124 ON CHAKGE OP CLIMATE. 



that any serious or permanent mischief is to be dreaded fronr 

 the congestion of the viscera. Cases of the former descrip- 

 tion should not approach the hills at all ; and the latter 

 should, if possible, premise a sea-voyage or residence on ther 

 sea-coast, until convalescence is somewhat advanced : and in; 

 these, as well as the more aggravated cases of what is called^ 

 by medical men, functional derangement of the viscera, the 

 time selected for ascending the hills, if a choice exists, should 

 be in April or May, when the comparative warmth and mois- 

 ture of the air naturally lessens the risk of a check to th& 

 action of the skin, and consequently of internal congestion. 

 In all such cases also, it is prudent to try the effect of a 

 short previous residence at Kotergherry or Coonoor, the mild- 

 er climate of which renders the change less abrupt, and will 

 generally be found, for many reasons, to agree better with de- 

 licate invalids. Under the most favourable circumstances, 

 those who are unable to take much exercise in the open air 

 will derive more benefit from the climate of Kotergherry or 

 Coonoor, where the temperature, throughout the year, is so 

 mild, as scarcely to necessitate the use of a fire. 



The next point, requiring the attention of invalids at first, 

 is, the circumstance of their digestive powers seldom keeping 

 pace with the increase of appetite, produced by the change. 

 This is especially the case with vegetables, a tempting array 

 of which is placed before the stranger, and, but too often, in- 

 duce him to forget the laws of diet, laws as immutable a» 

 those of the " Medes and Persians," and any infraction of 

 which is sure to be followed by retributive punishment, in the 

 shape of a violent attack of dyspepsia, succeeded by colie 

 diarrhoea, and not unfrequently dysentery. Luckily the cause 

 is here within reach, and a little prudence at first is suffi- 

 cient to obviate all mischief. 



