132 EFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE 



head-ache ; this was originally contracted in Orissa ; the 

 other, a civilian of rank, who contracted the disease at Seringa- 

 patam, 12 years ago, and who experiences a relapse at full 

 and change. Cephalalgia, and hysteria, appear also to be 

 subject to this lunar influence, though less distinctly, and 

 in a minor degree. 



The diseases of children, are fewer in number, and in- 

 finitely less violent in degree than in the low country, 

 Dysentery, is of rare occurrence, as are also fever, marasmus 

 and convulsions. An idea prevails, that teething takes place 

 less favorably on the hills than below, but this is decidedly 

 contrary to my experience, and I consider the mischief, in 

 one or two alleged instances, to have originated in the child's 

 having been weaned too early. A similar idea prevails with 

 regard to vaccination, which is said to be more difficult to 

 establish here than elsewhere ; this again is entirely owing 

 to the difficulty of procuring good matter.* 



Small-pox, was said to be formerly common among the 

 aborigines ; it has now nearly disappeared. We have vac- 

 cinated more than 1,100 of their children within the last two 

 years, and I have never heard of its occurrence among the 

 settlers, whether European or Native. 



Measles are rare, I have never seen an instance of it, nor 

 scarlatina. Hooping cough is more common, but generally 

 mild, and is readily cured by a change to Kotergherry and 

 Ooonoor, or vice versa. Of croup, I have only seen one case. 



* Either from some defect in the packing, or some more abstruse 

 cause, dependant on sudden change of temperature, vaccine matter 

 contained in glasses or phials generally spoils in being conveyed to the 

 hills. 



Fortunately, the facility now of procuring a child with vaccine 

 pustules both in Ootacamund and from Jackatalla obviates this ob- 

 jection. 



