as greater warmth may be necessary, or a moderately free exposure to cold and wind is not considered to be objectionable. The best mountain climates are to be found in the more sheltered uplands of Wales, and in the High Peak of Derbyshire; and these districts offer a climate that is often peculiarly suitable to the summer residence of invalids.

But, in England, in the summer months, there is no deficiency of choice as to invalid places of residence; and even some of the elevated districts of Scotland may offer advantages to some cases. In more delicate cases, where so stimulating and bracing an atmosphere, as the higher elevations or more northerly localities necessarily involve, would be objectionable even for the residence during summer, the hills of Malvern, or such less elevated but still comparatively high ground as is to be found in so many of the English counties, might be preferred. In other cases, the air of the sea-coast might be most useful,-selecting the exposure of the coast according to the nature of the case; from the colder and drier north-west coast, stretching from the Mersey to the Solway, and including Blackpool and Fleetwood, and the many smaller marine watering places near Liverpool,-to the somewhat less dry north-east coast, extending from Berwick to the Humber, embracing Scarborough, &c.; or from this to the warmer coasts of Suffolk and Essex, adding Margate thereto as having the same exposure; or from this to the still warmer south coast, which is conveniently divided into the south-eastern, from

CLIMATES OF THE COAST OF ENGLAND. 143

Dover to the Isle of Wight inclusive,-the southern, from Weymouth to the Land's End inclusive, and the south-western, from beyond the peninsula of Cornwall to Milford Haven, embracing all the seacoast of the Bristol Channel, and the different places on the banks of the Severn. It may prove to be a considerable convenience, and not lead to any serious error, to assume that these divisions of the coast of England are so many landmarks of milder and milder coast climate for the residence of invalids; from the coasts of Lancashire and Cumberland, to those of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire,—from these, to the Suffolk and Essex coasts,-from these, to the coasts of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire,— from these, to the coast of Dorset, and the south-coast of Devonshire, and the whole of the Cornish coast,— and from these, to the coast washed by the Bristol Channel and the Mouth of the Severn. The Welsh coast, occupying the remaining sea-wall of England, including Milford Haven, and Cardigan and Carnarvon Bays, occupies a place midway in situation and character between the Lancashire and the Cornish coasts.

In the summer and autumnal months, perhaps none of these may be decidedly objectionable for the residence of the majority of invalids, to whom a seaside residence may be recommended; but in the winter and spring months, the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, should be chiefly and perhaps exclusively selected, with the exception of Hastings, and of some few places of less importance; unless in

cases where a damp atmosphere, even of saline character, appears to be less suitable than a colder and drier air, in which cases some of the other parts of the coast may be justifiably preferred. In the later autumnal and early winter months, the coast of Sussex (Brighton) may be strongly recommended. The Isle of Wight affords several sheltered and suitable localities for the winter residence of invalids. In the spring months, the sea-coast is for the most part wisely avoided, in these high latitudes; and the sheltered inland situations should be generally preferred, even in cases where the air of the sea-coast seems to be most advisable at other times of the year. The most eligible of these situations are to be found in the inland parts of Devonshire; and next to these, Clifton, Bath, Cheltenham, and perhaps even the vicinity of London, may be fitly classed. As regards the north of England, there is less choice and more difficulty, in finding desirable localities for the winter residence of the invalided. Some parts of Cheshire, and Matlock in Derbyshire, are the most valued of these; and to these places may be added, generally, such situations as are at once the best sheltered and the most dry, from the circumstances of soil and elevation, and which are situated, as nearly as may be, midway between the eastern and western coasts.

The whole of the south and south-west coast of England, however, even in cases where the climate proves to be sufficiently mild and temperate for the invalid's residence during the winter and spring months, is generally much too humid for many of them.

CLIMATES OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE.

145

The same remark applies even to the long-praised and highly-famed climate of the south of France. On the south-west of France, the provinces of Gascony and Bearn comprise the principal places resorted to by invalids; Pau being the chief of these. According to Sir James Clark, whose work on climate is so well known,* Pau appears to be chiefly remarkable and valuable for the residence of invalids during the spring months, on account of the mildness of the temperature; being warmer than London, or even than Penzance, and but little colder than Rome. It is likewise reported to have a dry soil; and it is said that its northerly winds are less trying to invalids, than those winds are apt to be in this country during the spring months. It has the fault of unsteadiness of temperature; while it has the great advantage of being near to the watering-places of the Higher Pyrenees, which present a delightful summer climate to the invalid. The south-east of France,consisting of the provinces of Languedoc and Provence, including Montpelier, Marseilles, and Hyères,—to which, although situated in Piedmont, Nice may be added,—is warmer and drier than the south-western district; but is objectionable from its greater vicissitudes of temperature, and the frequency of harsh and cold winds. A system should be in a condition to bear a stimulating and bracing atmosphere, that is sent to pass the winter and spring in this part of France. These remarks are chiefly applicable to Montpelier

* The Sanative Influence of Climate. By Sir James Clark, Bart. M.D., F.R.S., &c.

and Marseilles. Hyères is protected considerably from the piercing north winds, by the range of hills at the base of which it is situated; and it appears to be by so much, and to a great degree, less objectionable on this account. As regards Nice, too, there is protection from the north by steep and lofty mountains; but the winds are said to be cold; and the air, although mild and somewhat soft, is rather exciting. It is too hot as a summer residence for most invalids.

The climate of Italy affords much greater advantages to invalids, than that of the South of France. It is less dry, but proportionally more soft and less exciting. In cases where the excitability and morbid sensitiveness of the tissues are considerable,—so often primary indications in the case of the pulmonary invalid,—this may be the best and strongest of all recommendations. Pisa, Rome, and Naples are the places in highest consideration, and chiefly resorted to by the invalids from this country. Pisa is in the highest estimation when the invalid requires shelter, and will not bear exertion; and Rome seems to be preferable under other circumstances. Naples is considered to be more exciting than either Pisa or Rome: its air has more of a sea-coast character, and it is more subject to winds than Pisa. The whole of the south-west of Italy, from Genoa to Sicily, is probably possessed of important and sufficiently different physical advantages, as winter or spring climates for invalids, to be worthy of a full and satisfactory statistical inquiry, as to temperature, winds, rain, prevailing diseases, &c.

Of information as to the climate of the more