On the Influence of the Atmosphere in certain Diseases. 6g 



•aneoiis eniplions ex'cry spring ; numbers of people are 

 much affected by the prevalence of particular kmds of w ea- 

 ther, and the stomach often fceis uneasy befi-.e thunder- 

 storms. Europeans, whose health suffer? deterioration from 

 removal into tropical climates, are affected witli different 

 kinds of disorders in different countries situated in nearly the • 

 same latitudes, and in which the mean heights ol" the ther- 

 mometer may be nearly the same. These and mauv similar 

 observations which I am about to relate, have induced iiic 

 to think that those disorders wbich occur apparently in 

 consequence of atmospheric influence, are not caused 

 chieflv by the heat or frigidity, dampness or draught of the 

 air, nor by changes from one to aii'aher of these states ; but 

 are produced, or rather excited^ by the opeiation of certain 

 peculiarities in the electric state of the atmosphere with 

 which we are at present but little acquainted. In a recent 

 publication, Mr. Aberncthy has shown that, though there 

 may be pre-established tendencies in the constitutions of 

 various persons to peculiar forms of disease, — neverthe- 

 less most, if not all those complaints which are termed lo- - 

 cal, as well as those usually denominated constitutional, are 

 excited by a disordered state of thesysteniin general, which 

 seems to consist in a ci>inbinaiion of nervous irritability 

 and weakness with disorder of the digestive organs in par- 

 ticular*. 



That the opinions advanced by this ingenious and emi- 

 nent gent'emaii were correct, I should have been ready to 

 admit on the authority on which tuey rest, even had I not 

 been previously induced to think so, from the accidental 

 occurrence of a particular circumsiance, by which my at- 

 tention was strongly excited towards disorders o\ the chy- 

 lopoietic organs. But still the various causes which operate 

 to the production of such a state of the system remain to 

 be reflected on. The various evil habits of artificial life j 

 such as sedentary occupations, bad air, stimulating diet 

 taken in too great quantity, the too free use of spirituous 

 and fermented liquors, and indeed excessive indul..',ence and 

 luxury ot every ktnd, may cooperate to produce such a state 

 of disorder, which niav be aggravated, and often at first 

 caused, by the great influence of the mind upon the di- 

 gestive functions. But we must rc'CoUect that the existence 

 of any oiiC of these causes of disorder mist render our 

 bodies more susceptible of the operation of any of the rcstj 



• I refer your reiden to " Surgical Ob,crvations on the CJustitutional 

 OrijMti ami treatment of l.cral Diseases, Ac. by Joli i Aberucthy," .Stc. 

 J^i/iidoij, IcOy. 



K 3 and 



