Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
We must now take leave of Ems. It is a very hot place in warm weather,
and I must say that the exterior and interior of the houses are not in
the most perfect accordance. The fogs are frequent in the mornings,
and the heat oppressive in the middle of the day. Few people can
sleep without some of the windows being kept open, and the danger of
catching colds is not inconsiderable. The reputation of the waters is
very extended. The Empress of Russia and her daughter were swallowing
them freely while we were there (1840), and seemed to require them or
some other restoratives, as they exhibited any thing but hyperborean
complexions. Several physicians have recommended a residence at this spa
during the Winter; and I am inclined to think that it would not be a bad
sejour for people with tracheal affections, or irritable conditions of
the mucous membrane of the lungs.
FRANKFORT.
This celebrated city has changed its nature, but not its name—the
_latter_ being now more appropriate than ever. It is a FREE-FORT,
that is, it is free from fort or citadel—rampart or fosse—glacis
or sallyport—cannon or mortar—shot or shells! All these have been
converted into much better things—gardens, shrubberies, and promenades.
Frankfort, I apprehend, has more of nominal freedom than real liberty.
The protection of the German potentates is stronger, no doubt, than her
ancient walls; but she is as much under the surveillance and control of
these “HIGH MIGHTINESSES,” as ever she was under that of her military
commandants, when a first rate fortress. Be that as it may, Frankfort is
now a great emporium or re-union of commerce and carriages—of Jews and of
Gentiles—of bankers and of brokers—of lenders and of venders—of consuls
and of caléches—of voitures and of retours—of envoyés and employés—in
fine, it is a large “normal school” for studying the first lines of
diplomacy, trickery, traffic, and stock-jobbery.
The old and the new portions of the city present a curious contrast—youth
and beauty united to age and ugliness!
One of the great lions of Frankfort is the cemetery, a few miles out of
town. It is a huge “painted sepulchre,” marble without, and mummy within.
This “city of the dead,” is not much smaller than its neighbour of the
living. True, the mansions are on a smaller scale, and the chambers are
low, dark, and unventilated; yet their inhabitants—
“Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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