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CHAPTER VII. 
REPORT UPON THE THREE PRINCIPAL COAST TOWNS 
OF BRITISH HONDURAS OTHER THAN BELIZE. 
COROSAL. 
A small coast town at the extreme north of the Colony. It is situated at the 
mouth of the New River, and is about eleven miles distance from the rival 
Mexican town of Payo-Obispo at the mouth of the Rio Hondo. (See map of the 
Colony.) 
For the purpose of this Report, Corosal is of interest on account of its close 
proximity to and its intercourse with the Mexican side, and for the circumstance 
that a case of supposed Yellow fever was reported there by the Medical Officer 
in 1900. 
The number of inhabitants is given as 1,644, consisting of Spaniards, 
Creoles, Indians, Negroes, Coolies, Chinese, and a few Europeans. 
The trade consists of logwood and mahogany wood cutting, and river and 
coast traffic. The latter is kept up by means of small sailing craft and canoes- 
with stations on the New River, such as Orange Walk, and with settlements on 
both the English and Mexican banks of the Rio Hondo, Belize, Payo-Obispo 
and Xcalak. (See Map.) 
Not only is there a constant direct and indirect intercourse between the 
Mexican and English sides by way of small boats, but workmen constantly cross 
over the Rio Hondo from Yucatan into British territory. 
On the Mexican side, Yellow fever has been notified at various times during 
1904-1905 at the towns of Vera Cruz, Merida, Progresso and Santa Cruz, whilst 
much disease described as malarial fever of a very severe type has been reported 
from Bacalar, where considerable numbers of workmen and troops have been 
stationed. There exists, therefore, risk of infection to the Colony via Corosal. 
We know that severe, undetermined types of malarial fever are introduced from 
the Mexican side by workmen from time to time, and if these cases can be 
introduced, so may Yellow fever. In February, 1900, Dr. Gann, the Assistant 
Colonial Surgeon stationed at Corosal, reported a case of what he considered 
to be Yellow fever. The disease occurred in an Indian at Xi-Be, a village 
near Corosal. The symptoms were high temperature rising to 106°. Intense 
pain in head and back. Conjunctive faintly jaundiced. Liver slightly enlarged. 
Spleen considerably enlarged. Urine scanty with albumen. Finally vomiting 
of “ bright blood,” and well marked jaundice before death. The pulse is not 
given, nor was a postmortem made. The Senior Colonial Surgeon did not 
accept the diagnosis, but he was under the disadvantage that he did not see 
the patient. The case was undoubtedly suspicious. Dr. Gann was of 
