J. H. HOLDSWORTH, M. D.

TOURS, A. AIGRE, rue Royale.

Messrs. CALIGNANIS, No 18, rue Vivienne, Paris; Henry RENSHAW, No 356, Strand, London; And all other Booksellers.

1842

«Thou, nature, art my Goddess; to thy law my services are bound.»

Shakspeare.

TO LAWSON CAPE, M. D. Lecturer at Saint-Thomas's Hospital THIS SMALL VOLUME IS INSCRIBED As a slight testimony of friendship and esteem BY THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The author of the present little volume in offering it to the public is sensible how crude and imperfect is its form. The haste with which from unavoidable circumstances, it has been composed and the difficulties he has had to contend with in printing it in a foreign country will, he trusts, be considered an excuse, however insufficient, for errors which would otherwise be unpardonable.

His object has been to convey information on subjects new to the generality of those who resort to France for the restoration of their health. In England, independent of the valetudinarian, not only the man of wealth and fashion, but the economist of time and means,—in these days of locomotive mania,—deem a visit to the continent almost indispensable; and in the majority of cases, after the resolution to take a trip abroad is formed the resolvent with a perfect indifference as to route or locality, becomes anxious to obtain information concerning such places as may in reality be most calculated to conduce to his health, pleasure, instruction or amusement,—either en route, or as a temporary place of residence.

Under a due consideration of these circumstances the author trusts having endeavoured to blend information with utility and amusement in so unpretending and general a form; he may be deemed to have accomplished the ends to which he has humbly aspired. And should his professional occupations at some future period, permit him to revise his work, he will render its style more worthy of the reader.

Tours, september 1842.

CONTENTS.

Page

Description of the scenery of Touraine1

Remarks on the climate of Touraine8

Beneficial effects of the climate considered13

Directions for invalid travellers25

Hydropathic treatment32

Wines of France34

Description of various routes to Tours42

Notices respecting Tours and its neighbourhood49

Sporting54

Ancient Châteaux of Touraine55

Mettray Colony73

Remarks on society at Tours81

Botany of Touraine88

Information respecting the growth and varieties of the vine97

Geology of Touraine105

Spas of France123

Spas of central France, their respective localities, medicinal virtues, diseases to which they are applicable, etc.139

Classification of French wines, places where grown, character, comparative qualities, etc., etc.186

Alcoholic strength of various wines and liquors192

Meteorological Register for Tours194

Reaumur's Thermometric scale turned into Fahrenheit's208

Appendix.—Passports, Cash, Coinage209

Useful information for travellers, etc., etc.217

Expense of living in France, etc.230

Lith. CLAREY-MARTINEAU. r de la harpe 16, TOURS.

VUE DE TOURS

MEMORANDA

OF