Dr Knox on the Climate of Southern Africa. 
with the more inland tracts of Southern Africa *. Calamitous 
droughts, it must be allowed, not unfrequently extend over the 
whole colony, and affect even the Cape peninsula ; but rains are 
very partial, deluging particular districts, whilst others are to- 
tally deprived of them. The boisterous south-east winds, 
which blow with such tempestuous violence at the Cape, are 
scarcely ever felt in the interior ; a fact which, combined 
with many others, demonstrates the inaccuracy of those who 
would deduce from observations made in the Cape Town, any 
inferences or conclusions relative to the mean annual temperature, 
or the general meteorological state of Southern Africa. One of 
the advantages arising to mankind from the acquisition of me- 
teorological knowledge, and that not the least, is the detection 
of the salubrity or unwholesomeness of the various climates 
which the surface of the globe presents ; but as medical details, 
apparently, are incompatible with the plan of this Journal, I 
shall discuss these with as much brevity as possible. 
Whatever conclusions may be drawn as to the nature of the 
climate of Southern Africa, (as far as is known to Europeans), 
from the preceding or other meteorological tables, experience 
shews, that it is one of the healthiest in the world. 
Epidemics, those terrific scourges of mankind, are unknown ; 
the dreadful fevers arising in marshy countries, from the com- 
bined effects of moisture, and a greatly increased or diminished 
temperature of the air, are never found in the colony of the 
Cape. During summer, the excessive heats occasionally excite 
bilious fevers in the young, chiefly of the male sex, and the hot 
N. and NW. winds give rise in some cases to nervousness and 
oppressed breathing. The same N. and NW. winds become 
in winter piercing cold, and occasion a considerable mortality 
amongst infants, by exciting inflammatory complaints of the 
chest ; these winds are moreover extremely parching, and dry 
up the moisture of the face, lips, and inner membrane of the 
nostrils; their effects on the vegetable kingdom are similar. 
The medical man, and even the general reader, will readily ima- 
* The thermometrical observations of a traveller, who is hourly altering his 
elevation above the sea, and degree of latitude, are of course unworthy the smallest 
attention. 
