550 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO l/SQ. 



to think so, that I have universally found this disease most prevalent among the 

 lower class of people, and those who are most exposed to the unguarded influ- 

 ence of the weather, and various changes that take place in the air of such situa- 

 tions. The primary cause in the atmosphere producing this effect is, perhaps, 

 not more inexplicable than what we meet with in the low-lands of Essex and 

 fens of Lincolnshire. A.n accurate analysis of the water used in common by the 

 natives, where this disease is more or less frequent, and where it is not known in 

 similar exposures, might throw some light on this subject. 



This very extraordinary disease has been little attended to, from obvious rea- 

 sons; it is unaccompanied with pain, seldom fatal, and generally confined to the 

 poorer sort of people. The tumor is unsightly, and grows to a troublesome size, 

 being often as large as a person's head. It is certainly not exaggerating to say, 

 that 1 in 6 of the Rungpore district, and country of Boutan, has the disease. 

 As those who labour most, and are the least protected from the changes of wea- 

 ther, are most subject to the disease, we universally find it in Boutan more com- 

 mon with the women than men. It generally appears in Boutan at the age of 

 13 or 14, and in Bengal at the age of 11 or 12; so that in both countries the 

 disease shows itself about the age of puberty, I do not believe this disease has 

 ever been removed, though a mercurial course seemed to check its progress, but 

 did not prevent its advance after intermitting the use of mercury. An attention 

 to the primary cause will first lead to a proper method of treating the disease; a 

 change of situation for a short while, at that particular period when it appears, 

 might be the means of preventing it. 



The people of this happy climate are not exempt from the venereal disease, 

 which seems to rage with unremitting fury in all climates, and proves the greatest 

 scourge to the human race. It has been long a matter of doubt, whether this 

 disease has ever been cured by any other specific than mercury and its different 

 preparations. In defence of the opinion of other specifics being in use, it has 

 always been urged, that the disease is frequent in many parts of the world, 

 where it could not be supposed that they were acquainted with quicksilver, and 

 the proper method of preparing it as a medicine. I must own, that I expected 

 to have been able to have added one other specific for this disease to our list in 

 the Materia medica, being informed that the disease was common, and their 

 method of treating it successful ; nor could I allow myself to think that they 

 were acquainted with the method of preparing quicksilver, so as to rendejr it a 

 safe and efficacious medicine. In this, however, I was mistaken. 



The disease seems in this country to make a more rapid progress, and rage 

 with more violence, than in any other. This is to be accounted for from the 

 grossness of their food and little attention to cleanliness. There is one prepa- 

 ration of mercury in common use with them, and made after the following 



