<P> Disease in colonial America that afflicted the early immigrant settlers was a dangerous threat to life . Some of the diseases were new and treatments were ineffective . Malaria was deadly to many new arrivals , especially in the Southern colonies . Of newly arrived able - bodied young men , over one - fourth of the Anglican missionaries died within five years of their arrival in the Carolinas . Mortality was high for infants and small children , especially for diphtheria , smallpox , yellow fever , and malaria . Most sick people turn to local healers , and used folk remedies . Others relied upon the minister - physicians , barber - surgeons , apothecaries , midwives , and ministers ; a few used colonial physicians trained either in Britain , or an apprenticeship in the colonies . One common treatment was blood letting . The method was crude due to a lack of knowledge about infection and disease among medical practitioners . There was little government control , regulation of medical care , or attention to public health . By the 18th century , Colonial physicians , following the models in England and Scotland , introduced modern medicine to the cities in the 18th century , and made some advances in vaccination , pathology , anatomy and pharmacology . </P>
<P> Disease in colonial America that afflicted the early immigrant settlers was a dangerous threat to life . Some of the diseases were new and treatments were ineffective . Malaria was deadly to many new arrivals , especially in the Southern colonies . Of newly arrived able - bodied young men , over one - fourth of the Anglican missionaries died within five years of their arrival in the Carolinas . Mortality was high for infants and small children , especially for diphtheria , smallpox , yellow fever , and malaria . Most sick people turn to local healers , and used folk remedies . Others relied upon the minister - physicians , barber - surgeons , apothecaries , midwives , and ministers ; a few used colonial physicians trained either in Britain , or an apprenticeship in the colonies . One common treatment was blood letting . The method was crude due to a lack of knowledge about infection and disease among medical practitioners . There was little government control , regulation of medical care , or attention to public health . By the 18th century , Colonial physicians , following the models in England and Scotland , introduced modern medicine to the cities in the 18th century , and made some advances in vaccination , pathology , anatomy and pharmacology . </P>
why did disease and death spread early in jamestown
why did disease and death spread early in jamestown
the diseases were new treatments were ineffective
the diseases were new treatments were ineffective