378
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE UPON MAN.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONG KONG GAZETTE,
general progress was along the margin of a river, or over a low swaropy track.
R. MONTOOMSey Maxtr (Fritten in 1829)
In 1884, a season of unusual moisture and hest, The investigation of causes which have an ex severe epidemic raged in Calcutta, when the tensive and diversified influence on animated nanortality was not confined to man for a large ture al more particularly on mun, not merely number of dogs and other animals perished; and respecting the duration of life, but in the mare similar epidemic prevailed in some other parts of peculiar effects produced by them on intellectual India where the situation was low, and in the vi- existence, is a fabject worthy the consideration of cinity of the sea, or within the delts of rivers. the colouist, the merchant, the philosopher, and in 1825, an epidemic broke out at Berhampore the statesman. Of the unmerous families of the (Bengal), which spared neither age, sex, nor human race agattered over the earth, and derived habit of body; and we find the reason of a differ from a single species, it is an important fact, that ence of a year between this sickness and that of no complete sitnilarity has ever been observed he Calcutta in 1894, by observing u Dr. Mount's tween two individuals, and that the inhabitants of description, () that the miny season did not sot differem solls and climates exhibit the most marka by a long period as early as in the lower parts ed distinction in their physiognomical appearances of Bengal and mental endowmenti. Wheune these poco tearities, which form the natural boundaries of king doms, havo tulson, has been a subject of discussion for ages.
Some have assigned the craniological conguta tion as affording suite lently marked indications of character and nationally, others have reasoned on the approxization to or distance from the sun's path in the eclipticr 1 several baro brought in supe port of a theory, an astrological Horoscope; and at a later period political institutes have been supposed to form the operating cause.
It may be necessary vow to point out a fow instances of malaria in various parts of the world and as a general rule, it may be observed, that i clayey soil is most productive of this gas, and a chilky one most free from it, and that the most beautiful and fortile tracts in warm chates are frequently the most sickly after the exciting causes before adverted to.
This minamis
of liberty and happiness, as they all fell victims in China and Lake of Averna). a few days, to the effects of malari
sidered extremely unhealthy, and the A Wille on the subject of malaria on this const, a their hieroglyphical writtings, represen striking instance of its effects in Madagasour death's head. These Jakes are partly (where the French have suffered so much from plants of the family of Junct and Cyperois may be adverted to, Radama, the justly celo vegetate at a small depth under a bed brated, and enlightened chief, when aliming at ing water. This accurate philosopher, i au what be ultimately obtain the absolute sove part of his worlie, relating to New Spain, reignity of the country-marched from his capital The humility of the coasts, assistia e (which is situated on the high table land to the trefaction of a great mass of organic sa father northward and centre of the island) at the head of gives rise to several maladies; for under 100,000 men, for the purpose of subduing the sun of the tropics, the ushealthiness feudal chiefs of the southward, or low provinces, almost always indicates exceeding fertilit and the ferule but swappy districts of Anass. And again he observes Torting fever & Foyer and dysentery soon thinned the ranks of the the scourge of these countries exposed invading army, and they were compelled to retrace winds and frequent fogs, although ador 4 their steps exhibiting at one view the unhealths ture with the most vigorous vegetation, é nù s inoss of the marshes, and the strong links of very useful production.” affection that attach to each other avory ton soldiers having bound themselves by a vow, that, in case any of their number perished in bat le, or died from wounds or sickness, thesauri vore were to carry the bones of their comrades to their native country and families, for interment bonco arose the melancholy sight of one man wording homewards his sad and toilsome way, ladon with the least pariskiable remnine of per Imps (pur, Avo, ar six of his comrades; and in the faithful fulfilment of their plighted fail, sidst all the depression arising from discomfiture, siekus, and timing, 20,000 Malagashes returned to their highlands, from the swamps and marshes of the low, southern provinces.
A Intain a magnificent hospital w for the reception of seamen, and from it usefulness and grandeur, 11 viltamed the Greenwich Elastal? Unfortunately built near a swamp, and the patients who it with yen truthing complaints, ww16 with the most malignant diseases, the at last became no alastning that lie Beers were obliged to abandon the he toasther, and another neplum for the sick o erected in a more healthy situation, as uncommon to find the whole of the sontale whi were posted at this ill-fated infirmary, seized in di middle of the night with sice less of various nature and several reliefs of guards be required befar aneroing.
Dr. Rush, in enumerating the causes of yellow and bitious fovers in Philadelphia, says, they are as follows: exhalations from marshes, and from animal and vegetable substances in a state of pi- The principle, which it is the ubject of this essay trefnction: bilge water singnating rain water; to walbit is, that man is, ton curtain extent, the duck ponde: bog sties; locusts, words out down creature of circamatungos, over star of which he exposed to heat and moisture near a house, has no contral, that his corporeal strength and and the matter which usually stagnates in the gut
pental development depend partly on birth haters, common sewers, und alleys of cities, and in Without preserving any pastionlar chronologi, more especially on localities, viz, the nature of the the sinks of kitchens. Of the ill effects of the cal or geographical arrangement, we may proceed A remarkable instance in confirmation of thes -oil-he inlabits, and of the air he respires.
latter, and more particularly of gutters, many to cite cursorily a few more instances of the inju opinions on maturia, occured in the arid island o It is promised that air and vegetable matter, instances could be cited: it may be sufficient to pious effets of this morbific gas. The plague in St Helens. In 1741 a tremendous war when deprived of the principle of vitality, and mention the following circumstance quoted by die Egypt has boun, after die investigation, ascribed burst over the highest punk of the island, wash while passing through this putrefuglive stage, un distinguished aution above named -A gentimuan to the slimy deposition of the Nile subsequent to the sheht strain of soil from the hills, and com dergo fermentation, during which period certain in Philadelphim, who had a sink in his kitelia, the recossion of us waters, wheir the fervid mys of pletely inunding the valleys, a severa ochore gasis (varying in souse degree according to the lost a number of cats and dogs, by convulsions, at an African sun begin to infinoneu vist quantities of and mortality rap fly succeeded, and Interápia nature of the decomposing substance) are given off: length one of his servants was affected by the sui putrescent aminal and vegetable offluvia, la ferer became prévident among all classes of thi which Moschati, Currie, Brecht, and others have same disease, and dies), this led him to invesel-Hungary, where epidemies have been so froquest inhabitants. shown to consist principally of carbureted by gate the case, and he friced it to the sink, and fatal, it is worthy of remark, that there am an In concluding this branch of the withjent a ga drogen and ammoniacal gases. This noxious which, on its being cared and closed up, wsiamoose number of morassos, formed by the merit observation may be hagarded; namely, a production has been designated by various terms; completely deprived of its healthiness. The overflowing of the Danube, Lancisius, physician those localities of soil which are unfavorable s such as marsh aasmata, paludal effluvia, torrus same effects are experienced from bilge water into Pope Clement the Second, relates, that "thirty inen as new comers, are equally so to those de trial radiation, norbific emanations, vegeta-animal ship board, or where there are green buke o at having been on a party of pleasure towards as the temperate zone in ilustration of this A ma ን ladies and gentlemou of the first rank in Rome thearicated animals, that most probably belong t exhalations; all of which, however, may be an ship. Captain Bell states,
stules, that yourvy out oluded under the more suplo and better known among his men on a voyage to the East Indies, in mouth of the Tiber, the wind suddenly shifted, and he stated, that horses and dogs convegal forh term of maleria, of which it may be requisite to 1784, whereof several muda died, and he suppos, blew from the south over the patrid marshes, beautiful nod fortile land of Zanbibar net di observe, that animal matter, in its insecial paks, the scurvy to have been caused by the fad when twenty-nine of the party were immediately fortress of Mozambique, have invariably perished Gorms the most deadly source, and particularly in air emitted by the green tubers" that were in maized with a tortion. fewer, and only escaping. and the Arabs of the former, and Portuguesa de tropion countries.
his ship; for he observed, that "the hammocks,
the latter island, are nécessitated to use cames and which were near the sides of the ship, rotted dur
assis, which are appareatly indigenous inve ing the voyage, while those that were suspouted
host for a long period naturalizet. Indeed, 101 in midships, retained their sound and natural
generalize so far as to state, that winner reade state" That searvy is now of rare occurrence
mies or endomies have raget, horses, con, dags in our mercantile and military navy, is owing to
fowls, de have also suffered from somewhat di the greater dryness of the ships, and the care
-milar discasas at the same paned. It would be bestowed in ventilation.
That accurain and ablo physiciau De Lind, in superilaous to olduce instances of a fier, which Tolla affords mundies examples of ill-chosen "describing the cause of the severe mortality that obvious to every person who has had the lightwei sites for towns and eng, where the population occurs on the coast of Guinen, says.um
opportunity for observation. never enjoy good health. Moorshaabid, built on | There are generally perceived heavy devs the banks of the Cogimbagar river, is a very which fill in the night, and the land is every mor
(10) be continued.) crowded unil populong city, containing upwards ning and evening wrapped up in a fog; there ne of 200,000 inhabitants, it is low and shy, built with narrow streets, after the wural manner of to, East, and having numerqua stagnant pools, there are no drains, and even the nativen find it oxcoed ingly unhealthy; scarcely a year passing without some epidemic raging in the city.
Myrinds of insects and cold-blooded reptiles spring into life during the periodical seasons of rain, and perish in hot weather, the former at times darkening the air by the swarms in which they rise from the earth, and the later, as in the case of lacusis, creating a famine by their rapacity, and a plague by their speely decomposition
|
With respect to miasins from vegetable decom position, it has been inquired, whether salt or fresh water is most productive of malaria? To which it may be replied, that a small quantity of salt materially expedited the decomposition of animal as well as vegetable substans, and that for salt to prove antiseptic it must be abundant, ffence the sickness of pheus where there is an occasional thus of tide to a considerable extent over a mangrove shore, and it has been observed, that where oceanic inundations have occurred, viz in Holland, England, &c. plague or fover The pestilential and dreaded shores of castern hayo rapidly canecoded The Sunderbands of and western Africn, have proved the destruction Bongal may be adduced as affording a striking of many of our bravest suuoo and soldiers, and instance of the rapidity of lignous incomposition, even the nobler animals kunstioned by mau, such when aided by slightly maline water and alterns the horse, dog, &e, speedily porist. nately wet and dry shures; a combination of which is extremely favourable to the propagation and dissolution of the mangrove, shrub, which in the tropics usually skirt the low and that coasts of crooks, and rivers,
It is not a more theory, but well foundry that all the destructive epidemics that have aflet od this globe, have had their origis in malaria, which in a cold climate has produced typhus fover; in a more temperato one, plague and yel low fever; and within the tropics, cholera, &c. sach modified according to the idiosyncratic state
of the sufferers.
Hippocrates, Virgil, Sonoca, Justin, Tacitus, and many others, who have transmitted to poste rity accounts of various epidemics, which have at different periods destroyed large numbers of man- kind, laro all remarked that they wero preceded by heavy rains and intenso heat, and that these seasons were almost invariably to be prognosti oated by the appearance of a comet A few exam plus may be enumerated, Ancient Rome was subject to frequent epidemics, generally caused by foundations of the Tiber; but in the year 1 of
unhealthiness of these shores, exempt at certain seasghs, is proyed by the painful experience of tho's quadron, employed under the command of that distinguished officer, W. F. W. Owon, Esq, who, notwithstanding the death of nearly two thirds of his officers, among whom were included a post- captain, a commander, five lieutenants, a medical officer, a imaster, a purser, a naturalist, a botanist, a linguist, very many Junior officers, and a propor tionate number of seamed and marines, dompleted the most extensive maritime survey that has over been made. Dear-bought experience, however, at longth taught the commander not to attempt the survey of any bay or river, either during the ruiny season or immediately after i
The author of this essay is the sole survivor, (after a mast severe fever) of a party of several of were and season, who went up the river which separates the island of Mozambique from the main, having slept only one night on shore at a Portu guese monastery, about ten miles distant from Ma- zambique,
forests and thickets of trosirupenetrable to rofe-li ing brecara; the soil is either marshy or watered wilt rivolets, whose swampy and cozy banks are overrun with sedges, mangroves and the most slous weeds, the same and filth of which souds firth an intolerable stench, specially towards you ing.”
-“ Torre ProPLE OF IRELAND,
4a Merrion aguare, Pib. 11, you my must hearisht, thanks for the peace, qu
*Fellow-Countryway, --Doce again and good order you have oluerval, and con you by the country we all love, and even in name of the Clod we all ndore, to continge in the sante qincineos, and perfect tranqishty-
Whe Arabs hare evinced their knowledge of the collects of marsh miasm by breaking down the banks.
of rivers, and inundating the territories of the the enemies of Ireland, are very desirous that 1 tell you solemnly, that your choines, and Tarks when they received mjuzive from them; the there should be a breaking out of tamull, risk of consequences of these shocking acts of brebatity other outrige. Be you, tutelare, pertently post have beoan gabeml consuming sickness, which deable. Attack umbody. Of u pobod). populates whole towns and villages.
no person. If you respect your friends jou wish to all your enemies - keep the peace, ad le not on single not of violence be commiltush
You are aware that the jury have found verdict against me; but depend upon it i will bring a writ of error, and will not unse
the law, as laid down against me, until 1 have the opinion of the twelve judges in Ireland, and, i Tecessary, of the House of Lords.
Although the island of Java may be considered a reneral as healthy, yot na exception must be taken as regards the low and swampy shores of the island, and in particular the city of Batavia, which was at one time considered the emporium of disease in the East, it was intersected with half filled canals and tanks, and so completely environed with troes and shrubs, as to prevent the free oirculation of air. A veritable historian bus stated, that with Be you, therefore, perfectly quiet, in in the space of twenty-two years, although there violence whatsoever. You could not possibly of land was no particular extent of sickness, yet the num or grieve me half so much as by any sperren ber of deaths within the city was upwards of one riot, assault, or outrage. the island of Zanzobar deserves notice
In exemplifontion of the proceeding remarks,
villion; mud an intelligent naval surgeon hins
It is said that the great question of Ripal ag it is given a melancholy account of the effects of a been injured by this verdict. tuated on the east coast of Africa, in latitude Gelaria in Batavia roads, in which a squadron of his Do not belleve it. It is not true. On the vigable channel af a few miles broad; it is so law, ed. There are two islands in the roasted named material service to the Repeal if the people con 12 sooth, separated from the main land by a na. Majesty's ships, with troops on board, bad ancho contrary, the result of this verdict will be of mast that the sen-breeze blows most entirely over it Onrust and Edam, the former wall cleared of trees line to be as peaceful as they have hithao bean Nothing can surpass its forlity, and although and underwood, nearly fat, and free from swamps and as Tum stire they will continue to be early fifty miles loug, u nupours throughout in which is, however, daily washed by the finos; the lence. Keep the peace for six months
or parties, with the exception of a sinal spot, Obuy my advice. No not. Na hilo No ring a beautiful culuvated garden, where every fruit and attor covered with Jungle and long genes, and utmost twelve months longer, and you all bar ceeded by intense heat, the mortality was so great fection and abundance, where the carpet of nature having stagnant marsh in a part of the island. the Parlament in College green again.
vegetable of the troples grows in the fullest per ay to carry off ten thousand calizon daily Pro is at all seasons green, and botocked with all the Sickness prevailed among the troops and men 1 am, fellow countryman, your affuetiquet ceeding chronologically to A. D. 1817, it is to be lowly yet lovely lowrels, that usually decorate the employed in the expedition and most unfortu and devoted servant, found narrated by historians, that that year was lawn. Yet amidst all this luxuriance love the British hospital was removed from Churst to marked by a comet, by excessive rain, and heat, and liness, death is home on the breeze that blows
nately owing to some political or military reBSDIK, succoded by the must dreadful mortality of which over this, otherwise, terrestrial Edu, and its shall we haveany record. It was slimnated that two thirds
Eduin the consequences of which ill-timed weasure. is unerring in its aim to suy stranger who may be was, that although all those who were employed
preds of soldiers and anilors, who slept on the meas, yot only four men spravo unt of many
after nightfall, it is remarkable that those for men. Altin Bland, or remind even for a bort umo on shore were under the influence of mere of which kept all i
by the poison niemiton 30. Taon 80, Conturion 80. Chives.
Ieremistible 90, Madras 901. Mais BD. Najra, Tarakan, and DeTI
haye and sous Färeil 850. cured by, tanos al. - W
the Christian era, alter a severe rainy souson, UC-
of the human race were destroyed in a very brick aljured by the bawilehart svenor y around him Bột Ph shore during the heat of the day escapat Bink-
ane y
period, many places were rotirely depopulated; twenty millions of mankind died in the last in your 100,000 purished in Ventoa, 30,000 were buried in ono give yard in London, grass grew up in the streets of cities litherto most pulous, and people fed in boats and ships to so tegardless of property and friends.
the apparently therint Blandness of the night, to sleep on the island.
Commodore Nourse, and several olliners, and servants, were induced partly through necessity, to sleep one night on story on the flying morn ing they sailed in his Majesty's figate Thus your 1770 and 1771 were detinguished by mache, and in a few days had who rumen large emot being vizibile an immenso globe one night on the island, parisland from the effects swamp and deve of fire was seen on the 17th of July, and the most of fever: un incl, so vudden and unifor violent earthquakes, stormis, rains, and inundations symptoms uing those who supt on shore, that toda
the occurred to the Ball occured, saernoded by extreme heat and drought was at list supposed they hail ben poisoned by lost
The codequences were, pustilence and its com | the chief of the island at whone recone they halpaa, urgingul comitant milkeries; 200,000 people perished noen entertained,
Rassin and Poland 1000 bodies were burled daily
ip Constantinople in Boliemin, 10000
died in one year 160,000 individuals
Canton the streets of towns on tho Banged were filled with dond
number of exrandes were thrawu nto.
enter and fish unft for i
A bontà ormar of his Majo
olli mmssed one night on shore at the watering
the yonio 18:10, 1st and the
NOVEMİİ MİD va nurkolón The placy teened fro
Deven. Ba cacoLLIN.
UDANILL O'CONNEL
There are 18 line of battle ships, 14 fora) *
of war, ami 14 steam Minutes non Quij Urbanous. ekyarus viz. thu.
briele 110. Vretais 15. 110. Pelices Royal 90.“