EGYPT.
Covent Garden, 17th November 1856.
Sire—Pray j afford room for a few lines on Egypt, called forth by the no- tice in your journal of the 8th instant of Mr. Blind's book, which Breaks so favourably of that place as a resort for invalids seeking shelter from this treacherous climate of ours. My opinion a Egypt is so strongly adverse, that I never hear of a medi- cal man recommending it without feeling a shudder at the reckless way in which such advice is too often given. Nile-life is as exposed as any I know of, to every species of discomfort on board the boats—every deprivation of those little comforts only obtainable in a civilized land—an utter want of the physician in times of danger ; and added to this, the difference of tem- perature between the night and day is often far more than would be indi- cated by that between "7 a.m. and 1 p. m. 28 degrees," sometimes, accord- ing to the extract in Mr. Rhind's own journal : this too, be it noted, in a boat, and not in a well-closed chamber.
I have not my poor brother's papers just now at hand to refer to, but his companions afterwards expressed to me their thorough disapproval of Egypt as a resort for those at all seriously afflicted with lung disease : so did all the travellers I met (no exception) in my passage through Egypt in the winter of 1853-'54.
At this season of the year, so many of our suffering friends are asking us where to go, that, in the name of humanity, I cannot help saying thus much against this unsuitable, expensive, and yet, strange to say, " fashion- able " (because far-oft; perhaps, and somewhat novel) place. Malaga, Nice, Malta, and above all Madeira, have all been visited by me in the winter months ; and either of these must surely in all respects be better than monotonous barge-life, with mud-banks for the daily prospect, and bitterly cold nights to follow.
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