BE VERTEUIL — PORT-OF-SPAIX. 
nr 
performed except on showing a certificate from the Begis- 
trar of Births and Deaths : but as there is no control as 
regards the registration of births, it is certain that they are 
not as regularly registered. 
The climate of Trinidad and, I should say, of Port-of- 
Spain, is a South American equatorial climate, consequently 
mild, with no great alternations of heat and cold, no des- 
tructive cyclones ; droughts are of rare recurrence. It is, 
however, hot and damp,, with the many concomitant incon- 
veniences and dangers of such climatic conditions. Paludal 
fever, in all its different forms, is endemical throughout the 
year; yellow fever, however, is of rare occurrence. Angina 
is a very common complication of paludal fever. Dysentery 
is very common, as also infantile diarrhoea and Cholera In- 
fantum many children die of the latter disease, especially 
in the chronic stage. Catarrhal affections are frequent 
during the prevalence of northerly winds. Inflammatory 
diseases are rare, with the exception, however, of hepa- 
titis and inflammation of the lymphatics of both extremi- 
ties. Typhoid fever is uncommon, as also eruptive fever 
such as variola, measles, scarlatina, especially the latter. 
Eczema, boils and sores are very prevalent. Tuberculosis, 
and leprosy which, in my opinion, is a form of scrofulosis, 
are also rather prevalent, and unfortunately have a ten- 
dency to spread. 
It is a fact generally acknowledged that the conditions 
under which the above diseases are developed may be bene- 
ficially modified by proper hygienic precautions. The cli- 
mate of Trinidad is indisputably hot and damp ; and causes 
of insalubrity exist at their summum in a damp-warm atmos- 
phere. On the one hand it acts in relaxing the springs of 
organism, which then becomes an easy prey to morbific in- 
