ON INDIAN DISEASES, IN DETAIL. 139 



patby, to atmosplierical vicissitudes, and the inability to 

 bear exposure to the sun, all operate unfavorably at first, 

 even on the mildest cases of liver-complaint. In many of 

 these, by the adoption of due precautions, and by sending 

 the invalid to spend the first few months in the milder cli- 

 mates of Kotergherry or Coonoor, we have been enabled to 

 neutralize these obstacles, and ultimately to restore them to 

 health. But as a general principle, it must be conceded, that 

 the climate of the hills is not suited to hepatic disease, when 

 of long standing, if of consider able severity, or if complicated 

 with affections of the howels^ unless the disease has been com- 

 pletely subdued by a previous sea-voyage. When the affec- 

 tion amounts to organic disease, leaving little hope of amend- 

 ment from any climate, it is more likely to have the fatal 

 termination accelerated than retarded by a residence here ; 

 and, when a scrofulous taint exists in the constitution, it is 

 difficult to prevent its running into abscess. 



Rheumatism, as a consequence of the abuse of mercury in the 

 low country, is not uncommon. Though an obstinate affec- 

 tion, it always yields to general tonic remedies, such as the 

 infusion of Sarsaparilla above-mentioned, aided by the brac- 

 ing effects of the climate. 



Grout is equally manageable. The cure of this singu- 

 lar disease is perhaps in every instance impossible ; when 

 the constitution has the arthritic tendency, all that can be 

 expected is, to reduce the number of fits, moderate their 

 violence, and prevent their injuring the general health, all of 

 which, with but little assistance from medicine, is perfectly 

 effected by the climate. 



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