Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-09-09
Effect of Climate on Consump-
tion.

IL appears that tile medical faculty are be-
ginning TO question the opinion which has
so long prevailed among medical men thu,
a change Of climate is beneficial TO persons
suffering with consumption. Sir JAMES
CLARK, Of England has assalied ,he doctrine
with considerable force, and French phy.
siclan, named CarrieIe, has written against
II: but The most vigorous opponent Of il is
Dr. BuRGEss, of whom a recent article in
Chomber's Marlborough Journal, which we
find condensed in Philadelphia paper, gives
an account.
DR.. Burgess contends that climate has lit
lie or nothing to do with consumption, and
that, If II had, the curative effects would be
produced through the skin and not the lungs.
That warm climate is not 10 itself benef.
clal, he shows from the fact that Tie disease
exists in all latitudes. In India aud Africa,
tropical climates, ii is us frequent as in Eu-
rope or Northern America. AT Malta, right
| in The heart Of the genial Mediterranean, The
army reports of Eugland show lhnr third
| OF the deaths among the soldiers are BY con-
sumption. AT Nice, favorite resort of the
English invalids, especially those afflicted
with lung complaints, there are more native
born persons die of consumption than in any
English town of equal population.
In Geneva this disease is almost equally
prevalent. In Florence pnemonia, in the
Doctors words, is marked by suffocating
character, and by rapid progress towards its
last stage. Naples, whose climate is the
lheme OF so much praise by travellers, shows
III her hospitals mortality by consumption
equal to one in 2 l-3 whereas Paris,
whose climate 10 SO often pronounced villa
nous, the proportion is only one in three and
ne-quarter. In Madeira no local disease is
more common than consumption.
The Journal adds: The next position of
DR.. Burgess is that MS the beasts, birds and
fishes of one region die in another, a change
OF climate cannoI, unless exceptionally, he
beneficial 10 an invalid. Notwithstanding
the greaIer adapIabilty 10 climate which
man preserves, the human constitution it is
without icing more or less affected by it,
The frosts and thaws of England have corro.
ded, during the lapse Of nges, the solid stone
on it of which their caIhedrals are built. In
like manner foreign climate gradually un-
dermnes the health DR.. Burgess refers to
The shattered constitutions Of every officer
who has served for any length ofrime in Ia
dla; and TO the wel-known fac, thar children
born of white parents in India are delicate
as class. The African, MS we know by the
experience of its country, cannot endure Sc
we're aud protracted cold. Canada is HE
common grave as well as refuge of fugitive
slaves. If such is the effect Of changes of
climate OH persons in health, what mus, it lie
argues DR.. Burgess, on inval,is? Aud lie
iorilfies his theoretical conclusion by re.
mlndIng The reader that II is not only the
natives who die Of consumption in MADEIRA,
but that the grave-yards of that island are
whItened by the heah-stones of thousands
who have gone there for health, and remain
ed to die.
Persons no: professional imagine that the
consnmpliye patient, by breathing a mild al
mosphere, withdraws irritation and leaves
nature free 10 work cure. But This notion
DR.. Burgess characterizes as entirely errone,
Gus. 1t is through The skin, not through the
lungs. he contends, that warm climate
acts benefcially. When sudden change
in the temperature produces chill, cutane-
Gus perspiration is checked, the skin becomes
dry and hard. and the lungs suffer from ex-
cessive action; for they are compelled now
10 eliminate what should have passed off
through the skin. The Doctor illustrates this
by referring to the instantaneous relief which
is generally Obtained through Tree perspira-
lion, where difficult breathing or oppression
Of the chest have been occasioned by artifi,
cial heat. What is best for consumptiye pa
tents, therefore is an equable climate. Il is
the fluctuations, not the high Temperature Of
u climate that is Injurious