Connecticut western news., 1876-04-07
The Climate of Florida.
BY c. W. HORSEY, NJ. D..
OF FERNANDINA, FLORIDA.


 OF FERHANDINA, FLORIDA.
 The climate of Florida has attracted much attention for many years, on ac- count of it's known adaptability as place of winter residence for those suffering with pulmonary disease. Particularly has such been the case for the few years i'm mediately past, each succeeding season bringing continually increasing number of those afflicted to be benefited by its genial influence.
 Having resided in Florida, and conduct ed an active practice for several years, l have been necessarily brought in contact with many cases of lung disease, and a fact more constant and invariable than any noted is a want of knowledge exhibited by the majority of patients sas to the true character of the climate, and of that DOT tion of the State best suited to their es- pecial condition. This consideration prompts me to give the result of my per sonal experience and observation. and to offer for the information of the profession, under whose advice so many come to Florida, few general remarks on the eli mate and its variation in different parts of the State. am not prepared at this time to give accurate statistical tables in support of the view presented, but think the state ments made will be found correct.
 It has occurred to me to be too univer- sally the case that invalids are indiscrimin- ately recommended to come South, and es- pecially to Florida, with the idea that be- cause it is south the climate must be warm CT, and therefor beneficial. The number of deaths that occur here, and the consid- erable number of those who leave at the close of every season without permanent benefit, is unfortunately the best evidence of unsoundness of such views. In as few words as possible shall endeavor to note the peculiarities of different sections of the State, and give my reasons for preferring some over others. The most accessible points, and for that reason, the most ire quented, are the resorts on the St Johns River, namely: Jacksonville, Hibernia, Magnolia, and Green Cove Springs, situat ed nearer the coast, with Palatka and En. terprise further south. On the seaboard Fernandina and St. Augustine are the only towns of any importance. Individuals and small parties penetrate as far south as Indian River, on the Atlantic, md others westward to the Gulf, as far south as Tam pa. Manatee, Clearwater Harbor, and Key West. These far-away points, however, are too much off the highway of travel to be visited by the majority of invalids, and we find the larger percentage congregated at the places first mentioned.
 Fernandina and St. Augustine present the same features of climate met with on the seaboard of semi-tropieal couutries elsewhere. The atmospheric conditions of both are identical, being invariably moist, especially at night and morning, and un. der the continual influence of the sea breeze and wind currents from the ocean. During the winter months all points on the ! coast are exposed to the frequently preva- lent northerly storms, which last at times ! for days, and whose fierce and penetrating blasts are difficult to be borne even by the hardy. On the St. Johns but little differ. ence is observed in the atmosphere at the several places of resort along it's banks. The country along the river, for the great CT part of its course, is flat, with little ele vation above the water level, and, as g rule, extensive swamps and hammockt fringe it's borders. The river presents $ succession of expansions and contractions conveying the idea of continuous chair of lakes, some of which are indeed i'm mense surfaces of water, and it is usually located. The evaporation from the water necessarily causes a very considerable amount of moisture in the air, which is SC great that at morning and evening percep tible mists hang over the river, and to { considerable extent on either side, and no unfrequently heavy fogs prevail. It il consequently at the beginning and close O. the day constantly damp and chilly, O. damp, warm, and relaxing, as the tempera ture may happen to be at the time. Thi varies probably 8 very little less on tn, river, for, lying further inland, it is nor
 protected from the wind, though the differ ence is slight. The climate on the GuI
 coast is much milder, though the atmos
 phere is more or less humid, and fogs ar
 of frequent occurrence. It is apparent,
 less subject to storms, and the wind les
 penetrating, than on the Atlantic. Tn
 mean winter temperature for the Atlanti and St. Johns may be set down at betweel 55o and 60 Q, the thermometer. however often indicates 75o and 80 Q |, and falls t
 35o and 40 Q, and occasionally as low a
 200. The mean is somewhat higher ol the Gulf, increasing as we go south.
 in the interior of the State very differ ent atmosphere and climate are found r which present also, however, considerabl
 local variation. The surface of the coun
 try ascends gradually from both Atlanti
 and Gulf coasts, and reaches it's highest al titude at very nearly the centre of the east . ern and pepipsular portion of the State forming a fattened ridge or table-land , which trayerses it in direction northwes and southeast, and extends to the southern extremity of the peninsula. The so ? throughout this region. which embrace
 the largest area of the State, IS general sandy, the country flat and covered wit immense pine forests, il terspersed, her and there, with savannahs or everglades. The topography of the middle and west
 ern portions is more undulatlng and hllly