MEDICAL EXPERIENCES. 
225 
or other of the inland tribes as it is by the most 
nervous European. One of the most dreaded forms 
of punishment in past times was the banishment 
of the criminal to the coast in the unhealthy 
season, which begins about November and ex¬ 
tends to April. This is the period of the annual 
rains, and the damp warm moisture which exudes 
from the soil rapidly induces a chill, and brings 
on the inevitable visitation of intermittent and 
violent shiverings, and intense burning sensations, 
which are the chief characteristics of miasmatic 
poisoning. Added to these is a painful relaxa¬ 
tion of the muscular system, and utter prostration 
of the physical and mental powers, to such an 
extent that the frequent result is life-long debility, 
and, in some cases, chronic deterioration of the 
brain and partial paralysis of the intellectual 
faculties. 
One of the most painful experiences on the 
coast is to note the havoc which the Malagasy 
fever works amongst the Creole and “ poor white ” 
population. The gaunt features, staggering gait, 
yellow complexion, trembling hands, and inarticu¬ 
late utterance of the poor feverish wretch, who 
constantly pursues his daily toil in the cane-field 
or coffee plantation with an attack of the disease 
either impending over or just leaving him, are 
piteous to witness. And it is sad to have to 
confess, after much thought has been expended 
p 
