Historical analysis reveals how climate was used to improve health, guiding patient travel for treatment.
Travel for health dates back to ancient times, but in the 19th century medical climatology emerged. The spa culture of the 18th century was largely displaced by a wider focus on the role of climate and environment in improving health. British physicians carefully prescribed which climatological conditions were required for each medical ailment, and ordered their patients to travel, usually abroad, to the decreed resort.
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Sally Shuttleworth (2026) studied this question.
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