The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14
why should the Climate Of Whine.
sofa Contribute to the Cure OF con-
sumption! n

why should the Climate Oh MA"A
sofa Contribute to the Cure OF CON-
sumption! N
Public attention has, for some time past
been directed to Upper Minnesota as a
region most favorable to the restoration
of health, in, cases Of partially developed
pulmonalis. Few persons, we apprehend,
are aware of the vast numbers OF invallds
from the more eastern and southern States,
now scattered over our State in quest
of health From the best informa-
ton that we can gather, they number
several thousands; and notwithstand-
ing the wretched navigation of the river
this season, "still they come" Ofcourse,
many came too late, while all, perhaps,
calculate too largely on the immediate eff
fects of the climate. The natural tenden-
cy of the human mind is, as soon as relief
has been experienced, in few cases, to
rush to extreme conclusions, and report an
infallible remedy for all similar cases. In
this way expectations are commonly raised
which can never be realized. Whatever
may be the beneficial effects of our climate
on consumptive cases, its good effects
must be confined of course, to those who
come in time. Many, however, who ar
rive in good season, and who might, by
patience and perseverance, be permanent
ly benefited, soon become dissatisfied
with their slow progress, and return little
benefited. Such persons need to be
reminded of the maxim, ''Chronic dis
eases require chronic treatment.
Upon the whole, the startling reports
which have gone abroad of the UOnde,fut
efficacy of the Minnesota climate in con-
sumption, are to be regretted. We regret
them, first, because they are not true;
and secondly, because they are likely to
cause disappointment and disgust to per-
sons who come from distance With I'M
warranted expectations.
But to return to the question. In
what way does the climate benefit the
patient? Is it by GOODNESS or warmth,
or dryness or humidity? Neither of them,
we are led to think, cuts any figure in the
case Time was, when cOnsumptives were
sent to inhale the " Balmy air of the Sunny
South" The idea prevailed, that as con-
sumptions originated most in the North, of
course, they could be best cured in the
South After many years of experience
and observation, the medical profession,
and the world, generally, has come to
doubt whether change of latitude has any
material effect on the consumptive patient.
The late DIR. Drake, of Cincinnati, made the
observation that those who went to Cuba,
and stopped at Havana, generally died
off rapidly, while those who assembled
the Cuban mountains, and remained
there, generally improved. And from
these observations, he deduced the con-
clusion that altitude had more to do in the
matter than latitude. And now was, at
once, raised another question; In what
way did altitude exert an influence ?
Some said by greater purity and salu-
brity of atmosphere; and no one questions
that the atmosphere of mountains is
generally more salubrious than that OF low
lands. Certainly, mountain districts are
generally exempt from malarious diseases;
but as consumption has not been set down
as malarious disease, the question is still
unsettled, in what way the cOnsumptive
patient is benefited by the mountains.
We propose few thoughts in this cOnnec-
ton.
First of all, it is well known that exer-
else is necessary to the strength and health
of every member of the body. The arms,
hands, legs, feet, eyes, ears-all organs
that are not used, fail of proper devel-
opment, and hence, may be said to become,
in some sense, diseased. This needs no
proof. The lungs are not less dependent
OUlcI VII uOdAOuAul OAOAOloO,
for health and strength. Yet the lungs
of every man put forth only just enough
exertion to take in as much oxygen as is
necessary to oxydize the blood, and thus
give a feeling of comfort. Laboring
persons need more oxygen than per-
sons of sedentary habits, and hence
exert the pulmonary system, taking
in at every respiration, all the
air the lungs can contain thus giving full
and vigorous employment to the whole
body of the lungs. The result is that Ia
boring persons are comparatively exempt
from consumption. 80.
But persons of sedentary habits need
only a small supply of oxygen at each res
piraticn, and hence, in an ordinary atmos'
phere, have occasion to employ little more
than half the full capacity of the lungs
As one half the lungs is unemployed Of
course, this part becomes feeble and dis
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