New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-09-16

BBXAR COUNTY, July 2ly 1905,
Eds. Crescent The superiority Of the climate Of
Western Texas over that Of other sections, which
have heretofore been resorted to for the cure Of pull
monary diseases, is certainly very great To me it is
the most important feature which Texas presents, |
have experienced to limited extent its curative in
fuence and, from what have seem felt, and heard
oft am induced to believe that if fully understood
and appreciated by the country at large Western
Texas would speedily become the most favored resort
on the continent for persons afflicted with diseases Of
the throat and lungs.
As far back as / can remember, the medical faculty
in the United States have been in the habit of recon-
mending patients afflicted with pulmonary disease to
cross the ocean, or take trip the sea-to visit
Cuba, or take up their residence in Florida or some
other Southerp State. The discovery of gold in Cal.
ornia led to the discovery of the beneficial effects of
the rariied atmosphere of the plains on pulmonary
diseases. Many cases Of laryngites bronchitis and
of confirmed consumption were said to have been en-
trey cured by crossing the continent to California
These facts, sustained by reports received since from
the interior Of ASIA aroused the medical faculty and
the result is that the most intelligent OF them now
believe that sea breezes and humid atmosphere are
very injurious in cases of pulmonary disease and that
the best localities for them are those where raried
atmospheres prevail
Such localities are not to be found near the Allan
tic or Gulf coast The atmosphere there is necessa-
riIy humid and of course too heavy for the weak
lungs of cousumptive to respire with ease. It is
also impregnated with salt which is extremely ritat
ing to the throat and lungs 1t is said that in the in
terror of Cuba aud of Florida this irritating atInos-
phere does not exist This may be correct but in its
stead is a maarou5 atmosphere which keeps the
cVnsumptive in continual fever and thus acceerates
his disease, The humidity, too, in both Cuba and
Florida, cannot he otherwise than great The water
which surrounds them and is held in their soils and
their surfaces is sufficient to prove this. In fact
there is place in the Gulf or Caribbean Sea, nor
within one thousand miles of our Atlantic coast that
presents so favorable a climate for those who are
afflicted with pulmonary disease as Western Texas.
I know this to be true. [ speak from experience.
For three years before my arrival in Western
Texas was afflicted with h yugites. Daring that
period tried various localities on the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts and in the interior of Florida and other
States, and l found that the farther removed from
the sea, and from lakes, ponds, swamps, and rich
cultivated soils, the better felt When exposed to
winds which blew over swamps river bottoms. or
still bodies Of water invariably cxperienceda chok-
ing sensation At all times and in all places suE
ered in proportion to the humidity Of the surround.
ing atmosphere. So sensitive was my throat to damp
ness that I could tell the approach Of raa even
before there was any apparent indication Of it in the
heavens. When the atmosphere was dense and
heavy with moisture, my throat was cIogged with
mucous but when il was dry the mucous did not
cling with such tenacity to the membrane, and there
was less Of it, This, together with my experience
in medical remedies induced me- tn baIiava tI,.,+
notmu8 but dry, mrltled atmosphere would restore
the mucous ihe'n'ane Or the lalynA to healthy ac-
tlon. Unfortunately ior me, was not governed by
tllot discovery uH'N 'ne o'seaSe had reached my
lungs After being confined to my bed three months,
on the coast, set out tor San Antonio. On my az
rival there was very weak feeble suffered much
from pans in my lungs and was not able to do any
thns "n'cn required any physical strength.
am ho"' utIot 0IaPseoI Two months, able to walk
Two !nne7 "'1Aoo1 oeln8 latsued, and can write
ABOUT three hours eaeh day inns improvement
attribute TO The pure dry light atmosphere which
prevails mere lhe greater part Of the time My i'm
proEemeht, however mas not BEEN 80 rapid as that
o many others Of "hom nave heard This may be
IN consequence OF dlaerencein the natural strength
OF constitution, OF OF better locality To the latter
am more inclined 10 attribute IT, The water which
IS neg n tRe gRllie5 N tins section (Which have
descroedla previous artieIe) euits afeyersh mala
fla "mch Is mighty injurious to person in my con
aiton. My disease makes me naturally eyerish, and,
belnG mus pTedsposed any arrangement Of the sys-
TEN runs INTO FEVER, in consequence Of the atlnls-
phefe being impregnated with this malaria, While
mere nave had two severe attacks of fever, which
reduced my strength very much With this excop
TON like the locality. That the atmosphere IS
usually dry ana light there can be no doubt The in
tense, piercing heat OF the sun the quick change Of
rain clouds from black to whte aud their sudden ex.
pansion as they pass overthe land towards the West
together with many other things, such as the inpos
slbtIjtE OF producing mildew, etc, prove it,
There is considerable difference in various local.,
ties in respect to dampness andteversh and irrita-
ting influences. Where the streams run through low
valleys, which have deep rich soils and are shaded
with cypress aud other timber, peculiar to the river
bottoms Of Texas the atmosphere in the vicinity il
usually humid OF the effect of the water which il
held in gullics, have already spoken. Where these
gullies exist the surrounding atmosphere is. tfini;
as general thing, laden with feynrfsh rnaIlrf5 This
dampness and malaria being confined to the immF-
di1te localities whence they arise. can he aasiI,,
avoided. There is third cause Of difference which
arises from the ct that Tie moisture horne fror tba
gulf by the southeast wind does not lose tI1c f with
which il is impregnaed till it reaches the vicinity of
San Antonio consequently all that country aast ami
south Of san Antonio is NOT so well snifr7 n mo
aonsump i've as that north and west The hnm5ty
Of the atmosphere and the fevcrsb inf7eneesar