Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-27
NO. 256.
mIsCELLAYEoUs READING.
THE "POiSON WIND"

\ Russian pOblemaD, who has been travel
ling in Africa. gives the following accauu; ut
the Ssmleli. ; moon, or Poison Wind, which
is sucb an obi rot Of interest ard terror e. al!
classes and all nations. lie says:-The Sam
iel is telt in the Desert from about the mid
die OF June to the 2lst of September. 1t is
experienced with very violent south west
wind, ar on those days when the heat of the
suu i, the most ardent. 1t is burning; It
comes in gusts more or less scorcnlng Ot
/ more or less duration; each of them, however,
even tho shortest, exceeds the time that
man could hold his breath. This wind con
sists 10 succession of burning and cool
costs In tbe first, there is frequently
double degree OF heat and impetuosltv. The
dltf renee between the hot and cold gusts, ac-
cording u ny observation, is from to ~
degrees. The highest degree OF the hot gusts
was - deg. OF Farenheit: the temperature IN
the suu, without ,he Samieli. having been
constantly from So deg to 81 deg. thought
| could Ob eryc that when this wind b!ow-,
q ye!loYish tInge, inclIning to be hv!d, Is Dill
fused through the atmosphere; and that, N
its most violent periods, the sun becomes OF
deep red Its odor is infectious and sulphur
Gus, it is thick aud heavy aud when its heat
Increases II almost causes sntocatlOn. IL
occasions Il pretty oopious persplration, part
iy excited by the uneasiOesl which one teviS,
and the difficulty with which one breathcs,
on account of its leid quality. This per.
spIratlon appears to me moro dense aud V'c'-
GUS than the natural perspiration; tho wind
itself deposits au uncti0us huld. The bet
ter to examine It's nature, opened my mouth
to inhale il; tbe palate and throat were ~
s,antly parched. 1t produces the same effect
when iuhalPd through the nostris, but more
slowly. To preserve ones self from It, and
keep the respiration more free, II ls usual ID
wrap the face up in a handkerchief. 10 pas
sing the tissue il loses part OF It's action
and OF its destructive principle, and besides,
the breath keeps up degree OF humidity,
and huders tue burning air from suddenly
penetrating into the mouth and lungs. Tho
Arabs, therefore, Are accustomed, whatever
the heat may be even in the shade, to wrap
the whole body, not excepting the head, IN
their mesehLah, (cloak,) If they desire 70
sleep. TINS wiad causes, by the rarelactlon
that attends it, pretty strong agitation IN
the blood; and this Increased movement soon
brings on weakness. IL in general produces
on man two effects distinctly characterized.
II eIIlh e DIii tuJI lhii1 VIII u hiiH VA "
phyxia, or causes him great debility. lie
corpse Of person sJ sptIcated mas thIs pc
cularity, that IN few days or even hours,
as some Arabs affirm, the limbs separate az
the iyints without the slightest effort, 50
powerful is the poison Un the muscular psitS,
giving an astonishing activity 10 !he pro- ress
Uf putfetactlUn. Such corpse Is reported
contagious. | know nothing 50 torrioic as
this wind: ieit 1t almost constantly 10 the
Desert, Uating some Interruptions, one ot
which was three days and three nlgnts sue
cessig~ly. Ny Interpreter, Mr.. Rosscl WAS
struck 10y it, but escaped death by Il dir
charge Of blood. That which confirms wGlt
[ nave said OF the separation Of the limbs H.,
tnat, haYug been struck by this air, WA
Effected for sJDDo Weeks with an exIEerl"
weakness; ana whenever the least warm winI
blew on me, / lClt a great fiintness, and per-
ceisud III nv joints relaxation OF Tho mus
cles. The dangers OF this wind are guarded
against by irhaLing ths fumes oil good vinc'
gar, and covering ;he face with the handkor-
cnIeE | asked tie Arabs if lying down on
the gfOUni Was prescrVatlve against IL;
they assareG me il was not. | RI puid DO ~
c.inCi myself 10 think it prejuGiciai