The New York herald., 1873-12-15

minutes He s one moment trembling and blue
from cold; the next every pore OF his body ID per-
spring fountain. He shivers with quick
chatterng teeth, from raw waves Oh coiu
That seem to now along his spine, one
minute; the next he tosses the clothes away as II
he were being parboed. Finally the coid nus OF
aguish feeling s over, and racking headache loi-
lows, with steady. proiuse perspiration, some
times ending in slight deliriuIn. When ne mas
undergone about 10 hours OF this horrible experl'
ence he feels as weak as a Kltten, ana, WIN an
abashed face, which has strangely enough assumed
a iaundiced hue. he coniesses penitently that he
has had the "fever," as many good man had be-
fore him. The next day he is down again, and on
the third day also when the tertian departs from
him, II he has been wise and taken the invaluable
specific, qunne sulphate, in times If not fover is
to be rid OF until the tomb closes over it's un-
happy victim.
THE AFRICAN FEVER,
as also the Indian jungle fever, is nothing more
than viruent ague The agues OF the MISSISSIPPI
and Arkansas valleys are mild compared with the
agues OF the African Equator. The former may be
laughed at, may be taken and endured TO take
and endure again, without seriously endangerlng
the constitution, just as one would take dt of sea
sickness The experience is bitter enough while 1t
lasts, but the patient after while finds in his Sc
cret heart certain contempt for it.
But the African fever is vicious sick
ness, deludlng one into the idea that 1t
is not very dangerous by its mild pre-
liminary symptoms; but it sometimes changes
suddenly drops its intermittent iorm and becomes
remittent or continued, and from three to five
days only are required to kill the stoutesr man.
1t is the remittent type that has been so fatal to
travellers in Africa; that slaughtered the men,
bers of the Zambezi Mission; that terminated poor
Mrs. Livngstone's life at Shupauga; that deci
mated the unfortunate marines at Elmina. Even
now see that its brother, "Yellow Jack,n has ap-
peared at Shreveport and the towns along tue
bayous OF the Mississippi, reaping fearu harvest
of lives. The remittent fever of the Equator is a
distinctive name, without much difference from
yellow fever The symptoms are almost the same,
except that the African remittent is not conta-
giOus.
THE INTERMITTENT OR AGUE FEVER
of this Continent nsidiously saps the best consti-
tuition Its effects are either seen in an early
decay OF the whole system or in weakening OF the
mental faculties. man hitherto noted Tor his ex-
cessive energy and industrious habits soon begins
to feel heavy languor or torpitude binding every
Impulse ana faculty.
GRATUITOUS PRESCRIPTIONS.
One of the most remarkable features OF British
expedition to is the quantity of varied but ex-
first arrival whether it is in Abyssnia or Ashantee
In Abyssinia the advice was, "Fortily the system
Sir" Drink brandy and soda and bottled beer
often pronounced by the educated classes sbottled
beah.n
In Ashantee the advice Is more varied, but all as
excellent. "Ive generous, sir. It's the best thing
IN the world, sir, depend upon it. Patronize beer
ciaret and good wines. Wear cholera belt about
your lons. Wear flannel next the skin. Battle
twice day. Avoid the sun as you would -.
Exercise moderately, but not in the early morn
ing nor at night. Beware OF late dinners and
heavy suppers Avoid excess in eating ana all un-
ripe fruits Should you feel a fainting in the
stomach don't rush to the bottle to sustain it, but
take wee, wee glass Of sherry and bitters. lake
a glass Of quinine wine every morning; it is an ex-
ceent prophylactic.n With all OF which excellent
aovice, however, men suffer from the fever, con-
Tess to anguor, lassituae, feeble appetite and
falling or strength, and in lew weeks are
compelled to be invaded and sent home
TO regain the bloom and brightness OF manhood,
which had almost been wrecked during their short
stay on the Gold Coast. 1t Is common mistake
with many new arrivals here to suppose that be-
cause a week or so elapses before they have been
attacked by fever and Frustrated by sickness that
the climate on the Gold Coast has been exagger-
aJed but before long 1t turns out that these robust
people, who pride themselves upon their strong
constitutions invariably suffer more in the end
than those VINO have had to undergo, on short
notice, seasoning fever.
EXCEPTIONAL LOCATION.
Yet it is difficult to conceive at first sight, how
Cape Coast Castle is very unhealthy, especially
to those who have fortunately their quarters at
the Castle, exposed to the genial sea breeze;
or to the dwellers on the hills on Con-
nor's Hill; in the cool chambers OF Gov
ernment house; or at the Colonial Surveyors
Offices. They are wonderfully exempted from
fever, admit, and so was I while enjoyed the
refreshing sea breezes; but owing to the crowded
state OF the Castle, ana the continual arrival OF
new people, was obliged TO seek quarters else
where, and az few eligible quarters offered,
sought house in one OF the valleys between the
hills in the native quarter. Through this hot, OPP
pressive valley, mere thread OF rivulet
meandcrs sluggishly from the base OF Connor's
Hill to the beach near the cape. On its banks
thin greenish scum rests, slightly covering the
earth. In front Of my house, close by the stream is
grove OF palm trees. Under the cool damp shade
the humid atmosphere has begotten the maar-
ious iungii which cover the SOIL as with a
green veil. little to the left OF the palm
grove not 100 yards from my house,
there is a deep excavation about 80 feet In diane.
eter, and lower than the lazy little rlvulet, slow
moving by its mouth. The excavation has drained
itself full OF water. The surface OF the excavation,
now a ponu, is covered over with weeds and
plants out OF this pond the sluggish little stream,
the slime under the palm grove, is eXhaled every
evening and throughout the night the miasma.
What follows9 What followed with me after COM
ing to live in the neghborhood answers the ques-
ton. On the second day was i'll with fever; on
the third day my white servant had an attack; on
the fourth my native cooN came to my bedside
with swimming eyes and throbbing forehead
to ask for medicine. The fever has departed
again and left all with only Its bitter
memories, with abated energies and strength, with
frames susceptible to a new attack OF the disease
when 1t has once more gathered force sufficient to
be aggressive. When summon resolution to leave
the fetid valley for the heights crowned by the
government Offices my lungs inhale new life from
hreexeS which are capsta tl- y.a.taa