The influence of tropical climates on European constitutions / by James Johnson and James Ranald Martin.

Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of tropical climates on European constitutions / by James Johnson and James Ranald Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Pearson) tolerably well, but droop during the second, find the third gene- rally paroves fatal to them.” The object of these remarks, which at first sight might seem irrelevant, will now appear.—Since it is evident that Natime does not operate more powerfully in counteracting the ill effects of climate on man, than on other animals, it follows that we should not implicitly confide, as too many do, in the spontaneous eflfbrts of the constitution, but, on the contrary, call in to its aid those artificial means of prevention and melioration, which reason may dictate and experience confirm. In short, that we should study well the climate, and mould our obsequious frames to the nature of the skies imder which we sojourn. That these salutary precautions are too often despised or neglected, a single quotation from a gentleman, who has resided more than twenty years in India, and whose talent for observation is, in my opinion, unequalled, will put beyond a doubt. “ Nothing can be more preposterous (says Captain Wilhamson*), than the significant sneers of gentlemen on their first arrival in India; meaning thereby to ridicule, or to despise, what they consider eflfeminacy or luxury. Thus several may be seen walking about without chattahs (i. e. umbreUas) during the greatest heats. They affect to be ^hamed of requiring aid, and endeavour to uphold, by such a display of indifference, the great reliance placed on strength of constitution. This un- happy infatuation rarely exceeds a few days; at the end of that time, we are too often called upon to attend the funeral of the self-deluded victim.”f Before proceeding to the individual disorders which prevail in hot climates, I shall briefly allude to some of those gradual and progressive changes in the constitution, and deviations from previous health and habits, which, though predisposing and verging towards, yet fall short of actual’disease! These are consequences which aU must expect, more or less, to feel, on leaving their native sod, and, of course, in which all are directly interested. For although a few individuals may occasionally return from even a long residence in hot climates, without having suffered any violent illness, or much deterioration of constitution; yet the great mass of Europeans certamly experience the effects sketched out under this head, and many others of mmor consequence, which will be taken notice of in different parts of the work. It is, however, by the most scrupulous attention to ese incipient deviations from health, by early arresting their growth, or at least retar^g, as much as possible, their progress, that we can at aU expect to evade those dangerous diseases, to which they inevitably, though often imperceptibly, tend. ° Sect. II—The transition from a climate, the medium heat of which is 52° * Author of “ Oriental Field Sports,” “ East India Vade Mecum,” &c. t East India Vade Mecum, vol. ii. p. 11.