Roman ladies to perfumes is well known, and might be almost taken for freaks of the fancy, were it not so well authenticated. It is a susceptibility, too, of recent origin. The Roman matrons of old were fond of perfumes-those of the present day often faint, or go into convulsions, on perceiving the odour of the most pleasant flower. And not females only, but effeminate males evince the same morbid sensibility to odoriferous emanations.* The causes of this phenomenon have given rise to diversity of opinions. The Roman physician (Mattæi) attributes it to "the daily increasing mobility of the nervous system, produced by the luxurious and listless life of the Roman people."+ But Dr. Clark, while he admits that such a life may have tended to originate this morbid sensibility, and that, when once acquired, it may be transmitted from parent to progeny-believes that "the climate of Rome has some specific effect in inducing this state of the nervous system." I have no doubt of it. And my only wonder is, that Dr. Clark, during ten years' residence there, did not find out what this something is. He says, in the same page :-"Even a temporary residence of some duraration at Rome, produces a degree of the same morbid sensibility, and, in cases where the Roman mode of living cannot be adduced as the cause." I think I hear the reader ask, what is this cause, then, which has so much puzzled the doctors? If compelled to answer, I would say that it is the habituation to the STINK of the Roman streets, which perverts the sensibilities of the olfactory nerves-renders them unaccustomed to decent smells-and throws them into convulsions on contact with a perfume. I accord entirely with Mr. Matthews, in the opinion that the former MISTRESS of the WORLD is now the dirtiest city in Europe-with the exception of Lisbon. This

* Dr. Mattæi (whom I had the pleasure of knowing in Rome) states, in his clinical work, as follows:-"Nostra vero ætate nervosæ affectiones, vulgo tirature, seu convulsiones communissimæ sunt, fæminis presertim, effeminatisque viris, quorum corpora a tam levibus causis commoveri solent, ut odorum licet gratissimorum vis ea facile perturbet ac male afficiet."

"A molli inertique vita in Romanis incolis."

solution explains another part of the phenomenon which puzzles Dr. Clark. "It is to be remarked, (says he) that it is not disagreeable odours which produce such effects on the nervous system, but the more delicate, and, to northern nations, agreeable odours of flowers and other perfumes." No doubt of it. If mal-odorous exhalations had been capable of inducing convulsions, Rome would, long since, have cured the evil effectually, by removing from the presence of her insulted ruins, the cause of it-MAN!

But there is another and a much more formidable malady, or rather class of maladies, to which the Romans are peculiarly prone-namely, sudden death-or, as it is coolly called, ACCIDENTE-which is sometimes sporadic, sometimes EPIDEMIC in Rome. Whether this terrific agent of the Grim Tyrant acts through the medium of apoplexy or diseases of the heart, the Roman physicians have not ascertained—but one thing is clear, that the climate of the Eternal City is extremely hostile to the brain and nervous system-and consequently all who have any tendency to fulness about the head should be shy of residence there. Dr. Clark observes that-" head-aches are common at Rome, and, among strangers, he has found them of very frequent occurrence." The same author, however, informs us than bronchial affections (chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the air-tubes) are generally benefited by a Winter's residence in Rome-as also chronic rheumatism. But the passage which I have already quoted, some pages back, from Dr. Clark, respecting the frequency and severity of inflammatory affections of the chest, during Winter and Spring, in Rome, casts strong doubts on this utility of the climate in CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. That the Italian winds, like the satyr's breath, blow hot and cold, almost at the same moment, I am ready to grant; but, in a strictly medical sense, I leave my talented friend to explain how a climate, in which "acute inflamma

* "Subitanea scilicet mors, vulgo ACCIDENTE, quæ a diversis causis ortum ducens, modo sporadica, modo quasi epidemica obrepit.”—Mattæi.

tion of the lungs appeared more violent and more rapid in its course than in England," can possess the singular and felicitous property of relieving already existing inflammation of the tubes leading to the same organ. I bow to his authority, as to the fact I only state the difficulty of the explanation.* But I shall conclude the subject of apoplexy and nervous affections, with the following short and apposite sentence from the same author.

"For persons disposed to apoplexy or nervous diseases, ROME, of course, would not be selected as a residence-nor is it proper for persons disposed to hæmorrhagic diseases or for those who have suffered from intermittent fevers.".

I need hardly say that hæmorrhage, or bleeding from the lungs, is one of the most common precursors, causes, and accompaniments of pulmonary consumption;-and this fact, taken in conjunction with all that has been offered respecting the climate of Rome-one of the most favourable of the Italian climates for consumption-ought to inspire serious doubts as to the propriety of directing phthisical invalids to the Eternal City -unless it be for the purpose of enjoying eternal repose near the pyramid of CAIUS CESTIUS.t

DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.

This comprehends a large tribe of those bottle and table imps which annoy frail man on his short journey through life. Those who are afflicted with the miseries of what are known under the designation of INDIGESTION-BILIOUS COMPLAINTS— STOMACH AFFECTIONS- —or whatever other term may be given to this Proteian class of maladies, have an insatiable desire for

* Dr. Potter (an English medical gentleman) and myself counted upwards of 70 cases of confirmed consumption in the wards of one hospital at Naples! ↑ The English burial ground-where a fosse or ditch, instead of a wall, surrounds and protects those "frail memorials" of our departed countrymen, whichImplore the passing tribute of a sigh,"

from every one who has a spark of feeling in the heart.-See View from the Tower of the Capitol, p. 160.

DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.

277

change of scene, and a restless impatience of remaining long in the same place. It becomes then a very important question to determine whether or not a journey to Italy, and a residence there might be beneficial? That the journey thither would be productive of benefit, I can have no doubt :-but that a Winter's residence in any one place, between the Alps and Sicily, would confer a permanent, or even a temporary immunity from suffering, on the dyspeptic invalid, is more than I would confidently assert, or peremptorily deny. Much would depend on the temperament, the taste, and the education of the individual. Italy supplies ample sources of excitement for the various faculties of the mind-but it is not less fertile in the production of dele-terious agencies on the functions of the body. The HYPOCHONDRIAC has such a strong propensity to dwell on his own gloomy feelings, and so little inclination to indulge in the cheerful ranges of a discursive imagination, that classical and historical reminiscences, even if their foundations were laid in early life, are not readily called forth by the unfortunate DYSPEPTIC, unless his corporeal functions are kept in comparative vigour and activity, by frequent change of scene and regular exercise of the muscles.

It is to be remembered that I am now speaking of the means of recruiting the HEALTH of the BODY-and not those of improving or embellishing the acquirements of the mind. Dyspeptic and hypochondriacal invalids are seldom in the moodnot often, indeed, of the age or temperament, for deriving amusement or pleasure from antiquities, paintings, or sculpture. Nor are the acid wines and oily dishes of Italy very well calculated to tranquillize their stomachs or assist their digestion, while leading a sedentary, or at most, a sauntering, life among the solitudes of Rome. The air of the Campagna, at all times, has a depressing effect on the animal spirits—and the enervating SIROCCO is infinitely more suicidal in its tendency, than the November fogs of an English atmosphere. There is, however, one exceedingly curious and important circumstance, which has almost entirely eluded medical observation ;-it is that im

pression of malaria on the nerves and digestive organs, by which their functions are disturbed, and by which disturbance, or by the original malarious impression, or both combined, a gloomy horror or despondency is occasionally generated, which is, perhaps, the most dreadful sensation to bear of any in the long black catalogue of human afflictions. That a considerable number of nervous and stomach-complaints are the result of malaria, even in England, I have had the strongest reasons to know for several years past-and hence, perhaps, one cause at least of the benefit which " CHANGE OF AIR" confers on the nervous and dyspeptic invalid. While speaking of malaria, in a former section of this volume, I alluded to the periodical character which most of its disorders assume. This is peculiarly the case when it produces, or contributes to produce, through the instrumentality of dyspepsia, that terrible mental despondency-or, as I have heard it emphatically termed by some of its victims, that "utter desolation of heart," which suddenly overcasts the sunshine of the soul-prostrates the most energetic intellect―and converts, with magic wand, the smiling landscape of hope into the gloomy desert of despair.*

Those invalids who conceive that Italy and other southern lands can give out no morbific miasmata-that is to say-MALARIA, except in Summer, will find themselves very much mistaken. There are innumerable localities in that fair land, and many periods, even of a Winter's day in Italy, which are quite adequate to the production of minute doses of the invisible poison, that may lay the foundation of discomforts, or even disor

* A gentleman was exposed to the emanations from a drain or sewer, which had become obstructed in his own house in London. He was soon afterwards seized with an ague, although he had not been out of the metropolis for years. The ague was easily cured by the proper remedies; but, for a long time afterwards, it harrassed him in quite a different shape-namely, in that of a sudden dread or horror of―he knew not what. It usually recurred at the same hour of the day, and would last from two to three or four hours, during which the individual suffered the miseries of the damned. Indigestible food, acid wine, or anxiety of mind, was sure to conjure up the ague fiend. It was always readily checked by change of air to the coast; but, like all malarious