Epidemics. 25 



epochs than that pertaining to improvements and changes 

 in the culture of vegetable forms, or the breeding of animals, 

 etc. ; since their effects are traced in relation to dynasties, 

 and the rise and fall of nations. 



Acre, on the coast of Palestine, is taken as the centre from 

 which in increasing circles, and wider spread areas from 

 that centre, civilisation has been ever moving, and dynasties 

 rising and falling from the time of Egypt's greatness to 

 the present time. 



The kingdoms of Egypt, Judah, Babylon, and Nineveh, 

 Medo-Persian, Grecian, Carthaginian, Roman, Saracenic, 

 and present European supremacy are taken under review, 

 and from thence a close analogy is recognised between the 

 spread of epidemics, and the length of their epochs, and 

 that of the rise and fall of empires and dynasties, with 

 many intervening peculiarities. 



It is considered that the present anthropological era which 

 began about 1817, taking Europe as its chief basis of 

 extension, is spreading its leavening influence in a wider 

 area from Acre than any previous anthropological era, and 

 gives promise of knowledge and science spreading to every 

 part of the world. 



The human mind is taking a wider, deeper, and more 

 general expanse than has hitherto existed, and implanted 

 upon this is the universal adoption of the principles of 

 association and large combinations, whether it be for com- 

 mercial, scientific, or religious ends, or for pleasure, or 



