i6i 
Diseases of Hayti. 
tacked by febrific diseases, and when placed in situations in the 
West Indies favorable to the development of the yellow fever. 
It might appear strange when it is known that, even during 
the period of yellow-fever epidemic, the malady is usually con¬ 
fined to the harbor, and among the mariners and strangers on 
board foreign vessels; the natives enjoy perfect immunity. 
This form of fever does not attract attention in the town, other¬ 
wise than when sailors dnd others, who have been seized by it 
on shipboard in the harbor, are carried on shore for treatment 
or interment. 
During twenty odd years’ practice in Hayti, I cannot recol¬ 
lect having treated a black person, or one of color of near affin¬ 
ity in blood to the African, who has died in Hayti from black 
vomit. I have treated many such persons attached to - vessels 
in various capacities, and whose places of birth were reported to 
be the United States, and different ports in British North 
America. The blacks were attacked by yellow fever in the 
same manner as their white shipmates, but in no case has the 
malady been so deadly with them as with the others; their re¬ 
covery was quicker,—no black vomit, to my recollection, oc¬ 
curred. Hence, it may be said that the black and colored per¬ 
son, as above stated, natives of cold latitudes, may certainly 
fall under the influence of the fevers of this country, particu¬ 
larly if imprudent and intemperate in their habits; but that, 
with certain rare exceptions, the attack will be comparatively 
less virulent than with the white person. And this is so true, 
that owners and captains of ships trading to the West Indies 
and to Hayti, have preferred to have a black or colored crew, 
rather than a white one, whenever they can procure one. This 
harbor has been free from epidemic yellow fever since 1857. 
Not a single case of black vomit has occurred since then. 
With this brief exposition of the nature of fevers common to 
Hayti, and of the influence which they may exercise on those of 
the African race who may emigrate to this country, it will be 
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