Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-11-18
The "Pelsoe7 Wlad,' I'm Africa.

H"'SiAn3AH <AirlcuJ gives the following
account of the Samieli, Simoon,t or Poi
son Wind, which is such an object Of
interest and terror to all classes and ali
nations. He says: "The Samieli is felt
in the Desert from about the middle Of
June to the 21st of September. 1t is
experienced with a very violent south
west wind, and OF those days when the
heat of of the sun is the most ardent
1t is burning; it comes in gusts more or
less scorching, of more or less duration
each of them, however, ever the short
est, exceeds the time that q man could
hold his breath. The wind consists in
a succession of burning and cool gusts.
In the first, there is frequently a doub-
lie degree of heat aud impetuosity. Fhe
difference. between the hot aud cold
gusts, according to my observations lis
from Z to 10 degrees. The highest de
grees of the gusts was 70 degrees Far
cnhcit; the temperature in the sun,
without the Samieli, having been con-
stantly from So deg, to 81 deg. I thought
I could observe that when this wind
blows, a yellowish tinge, inclining to
livid, is diffused through the atmosphere
and that, in its most violent periods the
sun becomes a deep red. Its odor is
infectious and sulphorous; it is thick
and heavy, and when its heat increases
it almost causes suffocation.
1t occasions a pretty eopious perspi-
ration, partly excited by the uneasiness
which one feels, and the difficulty with
which one breathes on account of its
fotid quality. This perspiration ap-
pears to me more. dense. and vicious
than the natural perspiration; the wind
itself deposits am u~nctuous fluid. The
better to examine its qualities and its
nature, I opened my mouth to inhalc
it; the palate aud throat were instantly
parched. It produces the same effect
when inhaled through the nestrils, but
more slowly. To preserve ones self
from it. and keep the respiration more
free, it is usual to wrap up the face with
a handkerchief. In passing the tissue it
looscs a part of its action and of its de
structive principle, and besides, the
breath keeps up a degree Of humidity,
and binders the burning air from sud
denly penetrating into the mouth and
lungs. The Arabs, therefore, are ac-
customed, whatever the heat may be,
eyen in the shade, to wrap the whole
body, not excepting the head, in their
melech (cloak, } if they desire to sleep
This wind causes, by the rarefaction
that attends it, a pretty strong agitation
in the blood; aud This increased move
ment 500 br:n s IN weakness. 1t il
general produces on man two effects dis
tinctly characterized. 1t strikes him
mnrtally w,th-a-kind of asphyxy, or
causes him-a great debility.
The corpse of person so suffocated
has this p%eculiai ity, that in a few days
or even hours, rs some Arabs affirm, the
limbs separate at the joints with the
slightest effort, so powerful is the ac-
ton of the poison of the muscular parts
giving an astonishing activity to the
progress of putrefaction. Such a corpse
is reported contagious, I know moth
ing so terrible as this wind; I felt it
almost constantly in the Desert, batting
some Interruptions, one of which was
for three days and three nights success
sively. My interpreter, Mr. Rossci,
was struck by il, but escaped Death sby
a discharge of blood. That which CON
firms what I have said of the separation
of the limbs, is, that, having been struck
by this air, 1 was affected for some
weeks with an extreme weakness; and
whenever the least warm wind blew on
me, I felt a great faintness, and pre-
coived in my joints a relaxation ofthe
muscles.
Tie dangers of the winds are guar
ded against by inhailing the fumes
of good vinegar, and covering
the face with the handkerchief. 1 as
ked the Arabs if lying down on the
ground was a preservative against it;
they assured me it was not. l should be
inclined myself to think it prejudicial.
, PATENTAL ExAMPLE-Example is
a living lesson. -Thelife speaks. Every