Official report on the fever which appeared on board His Majesty's ship Bann, on the coast of Africa, and amongst the detachment of Royal Marines forming the garrison of the Island of Ascension, in the year 1823 / by William Burnett, one of the commisssioners of the medical department of His Majesty's Navy.

  • Burnett, William, Sir, 1779-1861.
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Official report on the fever which appeared on board His Majesty's ship Bann, on the coast of Africa, and amongst the detachment of Royal Marines forming the garrison of the Island of Ascension, in the year 1823 / by William Burnett, one of the commisssioners of the medical department of His Majesty's Navy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    occurred on board the Bann. On the 31st, one case of the same kind was added to the list; and on the 3d of April, four more of her people were seized witli the same complaint. From this time the sick list rapidly increased, and, according to the account of Captain Phillips, beginning forward in the ship, came gradually to the after part, till nearly all the officers and men were attacked ; indeed, when it ceased, at Ascen- sion, only about sixteen had escaped of the whole of the officers and ship's company. The total number attacked was ninety-nine, of whom thirty- four died, fifteen of them before the Bann reached Ascension. It is stated by the surgeon, that at the time of sailing from Sierra Leone, the weather was very hot and sultry, and subsequently became cloudy, with occasional heavy showers of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, indicating the approach of the tornado season. (See the state of the thermometer, &c. Appendix, No. II.) The thermometer stood at about 78° to 80° during the day, becoming about two degrees lower than usual in the night; but from the dampness of the air, the impression of cold on the feelings was greater than that which was indicated by the mercury, and produced a sensation of chill in the night. The ship was ordered to St. Thomas', but from the unhealthy state of the crew, and the bad wea- ther, it was deemed advisable to proceed directly to the Island of Ascension ; and on her arrival at that place, on the 25th of April, tents were imme-