The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-04 00:00:00

THE CLIMATE Off DARIEN'.

We have been favoured by Dr. M`Dermott with the
following statement relative to the climate of Caledonia
Bay, and that part of the Isthmus of Darien in its neigh.
bouthood which has been explored by parties from her
Majesty's ship Epiegle
"During our stay in Caledonia Bay in January, Fe-
bruary, and March—extending over a period of nearly
three months—l had sufficient opportunities of observing
the nature of the climate as well as the state of the
health of the ship's company. I had also constant in-
tercourse and conversation with the medical officers of
the United States' sloop of war Cyane, and also of the
French war steamer Chiniere, and her Majesty's survey-
ing echoiner Scorpion, which were anchored in Caledo-
nia Bay during the same period, and the crews of which
amounted to 420 men. A party of 26 persons left the
ship on the 24th of January, with Mr. Gi,borne, anddid
not return for a period of 11 days, during which time
they were exposed considerably in wading rivers and
occasionally to the sun, though generally protected by
the shade of the foliage. Dr. Edwards, assistant-surgeon,
who was in medical charge of the party, states that the
weather was fine throughout and generally dry, with
the exception of a few light morning and evening
showers (average of thermometer 74 deg.) Every pre-
caution was taken for the general preservation of health,
and the party was protected at night by sleeping in
well-built huts of palm leaves. The usual doses of qui-
nine wine were administered to each of the party daily.
When they returned to the ship, and for some time
afterward, I closely observed the state of their health,
and in no case could I detect any symptom of disease
caused by their exposure ; on the contrary, I think they ,
were improved by the change.
"A sec+nd party of 21 persons left the ship on the
24th of March and returned upon the 2d of April,
and, although their duties were much more arduous,
the exposure greater, having had to cut their way
throngh the buih, no case of endemic or local disease
resulted therefrom.

" The ground being mountainous and devoid of marsh,
and the rivers being ail running streams, with rocky and
sandy beds, having no alluvial deposit, I feel confident
the causes of endemic fever do not exist—at all events,
during the period of the year I have mentioned ; nor do
I think, even at any time of the year,
_that tl .e fever so
fatal and injurious to health which prevails. at Grey
Town and Navy Bay can exist.
"I made frequent inquiries among the natives, and
I could not ascertain that any particular form of fever
or disease prevailed among them, and, from their ap-
pearar.ce, I should say they are a very healt by race.' •
"The temperatere and climate of Caledorsia are far
superirr to those of any part of the West Indies that
I have vi.ited ; a coal and steady breeze from the
N.N.W. prevailed, with scarcely any variation, during
our stay there. The heat does not possess that feeling
of oppression experimced in the %Vest India Islat ids, and
the nights are delightfully cool.
• "Previous to the ship's leaving I made particular
inquiries of all the medical officers, and found that no
case of disease had occurred which could be at a-Ratted
to a climat)rial cause.
"Twenty sailors from the French war steamer Cbi-
flair° were employed during the same period, and , with
the -awe result. The Mated States' sloop Cyan e had
also a nun' or of men employed surveying and dit !ging
vvel;s. &c., and no endemic disease occurred.
"From the nwure of the duties of the crew of -the
Sc a•pion surveying schooner, the men had been. ctn-
stantly exposed from morning till night daily in tl.e laar,
b ur, but not a single case of fever occurred d uring
period Of three months. From the time of our arrive.'
in Caledonia Bay it was observed by Dr. Elw Ards and
myself that the men improved in health, and • when ave
left the ship's company was in better condit'ma than
when we arrived on the coast of Darien."

•
GRAYING DOCK A CCOM3IODATION AT LIVERP(
The graving-dock accommodation on the Mena -y has
been the subject of so much discussion that : it may
not be uninteresting to report that the new grav-
ing-docks, near Woodside, on the Cheshire shore,
belonging to Mr. Laird, to Messrs. Clover ;a ,d Co.,
and to Mes,Frs. Clayton and Co., are likely . to sup-
ply all present wants. On Monday a large) t•crew-
steamer, the Ottawa, was undocked, and with the
same tide the Q.,harity, a vessel of the same Jimensicns
(1,200 t.,ns, and 6270 feet long), was place d upon tce
blocks just vacated by the Ottawa. Mr. L Aires gray -
irg-dock No. 2, capable of taking in vesselz larger than
the Eli,nalaya, will be opened within a w(lelt. a nd Nos.
3 and 4 gtaviti-docks ,within a month. No. 3 is 420
feet long and 35 feet entrance ; and No. 44 450 feet long
and 87 entrance, nearly 100 feet longeg ant 1 15 feet
wider than the Persia.