SANITARY STATE OF GUERNSEY.

161

remittent fever, complicated with sub-acute inflammation, chiefly of the mucous tissues, was formerly met with from time to time in the low parts of the town and its environs, especially when a wet summer was followed by a warm autumn. But this form of disease has assumed so much milder a character since the completion of a comprehensive and effective system of drainage in connection with the new harbour, that it may be said to have disappeared. Intermittent fever, in like manner, was banished many years ago; and other diseases, arising from malaria, including typhoid fevers, are of very rare occurrence. The comparative freedom of the country population from the visitation of malignant epidemics seems to be due, in a great measure, to the industrious, frugal habits of the labouring classes, which secure to them good food, good clothing, and substantial dwellings.

On the whole, it seems to result from general experience that the climate of Guernsey is particularly favourable to aged persons and young children, and as a transition in the case of persons desiring to accustom themselves to the much more severe climate of England.

The climate of Guernsey is locally regarded as more bracing, and less relaxing than that of Jersey; while Sark and Alderney are looked on as still more bracing than Guernsey. The exact value of the popular expressions, "bracing and relaxing air,” it would not be easy to express, as they involve more of personal feeling than of facts that can be expressed by figures, diagrams, or words. There cannot, however, be a doubt, that the change experienced in removing for a time from Guernsey to Sark, is strongly marked, and almost always favourable. How far a continuance in the same place for a longer time would be of advantage seems doubtful; but still the simple habits of life that prevail, the inducements to constant exercise in the open air, and the absence of a large population crowded into a small space, cannot but be favourable elements, and must produce their effect. The winds, although not always pleasant, ensure a

M

162

ADVANTAGES OF THE ISLAND CLIMATE.

thorough ventilation and incessant replacement of the air; so that, except in the immediate vicinity of decaying animal and vegetable matter, there can be no dangerous miasma.

As a general remark, it may safely be assumed that all the islands are admirably adapted to restore the health, and strengthen both mentally and bodily the overtaxed energies of the inhabitants of great cities. They afford a pure clear atmosphere, containing a large quantity of saline matter and iodine, and the frequent high winds ensure a constant freshness, preventing the depressing effect sometimes accompanying humidity. The extreme beauty and variety of the scenery, and the infinite variety of interest offered to intelligent persons of all classes, and of all pursuits, cannot fail to prevent the ennui that sometimes destroys the effect of a change of air and scene. For those who love wild nature, Sark, Guernsey, Alderney and Herm, and the north of Jersey, are inexhaustible. For those who prefer gentler and softer beauties, the interior of Jersey is equally rich.

END OF PART THE FIRST.

The following are the names of the plants figured in the preceding Title:

PYROLA ROTUNDIFOLIA.

OPHRYS APIFERA.

CONVOLVULUS SEPIUM.

CAREX sp.

JUNCUS SP.

SCHENUS sp.

GALIUM PALUSTRE.

ANAGALLIS TENELLA.

POA sp.

ARUM MACULATUM.

Of these, the PYROLA is the principal flower. The

ANAGALLIS is the little trailing plant, with pairs of roundish leaves, on the one side, and the ARUM is on the other side.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS NATURAL TO THE

CHANNEL ISLANDS.

In a work like the present, where an attempt is made to combine a readable account of natural objects with scientific accuracy and technical detail, it is not very easy to treat the subject of Natural History. There is danger, on the one hand, of alarming the general reader by long catalogues of names, few of which have to him any definite meaning whatever; and, on the other hand, a vague account of the peculiarities that may be deserving of notice communicates no information of the smallest value to the student of Natural History. It will be endeavoured in this and the following chapters to avoid both mere technicalities and mere generalities. Catalogues, as complete as they can be obtained, of all known species will be printed in small type for the naturalist, with a view to place on record a large mass of important information, laboriously acquired, but hitherto comparatively useless, because unpublished.* In this way the facts will be given; and such remarks and conclusions as may seem likely to interest from their importance, or novelty, will be added to each list, in the hope of giving interest to the subject to those who do not study nature with a technical eye. Such

Any corrections of or additions to these lists, communicated to the Authors through the Publishers, will be available for publication in a future edition.