THE 



POPULAR SCIENCE 

 MONTHLY. 



JULY, 1885. 



A GKEAT WINTER SANITARIUM FOR THE AMERI- 

 CAN CONTINENT. 



Br Professor EDWAED FEANKLAND, M.D., F. E. S., 



PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF CHEMISTRY. 



THE great importance of a winter sanitarium for patients suffering 

 from or threatened with consumption and other allied diseases 

 has long been recognized and acted upon in Europe. The favorite 

 resort of this description is the valley of Davos, in the Engadine, in 

 Switzerland, where, at an elevation of five thousand four hundred feet 

 above sea-level, the patients enjoy, during the winter months, in a 

 sheltered position, brilliant sunshine, and an early equable sun-tempera- 

 ture from sunrise to sunset. 



Dr. Hermann Weber, one of the highest authorities in Europe on 

 chest-diseases, thus summarizes the physiological effects of the climate 

 of Davos : 



1. Increased activity of the skin, better nutrition, and invigoration 

 of the skin. 



2. Strengthening of the heart and the contractile fibers of the 

 vascular system, with augmented frequency of the heart's contractions 

 at first, but reversion to the normal state after a longer sojourn, to- 

 gether with greater force of each contraction, and thereby increased 

 suction-power. 



3. More rapid respiration at first, but return to the normal rate after 

 a few days. Probable increase of depth of inspirations. Strengthen- 

 ing of the respiratory muscles, and probably also of the elastic fibers 

 of the finest bronchial branches. Increased flow of blood through the 

 lungs. 



4. Generally a marked increase in the excretion of water through 

 the lungs, and increased and facilitated excretion of carbonic acid. 



VOL. XXVII. 19 



