ON IN^DIAIT DISEASES, IN DETAIL. 131 



portion of the severer cases among officers, to Kotergherry, 

 for the first three months. 



Sudden changes of weather have, as might be expected, a 

 considerable effect on all the more delicate classes of invalids. 

 Bowel-complaints, and dysentery, are peculiarly affected by a 

 transition from dry to wet weather, but the effect is for- 

 tunately in general only transitory, and the monsoon is, upon 

 the whole, the most favorable season for invalids, probably 

 from its great equabihty of temperature. 



The electrical condition of the atmosphere, exercises a very 

 marked influence on most invalids on the hills. 



Rheumatism, cephalalgia (head-ache), and nervous com- 

 plaints, are most sensible to its action, and patients, affected 

 with these, or similar complaints, can generally foretell the 

 approach of a thunder-storm, producing a general feeling of 

 uneasiness, and a temporary aggravation of the pains. 



The influence of the phases of the moon on the paroxysms 

 of periodical disease, has been much disputed, and is still 

 ^^ sub lite.'' I must confess myself convinced of the truth of 

 the popular opinion, though not to the fullest extent perhaps. 

 Scarcely a case of intermittent fever, contracted in the low 

 country, has come under my observation here, which did not 

 undergo a decided aggravation at the full and change ; if the 

 paroxysms were regular at other periods, they were severer, 

 and of longer continuance at this ; the cold fit being always 

 strongly marked, though often scarcely perceptible in fits 

 occurring in the intervals. The quartan type, is that most 

 subject to this mysterious influence, as are the obstinate 

 types known as Seringapatam and Gruzerat fevers. I have 

 two instances in my eye, at this moment, one, a field officer 

 .of the army, who for the last 16 or 18 years has had a re- 

 gular return of fever every full moon, preceded by violent 

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