EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 327 
of the thigh, and in the foot, juft below the inftep. As it is 
matured, a fmall white worm appears, which is to be wound 
off by degrees, and in coming out is followed by the difcharge 
of purulent matter. If broken in the extradion, it is fome^ 
times very inconvenient, and often lafts four or even J(ix 
months. There is no certain cure for this difeafe, which moft 
frequently fhews itfelf in the beginning of winter, after the 
rains ; but generally difappears at the commencement of the 
hot feafon. It feems to originate in the water, which is replete 
with animalcules, and which no care is ufed to purify. 
They find by the termination of the tumour the extremity 
of the worm, which they call ivuUad-el-Ferttt^ and in that 
Ipot, puncture the fkin with a red-hot iron, which they con- 
ceive forces it out ; but which always appeared to me a painful 
operation, without any kind of eifed. There is obferved in 
fome individuals a greater difpofition to this difeafe than in 
others, but it is not confined to age, fex, or colour. 
Scrophula. 
The fcurvy is very uncommon in Egypt and Syria. In the 
former I faw no inftance of it. In Dar-Fur I have obferved it 
in the gums, but never any general dilTemination of fcrophulous 
humour appearing in the blood. As the tranfpiration is fel- 
dom interrupted, and generally copious, it muft doubtlefs carry 
off much of the acrid humours, and prevent their accretion. 
Salt provifions, which generate the fcurvy in the North of 
Europe, 
