Year: 1878

paris Correspondence OF the Philadelphia


Telegraph


| pity the poor individuals who, allured
by the freshness, elegance and delightful
situation OF this new hotel (the Continental,
as it is called) will consent to take up their
abode therein. For il is a we'll known fact
that the plastering of French houses requires
the heat of one entire summer to dry il
thoroughly, and the person who chances to
occupy a freshly plastered room prior to its
undergoing such drying will be fortunate
il he or she escape with violent cold only.
have seen the walls OF a French house
literally streaming with wet two months
thoroughlyis this fact recognized that new
built apartment will rent for much
less the first year that it is ready for occu-
patton than is demanded for it afterwards.
Therefore, / would say to all my country
people who are intending to visit the exhi-
bition, beware of newly built hotels and
apartments while you are in Paris. For in
their walls lurk pneumonia, rheumatism,
and host of other unpleasant maladies.
Another piece of advice |. will give to my
fellow citizens who contemplate a journey
to the exhibition, and that is, should they
chance to fall Ill while in Paris, by no means
to send for French physician. Apart from
the great specialist, who are each used to
treating their own particular type of malsdy
in patients from all parts OF the world, no
French doctor understands how to deal with
an American constitution. The differences
in climate, the malarial influences to which
many dwellers in the west are SUBJ
jected. and above all our almost universal
habit of indulgiDg in patent medicines, make
the physical condition OF our people per-
feet riddle to the average foreign physician
The French are very fond of treating some
maladies and very serious ones at that, oc-
casionally, with draughts Of herb tea, or, IS
they call them. "tlsanes." These act upon
the constitution OF patient accustom-
ed to quinine calomel about as much as
SO much hot water would do. / have known
of at least two cases wherein American pa
tIents so treated quietly departed this life
killed, as doubt not, by literal lack OF med
ical aid One of these cases was q severe at
tack of pneumonia, which being treated with
herb tea, only ran its course unchecked.
Another danger against which American in
valids in Paris must be cautioned, is
that arising from employing the physicians
recommended by the landlord OF the
hotel wherein the Invalid may chance to be
stopping. For very common practice
among unsuccessful French doctors is to
make an arrangement with some prominent
hotel keeper whereby he gets all the practice
of the house, paving a handsome percentage
on his fees TO the landlord for recommend.
ing him. Therefore. L would strongly re-
commend all American travellers abroad, in
case OF sickness, to send a messenger to the
American legation, the consulate or one of
the American banks for the address of a
skilled American practitioner. There is no
lack OF good American doctors In Paris, both
homeopathic and allopathic but the address
Of any Of them is but seldom to be obtained
at any OF the hotels, on account of the league
between the innkeepers and the French
doctors whereof have already spoken.


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