350 Notices respecting New Books. 



I have seen great relief from it_, and also from a solution of 

 lunar caustic. 



" As a collyriuni in Egvpt, I often gave with considerable 

 benefit what I found in the hands of the black doctors in 

 India, viz. a tea spoonful of lime-juice to four table spoon- 

 fuls of water, or a tea spoonful of arrack to two table spoon- 

 fuls of water. In the first stage, I would have applied 

 leeches, but never could procure them. 



" In Persia, Dr. Short informs me, that he was very suc- 

 cessful in the (2;eneral use of anointment, composed of white 

 vitriol, tutlev, and cinnabar, after the application of leeches 

 and scarification. 



" From the days of Prosper Alpinus, the salts contained 

 m the soil of Eiiypt have been supposed to be among the 

 principal causes of the ophthalmia of the country. Though 

 the varioiis modifications of light and heat no doubt act as 

 existing causes ; yet to the particular soil of Egypt, and to 

 the constitution of the air there, we must look for the re- 

 gular and the principal causes of this disease. 



" In Egvpt several causes occurred, which in any country, 

 separately applied, would be adequate to the production of 

 violent ophthalmia : the dry, white, dazzling soil, and 

 the fine sand and dust constantly thrown about in whirl- 

 winds and entering every crevice. If an ophthalmia is epi- 

 demical or is endemic in Egypt, the above causes will ren- 

 der it a verv violent disease." 



Tliu other diseases mentioned by the author as prevalent 

 m the Indian army, are, fever, hepatitis, or the liver com- 

 plaint, dysentery, pneumonia and rheumatism, small-pox, 

 diarrhoea, scurvy, syphilis, the guinea-worm, ulcers, and 

 tetanus. In regard to the guinea-worm, it did not fre- 

 (juentlv af[>e;u- in the Indian army while they were in 

 Egypti but on the voyage thither it prevailed very much. 

 Soon after sailing fronr Ceylon, it made its appearance in 

 the SSth reiiiment, and by the time the army reached the 

 straits of Babehnandel it was in the most alarming state. 

 Of 3(30 men whose services might be daily required, no less 

 than 1(11 were crippled, and laid up with this loathsome 

 disease. 



^' The disease was pretty uniform in the manner of its 

 appearance. The patient was first sensible of an itching; 

 and, on looking at the part, generally observed a small 

 bli.;ter; sometimes I have seen tliree or four small blisters, 

 and tlie part^having the appear;uice of being stung with 

 nettles, ^\'ben the blister was snipped, a piece of mucu>s 



of 

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