PREFACE.

It will be the endeavour of the author in the following pages to present to the student some of the more remarkable facts, that prove the dependence of many diseases, for their origin and continuance, on certain meteoric phenomena; and to point out any resemblance or difference that may subsist between the opinions, which physicians of the present age hold, and those that were entertained by the earliest writers on the subject.

In carrying out this plan, the reader will have laid before him so many as possible of those valuable facts with regard to the rise, progress, and disappearance of epidemics, which the labours of the Registrar-General

have succeeded in bringing to light; and in order to illustrate this part of the subject more fully, coloured maps have been appended, which at a glance reveal the progress of some of the most remarkable zymotic and other diseases.

BRIDGEWATER :

September, 1855.

CONTENTS.

THE STUDY OF ANTIENT MEDICAL LITERATURE.

PAGE

Introductory Remarks.—The advantages of studying the works of

antient authors-the most celebrated men have been acquainted

with the history of their profession, whether in law, physic, or

divinity-the medical classics often neglected-the study of

them not essentially necessary-many who have excelled in the

learned professions have been ignorant of their antient history—

the perusal of the medical classics, although it does not make a

physician, renders him more fit for his profession
1-4

The Study of Climatology.—The science intimately associated with

the history of man-Hippocrates-the comprehensiveness of the

subject-our knowledge limited-Sir Roderick Murchison-

Alleghany mountains, Ural mountains, &c.- fossils Montes-

quieu - the effect of the change of scene on one transported from

the pole to the zone

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-

Hippocrates. His originality. -narrow observer of nature - great

traveller-accumulated great knowledge-ever had his profession

and the good of man in view-little added for centuries after

he wrote-fate of theorists-" Aphorisms"- -a selection from

Hippocrates would be useful to students

5-8

9-10

Aphorisms and Statistics.—Statistics not of an early date-the crude

observations and statements of antient writers borne out by

modern investigations—some differences result from latitude,

climate, &c.-aphorisms, however, are very useful—more accep-

table than statistics-value of aphorisms-value of statistics-

the study of statistics derived from aphorisms

11-12

THE IATRO-METEOROLOGY OF HIPPOCRATES.

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66

Introduction. - The term- "The Epidemics," The Aphorisms,"

"The Airs, Waters, and Places," contain meteorological observa-

tions in their connection with disease-Hippocrates' opinion on

the value of the study-his mode of observation was simple-his

term κаTασTаois constitution.

FIRST CONSTITUTION.

PAGE

13-14

Thasos-geographical position-fertility-habits of the Thasians

-geology-A. Petermann on climate-Virgil-vines-table of

First Constitution, containing the weather of five seasons, and

the prevalent diseases which occurred at the same time at Thasos

-Galen's remark on Thasos

14-16

Cynanche parotidea-mumps-etymology of- whom it attacked —-

metastasis-weather favourable for-seldom fatal - Registrar-

General's Reports-follows epidemic catarrh-1803-Dr. Thomp-

son's Annals of Influenza-Framlingham-Mr. Goodwin-1779—

M. Rossignoly-Pegomas-attacked célibataires

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16-18

Fevers were moderate during this Constitution-Hippocrates on

droughty years and fevers

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Phthisis-very fatal-autumn obnoxious to-Galen on-analysis of

the weather conducive to spring most fatal in England-statis-

tical returns-Dr. Richard Quain-Temperature, and its relation

to consumption-direction of wind-angle of declension of pulmo-

nary diseases-statistics of the relation between the deaths from

phthisis and the annual mean temperature of fourteen years—

two statistical tables-seasons-humidity and dryness of the

air-the respirator-dry- and wet-bulb thermometers-Mr. Julius

Jeffreys" portable climate" Mr. Glaisher's hygrometrical

tables-conditions of atmosphere conducive to irritability of the

lining of the lungs-tables of dryness of the air and deaths from

phthisis-the moisture of the atmosphere in its relation to the

direction of the wind-the wind-effect of, on consumptive cases—

statistical table-the NE and SW winds, how they probably act-

statistical table--form of phthisis-M. Louis-Dr. Adams-three

classes of cases-necessity of studying the changes in the atmo-

sphere in connection with this disease-Hospital for Consumption

-duration of phthisis-table of

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