and this was the general opinion of the surgeons of the district, the oldest practitioners having only met with three or four cases in all their experience. No case was entered on the Dispensary books in my time. The proportion of such cases was, however, even less in London, though considerably greater at Plymouth. Hysteria was of frequent occurrence:[1] hypochondriasis less so. The case of tetanus seen by me originated in, a wound. Neuralgic affections were of moderate frequency. I met with none of an intermitting character, or rather none which could be regarded as originating in malarious influence.
Hydrophobia.—Judging from my own observation, I should regard cases of this disease as everywhere of extreme rarity. In all my experience I never met with a single case. In this district, none of the practitioners had ever met with a case, though they had known of dogs reported- mad, and heard of hydrophobia cases in the human subject in other parts of the country.
Dropsy.—The number of cases of dropsy in all its forms (excluding, of course, hydrocephalus) which are registered in the Dispensary table, appeals to bear nearly the same proportion to the remaining diseases, as in the London tables of Drs. Willan and Bateman. I have omitted to compare the numbers
- ↑ The etiology of this disease seems strikingly modified by climate and national character. I was recently informed by a very intelligent medical friend, who had spent many years in Mexico, that hysteria is totally unknown among the better classes of females in that country, though their mode of life is such as would seem calculated to induce it. The Mexican ladies live almost entirely within doors, and eat enormously.
