220 



Neither time nor space vdll allow of our entering into a 

 detailed account of the diseases prevalent in Egypt. This 

 has been done already by Clot Bey in his " Apercu General 

 sur VEgy'pte\ and M. Pruner in his " Topographia Medicale 

 de Cau'e." It may be sufficient to refer the majority of 

 these diseases either to the miasmata occasioned by the 

 stagnant pools of lower Egj^t, or left by the inimdations 

 of the Nile ; to the great heat (at certain seasons) by d;iy, 

 and comparative cold by night ; to the bright sun, and 

 fine sand-dust diffused through the air ; and to the 

 filthiness and misery of the people, or to the combination 

 of these agents. 



Dysentry and ophthalmia are the diseases most 

 prevalent in Egypt, and are probably mainly due to 

 exposure to draughts of cold air when the body is heated. 

 They are in general much more easily cm-ed now than 

 formerly ; probably because the diseases are of a milder 

 type, and the treatment is better understood. The 

 formidable ophthalmia which committed such fearful 

 havoc in the French and British armies at the commence- 

 ment of this century is now nearly altogether unknown ; 

 and although the proportion of natives (Fellaheen) 

 labouring under the loss of one or both eyes, or of the 

 disease in some of its forms is still fearfully great, yet 

 doubtless this is owing to the neglect of proper treatment, 

 which is, when judiciously used, attended with almost 

 unfailing success, and the restoration to health of the 

 diseased organ. 



Phthisis is much more rare in Egypt amongst the 

 natives than with the residents of any region in Europe. 

 To a certain extent, the same may be said of the 

 Europeans who have fixed their permanent abode here. 

 Not so, however, with the Abyssinians and Niibians who 

 enjoy in their native land an almost perfect immunity fi-om 

 consumption, but who perish from it in vast numbers 



