As the cause of winds hath been frequently a fubject of enquiry among naturalifts, in general, fo have their effects upon animal bodies more particularly attracted the attention of medical authors ever fince the days of Hyppocrates.

• When we endeavour to trace the caufes of epidemical difcafes from journals of the weather, if in these journals the degrees of winds have been omitted, we are not only unable to draw any fatisfactory conjecture from them, but are frequently led to believe, either that the ftate of the air, or that of difeafes, ought to have been oppofite to that which appears from the regifters.

Thus, when we find, in a journal of the weather, that the barometer hath been very low for a confiderable time, the humidity and heat being at a mean degree, we are apt to conclude this conftitution of the air to have been unwholefome; which is often the cafe, when a low barometer is attended with continued calms. But when this low ftate of the mercury proceeds from high and ftormy winds, it, for the moft part, indicates a falutary conftitution of the air, and, in fo far, the agitation of the air feems to compenfate its defect of gravity.

As to the directions of winds, independent of their force, those which move along the fame climates, though with oppofite directions at different times, have been found to acquire particular qualities, according to the nature of the tracts of land or water over which they pafs. But, in latitudes confiderably distant from the equator, winds coming from oppofite climates are obferved to poflefs different, and, frequently, oppofite quaJities, befides those which they acquire from caufes common to all winds. This is the cafe with north and fouth winds in the higher latitudes.

The ancients univerfally afcribe a baneful quality to south winds; and the learned Hoffman, though living in a much more northern climate than the ancient medical authors, agrees with them in the effects of fouth winds. It must be owned, however, that fouth winds are not so much to be feared in these northern latitudes, nor have north winds always the fame falutary effects with us, that Hyppocrates, Ariftotle, Celfus, and Galen found them to have in the more fouthern climates. With us the good or bad effects of north winds feem to depend on the period of the year in which they blow: for, about the end of the fpring, or the beginning of fummer, when pinching north winds follow a warm state of the air, thefe winds are productive of rheums, coughs, and inflammations, affecting chiefly the pleura and lungs. But, from the fummer folftice to the autumnal equinox, or fome time after it, northerly winds are obferved to correct that ftate of the air which promotes putrefaction, the causes of which in the air are heat, humidity, and REV. Nov. 1769.

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continued calms, or warm fouth winds. The air, when in this ftate, feems frequently to be impregnated with a fulphureous gas, which, at times, manifefts itself by meteors, corufcations, thunders, and luminous appearances on fwampy grounds.

North winds, in general, check or retard vegetation with us. But, in those parts of Afia and Africa which lie next to the Mediterranean fea, thefe winds are favourable to vegetation, as we are told by those who have vifited thofe countries.

High winds are no where more neceffary than in great cities, and chiefly after long calms; for the feculencies of different kinds, being collected, contract a more noxious quality than can be corrected by winds of the lower degrees.

By a computation of the quantities of winds of particular degrees, made from a regifter of the weather, which had been kept for five years, it appeared that feven months, in two years of that period, were remarkable for a defect of winds of the higher degrees, and bore a small proportion to winds of these degrees in the fame months of the other three years.'

Our Author then fhews that these two periods were remarkably infalutary; that, in the first, the influenza occurred; and in the fecond, a number of other difeafes prevailed.-The essay concludes with the following obfervations:

We frequently hear of the plague being transported from one place to another in the cargoes of fhips, particularly in balegoods That infection hath been conveyed in this way, hath been fufficiently afcertained. But it may be doubted whether fuch imported infection be very dangerous in the higher latitudes, especially where the air of these climates is purified by high winds, which are frequent in mountainous countries. Even in the fouthern countries of Europe, the devaftation, that is fometimes made by that difeafe, feems to depend chiefly upon the conftitution of the air at the time when the infection is communicated.

The great plague at Meflina, in 1743, (which was the lateft in Europe fo far weft as that city,) is faid to have been brought thither by a Genoefe Tartana, and the great mortality in that place was believed to have proceeded wholly from this imported infection. But the rapid propagation of the disease feems to have been more owing to the ftate of the air for fome time before the arrival of that veffel, and to a predifpofition in the bodics of the inhabitants to receive the infection, than to any other caufe. In the hiftory of that peftilence, it is observed that fouthern winds, and cloudy weather, had prevailed all that feafon; and that the inhabitants were thus rendered liable to catarrhs, ulcers and tumours about the glands of the throat and fauces, tumours in the parotid and inguinal glands, acrid huours in the lungs, and fevers of a bad kind. From this we

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may judge how much the body was rendered fufceptible of new infection; and it is not improbable that the infection from the Genoefe fhip would have had but little, or no effect, had the air been purified by cool and dry north winds, instead of the long continued warm and moift fouth winds. It may be obferved that the account of this state of the air, and of its effects, coincides entirely with thofe of Hyppocrates, and other authors living in those climates.

Now, though the difeafes of the two preceding periods might have proceeded from fomething in the air too fubtile for our investigation, yet thefe few obfervations feem to be attended with fo much probability as may at leaft fuffice to fhew the impropriety of neglecting the degrees of winds in journals of the weather: fince, in judging of the conftitutions of the air, or in tracing the caufes of diseases from them, we cannot avail ourfelves of thefe journals, when thus defective; but may be misled by them.'

N. B. The firft and third of thefe effays are illuftrated with engravings.

D.

Moral and Medical Dialogues. By Charles Collignon, M. D. Profeffor of Anatomy at Cambridge. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Cambridge printed, and fold by Cadell, &c. in London. 1769. TH 'HE defign of these dialogues is to fhew,-that whatever we complain of in this world, is either not worth complaining of, or what we might eafily avoid if we pleafed: and that all things are fo contrived, as that we have it in our power to make them fubfervient to our intereft.-A benevolent, but difficult undertaking!

Dr. Collignon, however, makes many ufeful and entertaining, though not many new obfervations; and the execution of his dialogues would have been more fatisfactory, had he not engaged to prove too much.-But let our Readers judge for them

felves.

Pain and ficknefs are the fubjects of that part of thefe dialogues which we fhall quote. Cleanthes is the principal fpeaker; Sophronius, Hortenfius, Philalethes, and Ariftus, make up the reft of the company.

HORT. You cannot furprize me more than you have already done; you have opened a fcene quite new to my imagination, and may (for the prefent at leaft) transport me whither you will.-I have read, that health for want of change becomes difeafe; nay, that there is a pleasure in madnefs which none but madmen know; but I must confefs these are pleasures I am not eager to taste.

CLE. These are very violent expreffions it must be allowed; but that fomething fimilar to the firft of thefe affertions is not entirely without foundation, is not perhaps fo dificult to make ap

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• HORT.

HORT. To speak in defence of fick nefs, pain, and infirmity, feems to me as ftrange an attempt as a panegyric on folly.

CLE. It is propofed only to ftrip it of what does not effentially belong to it, and to fet it in the faireft light it will bear; when we may probably fee reafon, not only to fupprefs our murmurs, but to grow reconciled to our fufferings; when we find that as pain often treads on the heels of pleafure; pleasure is no unfrequent attendant upon pain.

The parching heat of a raging fever excites fuch eager defires after cooling and plentiful drink, that, gratified to its wish, it is productive of fuch pleasurable fenfations, as experience alone, not defcription, can comprehend. Even fancy fometimes lends her tranfitory aid by refreshing the flumbers of the fick with the idea of cooling chrystal streams. Let a lefs degree of thirst, the effect of heat and labour, but feize the weary traveller, and what boasted nectar can exceed the fweets of the most plain and obvious drinks ?

To fpread the languid limbs on eafy beds, or give the tired eye to fweet number, are abatements in the calculation, and must be subtracted from the fum-total of fickly fufferings; they become a kind of comparative enjoyment.-There are feveral delightful fenfations, which we either experience not, or very faintly in a state of uninterrupted eafe. A ceffation of pain is productive of fuch exquifite happinefs, that we can find no properer method of expreffing it, than by comparing it to celeftial blifs. For as an exemption from pain is one of the ingredients of happinefs above, fo the romoval of it conftitutes a heaven below.

HORT. You allow then that difeafe and fuffering are the lot of man, but that, fome how or other, he will get the better of them at laft, and fo be happy. The little Douceurs you throw in, of soft beds, comfortable drinks, and the like, are unknown to all the lower clafs of men, and confequently to the far greater part of the creation. There are numerous beings who feel the pains of fickness, and the fting of poverty together; where to their bodily trials are added, the more excruciating fufferings of the mind: from a helpless family weeping around, and calling for that daily bread, which they are too young to expect at prefent from any but their father which is on earth. Where can fuch an object derive arguments of comfort to fupport him under fuch accumulated trials? Are not bodily fufferings in fuch circumftances, indeed an intolerable load?

CLE. From the feeling manner in which you paint thefe fufferings, I am certain you have been used to relieve them: and if fo, allow Providence has not entirely deferted the poor man's caufe.

HORT. I have, Cleanthes,-and the firft ferious check I ever gave to my follies, was owing to the rapturous pleasure I experienced on fuch an occafion. I found myself repaid with intereft, the happinefs I bestowed on others. But what proportion does fuch relief bear to the conftant diftreffles of the poor?

CLE. You feem to forget, Hortenfius, that whatever virtues may have deferted your native country, Charity, flill continues to adorn it. There are numberless benevolent fpirits who go about doing good, who by their counfel and example in different parts of this happy illand, have raifed and fupported charitable foundations, for

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the reception of the really poor, labouring under difeafes of whatever kind. This heavenly principle of compaflion, almoft keeps pace with the claims upon it, from the number of the wretched; and may this fpirit never fail.

SOPH. It never can, Cleanthes, in a nation, that has fo often been merciful, even to its captive foes.

'CI.E. But to return from this digreffion. The benevolent Creator, has not been wanting in providing armour for all ranks of his creatures, against the affaults of fo dreadful an enemy as pain.It is acknowledged that our bodies are capable of feeling fuch excruciating tortures, fuch inexpreffible agonies, as have made heathens defert the ftation appointed them by Providence, and rafhly put an end to their lives. The refignation of the chriftian does not fo far alter the nature of the man, as to diveft him of his bodily feelings. And pain may continue till it gets the better of life, or (which is much worfe) till it gets the better of reafon. But in this dreadful ftate of things, we are provided with a remedy, a plant of which we may tafte and live: whofe juice has the power of obtunding the fharpeit fufferings, and of giving (almoft in a moment) infenfibility and ease.

ARIS. Did not Sylvius declare, that he could not have been prefent at fome fcenes he was called to, and must have laid down the practice of phyfic, if fuch a drug as opium had not been difcovered?

'CLE. He did; and with a degree of zeal that does honour to his humanity. It is not only hard to endure, it is most affecting and fhocking even to look on fome of the conflicts, which human nature undergoes: yet for which immediate eafe could not possibly be procured, but from medicines of this particular class.

PHIL. I entirely agree with you in the fact. But I think you might add fomething farther in defence of your caufe. There is a power within us, however derived, to which we commonly give the name of Refolution. -But it has this effect, in general, that by exerting it, we fuffer less than we should do without it. That it is not imaginary, or entirely dependent on conftitution, is evident from the perfons who are often feen to employ it. And indeed we frequently do not know we poffefs it, till a difageeable occafion makes the happy discovery.

CLE. I am very well convinced there are latent powers, both of mind and body, that called forth in great extremeties are capable of blunting the keen edge of affliction and pain; and that no one in the calm feafon of health and ease, can form any proper notion of what his behaviour would be, under heavy trials. Be this affiftance derived from fupernatural aid, or inferior caufes, it fights ftill on the fide of human nature.

SOPH. I have obferved, that in proportion to the averfion with which medicines are fwallowed, they become lefs ferviceable, or more troublesome in their effects; and I have read of perfons who have worked themselves to fuch a degree of antipathy, that the very fight and fmell of phyfic, has brought on all the confequences that the compofition taken down would probably have done.

CLE. This too has been obferved by Boyle and others, Eut to conclude the topic of fick mens comforts, let me add, the return of

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