Medical and topographical observations upon the Mediterranean; and upon Portugal, Spain, and other countries / by G.R.B. Horner.

  • G. R. B. Horner
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and topographical observations upon the Mediterranean; and upon Portugal, Spain, and other countries / by G.R.B. Horner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    * 162 HORNER’S OBSERVATIONS. few relics of those who were deposited in them, and only some of their bones are to be seen. A Leaving the ancient, I will now proceed to modern Syracuse ; but itis much less interesting, having few antiquities, and no public nor private institutions; neither medical, nor surgical, nor charita- narrow, paved with lava and pebble, and wanting in cleanliness. | Its houses are like those of Catania in structure, and are large and well built, but without chimneys; the climate being so mild as not to require them, unless the weather is uncommonly damp and cold. The only family in the place who used fire for warring themselves was that of the English Consul. If cold, the inhabitants content themselves with additional clothing, and, wrapping themselves up in shawls and cloaks, and covering their heads with silk night-caps, they patiently await the return of warm weather, which is certain to come in a day or two. Indeed, the weather, though frequently damp and raw, is never really cold; the lowest degree of tempera- ture I knew to occur being only 54°, and that for one day. Agreeably to the register I kept while there, the temperature at noon was as follows, for the last five days in December, 1831. The average was 62°, the highest 66°, the lowest 58° and the medium 62°. In January of the next year, the average was 62°s, the lowest 56°, the highest 64°, the medium 60°. In February, the average was 61°54, the highest 66°, the lowest 54°, and the medium 60°, and during the first six days in March, the average was 59%, the highest 60°, the lowest 58°, and the medium 59°. This was the temperature of the air aboard ship in the shade; but on shore, and particularly in the town, it would have been found higher, as it is uniformly increased by reflection where there are houses and other objects to produce that effect. The lowest degrees of tem- perature were on cloudy and rainy days, which mostly happened in February. Rains at Syracuse are not continued, but interrupted, gives rise to the saying that the Sun shines there at some hour every day in the year. Excepting some of the palaces of the nobility, the only building worth mentioning is the cathedral, which has been made from the Temple of Minerva: it has a fine front looking towards the only public square in the town, and is decorated with cornices, pillars, and statues of saints and divines. Its walls are principally formed by filling up the interstices of the porticos, which are made of lime- stone of a greyish-brown hue. The pillars are 25 or 380 feet high, 5 feet in diameter at the base, and of the Doric order. Those of the northern portico can be seen from the street, but.to see those of the southern it is necessary to look through the windows or toenter the building, Hach of these porticos was composed of eleven pillars. The easternand western being hidden, the number they have could not be ascertained. | | * ‘This was the number I counted, but others may be completely hidden by the wal], as are those of the last mentioned porticos | + -