The climate of Algiers in reference to the chronic affections of the chest : being a report of a medical mission to Algeria, presented to His Excellency the Minister of Algeria and the Colonies / by Prosper de Pietra Santa.

  • Pietra Santa, Prosper de, 1820-1898.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The climate of Algiers in reference to the chronic affections of the chest : being a report of a medical mission to Algeria, presented to His Excellency the Minister of Algeria and the Colonies / by Prosper de Pietra Santa. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the north by the Mediterranean, where it extends up- wards of six hundred miles. Its Km its are imperfectly determined on the south, but terminate in the Great Desert of the Sahara towards \]7° of north latitude ; on the east it is bounded by the Regency of Tunis, and on the west by the Empire of Morocco. The climate of Algeria is intermediate between that > of France and the tropics. Some writers have descri- bed it as a most delightful country, mild, and wonder- ; fully endowed by nature: whilst others have represented it as a barren and unhealthy region, where no European * could live or prosper. These opinions are undoubtedly I exaggerated, but, with certain reservations, we have no ! hesitation in ranking ourselves with the partisans of the : first. The town of Algiers, the ancient Icosium, is situated iin 36° 49' N. lat., and 3° 25' E. long, from the meridian I of Greenwich. It is built in an amphitheatre on the 1 northern slope of one of the last ramifications of the ^ Sahel ridge of mountains. It may be described as having t the form of a triangle, the summit of which rises to about four hundred and sixty feet above the sea level, i' while its base is washed by the waters of the port, and |v extends a mile in length. The circular indentation which forms the bay, termin^ ates on the left at Point Pescate, and on the right at ' Cape Matifou. The topographical position of Algiers which shelters it from the south winds, is still further improved by the land breeze, which as it becomes warmed by the soil, ' moderates the coolness of the nights, and contributes with the sea breeze, to maintain a more uniform temperature. B 2