1841.] Tou7- in H. H. the Nizam's Territories. 731 



Diseases. 



Fever, — Fevers, of the intermittent and remittent types, are met with 

 throughout the whole country, particularly at the close of the monsoons, 

 and for six weeks afterwards; they are not very formidable diseases in 

 the open granitic country, but in the neighbourhood of thick jungles, 

 their severity is much augmented ; in the sandstone district there is a 

 good deal of fever in the course of the monsoon, from the great facility 

 with which the soil parts with moisture by evaporation, thereby 

 generating malaria ; and here it may be remarked, that the superior 

 drying quality of the sandstone soil over the granitic, is by no means a 

 circumstance favourable to the salubrity of the former. A few days of an 

 October's sun effects its desiccation, and sends up an evaporation loaded 

 with impurity, at a time when the malarian influence is at its height, 

 and when the human frame, weakened by the return of heat, is little 

 adapted to resist its action. The fevers are then of a severe, and often 

 a fatal character, to which the spirit-drinking of the mass of the inhabi- 

 tants contributes in no small degree. 



Spleen. — This disease exists on the banks of the Godavery, after its 

 union with the Purneetah river, and all along the banks of the latter. 

 At Sevoncha it is particularly severe ; being attributed by the natives to 

 drinking the impure water of the rivers, for the great depth before 

 water is reached in digging, almost amounts to a preventive to their 

 employing any other. 



Cholera. — Compared with other parts of India, cholera cannot be 

 said to be a very prevalent disease in Telingana. For the last eight 

 years it has not appeared epidemically, and, on that occasion, it followed 

 as a consequence of a severe dearth. It is held in great dread by the in- 

 habitants. Leprosy and Elephantiasis, in all their horrid and disgusting 

 shapes, are frequently met with. 



Eye complaints. — Diseases affecting the globe of the eye, particularly 

 ulcers of the cornea, albugo, and other consequences of ophthalmia 

 and cataract, are common, especially in the sandstone districts. From 

 what came under my observation, I should say, that affections of the 

 eye appendages are rare. 



Dracunculus. — This singular and troublesome disease is m.et with, in 

 a greater or less degree, all over the country. At Chinnore it is less pre- 

 valent than at Worungul, and at Worungul less than at Khummum, which 



