Topographical Remarks regarding Afghanistan. 341 



of disease of the joints and enlargement of glands of the 

 neck, particularly in children of the poorer classes, who lived 

 in confined, ill ventilated houses, on the ground floor, ill 

 clothed and ill fed. 



I have only seen one case that appeared to be tubercular 

 phthisis, so if it does exist, it must be very rare. 



An aphthous state of the mouth and throat appears to be a 

 very common complaint, occurring during the melting of the 

 snow and spring rains. 



In a mountainous region so extensive, embracing every 

 sort of formation, with inhabited valleys of different sizes 

 and elevation, where the streams are often supplied by the 

 melting snows, and where many of the agents to which the 

 production of goitre has been attributed exist, it is curious 

 that bronchocele does not appear to be known, as it is well 

 known to prevail through the whole of the Himalayah,* and 

 at Karabaugh on the Indus, which is within the influence of 

 the periodical rains, bronchocele is very common, and where 

 the periodical rains do not extend the disease appears to be 

 unknown, f 



Venereal affections were said to be very uncommon, and 

 were hardly known except in the form of gonorrhaea in the 

 town of Cabul, until the Seik troops seized Peshawur, and 

 from thence it was introduced into Cabul, where it is known 

 by the name of band-i-ferung — or the French disorder ; the 

 native Hakeems cure it by using preparations of mercury. 



* Not throughout the whole of the Himalaya, since many places are 

 exempt from it, as Dorjeeling and Cherra Ponji. The circumstances 

 attending that disease in Kemaon have been investigated with striking 

 results, and we have no doubt the most complete success would attend 

 an investigation of the subject in any other quarter. — Ed. 



t This cannot apply to Switzerland or to Yorkshire. — Ed. 



2 x 



