Some observations upon diseases : chiefly as they occur in Sicily / by William Irvine.

  • Irvine, William, 1776-1811.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some observations upon diseases : chiefly as they occur in Sicily / by William Irvine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    few new cases comparatively occur. From No- vember till May again the heat is moderate, the thermometer seldom rising above 65 or 70, and often ranging as low as 50, and sometimes under that degree. The vicissitudes of heat are very great, and I have often seen an alteration of 20° in the tem- perature within twenty-four hours. Of conse- quence local inflammations are common during the winter season, and phthisis pulmonalis is fre- quently fataU The houses and accommodations of all ranks here are more fitted to counteract heat than cold. Stone floors and unfinished casements ill suit the delicate frames of the consumptive in winter; while in summer the irksomeness of the sensation of heat is so great, that many prefer exposing themselves to certain danger, in the event of a sudden change of temperature, rather than continue to suffer from excessive warmth. Owing to this cause, I believe, many patients refer the origin of their phthisical complaints to the hottest season of the year. Light rains in autumn are commonly observed to be unhealthy; and nothing is so. serviceable for the prevention of disease as heavy rains occurring about the middle of Sep- tember, so as to extinguish the heat of the soil, and put an end to the formation of miasmata. Hippocrates, who practised in neighbouring situa- tions and similar climates to that of Sicily, remarks, that if there be rain in autumn, and the winter