very marked. Within the ordinary ranges of humidity and temperature the
nasal mucous membrane completely saturates the air with aqueous vapour
before it reaches the pharynx. In cold and dry mountain climates there
is a very free nasal secretion, far beyond what is needed for the
saturation of the air; and at low levels the reverse action takes place,
the nose becoming "stuffy." The mechanism on which this depends is found
in the erectile tissue, and anything favouring the engorgement of the
veins, such as weak heart action, chronic bronchitis or kidney troubles,
&c, leads to a corresponding turgidity of the nose and sinuses. In
addition to barometric and other influences, it has been found that
light produces collapse of this tissue, smoke having a similar effect.
On this latter effect probably depends the fact that many asthmatics are
better in a city like London than elsewhere, the smoke relieving the
turgescence of the inferior turbinals of the nose. In the treatment of
pathological nasal conditions, all cases of obstruction from whatsoever
cause are best in a dry atmosphere, and where there is atrophy and a
deficient flow of mucus in a moist atmosphere. If the mucous membrane is
irritable a dry sheltered spot on a sandy soil and in the neighbourhood
of pine trees is by far the best.

Scrofulous children, namely, those in whom the resistance to
micro-organisms and their products is low, pre-eminently require sea
air, and had better be educated at some seaside place. Where the child
is very delicate, with small power of reaction, the winter should be
passed on some mild coast resort. Gouty and rheumatic affections require
a dry soil and warm dry climate, cold and moist winds being especially
injurious.

For heart affections high altitudes are to be avoided, though some
physicians make an exception of mitral cases where the compensation is
good. Moderate elevations of 500 to 1500 ft. are preferable to the
sea-level.

In diseases of the kidneys, a warm dry climate, by stimulating the
action of the skin, lessens the work to be done by these organs, and
thus is the most beneficial. Extremes of heat and cold and elevated
regions are all to be avoided.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A. Supan, _Grundzuge der physischen Erdkunde_ (Leipzig, 1896),
88-89. Also _Atlas of Meteorology_, Pl. 1.

[2] W.M. Davis, _Elementary Meteorology_ (Boston, 1894), pp. 334-335.

[3] A. Supan, _Grundzuge der physischen Erdkunde_ (3rd ed., L