Page 351 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

312 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

about twenty miles to the northward of
Maskat, is especially celebrated for its resto­
rative qualities.

Ophthalmia and other diseases of the eye
seem very frequent, especially amidst those

who reside in the oases. The sudden transi­
tion from the gloom of their groves to the
glare of the Desert is sufficient to originate

disease, and their uncleanly habits to con­
tinue it. They are perfect gluttons in medi­

cine, and will swallow as much as is given
them ; but they laughed at, and wholly ne­
glected my prescription of frequent ablutions.

Some few cases of calculus came under my
notice, but, I believe, they are not common,

nor have they any knowledge of performing
an operation to relieve it. I saw no in­
stances of leprosy in Oman. Two cases of

dracunculus were shown me: their mode of
extraction is the same as that of India.

In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the
Arabians are well known to have carried

their researches into the vegetable kingdom
to a very great extent. They also possessed

an extensive acquaintance with the science
of medicine, and modern physicians grate­