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.†

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 deleterious 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

MORAL INFLUENCE OF AN ITALIAN CLIMATE. 279

ders far more injurious than a regular ague. Residentiary invalids, then (for I do not speak of people in perfect health) should beware of four things-exposure to a hot sun-to night air-to fatigue, in sight-seeing-and to improper regimen. Either or all of these will frequently dispose the constitution to the impression of a malarious emanation which, under other circumstances, would make no impression at all.

Finally, I would say that the dyspeptic, nervous, or hypochondriacal invalid, cannot adopt a more salutary maxim or principle, in Italy, than that which the Home Secretary has laid down for the guidance of the New Police in England-"KEEP MOVING."

SECTION THE THIRD.

MORAL INFLUENCE OF AN ITALIAN CLIMATE AND RESIDENCE.

THE physical influences of a climate on the human constitution, in health or in disease, are matters of fact, or at least of observation; but the moral influences of climate and manners are not quite so tangible or obvious-and their nature and amount are more open to speculation and variety of opinion. I touch on this subject with much diffidence, and some reluctance— partly because it embraces topics which it is not pleasant to discuss-partly because I may be considered as going beyond my depth, or venturing into disquisitions for which I am not

affections was easily re-excited. I know hundreds of people who had been exposed to inalaria in hot and unhealthy climates, and who were harrassed, for years after their return to this country, by these periodical horrors-for I cannot give any other name to the malady. I know many who are affected with a periodical propensity to suicide, which generally comes on during the second digestion of food, and goes off when that process is completed. Several instances have come within my knowledge, where individuals have been so well aware of the periodical propensity to self-murder, that they always took precautions against the means of accomplishing that horrid act, some hours before the well-known hour of its accession.

qualified. In respect to this last objection, I would beg to remark that he is not a good physician who explores the physical, to the exclusion of the moral nature of man-and, if I am not mistaken, the opportunities of studying the philosophy of the mind, enjoyed by the physician, are not inferior to those enjoyed by any other class of enquirers. In courts, and in company, men, and women too, wear masks. On the bed of sickness, danger, or death, there is probably as much candour, and as little dissimulation used with the physician as with the priest. But, for obvious reasons, the former has infinitely better, as well as more numerous means of becoming acquainted with the operations of mind on matter, and of matter on mind, than the latter.

Be this as it may, I shall not presume to investigate systematically or minutely the moral influence of foreign residence on British minds and manners. I shall take but a very cursory view of the subject.

There is not an animal on the surface of this earth so prone to imitation, or so capable of accommodating itself to surrounding circumstances, as MAN. This proneness to imitation, and this pliancy of constitution, moral as well as physical, is greatest in youth, and progressively diminishes as age advances.

We see this every day exemplified. A youth cannot go on a week's visit to a relation, without imbibing and bringing back some peculiarity that had been witnessed while away. The youth who travels-and more especially he who sojourns for some time in foreign countries, has an additional impulse given to the natural propensity for imitation-the desire to shew what he has picked up on his peregrinations. The everlasting cigar, in the mouths of all who have crossed the channel-and all who wish to be thought travellers, is an illustration, of which we have ocular and olfactory demonstration daily.

If the propensity in question, evinced itself solely, or even chiefly, by the imitation of good instead of evil example, all would be well. But the very reverse is the case! It is true that vice, depravity, indecency, tyranny, slavery, &c. excite