DISEASES — INSENSIBILITY TO TAIX. 135 panied by weakness and despondency, and is usually, though not always, the forerunner of fever. Liver and gastric illnesses arc not very common ; and acute tropical liver disease we have only seen one instance of. Gastritis chronica and rheumatism are commoner. Ferendit (muscular hair-worm, vena medinensis) has not been seen during our whole expedition ; it seems as if this locality was free of it. In Chartum, many of the black soldiers suffered from it ; but, probably, brought it from their own countries with them. From many instances, we are led to suspect they communicated it to each other by the touch. The chief spots for ferendit are Dinka, Frantiet, from whence it got its name ; Atisch, Katareff, and most parts of the lands of the blacks and negroes. In Taka, the deadly fever swelling, or ague, is so common, that one may safely say every third man suiters under it. The females suffer less from it than the males. Usually it is of such a size, that it extends even to the arcus cruralis, and almost the whole front division of the belly is filled up by it ; all over where it does extend, only a few drops of blood can be drawn out, and that after much pain and trouble, by cupping. A general wail is made over the Genna el Wurda (Child of Fever), which gives rise to numbers of other illnesses. As yet, there have only been two dropsical cases, and both these were consequences of disox*-ganisation. Phthisis, especially in women, is oftener seen ; and also here and there are cases of hnemorrhoides, but not in any great numbers.

Operating is here an easy matter for the surgeon, as seldom does a sound tell of pain, nor are men necessary to hold tlie patient while operated on. There is, indeed, much to surprise one in this great self-command or insensibility of the blacks during the most painful operations. For instance, a black in the hospital had caries of all his toes : Joseph amputated the foot a la Chopart, without the patient being held or bound, and without liis emitting one cry of pain. The operation completed, it was discovered that the head of the tibula and the joint of the ancles were very carious, although this could not be perceived from the exterior ; and so it was necessary to at once take off the leg under tiie knee. My brother told the patient this : he replied, if it was so, and it must L 3