On the Recent Outbreak of Pernicious Fever in Mauritius

The Island of Mauritius had formerly the reputation of being one of the healthiest of the British colonies within the tropics. Its character has sadly changed. For several years past fever and dysentery have prevailed extensively amongst the Indian population, and the annual rate of mortality has steadily increased until it has attained an average of 31 per thousand in the rural districts, and 48 in the town of Port Louis. The prevailing fever, a low form of bilious remittent, is supposed by Mauritians to have been introduced by immigrants from Bombay, and is hence called " Bombay fever." There is little doubt, however, that the disease is of local origin, and results from the bad sanitary condition in which the Indians live. This fever sometimes assumes a typhoid and contagious form, and proves rapidly fatal; but usually it is protracted in its course, often complicated with diarrhoea