244 Dr Fustcr on (he Diseases of France 



hygiene have for then- object to render the economy refrac- 

 tory to this pathogenic influence of the seasons and of irregu- 

 larities in the weatheiv We may add, that the season which 

 arrives gradually modifies, and changes in the way of provident 

 succession, the disagreeable impressions of the season which 

 has passed. 



A capital fact evidently results from the numerous observa- 

 tions of M, Fuster on this subject, which is, that the action of 

 the temperature, and the same must be said of the other 

 atmospheric qualities of the seasons, only subjects to its sway 

 the modifications of the economy, in as far as this action is at 

 once strong, continued, and durable. 



In a word, the results of these combinations, seized with 

 perspicacity, between the dififerent meteorologico-medical data 

 of France in general, studied in its three great regions, the 

 north, centre, and south, and of Paris in particular, justify the 

 principles of the author on the morbid action of the different 

 atmospheric states ; they offer, in the present situation of our 

 knowledge, the most faithful and complete table of the mete- 

 orologico-medical constitution of our country. 



In the work of M. Fuster, the annual diseases of France are 

 studied in their turn according to the same plan as the seasons. 

 We shall give, as we have attempted hitherto to do, the general 

 results of the numerous facts collected by the author. 



In the spring, meteorologically characterized by atmospheric 

 vicissitudes of all sorts, participating of the cold of winter in 

 the beginning, and the heat of summer in the decline, the pre- 

 vailing diseases are inflammatory catarrhs in the first period, 

 and bilious catarrhs in the second. The organs of respiration 

 and digestion are their principal seat. 



During the summer, the development of the heat soon causes 

 bilious afi'ections to prevail. Nevertheless, as the summer of 

 France, usually variable, participates also more or less of the 

 characters of the spring and autumn, the bilious aff"ections are 

 always combined in a remarkable degree with the phlogistic 

 and mucous element. The gastric, hepatic, or intestinal appa- 

 ratus is more particulai'ly attacked. 



In autumn, the increase of the atmospherical variations re- 

 stores to the first rank the catarrhal afi'ections of the spring. 

 There is, however, this great diflerence, that in spring, a sea- 



