58 MANUAL or THE NILAGIRI DISTKIOT. 



CHAP. IV, Chicken-pox is a common disease with both European and 

 PART II. Native children, but it is always a mild disease. 

 P TTl and Febricula in children is frequently met with ; its usual cause 



Medical is undue exposure to the sun. 

 Cl imate, & c. rp^^ ^.j^gg ^f diseases peculiar to females almost invariably 

 improves in this climate, and cases of dyspepsia and derangement 

 of the bowels generally do well. Uncomplicated cases of dysen- 

 tery originating here are seldom severe, and rapidly yield to 

 treatment. Diseases of a local nature, such as ulcers, fractures, 

 and wounds, usually heal rapidly, and cutaneous diseases also, 

 under appropriate treatment, make good recoveries. Simple 

 debility in young people almost always yields rapidly to the 

 effects of the climate and nourishing food. Parturition is pro- 

 bably unattended with any special risk due to the climate or 

 altitude. Convalescence from it is usually rapid, and nursing is 

 unaccompanied with the debility often experienced on the plains. 

 Miscarriage ia frequent in the eai'ly months, but it is more 

 generally due to over-exertion on ascending hills, &c., than to 

 any peculiarity of the climate. 



Neuralgia when it accompanies anaemia or debility, or when 

 it remains as a relic of former malarial agency, gradually becomes 

 milder in its visitations, much depending on the general state 

 of the health, appropriate medical treatment, and a residence for 

 some time is required before an improvement can be expected. 



Delicate strumous children do very well upon the Hills, but a 

 change to the Madras coast in the cold weather is very desirable 

 when it can be accomplished. Young children moreover should 

 not be brought to the Hills whilst they are cutticg their first 

 teeth. 



Anaemia and chlorosis, although distinct diseases, may here be 

 classed together, for both derive marked benefit from change of 

 air, moderate exercise, cheerful scenery, and nutritious diet ; 

 such cases, with judicious medical treatment, do remarkably well. 

 The more severe tropical diseases are seldom seen here. The 

 climate being known to be unsuitable, such cases requiring a 

 change are sent to Europe. 



Persons sufferiag from heart disease invariably complain of an 



aggravation of their symptoms on ascending the Hills. The same 



may be said of persons suffering from diseases of the brain. 



Serious Natives of the plains are liable, on first arrival, to diseases, 



diseases the result of climatic vicissitudes and insufficiency or unsuitability 



Nati^s^or of food, but, after they become acclimatized by a short residence, 



theplaius. they enjoy good health as a rule. Older natives frequently 



succumb to disease from deficient vital energy and from an 



inability to resist the depressing effects of cold. Among the 



more serious diseases to which they are liable on first arrival are 



dysentery, diarrhea, rheumatism, fevers, and bronchitis. This 



