TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
143 
her; and that the rest shall go on board of the Capitana and 
frigate. The General will send advices and a chart of all his 
discoveries, with a request that a reinforcement and supplies 
may be sent on early in the spring, to enable him to complete 
the survey of the coast and Gulf. 
In accordance with this arrangement the sick are put on 
board with great care; Padre Thornes de Aquino is assigned to 
accompany them, and on the twenty-ninth of January the 
Almiranta sets sail for Acapulco. The disease which preys 
so distressingly and fatally on the ships’ crews is one of a very 
singular character. It is supposed to arise from the action of 
the cold winds of this region upon the relaxed constitutions 
of persons who come into it from warmer climates. The pa¬ 
tient is seized with violent pains throughout the system, which 
are soon followed by such extreme sensibility as forbids the 
slightest touch. This latter symptom is often so excruciating 
as to draw tears and groans from the stoutest men. Soon 
after this the surface becomes spotted with an eruption of a 
purple color, fine and sharp, feeling as if shot were inserted 
under the skin. These are followed by wales or lines of the 
same color, similar to those raised by the infliction of severe 
blows. They are about the width of two fingers; appear 
first on the upper posterior portion of the thigh; but soon 
spread themselves to the flexure of the knee. Wherever they 
appear the parts become rigid, and remain in the position in 
which they were first seized. The whole system now swells 
prodigiously, and the patient cannot be moved in any manner 
without suffering extreme torture. The disease finally ex¬ 
tends itself to all parts of the body, affecting particularly the 
shoulders, head and loins, and causing the most distressing 
pains in the kidneys. No relief can be obtained by change 
of position; for the slightest motion is agony. In time the 
entire body is covered with ulcers so exceedingly sensitive 
that the pressure of the lightest bed covering is intolerable. 
At length the gums and jaws swell so that the mouth cannot 
be closed, and in many cases the teeth drop out! The via- 
22 
