410 
«gy Of Consumptions and Convulsions. : 
«“¢ The two most remarkable of the rest of the distem- 
pers y‘ help to swell our bills are convulsions and consump- 
tions; their middle rate is neer the same in both, but in the 
beginning of y* 7 years those yt dyed of consumptions were 
most; the convulsions, being fewer, increast every year, till at 
length they out numbered y* former. The late feavor has been 
generally observed to be in the genus nervosum, and not unfre- 
quently accompanied w‘ spasmodick motions, & soe y* it is 
a doubt whether those who have increast y° stile of con- 
vulsions might not have been as justly put upon the stile of 
feavers, since in our bills both begat about the same time are 
increased by y® same steps. I was once in hopes, by examin- 
ing the weekly and quarterly bills, to have discovered what 
time of the year was appearantly more unwholesome y” another, 
but I found y‘ the acute diseases w™ prevailed in those sea- 
sons did by y* mixing w™ the others soe alter the rate of the 
bills, y' they rise and fell with great irregularity; but I found 
y‘ in those years in w™ the small pox and feavor reigned, their 
numbers run highest in the summer season, from June to 7°", 
beginning in y° winter quarter constantly to decrease, nor did 
the flux w™ is usually imputed to y* abundance of herrings & 
bad fruit, rage more in the Autumnall season y" at other times; 
however, I™ apt to believe y' Spring and Autumn, being the 
verticall seasons of y* year, doe carry off most of those y* dye 
of consump€ons or dther lingering distempers, tho’ I could not 
in the bills make out any thing of certainty to demonstrate. 
see gy, Of the Irish Air and Climate. 
‘*¢¢ The air of our country is milder y" y' of England; 
warmer in y* winter, and colder in y* summer; its only crime 
is too much moisture, w may be mended by the former pro- 
posalls ; *tis very unconstant, and seldome continues 24 hours 
w'out some remarkable change as to heat & cold, w™ makes 
* See Dr. Sims's “‘ Observations on the Nervous Fever of 1771.” 
