The most common diseases in Barbados are chest-complaints, and dysentery, with inflammation of the eyes, from the reflected glare of the sun, and the quantity of finely-pulverized chalk always floating in the atmosphere. There is a horrid and loathsome species of the Elephantiasis, vulgarly known as the Barbados leg: it was formerly far more severe and common amongst the negro and coloured population than it is now; still we cannot walk half a mile without seeing some cases of it,—some poor wretch trailing a limb larger than the body, and covered with excrescences and ulcers. Dr. Stewart, a physician, resident in Bridgetown, while I was in Barbados, found quicklime, mixed with warm sea-water, a valuable remedy; but I suspect that if the disorganization of the tissues has gone to any extent, the disease is incurable.

Dr. Maycock assured me that tetanus was epidemic in the island; but, except the bilious remittent fever, the scourge of all our colonies, I am not aware that there is any malignant disease peculiar to Barbados.

The island may be said to have been healthy for some years past; but when the epidemic does make its appearance, it is very fatal, and very soon assumes a contagious or virulent character. The last visitation was a very severe one, and many of the inhabitants, as well as of the military, were carried off.