St. Moritz as a health resort / by R. Whitfield Hewlett.

Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: St. Moritz as a health resort / by R. Whitfield Hewlett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    of temperature; 3 the humidity; A the amount of ozo- ne; 5 the intensity of the solar rays; 6 the soil. It is well known that the pressure of the atmosphere diminishes, though not regularly, as the altitude increa- ses. The experiments of Biot, and Gay Lussac show that the physiological effects of diminished pressure, be- ginning from about an altitude of 2800 feet, and varying Avilh the height, are quickened pulse, quickened respi- ration, and increased evaporation from the skin and mu- cous membranes. Nose bleeding is not infrequent from the increased pressure of blood in the capillaries of the mucous membrane. The change of tissue is accelera- ted, tiie processes of digestion, and absorption are stimu- lated, and the nervous and muscular systems invigorated and strengthened. It is probable that dryness of the air, and increased intensity of solar rays, are also intimately connected with these effects. During the summer months at S' Moritz there is considerable movement of air with consiilerable ranges of temperature, warm days, and cool fresh evenings, the effect of which upon the cutaneous ves.sels and nei'ves is such, that internal congestions may easily occur if the traveller be unprovided with appropriate clothing. The hiimidilij. — If an atmosphere be saturated with moisture, evaporation from the skin and lungs is prevented, and the temperature of the body is increa- sed. Hence the oppression caused by the moist hot Sci- rocco. Free action of the skin is most necessary to the preservation of a normal condition of the internal organs. The dryness of the air at S' iMoritz promotes evapora- tion from the skin and lungs, and is a most impor- tant factor in its climatic conditions. Tiie presence of lakes prevents the air from becoming too dry and sti- mulating.