346 Koikes respeeling Ncio Books. 



the station of large armies : alternately of Turks, Mamelukess, 

 French, and English. From all these armies a number died 

 atGhiza, and tlicre was iimch filth and noxious effluvia. 

 We saw there enough of putrid animal matter to generate 

 contagion. Whether this was or was noi the cause of the 

 fever which prevailed, 1 will not attempt to decide. One 

 circumstance ma-v be mentioned : we were here joined by a 

 detachment of the S8th regiment under colonel Lloyd, 

 which, for some months before, had been doing duty with 

 the vizier's army, which never was healthy. That the cir- 

 cumstances which existed at the time of our occupying 

 Ghiza were the cause of the fever, is manifest from this, that, 

 subsequently to the army going to the coast, the garrison 

 left in it found Ghiza a most healtiiy quarter. The same 

 objections are to be made to Klioda that are applicable to any 

 marshy situation." 



In the ihird part of this work, which gives an account of 

 the diseases of Egvpt, Mr. Macgregor has brought forward 

 some new facts in regard to the plague, and particularly the 

 treatment, which are well worth the attention of medical 

 men in general, and of those in particular who may visit 

 countries where this disease is prevalent. It is commonly 

 believed, that the progress of this contagion is stopped by ex- 

 tremes of both heat and cold ; but if this be true in regard to 

 heat, it did not appear to be so in the army of Egypt in re- 

 gard to cold; for the period at \\hich the plague raged most 

 was in the coldest months. In regard to the treatment, 

 nitric acid was given internal! v, and where the patients would 

 drink it it showed good effects. Bark, wine, and opium, 

 were largely administered, and at a certain stage the cold 

 bath, for the purpose of obviating that debility which always 

 appeared to be very great. At tirst, calomel was used only 

 as a purgative, but at last the use of this remedy was carrietl 

 farther. " On the whole," says the author, " in mercury 

 and the nitric acid we appear to have excellent remedies for 

 the plague; but they must be very early and very liberally ex- 

 hibited. If the first stage is allowed to pass over before 

 they are given, the seascm of doing it with advantage is in 

 danger of being lost." In regard to preventive means, the 

 following observation seems so -well calcuJated to remove 

 that despondency which generally prevails when the plague 

 €xerci.ics its ravages, that we cannot help quoting it. 



" There was hardly a corps in tlie army," says the author, 

 **■ where, at one period or other, the disease did not make its 

 •appearance; but it was always in our power to arrest its pro- 

 gress. In well regulated corps, where a rigid discipline was 

 8 enforced. 



