Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-27
California as a Health Resort.

ADVICE TO CONSUMPTIVES.
DR.. Lewis Rogers, of Louisville, Ken
lucky, contributes to the May number OF
the american Practitioner an article on
California as a health resort, from which
we take the following extracts. His views
are founded on his own observations made
during n trip in November and December
last.
with special purpose of great interest
to me. | consulted Il number of the most
intelligent physicians of San Francisco in
regard to most parts of California which
have been spoken of as eminently useful
in their influence upon pulmonary con
sumption. Ny inquiries were more par
ticularly directed to San Diego, Santa
Barbara, San Bernardno, Los Angeles and
San Jose Southern California, as we
know, has acquired very great repute in
the last few years, and has been spoken OF
as destined to become the great sanitariun
for this and many other forms of pulmo
nary disease. 1t is to this portion of the
state that thousands of people are now 90
inc for the restoration of their health
either as temporary soiourners or perma
nent residents All of the towns men
toned are thronged with people of this
kind, particularly in the winter season
To my surprise, did not find a single
resident physician at all enthusiastic in hi,
praises of Southern California. l asket
them if they We're in the habit of sending
their patients to Southern California, ant
they replied that they did so occasionally
and for brief period of the winter bu
that they preferred for the most of then
cases the high and cool resorts Of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains.
This preference is expressed by DR.
F. w Hatch, as the result of observation
and statistical deduction, in his two able
reports upon the climatology and disease.
of California to the American Medica
Association These physicians. however
claimed for California what probably ex
lists nowhere else-the possession of every
variety of climate which has been founC
useful in the various forms and stages o
consumption, Il variety which admits of ;
ready and very perfect adaptation to indi
vidual peculiarities and requirements. !
very few hours of travel will place pa
tient in whatever climate he may desire
warm or cold, dry or moist, on the noun
tains or the plains, inland or on the sc;
shore, in sheltered valleys or breezy up
lands This variety and facility of adapt
edness exists nowhere else in this country
In Florida. every kind of warm climat
may be fouud suitable to that class of pa
tients who require warmth; but there ar
no mountain ranges, no elevated region
in which the influences of 4 low tempera
ture and n diminished atmosphcric pres
sure can be enjoyed, conditions of climat
now deemed SO valuable in large class 0
cOnsumptive invalids In Minnesota W
find the cool, dry, bracing air of IL moder
ately elevated country, with the absenc
of the warm, equable temperature SO nee
eSsarv to a large class of invalids.
Colorado we have cool, dry, invigoratin
, air, with low barometric pressure with
: out the equable warmth so congenial t
many delicate constitutions. In Californi
all of the best qualities Of these sever;
resorts can be readily found, while thos
: which are likely to prove hurtful, after
: brief trial, can be avoided.
'San Diego is distinguished for il
warm and remarkably equable temper;
; ture, the diurnal variations being yer
. slight, and the changes due to the season
so inconsiderable It's to be harmless. i
f proximity to the sea renders the air 81
. and somewhat humid, unless the win
I blow from inland. and in the winter seaso
l cold fogs are sometimes troublesome for
, portion of the day. Many of the phys
+ clans of San Francisco prefer San Diee
to any other place as winter residen(
+ for Il certain class of patients. From VIII;
+ | could learn, it is deficient in variety an
2 abundance of the best kinds of food. I'll
4 general supply of some of the most esseI
e tial articles is brought from a distance
/ "Santa Barbara enjoys a like equab
2 temperature, somewhat colder than that
e San Diego, with salt and somewhat hi
/ mid air, and occasional but less frequel
e and warmer fogs. The weather is SOM
b times too warm and relaxing for some col
5 sumptives, patients dellquescng' as
n heard physician remark in regard to IL
e effect of that climate upon Il distingushe
c member of the medical profession frol
, New York.
e "San Bernardino enjoys q temperatul
+ very similar to that of San Diego and SAM
] Barbara, but being more remote from tt
# coasts its air is more dry, free from Sc
/ impregnation, and fogs do not frequen
= " occur. Stockton and Visalia are inlan
}. towns. with mild, dry and equable al
: and very agreeable to many invalids
j whom sea-air is offensive.
S San Francisco is generally concede
u to be injurious to pulmonary invalid
d though the months of April, May an
It June are unexceptional in most of tt
V qualities of delightful climate.
Ny observations and inquiries abo,
: San Jose and its vicinity. and particular
It the warm belt of foothills, led me to thin
d most favorably of them as place of ten
h porary OF permanent resid, n e for mar
), pulmonary invalids. Apart from its quail
:, ties of climate, San Jose is lovely cit
e in valley of unsurpassed beauty al
e fertility, with the mountain scenery of IL
. coast range on either hand, good socie
n and all the refinements and luxuries
II life
If lin times which now seem old, so va
V have have been the strides of modern ent
IS prise, but which really are within Il
d limits of half decade, a trip across Il
plains was accounted one of the me
efficacious of the means for the preventit
and cure of consumption. Such tt
II doubtless proved beneficial often, b
e many perished by the wayside.
ot This trip, which once consumed S
d months, and derived its usefulness in ps
is from the toll. exposure, wild adventu
,e and danger incident to it, can now
lie made in six days with ease, comfort a
Sc safety. 1t yet presents, however, stro
le claims to considerations as n remed
p agent. The novelty and variety of in
tie dents and scenery produce and sustain