1888 - 89 .] Dr R. W. Felkin on Tropical Diseases . 
267 
Isambard Owen, on the geographical distribution of ricketts, acute 
and sub- acute rheumatism, chorea, cancer, and urinary calculus in 
the British Islands; and various maps, illustrating the geographical 
distribution of ricketts, chorea, and cancer, have been prepared but 
not published. 
In 1886 the report on the mortality and vital statistics of the 
United States, as returned at the tenth census (June 1, 1880), 
was published; and it contains some most instructive maps and 
charts showing the distribution of deaths from various diseases in 
the United States, which indicate to a certain extent the geo- 
graphical distribution of those diseases, as also the localities in 
which they are most prevalent. None, however, of the publica- 
tions to which I have referred, nor any with which I am 
acquainted, attempt to depict graphically the geographical distribu- 
tion of tropical diseases in a manner which would give at a glance 
the areas throughout the world which are affected by them, and 
their possible or probable connection with physical phenomena. 
It must be remembered, too, that in the works above mentioned 
the various authors were dealing with civilised districts, where 
authentic statistics were obtainable, and where it was possible 
to localise the distribution of disease in a minute form, which, how- 
ever desirable, it is at present completely out of my power to 
attempt to imitate. 
I propose to treat my subject on a definite plan. I intend first to 
give the name of the disease and its various synonyms; secondly, a 
short definition of the disease, and a very brief description of it. 
I will then sketch out with some attempt at detail the geogra- 
phical distribution of the disease, and finally point out as far as 
possible its relation to various physical phenomena as affecting 
both its causation, its area, and its epidemic spread. I may state at 
the outset, that I have taken the definition and description of each 
disease from the Dictionary of Medicine edited by Richard Quain, 
M.D., F.R.S., because the definitions and descriptions there given 
are the generally accepted ones, and in a paper of this character, 
which deals more or less with broad outlines and general facts, 
it would be out of place to enter into any personal views I may 
have as to either the cause, the definition, or the description of the 
diseases referred to. 
