f 60 An Essay on the medical Effects of Climates. 



southern parts of that country, there may be situatiorts 

 approaching in their climates to those of the neighbouring 

 islands. 



It is however highly probable that some of these islands 

 possess very considerable advantages over aliDost every pan 

 of the continents which surround them, at least as far as we 

 can judge hy their affording a climate of that description 

 which seems to be the most desirable; for actual experience 

 will not allow us to be too confident of obiaining success, 

 even from a residence in these. Dr. Domeier informs us, 

 in his very interesting account of the island of Malta, that 

 the thermometer seldom varies here more than 6^ in the 

 24 hours, or stands below bV\ even in the depth of winter j 

 while in Lisbon he has seen ice, and both ice and snow in 

 Naples; besides that, in these two cities, the difference 

 between day and night often amounts to 20°. If an invalid 

 leaves England in the middle of August, the voyage lasts 

 about a month, and is often of itself highly beneficial, so 

 that he arrives at Malta, in time to be fully prepared to be 

 further benefited by the mild winter: it appears, however, 

 from the more particular account which Dr. Domeier else- 

 where gives of the temperature, that it continues through- 

 out October rather higher than is altogether desirable, being 

 seldom below JC^ throughout that month ; and in a country 

 where there is scarcely any visible foliage, walls occupying 

 universally the place of hedges, this cannot be a matter of 

 perfect indifference. 



In Madeira, though the thermometer attached to a building 

 is seldom found below 54°, there are frequently cold wind*, 

 snow, or more commonly something intermediate between 

 snow and hail, often falling on the mountains, at the height 

 of 1000 feet above the sea, and at still greater elevations 

 sometimes lying undissolved till July : and this imperfect 

 kind of hail falls occasionally even on the low grounds. 

 The island is probably a more agreeable residence than 

 Alalta : but it seems very doubtful whether it possesses any 

 determinate advantage over it with respect to climate; and 

 it is not impossii)le, that some other islands in its neigh- 

 bourhood may afford a greater equability of temperature. 

 We have hovxevcr a more established experience of its be- 

 neficial effects in pulmonary diseases than of almsot any 

 other situation. Dr. Adams says that, " in cases of tuber- 

 cular or scrofulous consumption, if the patient does not 

 saunter away his tiine after you have advised him to leave 

 England, we can with certainty promise a cure." (Med. 

 Phys. Journ. Apr. iSOO.) This true £ngli.«h consumption 



he 



