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excellent singer, she never could sing after a day or two’s exertion. 
She moreover used to lose flesh. The moment she left her abode 
and went up the hill all these ill effects disappeared, and she got 
strong again. This was repeated several times so that there was 
no mistake. At last she found a husband in Wiltshire, on the 
highlands, and she has continued well ever since.” 
Cases have occurred to my own knowledge,—some in which the 
symptoms were not very different from those here described, 
especially as regards loss of voice—others in which, from languor 
and relaxation, walking even short distances was painful and 
fatiguing, when ordinarily long walks could be taken without 
inconvenience. And these symptoms have been experienced—not 
_ in summer only—but occasionally at other times in the year ; 
even in mid-winter, in certain states of weather, the conditions 
generally being great dampness in the air, with westerly winds, or 
such winds complicated with north or south, and a low barometer. 
This shows that a high temperature, though it would, no doubt, 
aggravate the symptoms, is not the sole cause of them. They 
seem due rather to an excess of moisture in the air, rendering it 
less fit for healthy respiration: the action of the heart, in con- 
sequence, being weakened, and exertion of any kind more or less 
‘laborious. On descending the hill from the Circus towards Queen 
Square, as also from other points on the higher ground, a steamy 
cloud may very frequently be seen hanging over the river, and 
the streets adjacent to it; Beechen Cliff rising directly behind, 
and, in connection with the other hills, though less close, neces- 
sarily obstructing the in-flow of a drier and healthier air from the 
country beyond the town, to counteract the ill effects of the 
Vitiated stagnant atmosphere within it. 
When, however, these symptoms occur in hot summer weather, 
in the lower parts of the town, there is reason to think that the 
quality of the air may be further in fault, to a certain extent, from 
its impurity ; such impurity as is known to exist in the close and 
crowded parts of all towns, the noxious particles in the air 
