58 MADEIRA METEOROLOGIC. PARTY. 



the following utilisation of the island's chief climatic 

 anomaly, as a plain and simple rule that every one may 

 judge by. 



" If," says he, "a visitation of the arid Leste wind, 

 with its accompanying extreme depression of the wet, 

 below the dry, bulb thermometer, disagrees with any 

 patient annoys, oppresses, wearies him, producing pains 

 in the head, great thirst, general languor, faintness, loss 

 of appetite, and inability to take exercise, either within 

 or without doors, together with an unusually irritable 

 state of mind then let that patient remain in Madeira, 

 where the Leste condition of atmosphere occurs so sel- 

 dom and departs so quickly. 



" But if," as with Dr. Mason himself, though he was 

 then so near the end of his career, "the Leste wind's 

 commencement shall instantly cause a patient to feel 

 cheerful, to be extremely exhilarated in spirit, to enter 

 joyfully, as it were, into a new phase of existence, enab- 

 ling him to take three times as much exercise as before, 

 without any feeling of languor or oppression, or any of 

 his accustomed trouble, when moving about at all, from 

 profuse sensible perspiration then let such a patient 

 hasten away from lovely Madeira, how beauteous soever ; 

 and let him seek out a new sanitarium, as nearly like 

 Madeira in mean summer temperature as may be, but 

 totally opposite as to watery vapour." Such, however, is 

 not easy to find as a permanent residence ; for the winters 

 of dry countries are usually severe. But by changing 



