D.—2

12

the space in the upper deck which should have been left clear for exercise), to spring out and rage with its wonted fury. The diseases were aggravated by the Danes' filthy habits, their total disregard to personal cleanliness, their improper self-made dietary, and their determined resistance to any disinfecting process. It was with the greatest difficulty we could get them up on the upper deck to bring their beds up, and I firmly believe some of them never undressed. They are infested with lice and the round w-orm (Borthreoccphalus dispar). They were scarcely ever out of the galley, their messes consisting of a mixture of everything, fat and water, styled soup. They would give their children, rising from measles, vinegar in sago, pickles, and molasses. Of such delicacies as arrowroot, sago, or gruel they had not an idea, and the proper method of cooking them was most foreign to their mind. I had great difficulty in making the Danes understand me. One man, a Dane, who understood English, I made an interpreter and constable. AVith this man I had got a bad character. When I was setting my night watches, he advised his countrymen to resist against the rule. I therewith dispensed with his services, and got the sailmaker of the ship to assist, but I got on very indifferently with him, as he was a Norwegian and did not understand them thoroughly. One circumstance I must mention occurred amongst the pigs on board: two died, having a distinct morbilliform eruption on them. Query : Did they bring it there, or were they infected ? Of the British portion of the immigrants, two or three wero troublesome, the names of whom I have mentioned in my diary. To sum up here, I would advise to send with foreigners an interpreter, a man who can be trusted, one of intelligence, able to assist the doctor, and elicit for him the phenomenon of disease, and explain same distinctly, and communicate doctor's orders as to treatment. Separate foreigners from the British. I would here suggest to send foreigners in a vessel by themselves, with a surgeon of their own nationality. Foreigners in an English ship fancy a partiality is shown to the latter. A'ictual the ship as far a possible to their customary diet. The ship was not, in my opinion, fitted up properly. The saloon was divided, fore and aft, by a bulk-head. On one side were the officers and cabin passengers ; on the other—the stern cabin —was a married females' hospital. Two cabins wero knocked into one to accommodate twenty-seven people (a space not large enough for half the number). Then came a cabin in which was my dispensary. This was also supposed to be the male hospital. In this male hospital I had a chronic dysenteric patient most unpleasant to me; and I question very much whether he benefited by the constant smell of drugs, or whether I was justified in bringing disease whore so many persons were already crowded. These persons, very naturally, protested against such a proceeding. A hospital, containing four beds, was in the single women's compartment. This was nearly always full. A most temporary bath-room was in the single women's compartment. Every time a bath was taken there was a danger of flooding the place. There was also a very indifferently put up watercloset ; this was constantly going out of repair. The married compartment held forty-nine families. There was not a single water-closet or bathroom. Whero so many women and children were, I need not dwell upon the danger of a sick woman going on deck in the rough weather; and it can be imagined what mischief these constant offensive smells would breed if left below. There was not a table for the people to eat their meals off: they had to mess on a locker about a foot and a half from the floor, and close to their beds. The store-room was placed here, adding its decomposing effluvia to the exhalations from so many collected persons. The filth increased by the amount of persons necessitated to draw their daily rations. The water had to be served out here in the rough weather, it is stated, from want of sufficient length of hose. Not a single port-hole was secure, all leaked. All these deficiencies combined make it rather serious when an epidemic is raging. The upper deck leaked over single women's compartment, over married compartment, and over single men's compartment. The hatches were not watertight. All water coming on deck rushed between decks, and between this and the ports leaking, the beds were often absolutely saturated. There is a rule that the single girls should be kept on the poop : the surgeon is requested to bo strict in this particular. A hatchway ought never to have been made on the quarter deck : make it directly on the poop. If this is not done, this rule cannot bo carried out effectually. My medical comforts failed mc at an early period of tho voyage. Some were never sent on board (condensed egg and a very few eggs for the children). Tho bland food ran out, with beef tea and soups, Ac These latter should always bo in extract, not in liquid ; the strengthening properties are in the extract. I must say that, owing to the great many sick, the medical comforts would naturally run short, and they never calculated to have such an extent of sickness. In summing up I w-ould recommend for the future that the doctor should have all the facilities possible to combat disease. His hospitals should be isolated from the passengers and more midships. The great motion felt in the hospitals I had were causes sufficient to retard the recovery of invalids. Want of hospital space compelled me to leave the sick where they were taken ill, amongst the healthy. Give the doctor an efficient staff to assist him, and be careful in selecting a well-trained matron. Water-closets and bath-rooms should bo in each compartment. It was a sad error not having one in the married compartment, where so many women and children wore A tin bath would suffice in single men's compartment. Bathing is most essential in the tropics. On three or four occasions the condenser failed us. On inquiring into the cause, the engineer stated the coals were of an inferior quality. The water was bad, too, on some occasions. This sickness originated with the Danes, I have no doubt. I have been very strict as to the ventilation, cleanliness, and disinfecting of the ship : this was done daily. The emigrants had their beds on deck to air daily, weather permitting. My disinfectants were all used up. I then commenced tobacco and sulphur. The faults 1 have enumerated fanned the diseases and kept them burning. In conclusion, I would forcibly point out the faults of this ship, and the overcrowding. I have stated simple facts, and to the best of my ability given suggestions which I deem proper. I only hope they may be approved of. I have, Ac, J. E. March, Esq., Immigration Officer. J. C. Durham.