The terror of the tents, or, Quarantine restrictions as imposed and enforced in Jamaica during the prevalence of small-pox, under so-called paternal government.

Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The terror of the tents, or, Quarantine restrictions as imposed and enforced in Jamaica during the prevalence of small-pox, under so-called paternal government. 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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    the Doctor come there no more than once or twice a-day, and whenever he does come he never entered into the tents, he only ask the nurses how the pationers were getting on, and upon such inquiry from them he goes away. He gene- rally come there every day. The deaths of each pationer are from seven to nine days different from each other. I sometimes steal my way into the tehts. I remember sein William Bennett, his penis or private part Was in a state of mortification. I felt greatly for him. I believe he was suffering greatlv. I asked one of the nurses why don't he report to the Doctor, she said she has done so but the Doc- tor will not look at him or come near, but only ordered poultices to be applied for the same. Sometime after the Doctor come, and standing outside the tent as usual, Ame- lia. Smith said Doctor, Bennett private is very bad ; he said, lam nothing to do with that, it is a question of matter. I have never seen him go inside the tents at any time ; he only gain information from what the nurses tells him. I stole my way several times under tents, and on the 37th April I heard a great crying in the Small-pox hospital among the nurses 5 Marshall was also crying. I asked what is the matter, they said Bennett is on dying ; Isliped into the tent through a gap adjoining Mrs. Townshend yard, which is the customary place I generally walk. I saw him lying on his side; he said to me James, good bye, tell my mother good bye for me, she won't see me any more, I am going to die. A while after Doctor Cargill came in and stood outside the tent door, that is to say before the door ; he asked how is Bennett, at the same time peeping into the tent looking upon him. The nurses replied Doctor, Bennett is dying he retreated himself saying poor fellow. I was under the tent 51 do not believe Doctor Cargill had seem me, they generally put Constables outside to hinder persons from going under the tents ; if any person or persons were 'found under the tent would be sent to the station. When Doctor Ross came it was before Bennett went under the tent; it was in the month of April, he came through a gap from the Small-pox hospital which leads into Mrs. Town- fehend yard ; he went to Maria Downer first, and then to Bennett, and stood some yards before his door, and said Vhere is the man that has the Small-pox, bring him out to me. Bennett then came out, he would not allow him to come near > he said stand there, you must go under the