this often terminates in those dreadful wounds alluded to in the sacred writings, by the words '_boils and blains_.' During the months of _June_, _July_, and _August_, many individuals are deprived of sight, owing to a disorder of the eyes peculiar to this country. _Europeans_, having no other name for it, have called it _ophthalmia_, from the organs it affects. There was hardly an individual who did not suffer, more or less, the consequences of this painful malady. At this season, also, the dysentery begins to number its victims; and although some be fortunate enough to escape the worst effects of this disorder, it proves fatal in many instances."[27] Dr. Clarke's account of what he experienced at Cairo, in the middle of August, is also interesting: "The mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer seemed at this time fixed. It remained at 90 degrees for several days, without the smallest perceptible change. Almost every European suffered from inflammation of the eyes. Many were troubled with cutaneous disorders. The prickly heat was very common. This was attributed to drinking the muddy water of the Nile, the inhabitants having no other. Their mode of purifying it, in a certain degree, is by rubbing the inside of the water vessel with bruised almonds: this precipitates a portion of the mud, but it is never quite clear. Many persons were afflicted with sores upon the skin, which were called '_biles of the Nile_;' and dysenterical complaints were universal. A singular species of _lizard_ made its appearance in every chamber, having circular membranes at the extremity of its feet, which gave it such tenacity, that it walked upon window-panes of glass, or upon the surfaces of pendent mirrors.[28] This revolting sight was common to every apartment, whether in the houses of the rich or of the poor. At the same time, such a plague of flies covered all things with their swarms, that it was impossible to eat without hiring persons to stand by every table with feathers, or flappers, to drive them away. Liquor could not be poured into a glass; the mode of drinking was by keeping the mouth of every bottle covered until the moment it was applied to the lips: and instantly covering it with the palm of the hand, when removing it to offer to any one else. The utmost attention to cleanliness, by a frequent change of every article of wearing apparel, could not repel the attacks of vermin which seemed to infest even the air of the place. A gentleman made his appearance before a party he had invited to dinner, with lice swarming upon his clothes. The only explanation he could give as to the cause, was, that he had sat for a short time in one of the boats upon the canal. Perhaps objection may be made to a statement even of facts, which refers to no pleasing theme; but the author does not conceive it possible to give _Englishmen_ a correct notion of the trials to which they will be exposed in visiting this country, without calling some things by their proper names."[29]