Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

SYRIA AND EGYPT. 36 1
Sept. 18. Before sun- rise the thermometer was at 71; the air
cool, and refreshing: northerly winds prevail, and die whole of
the country as far as the pyramids of Giza is inundated.
Sept. 21. Nights cool; fresh breezes from the northward.
Some fresh cases of ophthalmy have occurred within these few
days, which appear to have been produced by the sharp northerly
winds; this affection yielded easily to blisters behind the ears, sa-
turnine collvriums, and purges.
This day an enormous hydrocele presented itself in an inhabitant
of Cairo, sixteen inches by twelve in diameter. These cases, as
well as hernia, are common in Egypt.
The elephantiasis among the women is a frequent disease.
Sept. 23. Many dreadful cases of leprosy are seen in Cairo,
which occasionally make dreadful havoc in the face :
in the loss of
nose, lips, eyes, &c. In the island of Scio, in the Archipelago,
there is an hospital for the reception of the leprous of the different
islands. I took the opportunity to visit this spot when on my re-
turn to Constantinople. Upwards of two hundred of these poor
unfortunate sufferers were there collected. Vide narrative when
at Scio.
Sept. 30. During this month the inhabitants and troops were
healthy.
The weather pleasant, and moderately warm.
The prevailing winds N. W.
The latter end of the month heavy dews fell (luring the nir'ht.
commenced about the l!)th.
They
October. Some cases of intermit tents among the troops at Gi-
za. At Alexandria the prevailing diseases were diarrhoea, dy-
senteries, and old cases of ophthalmy.
For the most part October was a temperate, and agreeable month.
The mornings and evenings were cool, with refreshing winds from
the northward. When the wind came round to the eastward of
north, the days were warm, sultry, ami oppressive; though the
mercury did not raise higher
than 80 in shade.
November. Catarrhs and intermittents were the
prevailing
dis-
eases of this month, which was cold, rainy, and stormy.
On the morning of the 20th there was a tremendous storm, accompanied
with rain, thunder, and lightning. Wind N. W.
This tempestuous weather continued several davs, with only some
little intermission.
r
JThe dews have been heavv this month.