B00K midft of fummer from the pofition of the Carpathian moun-
•—Í - j tains; for the fouthem and fouth-eafterly winds, which
ufually convey warmth in other regions, are in this chilled
in their paflage over their fnowy fummits.
The fecond is unwholefome water; for although Poland
is not deficient in good fprings, yet the common - people
ufually drink that which is neareft at hand, taken indiicri-
minately from rivers, lakes, and even ftagnant pools.:
The third caufe is the grofs inattention of the natives to
cleanlinefs ; for experience ihews, that thofe who are negligent
in their perfons and habitations, are lefs liable to be
afflidled with the plica, than others who. are deficient in
that particular. Thus perfons of higher rank are 'leis fub-
jedt to this diforder than thofe of inferior ftations ; the inhabitants
of large towns than thofe of fmall villages,; the
free peafants than thofe in an abfolute ftate of vaiffalage ;
the natives of Poland Proper than thofe of Lithuania.
Whatever we may determine as to the poffibility that all,
or any of thefe caufes, by themfelves, or in copjundtion
with others, originally produced the diforder ; we may venture
to aflert, that they all, and particularly the laft, affift
its. propagation, inflame its fymptoms, and protradl its cure.
In a word, the Plica Polo nica appears to be a contagious
diftemper; which, like the leprofy, (till prevails among a
people ignorant in medicine, and inattentive to check its
progrefs; but is rarely known in thofe countries, where proper
precautions are taken to prevent its fpreading.
T R A V E L S