The influence of tropical climates on European constitutions : to which is added tropical hygiene, or the preservation of health in all hot climates, (adapted to general perusal) / by James Johnson.

  • Johnson, James, 1777-1845.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of tropical climates on European constitutions : to which is added tropical hygiene, or the preservation of health in all hot climates, (adapted to general perusal) / by James Johnson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    23/484 (page 9)
    PERSPIRATION. it is riO\v, we will suppose, at 99*^• Ijut the externa] surface of the body immediately sympathising with the internal sur- face of the stomach, relaxes, and a mild perspiration breaks out, which reduces the temperature to its natural standard, 98°. Farther, this simultaneous relaxation of the two sur- faces, completely removes the disagreeable sensation of thirst; and, as the simple antedeluvian beverage does not pos- sess many Circean charms for modern palates, there will not be the slightest danger of its being abused in quantity, or the perspiratory process carried beyond its salutary limits. Nor need we, on the other hand, apprehend its being neglected ; since, from the moment that the skin begins to be constricted, or morbid heat to accumulate, the sympathising stomach and fauces will not fail to warn us of our danger, by craving the proper remedy. Taken therefore as a general rule, the advantages of the latter plan are numerous—the objections few. It possesses all the requisites of the forme?', in procur- ing a reduction of temperature, (the only legitimate object which the admirers of sangaree and copious perspiration can have in view) without any danger of bringing it below the proper level, or wasting the strength, by the profuseness of the discharge. It is true, there is no general rule without exception; and there may be instances, wherein the use of gently stimulat- ing liquids is preferable to that of cold drink. For example :—during, or subsequent to violent exertion, under a powerful sun ; or in any other situation in a tropical climate, when profuse perspiration is rapidly carrying off the animal heat, and especially when fatigue or exhaustion has taken place, or is impending—then cold drink would be dan- gerous, on the same principle as external cold. But these cases rarely happen through necessity, to Europeans, particu- larly in the East; and they will be duly considered in the prophylactic part of this essay. I have been more prolix on this point, than may have seemed necessary to the medical reader ; but considering that this is generally the first erroneous step which Europeans take, on entering the tropics, and that the function in question (perspiration) is more intimately connected with another very important one in the human frame, than is commonly sup- posed ; I thought it proper to set them right, i7i limine. The probability oifuture suffering will rarely deter the European from indulging in present gratifications; but where these last, i. e. the stimulating liquids, are represented, from high authority, as not only innocent but salutary, it will require c