteen individuals on board who had no evidence of having been pre- 
viously vaccinated, and who all took the disease from inoculation ; 
twelve of the crew took the disease from the infectioii, and, as was proved 
by inoculation, eighty-five were susceptible to the disease. 
At Coquimbo we met with the American whale-ship Corinthian, with the 
smallpox on board ; the first officer had contracted the disease at Concep- 
tion, of which he died. I visited the ship, and found the third officer, 
cook, and a small lad (two last both coloured), labouring under the firjit- 
stage of the disease ; the two adults were copiously bled and placed on 
the solution of tartras. antimonii (tartar emetic) ; and at the recommenda- 
tion of the fleet surgeon. Dr. Jackson, I inoculated the whole crew, 
twenty-seven in number, out of which eleven took the disease ; in several 
it was a mild varioloid, and all recovered without any unfavourable symp- 
toms. Four took the disease from infection, of which two died — the first 
officer and cook,— while all who were inoculated recovered : strong evi- 
dence in favour of inoculation. 
Coquimbo is very healthy, and has a great uniformity of temperature 
throughout the year. The city was called La Serena by the old Spaniards, 
from the serenity of the atmosphere, and was selected by the proprietors 
of the silver and copper-mines as their residence, in consequence of its 
salubrity. To this purity of the atmosphere and uniformity of tempera- 
ture, together with the medical police enforced on board ship, can be 
attributed the great success in not losing, one man out of five hundred 
