DISEASES— INSENSIBILITY TO PAIX. 135 panied by weakness and despondency, and is usually, though not always, the forerunner of fever. Liver and gastric illnesses are 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 suffers 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 disorganisation. Plithisis, especially in women, is oftener seen ; and also here and there are cases of haiinorrhoides, 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 the patient while operated on. There is, indeed, mucii to surprise one in this great self-command or insensibility of the blacks during tlie 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 his emitting one cry of pain. The oi)eration 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 tlie exterior; and so it was necessary to at once take olf the leg under the knee. My brother told tlie patient this : he replied, if it was so, and it must L 3