misunderstood and over-estimated climatorial characters, the climate of Egypt, as reported by many intelligent and competent observers, demands some notice, on account of its extreme dryness. The great heats of the Egyptian summer must be too much for the cases of most invalids. In the winter months, however, the thermometer is said to average 70 degrees, and to be never seen below 40°; and at that time of the year, even the southerly winds are said to have a cooling influence; and the northerly and westerly winds are at all times characterised by an agreeable freshness to the feelings. In the months of December, January, and February, there can be little doubt that many an invalid would find advantage in the climate of Egypt; and in those cases in which a dry climate seems to be the great physical desideratum,—and such cases are sufficiently numerous, by care in the selection of the locality, it is not improbable that a residence in Egypt, even throughout the year, might be eminently useful. The effect of the sultry and depressing south wind, with the lurid sky, on the one hand,—and the alternations of this with the cooling north and west winds; the steamy vapours from the inundations of the Nile, affecting, as they must do, extensive districts of the country, and only prevented from producing a marshy surface and leading to miasmatous exhalations, by the extremely arid nature of the soil; the intense heat of the long summer, with its great effect on the cutaneous functions; should be, severally, and collectively, and fully considered, with their probable

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influence on the constitution and the disease, before the great step of removing to such a climate is ventured upon. The peculiar effect of the climate of Egypt upon the eyes,—whether from the dusty air, or the intense light of the sun, or the scorching winds, or the mere dryness of the atmosphere; the liability of the natives to certain severe diseases of the skin and cellular tissue; are important features in its medical history, -but perhaps of little importance to invalids resorting to it for temporary sojourn. The endemic diseases (chiefly dysentery) appear to be exclusively owing to the uncleansed state of the towns, and the dirty habits of many of the people. The frequency of hepatitis among the resident population, probably connected in a great degree with the high temperature of the country,-is likewise hardly of primary importance to the invalided sojourner. As to the Plague, and perhaps the remark may apply to some of the other diseases that have been adverted to,—an energetic Executive has done much to remove what is nothing less than an opprobrium on the information, diligence, and common sense, of any Government; dependent as most epidemic and endemic diseases are on removable circumstances, that can be, and ought always to be, dealt with summarily.

It is difficult, in these days of advancing commercial relations and intercourse among the nations of the world,—and increasing means, rapidity, and safety of locomotion, both by land and by water,-to conceive what climate or country of the world, however remote,

and however hitherto considered to be inaccessible, might not be interesting to the invalid, for the advantages offered to his morbid conditions, by its physical circumstances, and the character of its climate. The Himalayas or the Nielgherries might eventually not seem to be too remote or too inaccessible for the removal and sojourn of the sufferer from chronic disease; and even some parts of the vast Empire of China may hereafter offer strong and sufficiently tempting advantages; but, in the meantime, it may be enough to add to what has been said, that the great American continents present few climatorial advantages to the invalid,-whether the extreme coldness of the Canadian winter,—or the remarkable differences between the summer and winter temperature throughout the greater part of the Americas,— or the influence of uncleared forest, or extensive prairie, or vast lakes, or great inland salt marshes, or whole districts charged with decomposing vegetable matters with their miasmatous exhalations,-or the influence of violent thunder storms,-be considered; connecting therewith the prevalence of fever, or of other forms of equally grave disease, in the different localities of the New World. Whether the heats of the Carolinas, the West Indies, and a large part of the South American continent be considered, together with the many sources they present of endemic disease,—or the above-cited broad facts be fairly brought under review,—it is difficult to conceive that the invalided, under any circumstances that commonly obtain, would find sufficient physical advantages in

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such extreme climates, to tempt them to wander so far, even in search of health. This is still more true in regard to the African continent, with its burning sun and arid soil; and these vast regions may be fairly considered to be beyond my present purpose. I shall notice, in detail, only one more place, as important on account of the physical advantages which it offers for the sojourn of invalids.

Situated in the Northern Atlantic, Madeira may be classed with many other similarly detached islands; which are far removed from the influence of extensive continents, and enjoy a warm but tempered climate; the heats of summer being moderated, and the winter temperature being equalised, by the influences of the ocean by its temperature, its currents, and its winds. Situated in latitude 32° 30′ north, its climate is proportionably warmer than that of Europe; while its insular position keeps the variations of temperature within 14 degrees: a range which is far less than obtains in the most favoured country or district of Europe; permitting its summer temperature to be a few degrees cooler, and its winter temperature to be twelve degrees warmer, than that of any part of Italy or France. The rains, too, fall chiefly in the autumn; and the average number of days on which rain falls, is stated to be only 73; whereas rain is said to fall, on the average of years, on no fewer than 117 days at Rome, on 146 days in the Isle of Wight, and on 178 days in London. The mean annual temperature of Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is stated to be 65°; that of Rome being 60° 70', and that of London being

50° 39′. When it is added, that the air, although dry, is so nearly at the point of saturation, as to render it as far as possible soothing in its effects on the air-passages, and so far well fitted for cases of pulmonary irritation,—that, in consequence of the regular sea-breezes, the air, even in the summer-time, is rarely oppressive, or even close or sultry,—that there is neither smoke nor dust to render the air impure,— that the thermometer, even at sunrise, is rarely found to be below 50°,—that the native peasantry, although hard worked and badly fed, are healthy and robust, exempted from intermittent and remittent fevers, continued fever being of rare occurrence, and tubercular consumption being a rare disease, in comparison with what obtains in more northern climates,-it is little surprising that so many should be advised every year to risk the fatigues of the voyage by sea, leave all the home-comforts and home-blessings so far behind them, and consent to sojourn in a country where the roads are impassable for wheeled carriages, and exercise can only be taken out of doors on foot, or mounted on the small horses of the country.

The subject of climate, even so far as the selection of a place of residence or sojourn for the invalided, is felt to be far from exhausted in the above observations; and the broad details of the medical history of the different countries of the world, and their several influences on the health and life of mankind, are still less fully considered. The reader is referred, however, with much confidence, to the work by Sir James Clark, already mentioned,—and more especially to