Dr. A. In the commencement of the winter, this valley is remarkably infested with mosquitoes, which greatly annoy strangers, especially children. During the months of November, December, and January, the climate would seem to embrace all the qualities so favourable to pectoral complaints, but the three following months are by no means unexceptionable. Although Nice be protected from the Mistral, yet in the spring of the year it is infested with cold sharp winds from the east, and north and south-east, which are highly mischievous to the valetudinarian.
Mr. B. It is clear then that he should quit Nice at this season.
Dr. A. That is not so easy as you may suppose, for unless he leaves it by sea, he must not venture to depart by any of the usual roads before the month of May; for should he direct his route to Turin, he will have a very rough and hazardous journey over the "Col de Tende," and may perchance be caught in a snow storm; if on the other hand, he returns by France, he must cross the "Estrelles," and expose himself to the cold winds of Provence.
Mr. B. Well these are strong objections; but taking into consideration all the advantages and disadvantages of Nice, will not the former so greatly preponderate, as to entitle it to the character it has long enjoyed as an eligible winter residence for the consumptive?
Dr. A. I fear that medical experience will not sanction such a conclusion. Catarrhal affections are frequent amongst the inhabitants, and it has been remarked by those best able to investigate the subject, that the progress of pulmonary disease is rather accelerated than retarded by this climate. If you will allow me, I will read a passage from a late work by Dr. Carter, which places this subject in a very striking point of view. "Notwithstanding the mildness of Nice, it appeared to be of little or no service to persons labouring under confirmed consumption; during the winter I was there, I saw no instance of great amendment, and I even doubted whether life was not shortened in some instances by a residence there. Some medical men were clearly of that opinion; and as their interest should have led them to speak well of Nice, they must have been pretty strongly impressed with the conviction of its climate being hurtful to people in confirmed Phthisis, before they could have been induced to make this opinion public."[140]
Mr. B. This is discouraging; but is the testimony of Dr. Carter supported by other authorities?
Dr. A. By many others. Here is a work by Dr. Clark, who is himself resident at Rome, and a physician of great intelligence; he not only confirms the opinion of Dr. Carter, but adduces that of Professor Foderé who practised at Nice for more than six years, and who in a conversation with Dr. Clark, made the following strong observation. "There is one thing certain, Sir, you may safely assure your countrymen, that it is a very bad practice to send their consumptive patients to Nice." M. Foderé moreover observed, that consumption in this district is not, as in Switzerland, on the banks of the Soane, and in Alsace, a chronic disease; but, on the contrary, he has often seen it terminate in forty days; he says that the physician of the countries just mentioned would be quite astonished at the quickness with which one attack of pulmonary hemorrhage succeeds another, how readily the tubercles suppurate, and how speedily the lungs are destroyed. He is even inclined to believe that there exists, on the shores of the Mediterranean, some source of evil not appreciable by meteorological observations.
Mr. B. Enough of Nice. What of Pisa?
Dr. A. You may perhaps remember that Mr. Matthews, in his comparison of these two places, says, "I believe that Pisa is the very best place on the continent during the winter for complaints of the chest; and Nice, of which I speak from good authority, is perhaps the very worst. The air of the first, which is situated in a low plain, is warm, mild, and muggy; that of the second is pure, keen, and piercing."