An historical investigation into the first appearance of the venereal disease in Europe : with remarks on its particular nature : to which are added, observations on the non-necessity of quarantines being observed against the plague, by the vessels arriving from the Mediterranean at British, French, and other ports / by M. Sanchez ; translated from the French by Joseph Skinner.

  • Sanches, António Nunes Ribeiro, 1699-1783.
Date:
1790
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical investigation into the first appearance of the venereal disease in Europe : with remarks on its particular nature : to which are added, observations on the non-necessity of quarantines being observed against the plague, by the vessels arriving from the Mediterranean at British, French, and other ports / by M. Sanchez ; translated from the French by Joseph Skinner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    riercal difeafe was ihen known amongft them# but declared that he had himfelf been twice in- fected by it before that event took place. This faCt fully confirms the truth of Mr. Sam- well’s obfervations; and he is of opinion that fu- ture enquiries will prove, that the difeafe exifted in all the South Sea Iflands, before they were dif- covered by Europeans, riotwith Handing what has been alferted to the contrary3 by thofe who were mifled by a Want of a fufficient knowledge of the language of the natives *. From thefe correfponding faCts, and the argu- ments of DoCtor Sanchez in the prefent work, may we not be led to conclude, that the venereal * The following incident will Ihow how difficult it was, in Captain Cook’s time, to procure any information which could be depended on, from the natives of the Sandwich iflands. The Refolution and Difcovery feparated for about a fort- night off Owhyee. Towards the clofe of this period, the Difcovery was vifited by an Indian, with whom Mr. Sam- well, and others, were in the habit of converfmg, arid pick- ing up as much of the language as they could. On ap- proaching the land, the firft enquiry made, was, very na- turally, after the Refolution; but neither the natives who flocked-sn board, nor the above Indian (who was along fide when the fliips parted) could be made to comprehend the queftion. The Refolution, notwithflanding, had been on the fame fpot the day before, purchafing proviftons, &c. of the very people to whom the enquiry was direfted, and appears at the time to have been fcarcely out of fight, fince (he was joined by the Difcovery before funfet. difeafe