476 THE MOUNTAIN. 



only equal a degree of latitude, while this region is four degrees 

 farther north. Nor can Saratoga be compared, in its summer cli- 

 mate, with this mountain platform ; for, although a degree farther 

 north, it lies twelve hundred feet nearer the level of the sea. The 

 celebrated springs of Virginia and New York are, moreover, places of 

 amusement for the healthy, not rural retreats for the infirm ; to some of 

 whom, it is true, the mineral waters might prove beneficial; but all other 

 circumstances would combine to counteract their salutary influence. 

 The enlightened physician* who conscientiously desires to redeem his 

 patient, for three months of the year, from the deleterious agency of 

 heat and malaria, or to countervail the debilitating effects of a pro- 

 tracted summer in others, in whose lungs the fatal work of tubercu- 

 lar excavation is going on, will, I trust, not regard the business-like 

 details which I have been giving, with disfavor; but patiently read on 

 until he qualifies himself for overcoming the scruples of such vale- 

 tudinarians as may fear or fancy that, in going to the mountain 

 terrace for the summer, they would languish for want of scenes and 

 objects of interest. These are quite as numerous, diversified, and 

 striking as in almost any other portion of the Interior Valley ; and I 

 will briefly enumerate the most important." 



The benign and indefatigable Drake then proceeds : 



First. "This region comprehends the great pine forests of the 

 Alleghany Mountain," etc. etc. 



He continues to describe, with sentiment and cleverness, 

 the resources of the region, sanitary and pleasurable. This 

 poetical doctor, f with rhubarb and lancet in his pocket, re- 

 cites routes to famous shrines, enchanting journeys, excur- 



* "It is not sufficient for the physician to advise his patient, laboring 

 under a chronic infirmity, to leave off medicine and depend on travel. 

 When he prescribes the former, he directs where it can be obtained; 

 and, in like manner, when he recommends the latter, he should be 

 able to lay down the appropriate and practicable route ; in doing 

 which, he should draw his information from the books of the profes- 

 sion, and convince his patient that he is familiar with what he re- 

 commends, or but little confidence will be reposed in his advice." 

 DRAKE. 



f Why should doctors not sometimes be poets ? In constant 

 scientific and sympathetic contact with the great realities and tra- 

 gicalities of the world, and the human body, no man is so real 

 and alive, if earnest and spiritual, as the true and manly physi- 



