TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



167 



able in gloomy damp days after great heat, con- 

 tributes also to the development or increase of this 

 disease. The cases are more rare in Rio de Ja- 

 neiro, where the Sarna, after having long existed in 

 a chronical state, changes to a generally diffused 

 eruption, resembling the first stages of the leprosy, 

 in which cases it is generally combined with 

 syphilitic dyscrasy. The remedies employed 

 against it are, internally, lemonade and slight 

 doses of calomel, and externally, washing with 

 very weak warm rum and water, bathing, and 

 purgations. Chronical diarrhoeas, passing into 

 colliquation, dysentery and lientery, and also 

 dropsy, are common at Rio de Janeiro. The 

 diarrhoeas, which are generally caused by taking 

 cold, are often cured in the first stage by drinking 

 warm vinegar lemonade. Diabetes is likewise 

 observed here, but not so frequently as in cold 

 countries ; it is said to have been remarked that 

 the negroes are far less subject to this disease than 

 the whites and mulattoes, but the negroes suffer 

 much more from the elephantiasis. 



Rio de Janeiro has no endemic intermitting 

 fevers ; but the diseases readily assume a certain 

 periodical character, or fever soon follows on the 

 least disorder, in consequence of the activity of all 

 the organic functions, and is rapidly succeeded by 

 an entire dissolution of the juices. How much 

 the augmentation of all external stimulants, par- 

 ticularly warmth and light, contributes in this 



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