464 ON THE MEDICAL TOrOGRAFHY OF SINGAPORE. 
of the atmosphere, coupled with a temperature higher than is natural 
to Europeans, which enables the atmosphere to hold in solution much 
moisture, gives rise in the course of time to the only natural draw 
back, which this climate can be accused of, and that is, a universal 
relaxation of body and mind, especially of body, which creates a pre¬ 
ternatural susceptibility to external impressions. In consequence 
of this preternatural susceptibility, a difference of 2 or 3 degrees in the 
Thermometer causes either feelings of much greater heat or cold 
than could be expected, and bitter are the complaints when a night is 
2 degrees hotter than usual. As a natural result of this relaxation 
and increased susceptibility, all are liable to catarrhal affections, and 
the familiar complaint of cold in the head is much more common than 
in Great Britain, and is in 9 cases out of 10 produced by a slight 
check of the perspiration, from the draught of a Punka, or the natural 
currents of air. The medical man will at once be able to appreciate 
the many advantages which this favoured island possesses ; but he will 
not or ought not to be ignorant of that most serious disadvantage 
which unfits it for patients affected with low nervous complaints, and 
diseases attended with relaxation. All patients affected with Chro¬ 
nic Diarrhoea, Chronic Dysentery, Gonorrhoea, Leucorrhoea, £ * et hoc 
genus omne” ought not to adopt this station as a desirable resid¬ 
ence ; and residents who are so afflicted should if possible change 
the climate for a drier and a cooler one. 
It has been the custom with the medical men of Calcutta to send 
to this station all patients in the last stage of consumption; many 
of them die 9 ere they reach the settlement, and all who live to reach 
it, after rallying' for a time, ultimately succumb to the complaint. I 
cannot say v, hether tills dismissal of patients by the physician is in¬ 
tended to benefit the sufferer, or to save the reputation of the medi¬ 
cal man ; but it has had the effect of destroying what little faith 
there was in the salubrity of Singapore as a climate adapted lor 
Pthisical patients. And now it is believed by many that Singa¬ 
pore is as injurious for consumption patients, as it was supposed 
formerly to be beneficial. Before an opinion can be given whether 
this climate is adapted or not to European constitutions affected with 
