PART II. OBSERVATIONS on the Epidemical Diseases in the City of Aleppo.

CHAP. I. Observations on the Weather in General.

The weather at Aleppo differing but very little in any one year from another, I thought it would save a great deal of unnecessary trouble, if I gave a general account of the weather usual in every month, drawn from a meteorological register, regularly kept, with only few intermissions, for about ten years, and afterwards noted what was particular.

The barometer used in the following observations was English, and graduated according to the measure of that country. The first column denotes inches, the second 10ths of an inch.

The thermometers, (for, from accidents of breaking, several were used) except for the last two years, were small portable ones, graduated according to Farenheit’s scale; the other was larger, upon the same scale. All of them were of mercury, and (as well as the barometer) made by the accurate Mr. Bird in London.

The situation of the instruments for the years 1743, 44, 45, and those of 52 and 53, was in a little wooden kiosk⁠[486], facing the east, which projected over a narrow street that run south and north, with high buildings on each side. The sun had only access by the south-window, and that scarce an hour in the day. To this place there was a free ingress of air, the two opposite windows, and often the whole, being constantly open from the month of April till the latter end of October; and in the winter, though these windows were shut, a free access still remained by the door, and a window which opened into a passage fronting the west, the outer door of which in the day-time was always open. Add to this, that these wooden kiosks have not either their wood-work, or numerous windows, so well closed as to prevent a pretty considerable communication with the external air through the chinks.

This is the situation which appears to be much preferable to any other, and from which the general account of the weather is taken. But a multiplicity of practice rendering it impossible for me to keep the register, I was obliged to a friend, who was so kind as to take that trouble for me; and then the thermometer was placed in a vaulted south-room, which was defended from the west by two other rooms, and opposite to the window a door opened into a large vaulted hall. In the winter (particularly the forenoon) this was frequently open, and in the summer-months was shut only by a door made of lattice-work, the window being open all that season. In this country the rooms so situated are remarkably warm in winter, and cool in summer.

In this last position the thermometer must be understood to be kept from July 1746 till the end of 1747. Both these situations being within doors, were some degrees warmer than the external air in winter, as would appear from the thermometer never sinking to the freezing point even in time of frost; and they are cooler than the external air in summer, as I have found by several trials. These things were necessary to be premised, as they may account for the variations in the instrument, that are remarkable in the different situations.

JANUARY.

The weather in January is commonly either frosty or rainy. What snow falls is chiefly in this month; but it is in no great quantity, and does not lie many hours. The middle of the month is its most usual time of falling, and then it often remains frosty till the end.

Whenever rain falls, it is usually in the night, and in very heavy showers.

The winds are moderate, and mostly from the northern or eastern quarter.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 57 Greatest 29 3 Greatest variation of therm. in one day, 4 deg.

Least 34 Least 28 6

The most common height of the thermometer at nine in the morning is 40 and 46, and the difference between that and three in the afternoon a gradual rise of 3 or 4 deg. In rainy days, or even such as are cloudy, this variation seldom exceeds 1 or 2 deg. and often there is none at all; and this observation holds through all the year.

FEBRUARY.

This month is for the most part as rainy as the former; with this difference, that neither rain nor fair weather continue so many days together, but change from one to the other every four or five days. A little snow often falls in this month, and commonly there are a few frosty days. It is very often cloudy, though no rain falls, particularly in the afternoon; but they are light, white clouds. At such times the air without doors is moderately warm. The winds are much as in the preceding month, till towards the end, and then it sometimes blows hard westerly.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 55 Greatest 29 3 Greatest difference of therm. in one day, 8 deg.

Least 40 Least 28 4

The first fortnight, the usual morning-height of the thermometer is from 42 to 47; the variation between the morning and evening observation, 1, 2, or 3 deg. In the last fortnight, when there happens no frost, it gradually rises to about 50, and the difference between morning and evening commonly 4 or 5.

MARCH.

A good deal of rain falls in the month of March; but it is generally in short, hard showers, and often accompanied with thunder. At such times the weather is dark and gloomy; but for the greater part it is clear, only a few white light clouds. The weather begins to be hot in the open air.

The winds are stronger than in the preceding months, and blow much oftener westerly.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 67 Greatest 29 Difference in the thermometer in one day, 9 deg.

Least 44 Least 28 6

The common height of the thermometer in the morning is in the beginning of the month as in the end of the last; about the middle, 52; the end, 56 to 58. The difference between morning and evening observations become more considerable as the month advances; in the beginning, commonly 5; the end, 8 to 9. If it rains, the variation is very inconsiderable, as has been mentioned before.

APRIL.

This month is in general fair, clear weather, with white, light clouds in the afternoon; seldom dark or cloudy, except when it rains, which it does in hard thunder-showers as in the last month, but not so often. There are commonly a few close, hazey days; these happen when there are light breezes northerly or easterly; but the winds in general are fresh westerly.

The days begin to grow very hot, but the mornings and evenings as yet remain cool.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 82 Greatest 29 1 Difference in the thermometer in one day, 10 deg.

Least 51 Least 28 5

The mercury in the thermometer has its morning-station gradually raised from 60 to 66 as the month advances, and the variation 8 to 10 between the morning and evening observation, except when it rains.

MAY.

May has generally one or two hard showers of rain, sometimes accompanied with hail, and often thunder; at others, the weather is serene, with very few clouds, and those light and white.

The weather begins to grow very warm in this month, particularly when calm, or the wind northerly or easterly; but the wind for much the greater part is fresh, and westerly. And here it will not be amiss to observe, that, during the whole of the summer, the westerly winds have a considerable influence over the thermometer. When they are weak, the heat encreases; if calm, it becomes still hotter; but even then not so hot as when a northerly or easterly wind blows, which raises the mercury several degrees, and makes the air very disagreeable. See p. 14.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 92 Greatest 29 Greatest variation of the therm. in one day, 10 deg.

Least 67 Least 28 6

The usual station of the mercury in the thermometer is at the beginning 70, and it gradually rises, as the month advances, to 76 or 80. The variation between the morning and evening observation rises also from 6 to 9.

JUNE.

This month is serene throughout, seldom so much as a few flying clouds to be seen. It is very rare that even so much as one shower of rain falls, and that at most but for a few minutes.

The westerly winds reign chiefly in this month; and freshening after mid-day, often continue through the night, which allay the extreme heat, now become very troublesome.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 96 Greatest 29 Greatest variation of therm. in one day, 12 deg.

Least 76 Least 28 5

The morning-height of the mercury, at seven o’clock, gradually encreases with the month, from 76 to about 80; as that of the afternoon, at four o’clock, does from 84 to 92.

JULY.

July differs very little from the former month; the weather constantly serene.

The westerly winds usually blow fresh; but, if they fail, it becomes excessive hot.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 101 Greatest 28 9 Greatest variation of therm. in one day, 11 deg.

Least 77 Least 28 5

Eighty, is the common height of the mercury, in the morning, at the beginning of the month, as 85, 86 is at the end. The difference between the morning and evening observation, 8 or 10.

AUGUST.

Till about the 20th, August is exactly like the two preceding months: from that to the end, there usually appear a number of white clouds, but larger than any that accidentally appear in other summer-months. These are commonly termed the Nile clouds; and from this time, the dews (which are scarce ever observed in the two preceding months) begin to fall in the nights; but they are not very considerable.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 97 Greatest 29 Greatest variation in the therm. in one day, 10 deg.

Least 74 Least 28 4

The height of the thermometer, till the clouds appear, is pretty much the same as in that of last month; but, whenever they come, they commonly sink it 4 or 5 degrees.

SEPTEMBER.

For the first fortnight this month is like the former, or rather more sultry, as the wind seldom blows strong. If no rain falls, this weather continues all the month; but usually between the 15th and 25th dark, gloomy clouds arise; and a squal, in the nature of a whirlwind, blows from the westward, bringing with it a great cloud of dust that covers the whole city. This prognosticates rain, and in one or two days more some heavy showers fall, either in the city, or not far off. These are called the first rains; and though they are usually inconsiderable, yet the air is much cooled, and the remainder of the month rendered very pleasant.

Seldom a night passes without much lightening in the north-west quarter, but not attended by thunder. When this lightening appears in the west or south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain, which is often followed by thunder.

The winds in September are westerly, but often not more than light breezes.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 92 Greatest 29 Greatest difference of the therm. in one day, 12 deg.

Least 62 Least 28 6

In the beginning of this month, the usual morning-height of the thermometer is much as in the end of August; the variation between the morning and evening observation rather more considerable. The falling of rain sinks it 3 or 4 degrees, and it usually keeps falling all the month till it gets to 65. The variation in one day seldom then, exceeds 3 or 4, and just at the falling of the rain much less, perhaps 1 or 2.

OCTOBER.

Till the second rains fall in October, the weather is serene, cool, and rather more pleasant than at any other time of the year; afterwards it becomes more variable. These rains are usually regulated by those in September, being between twenty and thirty days after them; and, like them also, the quantity varies considerably in different years. However, those of October are seldom less than three or four days; but it must not be understood that it continues a constant rain during the whole of those days.

The winds are rarely strong in this month, but are commonly variable.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 84 Greatest 29 Greatest difference of the therm. in one day, 10 deg.

Least 51 Least 28 6

The morning-height of the thermometer, till the rains fall, is usually about 72; the difference between the morning and evening observation, 5 or 6. After the falling of the rains it gradually sinks to 60. The variation then in one day is seldom more than 3 or 4, on the rainy days commonly less.

NOVEMBER.

November may be reckoned one of the rainy months, though frequently there is an interval of very fine weather. The number of rainy days rarely exceed seven or eight, and most of them only a few heavy showers. It is unusual to see snow fall in this month; but after the first fortnight it is generally frosty in the morning when the weather is serene.

The winds are variable, seldom strong, but more inclined to the north and east than any of the other quarters.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 65 Greatest 29 1 Greatest variation of the therm. in one day, 8 deg.

Least 44 Least 28 4

As the month advances, the mercury in the thermometer gradually falls from 60 to 50; the former being its usual morning-height at the beginning, as the latter is at the end. The variation in one day, from 5 to 2; but on rainy days there is very often no variation at all.

DECEMBER.

This is usually a rainy month, and much more cloudy, foggy weather in the intervals than in the preceding, consequently not near so agreeable. The greatest number of rainy days mentioned in the register is 16, the fewest 6, commonly 8 or 9.

There is always more or less frosty weather in this month, and frequently a little snow. This falls out commonly after or about the end of the first fortnight, and with it commences the cold weather.

The winds are, as in the preceding month, commonly easterly or northerly, and seldom strong.

Therm. Barom.

Greatest height 55 Greatest 29 1 Greatest difference of the therm. in one day, 5 deg.

Least 40 Least 28 4

Forty-six is the common height of the thermometer through this month. The difference between the morning and evening observation, when it does not rain, is often 3.

CHAP. II. Of the Weather from the Year 1742 to 1747, and of the Years 1752 and 1753.

A. D. MDCCXLII.

The winter of this year was more severe than usual in this country, and much less rain in March and April than is customary at that season.

About the end of April the weather became very warm, and continued so till the 20th of May; from which time, till the 22d of June, it grew rather cool for the season of the year, the air being refreshed by strong westerly breezes.

The 22d of June, the wind changed to north-west, and was very moderate; upon which the weather became exceeding hot, and continued so all that month, and for the first ten days in July. The remainder of the summer was such as is common in this country, without any of the hot easterly winds.

On the 25th of September the first rains fell, and continued only one day; after which the weather was extremely pleasant till the end of October; when the second rains fell, and continued a few days. Upon their ceasing, it set in fair and serene till the 14th of December; when a small shock of an earthquake was felt, and a hard frost began, which continued all that month.

For want of proper instruments, the changes of heat and cold this year are here represented according to what they appeared to our senses.

A. D. MDCCXLIII.

From the beginning of January till the middle, a great deal of snow fell, the frost continued, and the air was exceeding cold; the thermometer being but once above 40 in the evening, and in the morning commonly 36, once 34, on the third at 9, A. M. A few days of fair, pleasant weather succeeded this cold, and then began violent rains, which continued during the remainder of the month.

The rains were almost constant till the 20th of February; the latter part of which month was fair, pleasant weather.

March set in with variable spring-weather, (though somewhat cooler than usual), which continued till the 23d; from which time till the end a great quantity of rain, hail, and thunder.

April was fair (except one thunder-shower) till the 19th; during which the weather was pretty warm, with a sort of haziness in the air. The 20th and 21st, it blew very hard from the south-west, with much rain, and the weather became unusually cool for the season. The mercury in the thermometer, which had before commonly rose to 74 in the afternoon, seldom afterwards getting up so high as 66 during the whole month, which was attended with a good deal of rain and thunder, some hail, and the wind generally fresh westerly.

May (except on the 13th and 23d, when some severe thunder-showers fell) was fair, pleasant weather, and much cooler than usual. The thermometer was unfortunately broke this month; so that from this time till May following, the observations were made by a large thermometer, filled with spirits, which showed distinctly the changes of heat and cold, but was not upon any known scale.

The beginning of June was fair and cool weather for the season. On the 10th it began to be hot; and, notwithstanding strong westerly winds, and often flying clouds, the air was very hot during the rest of the month. On the 12th, at 8 P. M. were felt two small shocks of an earthquake. The sky was at that time serene, and it blew fresh.

On the night between the 1st and 2d of July, some severe thunder-showers fell; a thing very extraordinary at this season. During the whole of the month, the westerly wind blew fresh, and generally continued great part of the night, by which means the air was rendered remarkably cool.

This chill weather continued a few days in August; but the remainder of that month, the winds, though westerly, being moderate, and ceasing a little after sunset, together with its succeeding such cool weather, made it seem uncommonly warm, though from the thermometer it appeared that the heat was not in reality greater than in other years. On the 19th, at half an hour after eleven o’clock at night, was felt a small shock of an earthquake. The sky was at that time serene, and little wind stirring.

The beginning of September was hot, as in August; but on the 10th it became sultry, particularly in the night, and continued so till the 18th at night, when the first rains began to fall; and though they were but moderate, they rendered the remainder of the month quite cool.

Though it rained a little on the 8th of October, and continued cloudy for several days; yet the second rains did not, properly speaking, fall till the 23d, when they were plentiful, and continued three days. The remainder of that month, and all the rest of the year, afforded nothing remarkable.

A. D. MDCCXLIV.

The snow which fell on the 5th of January lay six inches deep, and continued for several days in places shaded from the sun; which is not usual in this country; the quantity that fell in this month was likewise somewhat extraordinary.

February and March had nothing in them different from other years.

April was more rainy than customary. On the 28th, at half an hour after one in the morning, were two pretty brisk shocks of an earthquake, and at six in the evening another.

May and July were as usual in a moderate summer; but June had more northerly winds, and was hotter than common; the usual height of the thermometer being 95.

From the first week in August, several days of easterly winds rendered the air unusually hot, which by a very singular, though but small, shower of rain on the 30th, was cooled for a few days; the thermometer, P. M. falling from 92 to 83.

The first rains were ushered in by the accustomed squall of wind on the 4th of September at night, and were violent for a few hours, but did not cool the air. On the 20th and 22d, one shower of rain fell, and rendered it more cool; and the plentiful rain on the evening of the 23d, and greatest part of the day on the 24th, completed it.

On the 16th of October, at night, the second rains fell, with a good deal of thunder, and on the 19th some more; after which the rest of the year afforded nothing that was remarkable.

A. D. MDCCXLV.

This year had nothing uncommon in the weather till the 12th of March, when it became cold; and an unusual frost, with, a north-east wind for a few days, nipped most of the blossoms on the trees; the mercury in the thermometer after noon being rarely above 54, whereas before it was at 62.

April was remarkably dry, having but one shower of rain, on the 6th. May and June had nothing extraordinary.

July, except a few days at the latter end, and all August, not being refreshed with the westerly breezes, and having several days of easterly wind, particularly the middle of August, were extremely hot; the afternoons height of the thermometer being often 100, and twice 101.

The first rains were very moderate, and fell on the 10th September, being as usual preceded by a squal of wind. The second rains fell heavy and seasonable, about the middle of October; from which time happened nothing singular all the rest of the year.

A. D. MDCCXLVI.

The 4th, 5th, and 6th of January this year, it snowed almost continually; so that it lay in the streets above a foot thick, which is very uncommon. It was not all thaw’d in the city for some days; and in such places abroad where the sun-beams did not reach, there was still some lying on the 13th. From this time till June the weather was as usual.

It began to blow very hard westerly on the 13th June, and the wind brought along with it many clouds, which let fall two small showers of rain on the 14th, one at 10 A. M. the other at 7 P. M. which sunk the mercury in the thermometer from 84, its usual afternoon’s height, to 76 three fourths.

August had none of the usual cloudy weather; yet the rest of the summer had nothing in it particular.

Though it began to be cloudy on the 4th of September, and continued so for a few days, and even thundered; yet no rain fell till the 11th in the afternoon, and then only a gentle shower of about an hour, which sunk the thermometer from 82 and an half, its common afternoon’s height, to 77. It soon however rose again; and the wind being easterly or northerly from the 20th to the end of the month, the weather was unusually warm; the afternoon height of the mercury being 85 or 86.

In the month of October there fell but one shower of rain, the 25th P. M. so that the thermometer kept high all the month, and the weather was extremely pleasant.

On the 2d and 3d of November the rains fell plentifully; and, through the whole of this and the succeeding month, more fell than is usual in other years. There did not happen either frost or snow.

A. D. MDCCXLVII.

From the beginning of January till the end of March, the winds were much higher than usual at that season, neither was there any frost or snow; but more rain fell in January and February than is common, and the weather in general was bleak and unpleasant. The rest of the year till September was mild, and very moderate.

Though it was cloudy, and threatened rain about the 20th of September, yet none fell in this month at Aleppo; so the thermometer’s evenings height kept up at 82 till the end of the month.

The whole of October was clear and settled weather, except one thunder-shower on the 13th, (which sunk the mercury in the thermometer from 81 to 73) a small shower on the 22d, and a gentle rain the whole of the 24th.

On the 7th of November the rains began to fall plentifully, the weather became as in other years, but there was no frost in this month.

December was rather more foggy than common, without either frost or snow.

Being, for want of leisure, prevented from giving a particular account of the epidemic diseases from 1748 to 1751, that of the weather is also omitted.

The change of stile from the Julian to the Gregorian rendering references to the general account of the weather, which were made according to the Julian calendar, indistinct, I conceived it necessary to give the weather of the years 1752 and 1753 compleat.

It is true that the short method formerly used might have served till September, as the act of parliament did not take place till the 3d of that month: but, besides the want of uniformity that would have attended a change in the method before the year was out, I thought, that, if there were any who should make an objection to the former, this would make them some atonement; and that it could be disagreeable to none, more especially as the epidemic fevers of those two years changed their appearances so remarkably according to the season.

The thermometer used, till noted otherwise, was the large one, and the situation during the whole two years in the wooden kiosk. Where-ever a rainy day occurs, with one ′, it is to be understood that a small shower or two happened on that day; ‴ denotes violent rains, and ″ an intermediate degree of rain.

A. D. MDCCLII.

JANUARY.

The first week of this month cloudy and rainy; from the 8th to the 29th continued clear, fair weather, with some light clouds now and then intervening.

Rainy Days.

1st and 4th ″ at night, 5th ‴, 6th ″ at night, with squalls of wind, 7th and ″ 29th in the night, 30th ‴, and 31st ‴.

Greatest height of the thermometer 56 on the 28th and 29th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 40 on the 10th and 11th, at 9 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 1 on the 9th.

Least height 28 5 on the 4th.

In the first fortnight, the mercury in the thermometer never rose above 50. Through the whole month, the most general height at nine in the morning was 46, from which time it usually rose 3 or 4 degrees; so that at 3 P. M. it stood at 49 or 50, except in rainy weather, when the variation was less considerable, and there was frequently none at all.

FEBRUARY.

Light clouds were more frequent in this month than in the former; the weather in the afternoon often became overcast; the three last days serene; the rain fell mostly in the night, and in violent showers.

Rainy Days.

7th, begun in the evening, and continued till the 8th ″ in the forenoon, 9th ″ in the night, 10th ″ A. M. 22d ′, 23d ‴ in the night, and 24th ′ in the forenoon.

Greatest height of the thermometer 53 on the 19th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 45 several days.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 for the greatest part of the last fortnight.

Least height 28 3 on the 11th P. M.

The most common height of the thermometer in the morning was 48, its variation in the beginning of the month 3, and in the middle and latter part 5, unless in rainy weather.

MARCH.

The same serene weather with which the last month ended, continued till the 9th; from thence till the 18th, light flying clouds, with some rain; the remainder of the month serene, except the 24th, 25th, and 26th, which were cloudy.

Rainy Days.

8th ″ in the night, 9th ′ P. M., 13th ′ in the night, 14th ″, 16th ′ in the night with thunder, 26th ′, and 27th ′ A. M.

Greatest height of the thermometer 67 on the 24th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 44 on the 2d and 11th, at 9 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 fluctuated often through the month between these two heights.

Least height 28 5

The general height of the mercury in the thermometer in the morning was 45 in the beginning of the month, about the middle 52, at the end 56. The difference between the morning and evening observations grew more considerable as the month advanced; at the commencement it was commonly 5, towards the end 8 or 9.

APRIL.

During the first week, mostly clear weather, with light, flying clouds in the afternoon. From the 7th to the 12th, variable weather, frequent hard showers of rain, sometimes attended with lightening and thunder. These showers fell chiefly in the night or morning. The rest of the month, except one day, clear weather, diversified with light clouds.

Rainy Days.

7th ′ A. M. and in the night ′, 8th ′ in the night, 9th ′ A. M. and a storm in the night, 10th ‴, 11th ′, 22d P. M. and in the night ″.

Greatest height of the thermometer 81 on the 30th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 58 on the 8th, at 9 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8 on the 8th, and from the 14th to the 18th.

Least height 28 4 on the 22d.

For the first ten days, the morning-station of the thermometer was 60, the afternoon 66, except it rained, when the difference was less. The remainder of the month, the height was commonly 65, and the variation in the same day 9 or 10.

MAY.

There was a considerable quantity of rain fell the beginning of this month. The register till the 18th is incompleat; from the 18th the weather clear and pleasant; thunder in the morning of the 22d; the wind westerly all the month, and blowing fresh, particularly from the 20th.

Rainy Days.

3d A. M. ″, in the night ″, 4th ′ morning.

Greatest height of the thermometer 86 on the 30th, at 4 P. M.

Least height 67 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 from the 26th till the 29th P. M.

Least height 28 6 on the 4th.

From the 18th to the 29th, the common height of the mercury in the thermometer, at ten in the morning, was 70; the difference in one day 6, sometimes 9. The three last days the station in the morning was 78, the difference 8.

JUNE.

Fine serene weather through the whole month; some few light, flying clouds on the 17th and 27th; from the 7th a fresh westerly wind.

Rainy Days none.

Greatest height of the thermometer 92 on the 12th, at 4 P. M.

Least height 76

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 on the 9th and 10th.

Least height 28 5 from the 24th to the end.

The morning-height of the mercury, at seven o’clock, increased gradually with the month, from 76 to 80; as that of the afternoon, at four o’clock, did from 85 to 91. This in general was the case; but the strength of the wind had also much influence.

JULY.

Serene and cool weather for the season, except the last eight days; when the west wind, which had blown fresh from the beginning of the month, giving way to calms and light breezes, it became exceeding hot.

Rainy Days none.

Greatest height of the thermometer 95 on the 30th and 31st, at 4 P. M.

Least height 77 on the 3d, 20th, and 21st, at 7 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 7 on the 1st.

Least height 28 5 From the 5th, at 4 P. M. till the 7th at the same hour; as also the 20th and 21st.

The common height of the mercury was in the morning 80, and in the afternoon 90. In the last week it stood in the morning at 85, and in the afternoon at 94 or 95.

AUGUST.

Till the 21st, serene, fresh weather, some light, flying clouds appearing now and then about mid-day, or in the afternoon. The 21st, black, flying clouds threatened rain the whole day: from this to the end of the month, clouds of this kind passed almost every day. In the nights of the 6th, 20th, and 23d, many dark, gloomy clouds, with lightening. The west wind continued to blow fresh all the month.

Rainy Days none.

Greatest height of the thermometer 93 on the 12th and 17th, at 4 P. M.

Least height 74 on the 24th, 27th, and 28th, at 7 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8 from the 29th till the end.

Least height 28 5 on the 7th and 8th.

The general difference in the height of the mercury, between the morning and evening observation, was 10, and the morning-height 80. In the cloudy weather towards the end of the month, the mercury sunk to 75 in the morning, and in the afternoon stood at 85.

SEPTEMBER.

Dews in the night were common at the beginning of this month. The weather till the 18th (which the reader must remember was but a few days, the 3d being by act of parliament reckoned the 14th) was much like August. For two hours before mid-day on the 18th, a small rain; from that till the end the weather by degrees became cooler, particularly in the nights. The wind continued westerly, but was not so fresh as in the last month; light, flying clouds frequent in the afternoon.

Rainy Days.

18th ′ A. M.

Greatest height of the thermometer 86 on the 14th, at 4 P. M.

Least height 68 on the 29th, at 7 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 from the 27th till the end.

Least height 28 7 from the 15th till the 27th.

The height and variation of the thermometer was in the beginning the same as in the latter part of August; about the 20th, the morning-height was 73, and it continued falling all the month. In the afternoon it seldom rose more than 3 or 4 degrees.

OCTOBER.

Light, flying clouds throughout the day, a fresh west wind, and cool weather. From the 4th to the 15th, serene, and somewhat warm; the wind little, and variable. The 16th, flying clouds, and violent blasts of wind, by which volumes of dust were raised and hurried about in a surprising manner. The four succeeding days the wind blew fresh from the west or south-west. The 22d overcast, and threatening rain, which began that evening, and was violent in the night: all next day gloomy, with small rain; violent rains again in the night. The 28th, till mid-day, as before described; after that, violent showers, with thunder and lightening. It then cleared up, but some more rain fell in the evening. The remainder of the month (except the 26th and 27th, which were cloudy) proved serene weather.

Rainy Days.

22d ″ evenings and night, 23d ‴, and 24th ″.

Greatest height of the thermometer 80 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 58 on the 29th and 30th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 fluctuated every few days from that to 28 8.

Least height 28 6 on the 23d and 24th.

The thermometer’s morning-height in the first fortnight was commonly 72, the difference at the times of observation in the same day 5 or 6. In the last fortnight it fell gradually to 60, and its variation in the day was rarely more than 3 or 4.

NOVEMBER.

The first eight days, fine pleasant weather, light clouds sometimes appearing, but, except one day, no black clouds. The afternoon of the 8th cloudy, the two following days gloomy, with some rain; from the 11th to the 16th, serene mornings, and light clouds in the afternoon; from that to the 20th, much cloudy weather, with some rain; the five succeeding days, fair, and frosty. The month ended with cloudy, rainy weather.

In the first fortnight, light breezes of wind west south-west, sometimes east or north-east. In the last fortnight, constantly moderate east or north-east. The wind blew rarely fresh, or, if it did, was but for a little while at night.

Rainy Days.

8th ″ at night, 9th ′, 10th ′, and 16th ′ A. M. 26th ′ in the night, 27th ″, 28th ″, and 29th ″ in the night.

Greatest height of the thermometer 65 on the 1st, 2d, and 3d, at 3 P. M.

Least height 46 on the 25th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 0½ on the 24th, 25th, and 26th.

Least height 28 8 the greatest part of the month.

As the month advanced, the mercury in the thermometer fell from 60 to 50; the former being the usual morning-station at the beginning, as the latter was at the end. The variation in the day was at first 5, and afterwards 3; in rainy weather 2, sometimes nothing.

DECEMBER.

This month begun with cloudy, gloomy weather, which continued the first ten days; the mornings generally foggy; the 11th and 12th, dark weather; the two following days were fair, and frosty; from the 15th to the 18th, dark and gloomy; from that to the 23d, frost; from the 23d to the 28th, gloomy winter weather. Most of the rain in this month, except on the 23d, fell after sunset.

The wind, as in last month, moderate, at east or north-east.

Rainy Days.

5th ″ with thunder, 9th ″, 23d ‴, 26th ″, 27th ″, storm in the night from the west.

Greatest height of the thermometer 55 on the 1st, at 3 P. M.

Least height 42 on the 13th and 14th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 1 on the 14th.

Least height 28 5 on the 27th.

In the first week the mercury usually stood at 54; from the 5th to the 11th, at 50; from that till the 24th, that it got up again to 50, it continued fluctuating between 43 and 46. The most common height was 44. The difference in the same day was very inconsiderable, never exceeding 3, and for the most part 1, sometimes not discernible.

A. D. MDCCLIII.

JANUARY.

The preceding year concluded with pleasant serene weather, which, one gloomy day excepted, continued till the 11th of this month; to this succeeded four dark winter days; from the 15th to the afternoon of the 22d, fair, and frost, light flying clouds now and then; the remainder mostly gloomy, rainy weather; the last day uncommonly cold, with some snow; more rain fell in the day-time than usual in this month.

Wind generally north-east or east, and moderate.

Rainy Days.

3d ′, 11th ′ A. M. ″ in the night, 12th ‴, 14th ″, 22d ′ A. M. ″ evening, 23d ′ and 24th ′ A. M. 27th ‴, 28th ″, 29th ″, and 30th ″, in the day-time.

Greatest height of the thermometer 53 on the 7th and 8th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 40 on the 31st, at 4 P. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 on the 6th.

Least height 28 5½ on the 30th and 31st.

The most common height of the thermometer, at eight in the morning, during the first fifteen days, was 49, the remaining part of the month 45; the variation in the same day, at the different hours of observation, as usual.

FEBRUARY.

Till the 12th, fair, frosty weather, except the 2d and 3d; on the former it snowed all day, and the latter continued overcast; the 12th, cloudy, and rained several hours; the eight following days serene, with light clouds after mid-day; the remaining part of the month cloudy and clear by turns; a good many showers of rain, but of no long continuance.

The wind very moderate, as in the last month; the first ten days, north-east or south-west; from the 15th to the 20th, east; the last eight days somewhat fresher, west.

Rainy Days.

12th ″ began at noon, 21st ′ P. M. 22d ′ P. M. 24th ′ P. M. with thunder, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, showery.

Greatest height of the thermometer 54 at 3 P. M. from the 20th to the end.

Least height 36 on the 3d, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 0½ on the 5th, 6th, and 7th.

Least height 28 6½ on the 24th, 25th, and 26th.

The height of the mercury, in the morning, for the first twelve days, was 38; after that it continued ascending gradually to 52. The difference in the afternoon, or variation in the same day, was at the beginning and middle of the month exactly as mentioned in February last year; the few last days being rainy, the variation (as usual) was only 1 or 2.

MARCH.

To the 20th, serene, some few light clouds now and then in the afternoon; the 9th excepted, which was cloudy and stormy; the remainder of the month variable weather, though chiefly cloudy. The rain fell mostly in short showers.

The first ten days the wind variable, south-west, south-east, or east; the other part of the month, commonly west or south-west. It was in general moderate throughout, only sometimes blew a little fresh in the afternoon; storm on the 9th.

Rainy Days.

9th ‴ A. M. 21st ′ evening, 23d ′ P. M. 24th ″, 29 ′, 31st ″ in the night.

Greatest height of the thermometer 61 on the 19th, 28th, and 30th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 48 on the 12th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 9 fluctuated often between that and 28 7 till the 20th.

Least height 28 4 on the 22d, P. M.

The common station of the mercury, in the morning, was at the beginning 52, some days about the middle of the month 49, after which it gradually rose to 57; the variation on the cloudy days 2, at other times 4 or 5, but never so considerable as in the preceding March.

APRIL.

Begun with cloudy, rainy weather; from the 2d to the 9th; serene; hazey weather frequent in the second week; the 16th and 17th, serene; from this time to the 27th, the weather unusually cool and cloudy. There were properly only two rainy days, the rain at other times falling only in short showers.

The reigning wind, particularly towards the end, west or south-west; frequent calms, and throughout the month the wind moderate.

Rainy Days.

1st ″ P. M. 2d ‴, 13th ′ night, 14th ′ A. M. 15th ′, 19th ″, 22d ″ P. M. with thunder, 25th ′, 26th ′, 31st ′, A. M.

Greatest height of the thermometer 69 on the 13th, at 4 P. M.

Least height 51 on the 2d, at 7 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8 from the 8th to the 11th.

Least height 28 4 on the 2d.

As the month advanced, the morning-station of the thermometer rose gradually from 51 to 62; the variation in the same day was generally 6, and never exceeding; but as there was much cloudy weather, it was often only 2 or 3.

MAY.

The first day, gloomy, with continual rain till four in the afternoon; the three following days, showery, with thunder; the three next days, fair, with flying clouds, and a fresh wind; in the evening of the 8th, a storm, and thunder; the ensuing week, much hazey weather, and the sun sometimes obscured by the clouds; from the 16th to the 28th, serene weather, and generally a fresh wind through the day, clouds sometimes in the evening; the 28th, overcast; the two last days, windy, and several dark clouds passed. Frequent calms in this month; the wind variable, south-east, or east. When it blew fresh, as it did towards the latter end of the month, it was at west.

Rainy Days.

1st ‴, 2d ′ at noon, 3d ″ thunder-showers, 4th ′ P. M. 7th ″ with thunder P. M. 15th ′ evening, 28th ′ P. M.

Greatest height of the thermometer 78 } as far as the 16th of the month.

Least height 59 }

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8

Least height 28 7

The morning-station of the mercury, in the first fortnight, rose from 61 to 70; the variation in the same day advancing also regularly with the month from 3 to 9⁠[487].

JUNE.

The weather through the whole of this month was in general cool for the season; dark clouds frequent in the first week; from the 8th to the 14th, light, flying clouds in the forenoon; the remainder of the month serene, except a few hours before noon, that light, fleecy clouds sometimes appeared, but more seldom as the month advanced.

The west wind blew for the most part pretty fresh through all the month. In the afternoon of the 2d, at a quarter past five o’clock, there was a slight shock of an earthquake; the wind fresh all that day.

Rainy Days.

1st, a small shower.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8 on the 1st.

Least height 28 6½ a few days towards the latter end.

The ordinary station of the mercury in the barometer was 28 7.

JULY.

The weather in the two first weeks, cool and pleasant, fleecy clouds, as in the last month, often appearing before noon; to the 22d, little wind, serene, and warm; then three days cool weather; the remainder moderate breezes, and hot. The wind westerly.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 6

Least height 28 5

To the 20th, the mercury in the barometer stood invariably at the greatest height, as it did the rest of the month at 28 5.

AUGUST.

Through this whole month, the weather was mostly serene, few clouds of any kind appearing; the 1st day, a fresh wind; to the 14th, hot, and little or no wind, particularly from the 4th the nights very hot; from the 14th to the 19th, the weather cooler, being refreshed by a morning and evening breeze; the rest of the month, calm, or little wind; many white clouds passed on the 23d and 25th, the west wind blowing fresh.

The wind throughout westerly.

Rainy Days none.

Greatest height of the barometer 28 6½

Least height 28 5

The mercury in the barometer stood at 28 5 from the beginning till the 9th, from that time till the 29th its invariable station was 28 6, as on the three last days of the month it was 28 6½.

SEPTEMBER.

The first week serene, the mornings and evenings cool; from the 13th to the 16th, frequent hard gusts of wind, that brought along with them clouds of dust, as usual before the autumn-rains; flying clouds often, and sometimes dew in the nights; frequent lightening in the west; the 12th and 13th, steady gales of wind; a little rain in the night of the 16th; the four succeeding days, overcast, and often threatening rain; from the 20th to the 25th, serene; the remainder of the month stormy.

The wind westerly.

Rainy Days.

16th ′, 29th ″ noon.

Greatest height of the thermometer 92 on the 3d, at 4 P. M.

Least height 71 on the 18th, at 7 A. M.⁠[488]

Greatest height of the barometer 28 8½ from the 20th to the 24th.

Least height 28 5 on the 12th.

In the first fortnight, 82 was the usual morning-height of the thermometer; in the afternoon it commonly rose to 89 or 90; in the storm it fell to 76, and rose in the afternoon only to 80; in the last fortnight, 72 was the common height in the morning; the variation in the same day 8.

OCTOBER.

Mornings serene, and flying clouds in the afternoon, made up the weather in the first week; from the 9th to the 14th, much cloudy weather; the 15th, rainy; the other part of the month fair, the mornings sometimes serene, sometimes cloudy; but through the day there were generally white clouds, except the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 29th, which were quite serene.

The wind little, and variable; sometimes it blew fresh in the night at west.

Rainy Days.

10th ″ evening and night, 15th ′ A. M. P. M. ″ and evening.

Greatest height of the thermometer 81 on the 1st, at 4 P. M.

Least height 56 on the 25th, at 7 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 0½ on the 25th.

Least height 28 7 on the 16th.

The variation of the mercury in the thermometer was in the same day generally 8 or 9, sometimes 5, the morning-station being 68 or 70; from the 15th it continued gradually sinking to 59; and the variation in the same day was 5 or 6.

NOVEMBER.

The two first days, cloudy; the evening of the 2d threatened rain; From that to the 20th, serene and pleasant; from the 23d to the 27th, gloomy weather; the latter days of the month, serene through the day, but cloudy both in the morning and evening.

The wind little, and variable, at east, north-east, south-east, &c.

Rainy Days.

23d A. M. ″ in the night, 25th ‴ in the night, 26th ′ morning.

Greatest height of the thermometer 71 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 43 on the 29th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 0½ on the 19th.

Least height 28 7 on the 26th and 27th.

The mercury in the thermometer, in the progress of the first fortnight, descended from 58 to 52, the variation in the afternoon being generally 9 or 10; in the last fortnight it gradually fell from 52 to 44; the variation in that time was seldom more than 6.

DECEMBER.

The first fortnight, except two or three clear days, was for the most part dark and cloudy; the 17th was serene, but from that to the 27th foggy; the morning of the 28th clear, at noon cloudy, and rained violently in the evening; the two last days of the year were serene and pleasant, and through the whole month the weather was unusually mild.

Frequent calms, little winds, at east or north-east; on the 5th it blew fresh at west, with a shower of hail.

Rainy Days.

2d ′ P. M. 3d ‴ in the day, 4th ‴ in the day, 5th ′ P. M. 11th ′ in the night, 12th ″ A. M. 13th ″, 14th ″, 23d ′ night, 25th ′ A. M. 28th ‴ afternoon and evening.

Greatest height of the thermometer 51 on the 17th and 20th, at 3 P. M.

Least height 43 on the 23d and 24th, at 8 A. M.

Greatest height of the barometer 29 0½ on the 20th.

Least height 28 5 on the 4th.

The height of the mercury in the thermometer throughout the month was 44 or 45 at eight in the morning; the variation in rainy weather nothing, and at other times 2 or 1.

CHAP. III. Of the Epidemical Diseases, from the beginning of 1742 to the end of 1747, and of the Years 1752 and 1753.

A. D. MDCCXLII.

This year was very healthy, till about the beginning of March; when an acute fever, attended with a pain in the right hypochonder, became very frequent, both among adults and children, though few of those were seized with it who were under ten years old. Copious bleeding, emollient glysters, cooling purges, with antiphlogistic medicines internally, and emollient fomentations to the part affected, generally relieved the symptoms, and brought the fever to a favourable crisis on the seventh or ninth day in adults by a plentiful sweat, and in children most commonly by a diarrhœa.

In some these evacuations only carried off the pain, and brought the fever to a regular intermission; when it was soon and safely cured by the cortex; though, if any errors were committed in the use of the non-naturals, the patients were very subject to relapses.

But when evacuations were not used in due time, the disease often proved fatal, or at best the fever was protracted to thirty, and even forty days, and some few of the sick died hectic.

Though the above mentioned fever did not quite disappear till the autumn; yet, after the beginning of June, it affected so few, that it could scarcely be called epidemical.

Inflammatory quinsies were also frequent at this time; but they were not violent, and quickly yielded to the common methods.

Through the winter the plague had been frequent in Antab, Kilis, Azass, and most of the villages among the mountains Amanus; to which places, according to the best information we could get, it had been brought from Bias⁠[489], where it had raged the summer before.

The Chinganas, who came as usual from these parts, about the middle of April, to be hired for reaping corn, brought it with them to Aleppo. To these, and a few others in the out-parts of the town, it was confined for some time; and it was not till the 18th of May, that we had any notice of it, when, upon strict enquiry, it was found that there had been some seized with the distemper in the city. In a few days, it encreased pretty much among the Jews (who suffered greatly in proportion to their small number this season) and came to be more general through the city and suburbs, where it continued, though in a limited degree, till the beginning of July, when the extream heat of the weather put a considerable check to it: some, however, were daily carried off by the disease till near the end of this month, when it entirely ceased. The Europeans shut up⁠[490] this year the beginning of June, and continued so about a month.

About the middle of July, diarrhœas and dysenteries became very frequent. The discharges at first were bilious, and the gripes violent. A very high fever was a constant attendant often with petechiæ, and other malignant symptoms: plentiful bleeding was always necessary at the beginning; after which an ipecacuan vomit, with a few doses of rhubarb (found most effectual when a few grains of calomel were added) prepared the way for anodynes and gentle astringents: these, with soft mucilaginous aliment, in most instances, compleated the cure; but in several, from a promising appearance, it proved suddenly mortal: this was likewise the case with some in intermitting fevers that were now epidemic, and continued with the dysentery all the autumn. This unexpected fatality happened at times, to such as were not shut up, in all acute diseases during the time of the plague; but buboes, or other signs of that distemper, were seen but seldom⁠[491].

About the beginning of September, the small-pox made their appearance, especially amongst children; but being of a mild distinct kind, very little assistance was required from medicine. In October this disease became more frequent; and much the greater part that were seized, had the confluent sort, attended with hæmorrhages, petechiæ, phlyctanæ, and other the worst of symptoms. Convulsions (always violent) on their first seizure, indicated that the pock would flux, and prove fatal. In this confluent kind the eruptions were often discovered on the extremities as soon as the child was observed to be out of order, and never were later in appearing than the end of the second day. These patients generally died on the beginning of the eleventh, reckoning from the first attack, when the distemper was left to nature, as is commonly the case in this country; or, if they survived, yet many of them were afterwards harrassed with corrosive ulcers, carious bones, hard tumors on the glandular parts, difficult either to discuss or bring to suppuration, coughs, and fluxes; which last soon put an end to their miseries. By degrees this great malignancy seemed to wear off; so that by December the disease became mild and favourable, and most of the sick recovered.

The Jews were the most severely afflicted by this sort of small-pox.

Bleeding, bathing the extremities in warm water, with a plentiful use of diluting, antiphlogistic medicines, if used at the beginning, often prevented fatal consequences. Purging in the secondary fever, or after the decline of the disease, is never practised here by the natives; from the neglect of which, perhaps, the dreadful symptoms above enumerated were more frequent; though they often happened when all possible means had been used to prevent them.

Inoculation is only practised here among the Christians, and is not yet general even among them. However, it appears to gain ground daily, though their injudicious method of proceeding in it seems to lay this practice under several disadvantages. They do not either prepare the body beforehand, or consider the habit of the child to be inoculated, or the nature of the pock, or other diseases of the party from whom they receive infection, but carry the child to be inoculated into the chamber of the sick; where an old woman opening one of the pustles with a needle, takes a little of the matter upon its point; with this needle she pricks many times the fleshly part of the child’s hand, between the first joint of the thumb and the same joint of the fore-finger, taking up a little more matter upon the point of the needle after every two or three punctures; then putting a bit of cotton on the part, it is tied up, and the operation finished.

About the middle of November the plague began to shew itself again in the suburbs called Bankusa⁠[492], and that neighbourhood; and before Christmas it was found to be in some parts of the city, though it made little or no progress.

A few pleurisies and rheumatisms began to make their appearance in December.

A. D. MDCCXLIII.

In January, the small-pox, which were now for the most part distinct, abated considerably, and by the end of February they quite disappeared.

The pleurises and rheumatisms grew more common in January, and continued through the greatest part of February. They were commonly accompanied with headach, thirst, and other febrile symptoms. The pulse was low, quick, and hard; the urine not so high-coloured as usual in those inflammatory fevers, but without sediment. The blood was sizey. The pains of the rheumatics were not generally very acute, though fixed, and more especially in the knees, which soon swelled considerably, and were often subject to great weakness long after the pain and fever were removed.

In both diseases the method of cure was the same. They could not for the most part bear such large and repeated bleeding as is usual in those inflammatory cases at other times; but, by moderate bleeding, twice, or at most thrice, cooling purges, emollient fomentations to the parts in pain, a plentiful use of antiphlogistic and saponaceous diluters, with volatiles added towards the decline of the disease, they speedily recovered.

During the winter, a continual fever, much like that of the preceding spring, affected several; but the pain in the right hypochonder did not so commonly attend it.

During the course of the spring, intermittents were common; but they had nothing in them particular.

The plague which had continued in the suburbs during all the month of January, though hitherto it had made but little progress, now began to spread among the Jews in the city, and seized many of the Christians in the month of February; though, as it was then diminished at Bankusa, it might more properly be said to have changed its quarters, than to have augmented its forces.

About the beginning of March, some Jews and Turks, who were known to the Europeans, dying suddenly, they began to be alarmed. However, whether from a cessation of the distemper, or from great industry used in concealing it, together with the natural credulity of mankind in what they wish to be true, cannot easily be determined; but certain it is, that we then heard no more of it, and most people flattered themselves with hopes that it was entirely ceased: but, on the 20th of March, we were credibly informed, that two Jews were dead in the same house, and that several other persons of different sects were dead or infected, which raised a fresh alarm amongst us; and, in truth, the increase became soon too visible, particularly among the Armenians, who suffered in a very extraordinary manner during the whole continuance of the distemper.

Hitherto the greatest part of the infected were women and children, and mostly in the suburbs; but, about the beginning of April, there was a manifest encrease of the burials in the city, and several were seized in the Khanes, where the Europeans live, so that most of them shut up the 11th of that month.

It continued encreasing gradually in all parts, and among all sorts of people during the month of April, but continued its ravages in May with much more violence, and arrived at its greatest height, according to the reports we received, about the last of that month, when the number of burials was every day apparently great. But as we had no account that could be depended upon, it is not possible to ascertain the precise number. Our list of the Christians was however tolerably exact; and, notwithstanding many of them were gone out of the city, and the rest who could afford it were shut up, though not in the most regular way, their burials amounted from 20 to 30, and sometimes 34 a-day. Hence it is evident, that the number of Turks must have been very considerable; though, according to the informations of those who remember former plagues in this place, the mortality attending this was but very moderate.

About the beginning of June the distemper decreased pretty much amongst the Turks, according to the accounts brought to us, though the number of Christian burials (of which we were informed with more certainty) diminished but little. From the 13th to the 17th, it again encreased, particularly among the Turks, though not to the height it was at about the end of May. On the 18th it began again to decline, and continued decreasing with a surprising rapidity, some small interruptions excepted, till the end of the month, by which time the burials were reduced to a very few. However, they kept at that stand the greatest part of July; nor could the city be said to be quite exempt from the infection till about the middle of August, though it was so much abated that most of the Europeans got abroad about the 18th of July.

About the beginning of August, intermittent fevers became frequent, and were at their height in September; after which they abated, but did not entirely cease till the close of the year.

For a few days after their commencement, they often resembled continual fevers, with violent and irregular symptoms, not unlike those of the plague; but, after bleeding and vomiting, or, what was most commonly practised, purging, with a plentiful use of nitrous medicines, they formed into tertians, double tertians, or quotidians, and were speedily and safely cured by the use of the bark. It was remarkable in those fevers, that they affected many more of the Europeans than epidemics in this country commonly do.

Diarrhœas were also frequent throughout the autumn, and till the end of December, but without any thing particular in their symptoms.

From the middle of November till the end of the year, we now and then heard of a person dying of the plague; but these instances were very rare, hardly more than two of whom we could be certain that they had the distemper.

A. D. MDCCXLIV.

A few pleurisies and peripneumonies occurred during the months of January and February; but these were not either frequent or violent, yielding, and that very quickly, to the common methods.

About the middle of February the chincough broke out among the children. It was often attended with a smart fever, and pain in the side. Copious bleeding was necessary, cooling purges, with pectoral and antiphlogistic medicines, and, towards the decline of the fever, blisters, which were most effectual when applied to the part affected: but it was not often that the parents would consent to this application, having in general a great aversion to blistering on any account. Notwithstanding this treatment, the fever, and often the pain, remained fourteen days, and the cough for two or three weeks after; but the force of it was much diminished, and the intervals between the fits long. This disease ceased by the end of March.

At this time also an inflammatory fever, without affecting any particular part, was frequent amongst children; which bleeding, purging, and nitrous medicines, with the testacea, commonly carried off in a few days.

For want of bleeding, the above mentioned diseases proved fatal to many, this operation being scarce ever performed upon children by the physicians of this country. They content themselves with making a few slight scarifications on the top of the ears, or on the calves of the legs; from whence they seldom procure more than a few drops of blood.

The plague, which began to appear in November, made very little progress during the months of January and February. In March it became a little more apparent, and proceeded exactly in the same course as the year before, ceasing entirely about the middle of August. The number of the infected were but few; so that the English nation did not shut up at all, and some of the French only towards the middle of May.

In the preceding years, I prescribed for the sick chiefly from the accounts I had from a person I employed to visit them; for though, notwithstanding all my precautions, I was often deceived by false representations, and employed to visit some of the infected before we shut up, yet I avoided it to the utmost of my power; but this year, the fears of infection being (like that of all other dangers to which one has been long exposed) much wore off, I attended the sick of the plague in common with those under other diseases.

Intermittents made their appearance about the middle of March, and continued till the beginning of May. Those who had laboured under this disease in the autumn, were now the most subject to it.

As the greatest part were regular, formed tertians, a vomit or purge, with the use of the cortex, was all that was necessary to cure them; and the same medicine, with the warm bitters, and elixir of vitriol, were continued for some time after, to prevent a relapse.

In June, July, August, and part of September, a malignant fever was common, attended with much the same symptoms as the plague, excepting buboes and carbuncles. The vomiting, with which it began, lasted for several days, and the fever continued at least till the fourteenth, but often longer; some few after the fourteenth had regular intermissions.

The method of cure was much the same as that of the plague, only that they bore a second bleeding, and nitrous medicines, better than I usually found they did in that distemper. When the fever intermitted, the bark was given with success.

From June till December, intermittent fevers of various forms were very frequent. They did not put on the appearance of continual fevers in the beginning, like those of the last year; but, if they were not timely stopped by the bark after the fourth paroxysm, (viz. the seventh day) there was no remission; but the fever became continual, remaining at least till the fourteenth day, but more frequently till the twenty-first, if it did not prove fatal before, which was often the case while the warm weather continued.

A few diarrhœas occurred between the end of August and the beginning of January. In November and December some pleurisies and quinsies appeared; but neither of these diseases had any thing in them different from those of other seasons.

A. D. MDCCXLV.

We had no disease that could be called epidemic, excepting the spring-intermittents, which began early (January), and continued till the beginning of May. They indeed were more frequent than usual.

The summer-fevers among the young children begun in June, and were generally accompanied with a diarrhœa, but had nothing unusual.

Intermittents also made their appearance this year in June, and were numerous till December; but though they were very liable to return, they were not of a bad kind.

A few dysenteries were to be met with in the autumn, but scarce so many as to entitle the disease epidemic.

In September, the small-pox appeared among the children. The few that were first seized had a mild, distinct pock; but by the middle of October they became very common, and the generality of the sick had a bad confluent kind, which proved fatal to many on the eleventh day from their seizure; but of such as were treated after Sydenham’s method, very few died. The most part of those that recovered had inflammatory tumors on the elbows, which always suppurated, and proved tedious in their cure; but, if timely opened, the bone was seldom affected.

A. D. MDCCXLVI.

The small-pox, which had raged violently in November and December, became milder in January, as also less frequent, and by the beginning of February entirely disappeared.

In January and February several had inflammatory fevers, which were commonly cured in a few days by bleeding, cooling purges, and a plentiful use of nitrous medicines.

In June, a putrid fever, with petechiæ, began, and continued during the months of July and August; but the number of the sick was but small. It however seldom proved fatal, but commonly terminated happily by a critical sweat on the eleventh day, or at the furthest on the fourteenth.

This autumn was most remarkably free from intermittents; none were seen before September, and they totally disappeared by November. The remainder of the year was very healthy.

A. D. MDCCXLVII.

As the last year ended, so this begun, free from any disease that had the appearance of an epidemic. A few diarrhœas occurred during January and February, in April peripneumonies affected several, and now and then through all these months intermittents appeared: but none of these diseases were either frequent or dangerous; so that this season might be esteemed one of the most healthy.

In May a putrid fever broke out, and was very frequent through the whole of the summer, and to the end of October; after which, though it became less common, yet it now and then shewed itself till the end of January 1748.

This fever began with a shivering and vomiting, which were soon succeeded by violent headachs, pains over the whole body, and an evident loss of strength, though the pulse was full and hard for the first four days. The tongue was first white, then became brown, hard, and dry. Most of the sick became delirious on the fifth day, and towards the end of the disease comatose. The heat was violent, both internally and externally, with regular exacerbations in the evenings, preceded by flushing in the cheeks. Purple spots, about the size of a flea-bite, generally broke out over the whole body about the fifth day, and the fever most commonly ended by a plentiful sweat, either on the seventh or by the ninth; sometimes indeed it continued to the eleventh. At its first appearance, the fourteenth day was usually critical. Signs from the urine were very fallacious. However, in proportion to the number of the sick, and violence of the symptoms, this fever was not very mortal.

The method found most effectual in treating the sick, was to bleed plentifully on the first days of the disease; once to discharge the contents of the primæ viæ, with a gentle laxative, which was the more necessary, as the generality of the sick voided quantities of worms; to give nitrous medicines in small doses often repeated, with the plentiful use of the spir. vitrioli, and cooling glysters pro re nata. Towards the end of the disease, warmer medicines were added as the state of the pulse seemed to indicate; and blisters, when the sick could be prevailed upon to admit them, were of great service.

In September and October several were seized with a fever that seemed different from that before described, and which indeed proved fatal to more than one half of those who were afflicted with it.

The first attack of this fever was by a slight shivering and nausea, sometimes a vomiting. These were not succeeded by any violent heat, but by an excessive languor, and most exquisite pains over the whole body. The head either did not ache at all, or but very little. Several times in a day, however, they complained of a lancinating pain, which, as they expressed it, run through their head; and as it came suddenly, it as suddenly went off again; and, though they had no great pain, they complained of a giddiness, and constant noise in their ears, like the rushing of water. From the very beginning they laboured under great dejection of spirits; and their eyes appeared muddy, with a particular ghastly look, much like to that of a person in the plague. The tongue was moist; and, like one in health, for several hours they seemed to be without thirst, or other uneasiness, and then would suddenly complain of a violent internal heat, and drink great quantities of liquor greedily, though neither their pulse nor tongue were altered, nor any external heat to be observed.

The urine was of a straw-colour, without cloud or sediment, till the sixth day, when there appeared in it a small cloud suspended about half-way; and this appearance it had in those who died, as well as in those who recovered. They slept very little, or not at all, during the whole course of the disease. The pulse from the beginning to the end was but very little quicker than natural; about the fifth day it sunk, and about twelve hours before death was not to be felt. The sick were scarcely ever delirious, and never comatose, continuing entirely sensible till they expired, which was commonly on the seventh day of the disease. Those who recovered had a crisis by a plentiful sweat on the ninth. None of the sick had any petechiæ.

The blood that was drawn on the first day was like that of a person in health; but, after the third day, it was of the colour of coffee-grounds, appearing quite thin as it run out of the vein, and, when cold, was bluish on the top, and but very loosely coagulated.

This fever did not appear any way infectious; for I observed no instance wherein two persons had it in the same family, nor where any of the sick could be supposed to have caught it from another affected with the disease: and indeed the whole number of the sick that came within my knowledge did not amount to above thirty, twelve of whom were my own patients, and out of these I lost four. The others seemed to owe their recovery to a pretty large bleeding, and an ipecacuan vomit at the beginning of the disease, small and repeated doses of pulv. contrayervæ comp. with a few grains of nitr. stibiat. gentle anodynes, with moderate acidulated cordials pro re nata, and an emollient refrigerating glyster every evening. Towards the fifth day, a warmer regimen was necessary, with blisters applied to the back, legs, and arms, according as the sinking of the pulse seemed to require.

Plenty of barley-water, acidulated with spirit of vitriol, was allowed for the patient’s drink; and panada, rice-gruel, and roasted apples, for food; though, to such as would not be contented with this diet without the addition of butter, which is the method of this country, I chose rather to allow weak chicken-broth, with crum of bread, or a little rice, boiled in it.

The autumnal intermittents were this year but few; nor did any other diseases besides those already mentioned appear so frequently as to claim the title of epidemics.

From the year 1748 to 1751, I was prevented from taking notes in the manner that was necessary to furnish an account of the epidemics of those years, by a constant engagement in the duties of my profession, together with an almost daily attendance on the Bashaw; which however furnished me with an opportunity of seeing more of the manners of the people than I should otherwise have done, and was fully recompensed by the large presents, and other public marks of his favour, which he was pleased to confer on me. In general, however, the first three years were healthy, if we except the measles and small-pox, which were sometimes in this period very frequent. The measles first made their appearance in the spring of 1749, and finished in the spring of 1750. As this disease had not visited Aleppo for several years, it affected numbers of adults, as well as children; so that it was no uncommon thing to see the father, mother, children, and servants, all sick of the measles together. No description of the disease could be more exact than that which Sydenham gives us of 1670, nor any method of cure more effectual, none having died that were treated after his manner, though it proved fatal to many of those who were treated after the manner of the country; which is, to keep them extremely warm, and on the ninth day to take the sick out of the hot room, in which they have been kept, to the bagnio; without which they imagine that the sick would fall into an incurable diarrhœa: whereas in the small-pox, which one would imagine is a disease that should require more washing, they don’t allow them to go to the bagnio till after the fortieth day.

The small-pox made their appearance about the middle of August 1750, and were at first of a bad confluent kind: however, they became more mild by the middle of November, and disappeared early in the spring.

The harvest of the year 1750 proved bad; so that a want of corn began to be felt early in the winter, and the poor were much distressed for want of bread. The new bashaw embraced this opportunity to bring in large quantities of wheat from his own granaries at Hamah, where it had been hoarded up for several years; by which means it was very much damaged, and the bread made of it was extremely black and musty: however, it was all that the poor had to eat till the coming in of the new grain.

About the beginning of June 1751, a most fatal dysentery made its appearance, and continued till the middle of November; and possibly proceeded as much from the bad bread, as the epidemic constitution of the air, though both causes perhaps concurred in producing it.

A. D. MDCCLII.

The first part of the year was very healthy; but, about the vernal equinox, a continual fever began, which attacked a great many people of all ranks, and continued with violence till near the end of July; after which the number of the sick diminished greatly, and by the middle of September this fever quite disappeared.

It began in the usual way, by a slight shivering, and often with a nausea; to which succeeded heat, thirst, headach, and pain in the loins. The head was much confused from the first seizure, and a remarkable stupidity appeared in the patient’s look. The tongue became immediately white, soon after brown, and often, towards the end of the disease, was covered with a black crust. The pulse was quick, but seldom hard or full, and continued in a more equal state than I ever observed in any other fever in this country, few or none of the sick having any remission or exacerbations, the heat and other symptoms continuing almost uniformly at one regular standard from the beginning to the end, if the patient’s strength was not exhausted by unseasonable evacuations and improper management. On the ninth or eleventh day most of the sick had an hæmorrhage from the nose, which in some seemed to mitigate the symptoms, though many grew worse upon it; in others it had no manifest effect, either good or bad. The crisis was almost always by a plentiful sweat; but this happened to none at the first appearance of this disease before the fourteenth, and to the greater part on the seventeenth.

Towards the end of May, the hæmorrhage commonly happened on the seventh day, and a copious discharge by sweat on the eleventh; which, though it very much relieved, yet was not a perfect crisis, the fever never quite leaving them till the fourteenth. Many of the sick now had petechiæ.

As the hot weather advanced, so likewise these discharges came on earlier in the disease; so that by the latter end of June almost all had the hæmorrhages, the fifth or seventh, and on this last the sweats likewise. And what is very remarkable is, that from about this time till the epidemic ceased, though the sick had been duly purged after the fever, and the utmost care taken in respect to the non-naturals; yet none of them escaped a relapse, which seized them in the same way as the preceding fever, only the heat was much more intense. The second day they were taken with violent pains in the hypochonders, bilious vomitings, and often purging, which left them the third day; a smart fever remaining till the fifth, with many remissions and exacerbations, when a critical sweat put an end to it; I mean in such as had recovered of the preceding fever on the seventh day; but such as had grown better on the fourteenth, did not recover of the relapse before the eleventh.

Several of the sick had the fever so slightly, that they were able to walk abroad; but, notwithstanding this mildness of the symptoms, the disease continued the same number of days as in the others.

Though this fever was not in its own nature very dangerous, yet it proved fatal to many, particularly in the months of April and May, when the number of the sick was very great, and the fever was of long continuance. The increase of its mortality was probably owing to bleeding and purging, which were often used by the natives towards the eleventh day of the disease, and to which they were prompted by the spontaneous hæmorrhages, and an impatience under the long duration of the fever; but it seldom happened that any evacuations were used after the eighth day, without manifest detriment to the sick, either by retarding their recovery, or sinking them irretrievably.

Of several hundreds that were treated after the following method, only two died. As soon as the person was taken ill, he was blooded pretty largely; next day he took a laxative potion of infus. sennæ limon. and manna, and in the evening of that day a gentle anodyne. If he was strong and plethoric, the bleeding was repeated the third day; but, after this, blood was seldom, if ever, taken. Nitrous medicines, with a small proportion of pulv. contrayerv. composit. were given every six hours, and the last encreased or diminished according as the pulse seemed to require; and towards the end of the disease, or when the pulse was low, the pulv. contrayerv. comp. Phar. Edin. was substituted in its stead. A glyster of milk, pulp of cassia fistula, or sugar, and a little oil, was injected every evening till the eleventh, if the head was much confused, and the body costive, which was generally the case in the first months; though afterwards, when the disease became more acute, most of the sick had several stools every day.

When petechiæ appeared, and the heat was intense, with great languor, moderate cordials, acidulated with spir. vitrioli, together with the above mentioned powders, were repeated as necessity required.

The second day after the crisis, they were purged with the same potion as at the beginning, and it was repeated at proper intervals, once or twice: when a tendency to relapses became so general, a decoction of the cortex, with a small proportion of elixir vitrioli, was given to prevent them, and often with success.

In these relapses, though the symptoms seemed violent, they were seldom or never blooded. When the vomiting came on, the sick were ordered to drink quantities of warm water, to wash the stomach; glysters were occasionally injected, and the medicines before mentioned exhibited.

The patient’s drink was a ptisan, in common use here, made of barley, grass-roots, and a few injubs, sometimes acidulated with lemon-juice; their food, weak chicken-broth, with a little rice, or crum of bread, boiled in it, and now and then a roasted apple.

From the beginning of the summer till the end of September, the chincough was frequent among the children; but though it was very violent, it much sooner gave way to medicines than I ever knew it; for by once bleeding, (which was generally with leeches) a few purges, and a weak solution of gum ammoniac in water, with a small proportion of acet. scillitic. & tinct. castor. they either soon recovered, or the cough grew much less frequent and violent, and went off entirely in about a fortnight more.

This year the fever usually attending young children was more frequent than in others.

Scarcely one intermittent was to be met with this autumn; and the place was exceeding healthy till the middle of November, when a fever became very frequent (chiefly among children three years old and upwards) with a swelling in one or both parotids, the maxillary glands, and sometimes over the whole face.

Bleeding, with a gentle purgative once or twice repeated, and a low diet, generally cured those that had it the most violently in five or six days, and such as had it slightly recovered without any assistance in about the same time; and though this fever continued to affect great numbers all the year, and till about the middle of January 1753, I did not hear of any to whom it proved fatal.

A. D. MDCCLIII.

With this year commenced a continual fever, which was chiefly confined to adults, and to the northern suburbs of the city, where the Christians mostly inhabit.

The disease began with a shivering and nausea, but the patient seldom vomited. The heat was intense during the first two or three days, the pulse strong and frequent: the sick did not so much complain of pain, as of great confusion in their head, and noise in their ears, acute pains in their back, legs, and arms; which last they could scarcely bear to move. The tongue was at first white, afterwards yellow, and towards the height of the disease generally black. From the beginning their aspect was stupid, and by the sixth day they became delirious; from the seventh to the ninth petechiæ appeared over the whole body, not round, as usual, but in irregular figures. The pulse by this time began to sink, and they were often comatose; from the ninth to the eleventh, a moderate sweat sometimes broke out, or they had a few loose stools, which seemed to relieve, and for the present to abate the symptoms; yet the fever always continued till the seventeenth day, when it began to decline gradually, and went off without any remarkable evacuation. When the head was much affected, the urine was pale as water, without any sediment; in some it was of a blackish cast, like a weak tincture of steel. On the eleventh day it commonly let fall a white sediment in those who recovered; and indeed all who were treated in the method mentioned for the continual fever of last year (with the addition of sinapisms to the soles of the feet, for they are much averse to blisters) recovered.

Those who were bled to any considerable quantity after the seventh day generally died on the ninth or the eleventh.

This fever continued to prevail till the beginning of February, when the very cold weather we had at that time put a check to it; so that, from the beginning to the 20th, I saw but two persons who had any appearance of it. These, besides the above mentioned symptoms, had an acute pain in the right hypochonder affecting their breathing, and bore larger bleeding than could be endured without great injury in the preceding constitution, and the blood was sizey. Both these patients had a crisis of the fever by a large hæmorrhage from the right nostril on the seventh day, and very nearly about the same hour in which they were first seized. In one of them the hæmorrhage was accompanied by a diarrhœa, and about a fortnight after he had a regular tertian.

In January several old people had apoplexies, though few proved mortal: they commonly ended in hemiplegias, which in several, though much advanced in years, gave way to medicine.

About the 20th of February, the continual fever above mentioned, which had almost totally ceased upon the setting in of cold weather, again made its appearance, and with additional force. Almost all now had petechiæ, which were round, very small, and of a purple colour. These, after the twelfth or thirteenth day, disappeared, without any manifest alteration in the disease. The urine during the first three or four days was of an orange colour, and towards the seventh let fall a copious white sediment; after that it became clear and pale as water till the eleventh or twelfth; when, though it still retained the same appearance whilst warm, when cold it let fall a sediment like fine flour, and continued thus till the end of the disease, which always happened on the seventeenth.

Many of the sick in the fever, both of this and the last year, voided many worms of the round kind, and towards the height of the disease almost all were deaf, which last was a good sign; and it may here be remarked, that these two symptoms are almost common to all fevers in Aleppo.

About the middle of April near one fourth of the people were seized with violent coughs, which did not either last long with those attacked, or in the compass of a few days continued to spread any farther.

The Jews, who had hitherto kept pretty clear of the fever, though it was now very common in the city, began to feel its effects severely very soon after their feast, about the middle of April.

In May several of the sick had a critical sweat on the seventh day, preceded in some by an hæmorrhage from the nose; but all who had this hæmorrhage, in about five or six days after, had a return of the fever, which was more violent than at the first attack, and continued five days. In several those relapses were accompanied with peripneumonic symptoms, and required bleeding.

Children had hitherto escaped this disease; but in this month (May) a considerable number of them, from nine years old and upwards, were seized with it. The symptoms and duration were much the same as in adults; only their most frequent complaint was of pains in the belly, and they voided worms either by vomiting or stool, chiefly of the round kind.

The number of the sick was much diminished by the beginning of June, and the fever quite disappeared before July.

The method pursued in the cure of the fever of last year was attended with the same success in this; and evacuations after the seventh day, as in the preceding, so likewise in the present, were always prejudicial, and often fatal.

The summer-fever, commonly incident to young children in this country, began this year in June, and continued through the summer as customary.

In July a very few were seized with mild dysenteries, others with intermittents, chiefly quartans; but neither of these distempers were so frequent as to be termed epidemic.

The ophthalmias, which, according to custom, were epidemic in September, had this particular from other years, that the inflammation was chiefly external in the palpebræ.

Both this and last year furunculi were frequent on different parts of the body, but more especially the fingers; in November, and part of December, they often broke out in the armpits, but without any other disorder.

A very few had pleurisies in December, and several died suddenly of apoplexies about this time.

It should have been before observed, that the continual fever of this year, particularly after the month of February, seldom affected one person in a house, without going through two thirds of the family; but it was rare to find two sick together, one being generally a few days recovered before the other was taken ill.

CHAP. IV. Of the PLAGUE.

Sect. I. Of the Plague in General.

All the facts mentioned in the notes are taken from old journals or letters written at the times they happened.

It is the common opinion of the inhabitants of Aleppo, that they are visited with the plague about once in ten years, and that it is brought thither from some neighbouring city, where it first makes its appearance, as Antab, Urfa, &c. to the northward, or Damascus to the southward; from which last place it is generally alledged that the worst plagues have been brought; though some assert that those which have come from the northward have raged with the greatest violence.

With respect to the intervals between the returns of the plague, though that of 1742 is an exception, yet the common opinion seems in some measure to be founded on experience⁠[493]. And it seems a fact pretty well attested, that it never rages at Aleppo without having first visited some of the above mentioned places; though the first appearance of all is, from what I have been able to learn, always in some town on the coast of Syria⁠[494]. If it first shews itself in Sidon, Byroot, or Tripoly, Damascus is usually the channel through which it comes to Aleppo; but if in Scanderoon or Byass, then it commonly passes by way of Antab, Killis, Urfa, &c.

During the winter this disease is constantly moderate; as the spring advances it grows more violent, it comes to its height in June, decreases greatly in July, and certainly disappears in August; and this seems to be the constant course of the plague at Aleppo: so that none are ever seized with it in the months of September and October, even in such extraordinary instances as when it has made its appearance for three years successively, as it did in 1742, 1743, and 1744⁠[495].