The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-11
From the Ne,D York Epcning Post.

The CHOLERA AT JANIAlcA-The following
appalling details of the ravages which the cholers
has been, and is making in Jamaica, are
communicated to us by friend and highly
respected resident of that island, who arrived
here day before yesterday in the Empire City
He states that in the burial ground of Span,
ish town, the seat of Cover ment of the is
land, twenty-five bodies were left Sunday before
last, upon the surface of the ground, it being
impossible to induce any one to bury them.-
| The Governor finally offered their freedom tc
the convicts in the penitentiary, if they weulc
discharge this dangerous Office for the deceased
Sore of them accepted the offer, but the mos
of those who did so, died shortly after the epide
mic.
| The population of Port Royal was decimatec
in about week.
At n place called the Farm, about five miles
from Kingston out Of population of two hun
dred, twenty five died in about twenty ourhours
They had no medical aid, in consequence of the
engrossing duties Of the profession in Kingston
and Spanishtown. H..
On the morning the steamer Empire City sailed
DR.. Campbell, prominent physician in Kings.
ton, stated to our informant, that dreadful as the
holera was in Jamica, he believed its destruc-
tiveness had only commenced.
The disease had been particularly destructive in
the Lunatic As?lum in Kingston. Out of 140
patients, 81 died in one week. At the first APP
pearance of the disease the patients fingered
usually from twelve to fifteen hours, but the
later cases frequently proved fatal in quarter
of an hour.
There is q great scarcity of medical men.
The few who reside there are exhausted with
their labors. One physician made over eighty
calls in single day. There is hope enter
tanned that New York will send out some ply
sicians by the next steamer. Several of the
profession have fallen victims either to the dis
ease or to over exertion and exposure. Among
the number, we are sorry to have to mention the
name of DR.. Palmer, one Of the most eminent
physicians upon the island He was quite we'll
at night and died before morning
Just before the steamer left, intelligence was
received at Kingston, that the epidemic had bro
ken out in the 9th regiment, stationed at New
Castle, about eight miles from Kingston, in the
mountains, and that fourteen cases had proved
fatal. This camp Is about four thousand feet
above the level of the sea, and was selected for
its healthiness and coolness-the temperature
varying from 70 deg. to 80 deg. of Fahrenheit
in the warmest season. 1t was supposed that
the firing of artillery might affect the atmos-
phere favorably and all the vessels of war in the
harbor of Kingston were kept firing all one day,
but without any effect. 1t was proposed, the
day the steamer left, to fumigate Kingston, by
kindling fires in each street. This was undoubt-
edly done, with what effect we shall not learn till
the arrival Of the next steamer. a,..
The disease is spreading over the Island, and
carries with it terror and distress. Our inform
ant states that almost the last man he saw on
leaving the Island was Col Harrison our vener-
able Consul in Jamaica, who regretted that
circumstances did not permit his leaving also
We feel it our duty to discourage any pesron's
visiting jamaica under these circumstances, un,
less they are professional men, who feel that they
may do something to relieve the fearful distress
which prevails there .