Doctors and slaves: a medical and demographic history of slavery in the British West Indies, 1680-1834

In writing this book I have investigated facets of slave life that affected their health and well-being, such as culture shock, diet, work loads, punishment, housing, clothing, sanitation, and occupational hazards. I have looked at the demographic experience of the slaves, their birthrates, death rates, sex ratios, longevity, and above all, their failure to increase their population by natural means. I have looked at the principal diseases of the slaves, contemporary and modern theories of disease causation etiology, and methods of treatment and their efficacy. I have looked at problems of natality and infant and child care. I have investigated the state of medical science and art in Europe and Africa; the education of doctors, midwives, nurses, and apothecaries; the nature of plantation medical practice; and the quality of health care. Because of its size and economic and political importance, Jamaica has been given central attention in this study; however, other British Sugar Colonies have been investigated to the extent that demographic and medical records permit