SYPHILIS.
This disease prevailed much in the garrison of Ghiza, and in the 86th regiment. At the time of embarkation there were many obstinate cases. With the small stock of nitric acid which we had, we had as strong proofs of its efficacy as in India. In the instances of some officers who were successfully treated with it, we found that the stomach seldom bore more than half the quantity which, in Bombay, we had usually exhibited in the hospital of the 88th regiment; but the acid given to these cases differed much from the acid used in India: the latter was a much pleasanter remedy.
To a few cases we successfully gave the oxymuriate of potash, and to several cases the oxymuriate of soda.
We found that syphilis was a frequent disease in every part of Egypt that we had seen, both among the Bedouins and the Fellahs; and we have seen in Upper Egypt many objects terribly mutilated from this disease. Crude mercury I have often seen in their bazars, or markets, and they appeared to be acquainted with the use of it.