Miscellaneous works. Of the late Robert Willan. Comprising, An inquiry into the antiquity of the small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever, now first published: Reports on the diseases in London, a new edition. And detached papers on medical subjects, collected from various periodical publications / Edited by Ashby Smith.

  • Robert Willan
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Miscellaneous works. Of the late Robert Willan. Comprising, An inquiry into the antiquity of the small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever, now first published: Reports on the diseases in London, a new edition. And detached papers on medical subjects, collected from various periodical publications / Edited by Ashby Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    busformidabilis*.”-—This effect took place in all animals, and was referred by historians to the want of proper food q*.—Thus, every third or fourth year is noted by Livy as tempus grave, or annus pestilens, and, on some occa¬ sions, the distress continued for two or three successive years.-—The mortality was referred to the anger of the Gods for national crimes or neglect of observances, to inclement sea¬ sons, to vapours blown from unhealthy cli¬ mates, to poison, and to witchcraft. Under the last impression, several respectable ma¬ trons of Rome were, at different times, tried and condemned, on confessions made,—we must suppose, —5 under torture. The real cause of such frequent calamities was over¬ looked. Being constantly engaged in war, the Romans did not cultivate the district round their city sufficiently to procure food for half its inhabitants, nor had they any esta¬ blished commercial intercourse with other countries, from which they could be supplied in times of scarcity:]:. By their perpetual inroads, agriculture was interrupted among all the adjoining nations : * See below, page 65. f Oros. Lib. iv. ± See Dionys. Halicarn. Hist. Rom, lib. xii, cap. 12.