84 CONNEXION BETWEEN THE SKIN 



induces in the more serious malady. The writer of 

 these remarks became ill in the month of January, 

 1820, and soon presented many of the symptoms of 

 pulmonary consumption. In spite of the best ad- 

 vice, he continued losing ground till the month of 

 July, when he went by sea to London, on his way 

 to the south of France ; but, finding himself unable 

 for the journey, he was obliged to return from Lon- 

 don also by sea. Being extremely liable to sea- 

 sickness, he was squeamish or sick during the whole 

 of both voyages so much so as to be in a state of 

 gentle perspiration for a great part of the time. 

 After this he became sensible for the first time of a 

 slight improvement in his health and strength, and 

 of a diminution of febrile excitement. Some weeks 

 afterward, he embarked for the Mediterranean, and 

 encountered a succession of storms for the first four 

 weeks, two of which were spent, in the month of 

 November, in the Bay of Biscay, in a very heavy sea. 

 For more than three weeks he was generally very 

 sick, and always in a state of nausea ; and during 

 the whole time, although his bed was repeatedly 

 partially wetted by salt water, and the weather cold, 

 the flow of blood towards the skin was so powerful 

 as to keep it generally warm, always moist, and 

 often wet with perspiration, forced out by retching 

 and nausea. The result was, that, on entering the 

 Mediterranean at the end of a month, and there 

 meeting fine weather, he found himself, though still 

 more reduced in flesh and very weak, in every other 

 respect decidedly improved ; and on his arrival in 

 Italy at the end of seven weeks, recovery fairly 

 commenced, after about ten months' illness, and by 

 great care it went on with little interruption, till the 

 summer of 1821, when he returned home. 



To carry on what was so well begun, riding on 

 horseback in the country was resorted to, and that 

 exercise was found to excite the skin so beneficially, 

 us to keep it always pleasantly warm, and generally 



