Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/83

( 49 ) 220 additionally died of the small-pox in a very little time after their delivery in the river Plate, making the total loss for those ships not less than 836, out of 2,064.

Causes of the mortality.

The causes of the disorders which carry off the slaves in such numbers, are ascribed by Mr. Falconbridge to a diseased mind, sudden transitions from heat to cold, a putrid atmosphere, wallowing in their own excrements, and being shackled together. A diseased mind, he says, is undoubtedly one of the causes; for many of the slaves on board refused medicines, giving as a reason that they wanted to die, and could never be cured. Some few on the other hand, who did not appear to think so much of their situation, recovered. That shackling together is also another cause, was evident from the circumstance of the men dying in twice the proportion the women did; and so long as the trade continues, he adds, they must be shackled together, for no man will attempt to carry them out of irons.

Surgeon Wilson, examined on the same topick [sic], speaks nearly in the same manner. He says, that of the death of two-thirds of those who died in his ship, the primary cause was melancholy. This was evident not only from the symptoms of the disorder, and the circumstance that no one who had it was ever cured, whereas those who had it not, and yet were ill, recovered, but from the language of the slaves themselves, who declared that they wished to die, as also from Captain Smith's own declaration, who said, their deaths were to be ascribed to their thinking so much of their situation. Though several died of the flux, he attributes their death primarily to the cause before assigned; for, says he, their original disorder was a fixed melancholy, and the symptoms lowness of spirits and despondency. Hence they refused food. This only increased the symptoms. The stomach afterwards got weak. Hence the belly ached, fluxes ensued, and they were carried off.

Mr. Town, the only other person, who speaks of the causes of the disorders of the slaves, says, "they often fall sick, sometimes owing to their crowded state, but mostly to grief for being carried away from their country and G