On the Mediterranean coast of the south of France in its medical aspect : with a report of meteorological observations made at Cannes from November 1, 1874, to April 30, 1875 / by W. Marcet.

  • William Marcet
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the Mediterranean coast of the south of France in its medical aspect : with a report of meteorological observations made at Cannes from November 1, 1874, to April 30, 1875 / by W. Marcet. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    hardly conscious that her life could not last much longer. After a time, a Bath chair had to be sent for ; then she took to her bed, and in April sank peacefully. No doubt, in this case a residence on the hills preserved life throughout the winter, and succeeded in mitigating pain and mental distress to a considerable extent. Thus it is that a pure air possessed of genial warmth, with a comparatively low barometrical pressure, is bene- ficial, as a rule, to all cases of phthisis with a high tem- perature and a quick pulse. Occasionally, these symptoms are arrested; in most instances, they are relieved; and, where a fatal termination cannot be averted, life is either prolonged, or, at all events, carried on under the most favourable circumstances. Some consumptive patients, however, do well at the seaside. The main character of these cases is the absence of febrHe symptoms; they enjoy a fair state of health, although with deficient breathing power. All the other functions are equally weakened, although normal in other respects, thereby re-establishing the balance of energy which should exist between them. I am inclined to be- lieve that the most suitable resort for this class of cases is some warm sheltered spot on the Mediterranean coast. These invalids live a comfortable painless existence, taking a moderate amount of exercise on the level ground, but unequal to any real exertion. To the question, are consumptive people, as a rule better or worse on the Mediterranean coast at the end of the winter season than at the beginning ? I would an- swer: They are sometimes better, and often much the same, but would probably have been worse had they wmtered at home. In general, especially if a residence be carefully selected, consumptive patients undergo at first a marked improvement. The following case may be cited, amongst many others, as an illustration of the favourable change which occurs in health on arrival in the South. A young lady, with consolidation and softening in progress m one of her lungs, gained over one stone weight
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