A disastrous smallpox epidemic breaks out in …
Years: 1789 - 1789
A disastrous smallpox epidemic breaks out in 1789, killing up to seventy percent of the Indigenous people of the Sydney region.
Based on information recorded in the journals of some members of the First Fleet, it has been surmised that the Aborigines of the Sydney region had never encountered the disease before and lacked immunity to it.
Unable to understand or counter the sickness they often flee, leaving the sick with some food and water to fend for themselves.
As the clans flee the epidemic it consequently spreads further along the coast and into the hinterland.
This has a disastrous effect on Aboriginal society; with many of the productive hunters and gathers dead, those who survive the initial outbreak begin to starve.
Lieutenant William Bradley records the first indications of the severity of the disaster that had struck the Aboriginal population of Sydney when he describes his shock at the small number of them to be seen on the harbor and its shores compared with previous times.
The British had not seen smallpox in anyone among themselves before the outbreak.
Although there had been fears about the health of some of the convicts on the First Fleet, these had been subsequently dismissed by Surgeon-General John White who believed they were suffering from "slight inflammatory complaints".
The origin of the smallpox epidemic is controversial, and it has been speculated that the surgeons on board the First Fleet brought vials of smallpox matter and either accidentally or intentionally released it as a "biological weapon".
Christopher Warren, writing in Journal of Australian Studies in 2014, will conclude that British marines were most likely to have spread smallpox, possibly without informing Governor Phillip but will concede in his conclusion that "today's evidence only provides for a balancing of probabilities and this is all that can be attempted." (Warren, Christopher (March 2014). "Smallpox at Sydney Cover - who, when and why?" (PDF). Journal of Australian Studies Vol.38 No.1. International Australian Studies Association. Retrieved November 3, 2017.)
Based on information recorded in the journals of some members of the First Fleet, it has been surmised that the Aborigines of the Sydney region had never encountered the disease before and lacked immunity to it.
Unable to understand or counter the sickness they often flee, leaving the sick with some food and water to fend for themselves.
As the clans flee the epidemic it consequently spreads further along the coast and into the hinterland.
This has a disastrous effect on Aboriginal society; with many of the productive hunters and gathers dead, those who survive the initial outbreak begin to starve.
Lieutenant William Bradley records the first indications of the severity of the disaster that had struck the Aboriginal population of Sydney when he describes his shock at the small number of them to be seen on the harbor and its shores compared with previous times.
The British had not seen smallpox in anyone among themselves before the outbreak.
Although there had been fears about the health of some of the convicts on the First Fleet, these had been subsequently dismissed by Surgeon-General John White who believed they were suffering from "slight inflammatory complaints".
The origin of the smallpox epidemic is controversial, and it has been speculated that the surgeons on board the First Fleet brought vials of smallpox matter and either accidentally or intentionally released it as a "biological weapon".
Christopher Warren, writing in Journal of Australian Studies in 2014, will conclude that British marines were most likely to have spread smallpox, possibly without informing Governor Phillip but will concede in his conclusion that "today's evidence only provides for a balancing of probabilities and this is all that can be attempted." (Warren, Christopher (March 2014). "Smallpox at Sydney Cover - who, when and why?" (PDF). Journal of Australian Studies Vol.38 No.1. International Australian Studies Association. Retrieved November 3, 2017.)
Locations
People
Groups
- Australians, Indigenous
- Britain, Kingdom of Great
- Australia, British
- New South Wales (British colony)
Topics
Commodoties
Subjects
Regions
Subregions
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Years: 1789 - 1789
Locations
People
Groups
- Australians, Indigenous
- Britain, Kingdom of Great
- Australia, British
- New South Wales (British colony)
Topics
Commodoties
Subjects
Regions
Subregions