Description

In 1793, the Caribbean island of Dominica fell victim to the deadly yellow fever virus. The British physician James Clark (c.1737-1819), who practised on the island for many years, witnessed the outbreak at first hand. He published this descriptive account in 1797, using the work to discuss his methods of attempting to treat the disease, which was considered among the most lethal tropical ailments of the time. Long before the link between mosquitoes and disease transmission was made, Clark explains his hypothesis about the origins of the outbreak and discusses the symptoms of its sufferers as well as possible methods of prevention. He also includes chapters addressing other ailments, including typhus, dysentery, cholera and tetanus. This remains an enlightening resource in the history of the understanding and treatment of disease in tropical climates.