ON YELLOW FEVER.
357
cause, and the facts which the recurrence of this fever in subsequent years has made known, have since induced a majority of the medical officers at Gibraltar to reject it likewise. As the time when I must again embark and return to my duties in Jamaica is at hand, it is necessary for me to abridge the remaining part of this publication as much as possible ; and I shall therefore say no more respecting the epidemic of 1804. Dr. Pym (at page 46) says, in regard to the troublesome and useless system of purification, which took place at the end of 1804 in Gibraltar against the supposed fomites of the disease, that “whether it was absolutely necessary or not, it however proved successful in 1805, as the garrison enjoyed the most perfect health from that time until 1810.” But this is very fallacious, unless the prevalence of severe Remittent Fevers be compatible with the perfect health of that garrison, for I have indisputable evidence of their having occurred, and prevailed to a considerable extent, at least in the ten years
acquainted with this place. This fever became frequent in 1803,” (when it prevailed in a more violent form at Malaga) “and in 1804, when it assumed, about the end of August, a very aggravated form ; the character of Bilious Remittent, being however yet perfectly distinct ; as was declared by a medical consultation, held to report on the nature and progress of the disease” — i. e. in September, 1804.