The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-09-26
Florida. Climate; Its Effects on Inval-
ids. Consumption; Productions.

Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in
the year 1912, and determined Its shape
to be that of peninsula, dipping deep
into the ocean, having the Atlantic
ocean on the east and the Gulf of Mexi-
co on the west, bounded north by
Georgia, at about 80 deg. of north lafi-
tude. 1t extends south to Cape Sable
and embraces Thompson's Island, on
which is located the town of Key West.
II also embraces other islands, making
what are calledthe Florida Keys. These
islands making the south terminus of the
state, it reaches near the island of Gu
ba and the Tropic Of Capricorn, and is
the most southern state Of the Union
St. Augustine, between % and % deg.
of north latitude. from its antiquity as
well as its assimilation to tropical clim-
ate, was long the retreat of consumptive
invalids. But unfortunately the influence
ofits humid atmosphere on those patients
has not fulfilled their fond expectations
and bright hopes. The reason is obvi-
Gus to the well informed mind of any
uHSuiCdl gcUttttildN.
1t must be remembered that St. Au-
gustine is so situated as to give it an as
pect or open view to the Atlantic ocean.
The atmosphere which its citizens inhale
is directly from the ocean of salt water
not tempered (altered) by any soft land
current, or by passing through groves
The scientific physician would consider
himself guilty Of manslaughter te send
his patients, laboring under an inAama-
tory disease of the liver or spleen to any
of our fashionable watering places. TIE
water of which place contains large
portion of chalybeate (iron.) The stim.
ulating effects of an aquatic atmosphere
upon our lungs have been long observed
by medical men. When Aaron Burr in
flicted the mortal wound upon General
Hamilton, his able surgeon, the late Dr.
Hosack, had him instantly taken upon
the water, for the purpose of assisting
the sinking energies of his dying patient
Is there any place this side the grave to
which the angel of sympathy can point
the restless, sleepless invalid as a place
of rest and recovery? 1t would be hap
py for suffering humanity if this ques-
ton could be answered in the affirma-
tive.
From a correct knowledge Of the to-
biography of Florida after residence
of more than ten years. and the intlu-
ence the different localities exercise up
on the body Of persons afflicted with con-
sumption in its various shapes, / have nc
hesitation .emphaticaly to press the i'm
portance of an inland situation in Florida
during the cold months of the year) up
on the serious consideration of invalids
Geological and meteorological observa-
tions would point out Quincy, in Florida,
as an eligible situation for consumptive
as well as many other patients. No tra-
ces of limestone occur in the vicinity ol
Quincy, either in the form of mari o,
stone. The earthly formations and de-
posites here are principally those ofsileA
SANDY quartz.) 1t will be remembered
that such formations produce in every
location where they are found freestone
water. Our lungs being saturated ex-
ternally in relation to the atmosphere. il
follows that dry and even tempered at
mosphere promotes the cure of invalids
laboring under diseases of this kind.
In direct line, Quincy is seen about
twenty FIVE or thirty miles above sal,
water in the Gulf of Mexico. The sea
breeze from the gulf, before it reaches
the invalid in Quincy, passes through
dense hammocks and pine regions. In
passing through such (media) it parts
evidently with much of its maritime hu-
midity. The surface of the upper part
Middle Florida is undulating, which,
with its proximity to the coast, keeps up
an equilibrium Of temperature almost un-
known i'll any country Poor soils will
produce 500 pounds sea island cotton,
the best soils from 1000 to 1900 pounds
per acre. The price here is from 20 to
rs cents per pound. But the most val
liable production here is the segar tobac-
co. Poor lands will produce 400 pounds,
and best 1000 per acre. The price here
varies from 20 to 81 cents per pound, in
New York from 81 to Is cents, and in
Germany, where the greatest quantity
ofthis article is consumed, it is worth
from SO to 100 cents per pound.
How unlike the climate in parts OF
Mexico; we meet with no sudden eleva-
tions ofland, whose tops are perpetualIy
visited with snow, which send down a.
mong the plains freezing blast. And
again unlike that climate, we never see
frozen clabber in August, for the north
ern observations of the thermometer OF
Quincy show far less range Of heat
and cold during the year than any other
place with which / am acquainted. II
is then conclusive that such location
affords more inducements to invalids
than any other, and while confess, in
all truth and candor, we have frequent
and sudden changes from heat to cold
in this place, yet these atmospheric
changes do not run into either the ex-
tremes of heat and cold of other places.
This is the great charm this region pos
sesses over all others--this is the ad-
vantage it holds out to the invalid.
Paris, says Major Noah, after many
years of smearing with the corner of a
towel annaars deferm;ned IN wash lie