Nubian Desert for Tired Nerves.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XVI, 15 October 1904, Page 4

Nubian Desert for Tired Nerves.

Seven weeks in the desert and a new set of nerves is the hope held out to neurotics by a Swedish nurse who has hitherto found her ekill greatly benefited but failed to bring a complete restoration to health of women suffering from neuritis and its attendant ills. Far from communications with the outer world, living in an exclusive camp, on the simplest died, a party of English society women are now breathing the pure air and basking in the sun of the Nubian desert, confident in their nurse’s promise of a reawakening interest in life. Sun baths and sand baths there have been and are in plenty, but always ac-

companied with the distractions of more or less fashionable resort life. To this Swedish masseuse belongs the credit of conceiving a camp in the Egyptian desert as an ideal haven of rest for tired nerves. Egypt in recent years has come prominently to the front as a health resort for many reasons. Under British administration the land has been cleared of several epidemics that at one time were regarded as necessary evils in the country. This desert cure, as it is called, is the idea of a clever woman who has gained a reputation as a masseuse. Among her clientele are several society women suffering from neuritis and its attendant ills, and they have been benefited greatly by the particular form of

Swedish massage practised by the nurse. Something, however, was wanted to complete their perfect restoration to health, and the idea struck the masseuse that the pure and beautiful air of the Nubian desert was the one thing necessary to bring back the elasticity of youth. Acquainted as she is with the desert, the masseuse made arrangements to take a party of her English patients to the sandy expanse of Nubia. Selecting a spot far enough removed from the regular caravan routes to avoid publicity. a tent has been erected for each patient in the party. A certain number of fellaheen women have been engaged as servants, and no male is allowed within its lines. Neither are letters or papers' permitted to enter the reserved enclosure, and the

diet is of the simplest, consisting as it does of fruits and cereals.

The great cure is to be the air. the pure air of the desert. The clothing is of the lightest and most ethereal description, so that the patient may enjoy the air and sun baths with little trouble. Simplicity is also the keynote of the furnishing of the camp. No amusements, except perhaps a litpainting for the artistic, no fine dressing, no distractions such as are found in the foreign spas and health resorts, will be permitted. All day long they will be breathing in the life-giving air, which in its elasticity will prevent any feeling of ennui from gaining ascendancy over their minds. The directress of the cure will see that her patients have just enough to soothe their tired out brains, and will herself superintend all the arrangements.