The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-19
Climate and Locality-Their Influence in
mitigating Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
gY A. p. pUCHER, NJ. D.

From the remotest antiquity physicians
have recommended change of climate and
location for their physical patients. From
the days of Hippocrates down to tue present
time, volumes have been written on this sub
ject, and great diversity of opinion exists in
relation to the place where the patient
should be sent, and the time when he should
60.
L. ITALY, MINNESOTA, LAKE SUPERIOR, AND
TEXAS, AS RESIDENCES FOR PHYSICAL PATIENTS.
In this country it has been the custom,
for years. with most of our physicians when
man has injured his health by too high
living and sedentary life, to order him forth
with TO Europe particularly if he possess
wealth or has d. d. to the end of his
name. And if he has threatening symptoms
of phthisis pulmonais, he is ordered TO the
South of Europe. This is regarded as the
happy cline which once reached by phth.
sical invalid, is sure to make his disease dis
appear and restore him to perfect health -
But if we compare the number who visit
them actually diseased aud who deposit their
remains there, with those who return with
improved health, we will find small encour-
agement to recommend our patients to leave
their own country.
w ho'O AL thO Culleu OtdLeS, dll lUe
various climates that are to be found in the
world; aud if there be Que spot on this globe
more beneficial to a phthisica patient than
another, it is here. Two sections of our
country have recently become quito celabra-
ted az residence for individuals suffering
from this disease; Minnesota and the South
ern shore OF Lake Superior. For ten sum-
mers we have seen large numbers OF patients,
from all eastern cities, thronging our steam
boats and railway cars, bouud for st. Paul
or Marquett in pursuit OF health. And in
many Instances they return in the fall very
much improved, and perhaps few have re-
gained their original health and ylgor.
But while we are willing 10 admit the ex-
cellency of these places as a temporary re-
sideuce for phthisica patiei Is, we are well
satisfied that there is another portion of our
country, which in point of ealubrity and
adaptation of climate for the class OF ndi-
vidualsjus named, far surpassess these, if
not any other on the face of the globe. /
refer to the Southwestern part of the State
OF Texas. And if the reports of those who
have gone there in pursuit Of health and
those who reside there speak the truth, this
region Will yet be the paradse of the world;
at least so far as its geography and climate
are concerned.
sNSs'SA VI Jul NooG COuulTy Cuu rank
with that portion of the State of Texas we
have named, either in mildness of climate or
equability of atmosphere. 1t has mean
winter temperature OF about SO degrees, On
But its chief Characteristic is its exemption
from swamps and stagnant p iols. The land
commonly ascends from the water courses,
and rising to moderate eminences precudes
the formation of swamp or putrid pools tu
any extent. This is probably one efficieu:
cause of the singular purity and equality of
the atmosphere. which is SO frequently
noticed in the reports of our army surgeons.
who have been stationed IN that section of
the country. While the summer air of
Louisiana is combined with moisture sur
charged with noxious miasm, the pure air of
Southwestern Texas is refreshed and reno
waited by lively breezes from Old Ocean,
rolling over dry. verdant varying surface.
imparting elasticity, health and vlgor to all
who inhale it.
Now here is a country where perpetual
summer smiles, where flowers are constantly
blooming, aud the fields arrayed in their
richest green. Here, too, is an euuable
sufficiently warm and dry in the
winter mouths, and not loaded with moisture
and poisonous efiuvia in summer. Are rot
oil the climactic wants of the phthlsical |
patient here fully met? Indeed there is |
nothing on this continent or Europe that |
eau compare with it, even fair famed Italy |
must yield the palm to the ''Loue Star.