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[ 328 ]
for another occafion whatever relates
to this difeafe in Sweden.
About a hundred years ago plagues
and peftilcntial fevers raged in Europe,
as may be feen in the accounts o f feveral
phyficians of the epidemical fevers
that prevailed at certain times. But
at prefent, when a better police has
procured us more cieanlincE in the
fircets and narrow lanes ; and more
neatnefs is obferved in pur apparel
and habitations ; as alfo fince beer
prepared with hops, wines, and other
liquors are drank, which are very
lalutary, though they produce other
difeafes when made ufe o f in excefs ;
fince fruits and vegetables, tea and
fugar, are become fafliionable ; thefe
and fimilar diforders are greatly di-
miniilied. Sir John Pringle proves the
truth of thefe remarks, accompanied
with feveral examples, particularly
with refpedi: to the difeafes o f England,
in his Obfervations o f the Difeafes o f
an Army.
It is very probable that the elephantiafis,
and many other great diforders
in the ildn, quitted the ion them
coiin-
I 329 ]
countries from iimilar caufes ; and
have on the contrary maintained themfelves
towards the North, where a fufficient
quantity o f bread cannot be
provided for the natives, and where
the lower ibrt o f people, who live entirely
by fiiiiing, do not eat any vegetable
food, but only feed upon rancid
oily vidluals ; and are befides unable
to keep themfelves clean and neat,
being continually expofed to wet and
cold on the fea-fliore, See,
I iliould repeat the obfervations
which have been made upon this
difeafe in Iceland, as they might perhaps
ferve to make our countrymen
better acquainted with the diforder itfelf,
and the manner o f curing it.
But you, Sir, might perhaps tell me,
that this is a more proper iubjebl for
a phyiical book than for letters concerning
Iceland ; for which reafon I
will be as concife a pofiible.
Mr. Anthony Rol, Martin has given
fo exadt an account o f this difi
eafe, that I need not here enumerate
its iymptoms, Whoever compares it
with