Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-28
EFFECT OF CLIMATE ON CONSUMPTION.

1t appears that the medical faculty are beginning to-
question the opinion which has long prevailed
medical that change of climate beneficial per-
suffering with the consumption. Sir JAMES CLARK
of England has assailed the doctrine with considerable
force and French physician named Carrere has written
against it but the most vigorous opponent of it is
DR.. BURGESS, Of whom a recent article in Chamberss
Edinburgh Journal, which find condensed in Phila
delphia paper, gives account.
Dr. BURGESS contends that climate has little nothing
20 ;4l that IL ii had
the curative effects would be produced through the skim
and not the lungs That climate is not in itself
beneficial he shows from the fact that the disease exists
in all ATTITUDES In India and Africa, tropical climates
it is as frequent in Europe Northern America At
Malta right in the heart Of the genial Mediterranean
the army reports Of England show that onethrd Of the
deaths among the soldiers by consumption At Nice,
favorite resort Of English invald especially those af
cted with lung complaints there are more natveborn
persons die Of consumption than in any English town
equal population.
In Geneva this disease is almost equally prevalent In
Florence pneumonia, in the Doctors words !" is marked
by suocating character and by rapid progress to-
wards its last stage" Naples whose climate is the theme
Of much praise by travellers, shows in her hospitals
mortality by consumption equal to one in two and
third whereas Paris whose climate is so often
quarter In Madeira local disease is more common
than consumption
The Journal adds The next position of Dr. Burgess
is that the beasts Birds and fishes Of region die
in another change Of climate cannot unless exception
ally be beneficial to invalid. Notwithstanding the
greater adaptabity to climate which preserves the
human constitution IL is plain cannot endure changes Of
temperature without being less affected by it.
The rosts and thaws Of England have corroded during
the lapse of ages the solid II Of which their
thedrals were built. In like foreign climate
gradually undermnes the health Dr. Burgess refers
the shattered constitutions Of every officer who has
ed for any length Of time in India and to the we'll
known fact that children born Of white parents in India
delicate class. The African, know by the
experience Of its country cannot endure and pro-
racted cold Canada Is the common grave well re-
fuge Of fugitive slaves such is the effect Of changes
Of climate persons in health what must II be- argues
Dr. Burgess on invalidsf And he forfes this theoret
cal conclusion by reminding the reader that it is only
the natives who die Of consumption in Madeira but that
the Of that island whitened by the head
stones of thousands who have gone there for health and
remained to die.
"Persons not professional imagine that the consump-
tive patient, by breathing mild atmosphere withdraws
irritation and leaves free 10 work cure But
1t is through the skim not through the lungs he
contends, that climate acts benefcially. When
sudden change in the temperature produces chill cuta
perspraon is checked the skin becomes dry and
hard and the lungs suffer from excessive action for they
are compelled 70 eliminate what should have passed
off through the skin. The Doctor illustrates this by re-
ferring to the instantaneous relief which Is generally OBJ
taned through free perspraton, where difficult breath
ing oppression Of the chest have been occasoned by
artificial heat. What is best for consumpve patients
therefore, is equabe climate II is the fluctuations
not the high temperature Of climate that is injurious