1985. Robert Southey to [Henry Herbert Southey], 18 November 1811 ⁠* 

Von Troil [1]  does not enumerate consumption among the diseases of Iceland, – which is remarkable, because Horrebow (who wrote before him) does. He says “it is usual with the men about the age of fifty to fall into a decay, by reason of the various disorders that come upon them & at last put an end to their lives. Consumption & asthmas, the reigning disorders among them, are occasioned chiefly by the many hardships they endure at sea in fishing, & their carelessness of preserving their health. They do not mind jumping into the sea to save their boat from running aground, or receiving damage against the rocks, & frequently keep on their wet cloaths, even in frost & snow, without changing any thing. – Coughs & consumption so afflict them that none hardly ever wear as well, or have such florid complexions as the people of Denmark.” [2] 

Olafsen & Povelsen give the same account – about the age of fifty, they say the people Icelanders begin to lose their strength. catarrhal fevers are very prevalent, but more so in the interior than along the shore, probably from the circumstance that the inhabitants throw of their clothes during & after the hay season, & thereby expose themselves to colds. The fevers are accompanied with a cough & expectoration, & it has been observed that this expectoration is not the same with young as with old people; the former only throw up phlegm while the latter expectorate a more viscid substance.” [3] 

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I have just stumbled upon a passage which shows how strongly the Spaniards are impressed with a belief that consumption is contagious. It appears that when a woman died of consumption leaving a child at the breast, – other women were afraid to suckle it. – una carxi caritativa muger, is spoken of, que se encargó de criar un niño de pecho, cuya madre murió etica, y por tanto no se atrevian à darle de mamar otras mugeres.

Espana Sagrada. T. 17. P. 214. [4] 

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Here is a fact entirely to your purpose. [5]  Lord Molesworth (p. 91) says few or none of the Danes are troubled with coughs, catarrahs, consumptions, or such like diseases of the lungs. I am persuaded, he adds, their warm stoves, with the plenty & pureness of their firing (which is beech wood) contributes as much to their freedom from these kinds of maladies, as the grossness & unwholesomeness of our coals in London doth to our being so universally troubled with them. [6] 

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Lapland.

“Coughs are of very rare occurrence, notwithstanding the constant practice of drinking snow & ice water, even after swallowing pure grease or fat, which perhaps may prevent its bad consequences. However this may be the Laplanders seldom die from catching cold. Cases of phthisis, or consumption, do indeed now & then occur among them – & pleurisies are very common especially in spring & autumn – <some elderly people are afflicted with asthma, & hoarsenesses now & then occur in the winter & spring.>

Linnæus’s Tour in Lapland. 1. 34. [7] 

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Consumption is very prevalent in North America, among the Indians as well as the Anglo-Americans. If you want chapter & verse for this I can send you abundant authorities.

You are acquainted with M^r Whartons sister. [8]  Is she not related to the D^r Wharton who was Grays [9]  correspondent? I wish you would ascertain for me whether Grays letters, after Mason had made his selections from them, [10]  were returned to D^r Wharton, as I pres suppose they were, – if they are still in being, – & if they would be communicated to a Gentleman & a Scholar, who x x designs to publish an edition of the Poets works, with such a commentary as his own classical attainments will qualify him to produce. It is believed that Mason suppressed almost every thing in the letters which related to Grays individual concerns; – there exists no motive of delicacy now for such suppression. The person for whom I make these enquiries is a clergyman, a young man, who distinguished himself very much at Oxford, & who seems to me very likely to make a distinguished figure in literature. His name is Mitford. [11] 

Of course we shall see you before you go to London. Arrange your plans so as to give yourself a holy day here on upon the way. Gooch did not stay here long enough. I am glad he has set you to work – but do not give up the Crusades. [12] 

God bless you

RS.

Nov. 18. 1811.