1827.] Monihly Medical Report. 



would have called febris erratica. This complaint has been characterized by occasional 

 attacks of chilliness and shivering, not recurring at any fixed periods, general weakness, 

 pains of the limbs, palpitation, loss of appetite, with perhaps thirst and scanty secretions. 

 Most of these persons were able to follow up, in some degree, their ordinary employ- 

 ments. In many instances, the disorder had been allowed to creep on for several weeks 

 before medical assistance was requested. The Reporter found that, with few exceptions, 

 all medicines of an evacuating kind aggravated this disease, and protracted a cure, which, 

 under the free administration of sulphate of guinine and aether, was rapidly and with 

 great certainty effected. The Reporter, in the course of his medical experience in the 

 metropolis, never remembers meeting with so large a number of consecutive cases of fever 

 not traceable to malaria, to the throwing off of which tonic remedies appeared to be so 

 decidedly indispensable. 



Among the younger branches of the community, measles seems to be the most preva- 

 lent disorder. Scarlet fever is also occasionally met with ; but, as far as the Reporter can 

 ascertain, there is nothing peculiar in the symptoms or severe in the character of these 

 affections, as they at present occur. In weakly and scrofulous children, they have some- 

 times proved fatal ; but, for the most part, they have run a mild and favourable course. 

 Small-pox is less frequent than it has been for several months past. 



Looking back upon the medical history of the metropolis for the two past years, the 

 Reporter is strongly impressed with the feeling of its comparative healthiness. In all situa- 

 tions, a certain portion of sickness is to be anticipated ; and where might we so reasonably 

 expect that sickness would prevail, in its extremes of extent and severity, as where 

 upwards of a million of human beings are collected together ? The atmosphere, tainted by 

 the breath, is loaded at the same time with the pernicious exhalations of innumerable fires ; 

 while the height of the houses, and the closeness of the streets, offer obstacles apparently 

 insuperable to its due purification. When we reflect upon this, and upon a multitude of 

 other sources of disease, which seem almost of necessity to connect themselves with the 

 circumstances of a large city, it is wonderful in how great a degree the health of the inha- 

 bitants of London is preserved. Much is doubtless attributable to the excellence of the 

 municipal regulations, to the ample supply of water, to the depth and universality of the 

 sewers, and to the careful cleansing of the streets. But the great secret is to be found in 

 the habits of the lower orders. They feel and prize the comforts of life, and they spare on 

 efforts of industry to acquire them. Cleanliness pervades their habitations ; their diet is 

 far superior to that of a similar class of persons in the country ; their children are better 

 clothed. These advantages compensate the inhabitants of the metropolis for the want of 

 the pure breezes and open fields, which would otherwise give to their brethren in rural 

 life so decided a superiority. As it is, the chances of life are pretty nearly alike in town 

 and country ; and if the hourly temptations of the gin-shop, which lead so many to their 

 destruction, could but be avoided, they might perhaps actually be found in favour of the 

 inhabitants of London. 



GEORGE GREGORY, M.D. 



8, Upper John Street, Golden Square, Nov. 24, 1827. 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



WITH the month of November, of course the wheat-seed season concludes ; and, taking 

 it generally, the present may be said to have been finished under as happy auspices, whe- 

 ther in regard to the state of the atmosphere, of the lands, or of the necessary agricultural 

 forces to be put in operation, as any which have preceded it. Partial and temporary inter- 

 ruptions there doubtless have been, among which the most considerable was that deluge of 

 rain which fell several weeks since, and by which the low grounds exposed to it were 

 rendered a mere bog. The evaporation which afterwards took place has reclaimed a part ; 

 leaving yet a considerable breadth, the seeding which with wheat must be an obvious risk. 

 On some of those lands, already sown, great part of the young wheats were completely 

 washed out of the ground ; yet too much was left for it to be easy to decide on ploughing 

 up the crop. In this case, surely it must be eligible to re-seed the bare patches ; a practice, 

 nevertheless, we believe, much oftener talked of than really executed. The latter diggings 

 of the potatoe have turned up successfully, over the three kingdoms ; completing a crop of 

 that universal root, great beyond expectation, both in quantity and quality. We have thus 

 secured a crop of bread corn, of second bread, and of malt corn, fully sufficient for the sup- 

 port of the whole population ; and if, in the ensuing season, such complaints should exist, 

 as a want of bread and beer for those who duly earn them by their labour, the calamity 

 must arise from a very different cause to that of scarcity. 



The vast 'crop of autumnal grass, superior also as it has proved, in quality, to fog," in 

 most years, will no doubt incline the farmer to keep his live stock abroad to a late period 

 of the present season. This advantage, together with the ample provision of winter and 

 early spring food, which has been generally made, in a proportion, indeed, beyond that of 



