The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-25
Health of our Troops in the south.

Loyalist and insurgent alike arc looking
forward to the summer. when disease may be
expected to stalk through the Southern climes.
II is naturally the formers object to bring
warlike operations to an early close, and the
latter's aim to prolong these as far as posi-.
Bile, in hopes that the malaria will come to
his rescue. We observe that some unfriend-
ly European journals have also been pulling
this string vigorously for some time. They
are welcome to il. We believe the danger
10 be by no means serious. Let us refer once
more to u topic which has been pretty fully
discussed in these columns-thc physical for
nation Of the Southern States.-NY y Com.
Ado.
The London Times and its echoes are count
ing largely upon disease rs an ally OF the
rebels. But we believe with the CONNER
cial that they are counting without their
host. That our troops, quartered at South
ern points, and particularly at points infect
ed with malaria, will suffer more or less, is
very probable: but there is no good reason
for apprehending that the croakings OF these
prophets of evil about the "decimation OF
Northern troops by pestilence" will be real
ized.
Ii is n mistaken notion that Southern
climate is necessarily unhealthy. The aver
age duration Of life varies but slightly with
variation Of latitude. The chances OF living
to green old age are no less in South Caro-
lima than in Massachusetts,. IL certain dis
cases are more prevalent South than North,
Others are more rare. II yellow fever iages
| in Dixie, u wise compensation is provided in
tho absence Of train OF lesser diseases.
Nor is it true that Southern climate is
necessarily injurious to Northern constitu-
tion. On the contrary, experience teaches
quite the reverse. The history OF the Reyo-
luton proves that the Northerncrs stood the
burning suns of the South quite rs we'll, IL
not better, than their Southern cOinpatriots.
The same was true in the war of 1872, and
more especially in the war with Mexico
Some 1000 or 5000 Of our Northern troops
spent the whole Of last summer on the Island
oil Santa Rosa and in Fort Pickens without
suffering materially either in health or CON-
fort. Our troops passed las, summer on the
malaria. breeding banks OF the Potomac and
the Kanawha and yet the rate OF mortality
was less than it was among the population oi
the country at large.
| a Southern climate undoubtedly ueoiiitates
a Northern constitution in time but It takes
wears to make its marks visible. The North
erner carries his physical hardihood with him
to moro tropical latitudcs, and retains it for
time. Gradually his vigorous sinews be-
gin to relax. his elasticity begins to desert
him and he becomes, alter q few years,
either prcmaturely decrePid or hopclesly
sluggish. We see this in the case ot the
English in India and the French in Algeria.
Bat every where the Northerner Is more than
match for the Southron, in spite OF the
accidents and drawbacks Of climate. III the
former feels debilitation creeping over him,
he has the eousoling reflection that the poi
son has made much more fearful rayages in
the system ot the latter. We think of the
destructive effects OF hot sun and MAS
matte air upon the NOrthener, but we forget