Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael.

Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on sciatica and other neuralgic affections : with a consideration of their frequent origin from a disordered state of the stomach ; interspersed with some novel views respecting the origin and prevention of gall-stones ... ; together with an account of the waters of Bagnères de Bigorre and Barége in their treatment / by Richard Carmichael. 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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    The waters of Barege are but little used internally. They are said to be stimulant and diuretic, but are not in the slightest degree aperient. They disagree, however, so much with the generality of stomachs, that few persons can be pre- vailed on to persevere in their use. The lightness of the atmosphere must no doubt have a con- siderable influence in the removal of many chronic diseases, for, as I before remarked. Barege lies in a valley of 4190 feet above the level of the sea. Its great elevation will be more perfectly comprehended by my hearers, when it is un- derstood, that this is an elevation six hundred feet higher than the top of Snowdon in North Wales. The effect of the attenuated atmosphere of so elevated a region upon dis- eases, may be in some degree appreciated, since I have been assured by resident medical men, that when the country peo- ple in the plains are affected with ague, they ascend the mountains as high as Barege, and without any other means become rapidly well of their disorder. It is to be regretted that the French Government does not increase the number of baths and douches, for there is, I un- derstand, an inexhaustible supply of water; but there is not satisfactory accommodation of any description for one-half of the numbers who frequent this place. After using the douche another fortnight, the change in the weather to cold, some showers of snow, and heavy tor- rents of rain, gave us notice that it was time to depart. It was now approaching the latter end of September, and the floods from the mountains began to make such ruts in the only road which leads to this village, as to render it difficult to pass. We were informed that very soon it would be totally destroyed by those torrents—that the stupendous mountains which hang over Barege, would be whitened with snow, and avalanches threaten its destruction. I here is one part of the village most exposed to avalanches, which is only occupied with temporary wooden houses, erected at the be-