We find detailed, at some length, the precautions which the Franks residing in Egypt employ, to prevent themselves from receiving the contagion of the plague, during the periods of its progress. They are rigorous in the extreme, so far as respects secluding themselves from all personal communication with the natives, and avoiding the contact of substances which have been handled

by them until they have undergone what they conceive to be a sufficient purification. Regulations equally strict are adopted in the lazarettos, which are founded at the different sea-ports of the Mediterranean; but there is every reason to suppose that the inconveniences which must result from the exact observance of these rules, frequently induces a violation of them. Whatever may be our opinion respecting the contagious nature of the plague, the remarks with which M. Assalini concludes this part of his subject must be admitted to be judi

cious and humane.

"On an unprejudiced examination of the works of writers on the plague, we find nothing but frightful recitals of what hap pened in the epidemics which they have described. They all insist on the necessity of quarantines, and forbid the inhabitants, under pain of death, to quit their houses, when ever there has happened any death by the plague; believing that this means will suffice in stopping its progress. It is not difficult to conceive that the shutting up together of several people in good health, and some sick, and obliging them to breathe the same air, which every day becomes more and more infected, must augment the disease of those who are already sick, and expose the others to contract it. Experience has proved that these seclusions, or shuttings up (renfermemens), have never succeeded in arresting the progress of the plague. This disease always commences by attacking the poor in the most unwholesome quarters of the city; after which the health of the inhabitants in good circumstances becomes impaired, and at length death levels indiscriminately the poor and the `rich. Then, all becomes confusion in the city: the magistrates are no longer able to maintain their authority, the shuttings up erase by little and little, the season changes, the atmosphere becomes purified, those who have escaped recover strength and courage, and all at once the epidemic ceases. This is what has been observed in all plagues, but particularly in that of Marseilles, in 1721. The history of these epidemics strikes one with horror; and, after comparing them with the most malignant plagues of the Levant, where the shuttings up are only in use amongst a very small number of individuals,

I have no hesitation in declaring, that in
Europe the mortality has been the greatest."

Next to the plague, the disease which
was most fatal to the European army in
Egypt, was the dysentery. According to
Assalini it generally commenced with
the common symptoms of diarrhea, af-
terwards there were colic pains and
mucous evacuations, and at length the
stools became bilious, putrid and bloody.
To account for its origin, he has recourse
to the hacknied cause of obstructed pers-
piration, a cause, which, according to the
magic fiat of the physiologist, can pro-
duce either plague, dysentery, cutaneous
diseases, or ophthalmia. It would ap
pear that our author regards this dis
ease as not essentially different from
diarrhea, but accompanied with more
severe symptoms: he is silent respecting
its contagious nature. The method of
cure employed in the first stage, con-
sisted principally in the exhibition of
emetics and opiates; in the second, the
benefit derived from opium was less ge
neral; crystals of tartar, the decoction
of tamarinds, and clysters of milk pro-
duced the best effects. The treatment
of the last stage is passed over hastily;
gentle laxatives and opium were the
Upon the whole.
principal remedies.
laxatives were employed less freely, and
opium more so, than in the practice of
the English physicians.

The ophthalmia, though a much le › formidable disease than either of these which we have been describing, may however be justly ranked among the Scourges of Egypt. The number of persons in the country deprived of the sight of one or both eyes is almost ircredible. In the month of November 1799, "more than two-thirds of the army were attacked almost at the same time."

"The ophthalmy of Egypt first showed itself by a slight head-ach; sometimes it was preceded by a few shooting pains in the bed of the eye, followed by a flow of tears, which, for the moment, assuaged the pain: often the patient fancied that he had a particle of sand in his eye, which distressed him. We generally remarked, that those in the bet health were attacked all at once with ophthalmy, accompanied with an uneasiness and considerable weight in the eyes, followed by an excessive flow of scalding tears, to make use of the expression of the sick. On exmining the eyes in this state, the vessels ni the conjunctiva appeared red and distended, often the conjunctiva was elevated to such a

degree, that the transparent cornea appeared quite buried in it, and of very small diameter. Then the palpebræ became edematose, the patient could no longer endure the light, the flow of tears increased, and generally became changed into a thick and sometimes yellow matter.*

66

I think we may call the ophthalmy, arrived at this stage, although very severe, the simple ophthalmy; and the ophthalmy complicated, when the gorging of the conjunctiva, the swelling of the palpebre, and the pain of the eyes became so considerable, that fever showed itself, and some injury or organic lesion was perceived in the ball of the eye, as specks, staphylomas, hypopions, and other diseases peculiar to this organ."

A variety of causes have been assigned for the frequency and violence of this complaint. Many persons having imagined that it is produced by the saline and earthy particles which are conveyed by the winds from the arid deserts that on all sides surround Egypt. M. Assalini supposes that it may be in part attributed to the intense light, proceeding from an almost cloudless sky, together with

"The suppression of perspiration, which takes place very often in Egypt, particularly at night, and which throws itself on the weakest part, choosing sometimes the intes tines, and oftener the cyes, fatigued by the too vivid light of the sun."

both sexes, blind in one or both eyes, which one meets with in Egypt, proves that their treatment is not at all efficacious." The means of preventing the disease obviously consist in avoiding the exciting causes, among which, sleeping exposed to the night air, is, in the opinion of Assalini, the most frequent. When he perceived the least tendency to the complaint, he employed the solution of verdigrease, and by this means he was frequently able to remove it.

The work of Assalini concludes with "the description and plan of an hospital for soldiers, attacked in Egypt with the disease called the plague." It appears well adapted for the object in view, and may afford some useful hints to those persons who are engaged in erecting buildings for the reception of fever in this country.

Upon the whole we have derived very considerable gratification from the perusal of M. Assalini's work. His observations are accurate and judicious, and his practice is more simple and' energetic than we usually observe among the French physicians. His pathology is indeed vague and unsatisfactory, but it does not appear to have materially influenced his plan of treatment. The idea respecting the non-contagious nature of the plague, we cannot allow to be established by the facts adduced; but we acknowledge that he supports his opinion with ability and candor. We could not avoid feeling some degree of regret to observe that no reference is made in this work to the writings or practice of Dr. Currie. Though we would by no means assert the identity of the typhus of this country, and the disease which infests the coasts of the Me

In the treatment of the complaint, emollient cataplasms and collyria were, for the most part, found injurious; in ordinary cases general bleeding did not appear productive of much utility; in its stead leeches, scarifications, blisters, and setons, were substituted with advantage. A weak solution of verdigrease and of the acetite of lead, appeared to be the most useful topical ap-diterranean, yet certainly so safe and plications. When the symptoms were the most violent, opium was employed with advantage, and where there was much fever present, relief was obtained from general bleeding. The author gives an account of the treatment used by the Egyptians, which appears not injudicious, and does not very materially differ from that mentioned above, yet "the astonishing number of persons of

simple a practice was deserving of an ample trial, in such a formidable complaint. We think we may venture to assert, that if a remedy had been recommended in France, upon as respectable authority as the affusion of cold water has been in England, it would long ago have excited the attention of the English physicians.

This matter was nothing more than the fluid of the glands, or follicles of meibomius, which the inflammation had rendered thick. We see this change happen to the skin in slight burns, and after the action of cantharides; for the first day there is nothing poured out from the affected parts but lymph, the day after, thicker matter, which finally becomes changed into true pus. The inflammation of the conjunctiva, in the ophthalmy of Egypt, and that of the membrane of the urethra, afford discharges, of which the appearance is exactly similar,

ART. XIII. Medical Sketches of the Expedition to Egypt from India. By Jas. M'GREGOR, A. M. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London: Surgeon to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards: and lately Superintending Surgeon to the Indian Army is Egypt. 8vo. pp. 240.

THE principal events of this memorable campaign have been abundantly detailed in our journals, histories, and travels, but the no less interesting records of the medical practice of our countrymen in Egypt have hitherto been almost entirely neglected. It is a matter both of surprise and regret, that no one of the medical staff of the British army should have gratified the laudable curiosity of his brethren at their fire-sides, with an account of the diseases and the most approved modes of practice, which were adopted in this celebrated expedition. Our regret however is considerably diminished, by the accurate and candid narrative now before us. To supply the deficiency so much lamented, Mr. McGregor has been induced to publish these Medical Sketches, which were drawn up in consequence of orders from the Court of Directors to the Government in India. This task could not have fallen into better hands: the author from his situation as superintendantsurgeon to the Indian army, had the best opportunities for collecting information, and his previous knowledge, the result of very extensive experience in all quarters of the world, rendered him well qualified to give weight and authority to his observations. Mr. M'Gregor has fulfilled his duty well: his book is a plain and perspicuous narrative of the diseases of that part of our army which landed in Egypt from India in 1801and his observations on the medical topography of different countries, evince him to possess a mind of no ordinary cast. He has divided these sketches into three parts. The first gives the medical history, or rather the journal, of the expedition:-the second some account of the causes of the prevalent diseases and the modes of prevention:-and in the third some account is given of the diseases themselves. It is curious to reflect, that the route which our army took from India to Egypt is the same as that, by which, in the earliest ages, the commerce of Asia, its spices, its gums, its perfumes, and all the luxuries of the east, were conveyed to Tyre, Sidon, Carthage, Rome, and to all the coast of the Mediterranean.-The Indian army

consisted of eight thousand men; of which number about one-half were na tives of India, and the other half Eu ropeans. During a remarkably long voyage, in a march over extensive deserts, in a country and climate described as the most inimical to the human race, this body of men enjoyed a considerable degree of health, and suffered only 2 small mortality. This was owing to the wise regulations adopted, and to the active co-operation of the military with the medical officers. Great praise is due to the distinguished commander in chief General Baird, and to all the medica! men, for their attention, zeal, and per. severance, in carrying into effect the means of prevention so ably devised, particularly those gentlemen who were employed in the plague establishments. Here seems to have been no relaxation in the preventive measures; for it is stated, that an army never embarked for any service more healthy than the Indian army, when it re-embarked on its retura from Egypt. The chief dangers it had to encounter were the diseases of the country, and the inclemency of the climate, as it arrived too late to share the fatigue and the glory of the victory.

The first division of the army sailed from Bombay in January 1801, and ar rived at Kosseir on the 16th of May fol lowing. Soon after the arrival of the troops at Kosseir, all were attacked with a diarrhea, occasioned by the water, which contained much sulphat of magnesia. The water soon ceased to affect the bowels, and the army was, for some time, uncommonly healthy.-In the month of June the army began to march across the desert, nearly in the same course as that travelled by Mr. Bruce. The marches were always performed by night-for a considerable way, the road resembled the bed of a river. The de gree of heat was not attended to in every place, but on the 29th of June at Giza the mercury in the thermometer stood at 114° at 3 o'clock P. M. in Mr. M'Gregor's tent,-in the soldiers' tents it could not have been less than 115. There was but little sickness during this month, though almost every exciting cause existed-intense heat-hot wind