American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-10-25
CARE OF THE HEALTH.
Cold Climates in the Treatment of Con
sumption.

/
greater share of attention from the med
zeal profession than that of the proper
method of treating consumption; and a
more important subject has never en-
listed the consideration of scientific
men; for, of all the diseases with which
mankind is afflicted, tuberculous con-
sumption is perhaps the most serious,
and, excluding epidemics, causes the
greatest proportion of deaths. Indeed,
statistics show that of the 96S, 200, 900
people inhabiting the globe, 5000, 900
die each year of this dread disease. In
view of this fact, DIR. Talbot Jones has
prepared and published, in the current
number of the NeW York Medical
Journal, an elaborate paper to show
that, of all the resources at our COM
mand i'm warding off this malady where
predisposition to it exists, or in COM
batting it when once established, de-
pendence alone can be placed on climate.
When we begin to inquire into the
character and comparative merits of
climates, he remarks, we are at once
struck with the fallacy of the doctrine,
which has obtained forgenerations, that
the disease is more frequent in cold than
in warm ATTITUDES. Just the reverse of
this is true. If there is any thing with
reference to climate which is definitely
settled, it is the fact that phthisis is vast
" more common in warm, tropical
countries than in cold ATTITUDES. Con-
sumption Is relatively as common in our
own health resorts as it is in the corre-
spending warm countries in Europe.
From an extensive series of data, it
has been shown that the farther we
progress north the greater the immunity
the inhabitants enjoy from the disease
and very. far north, consumption is either
extremely rare or altogether unknown.
In the bleakest, coolest, and most eN-
posed portions of the globe, and where
sudden and severe changes of the at
mosphere hold to a maximum, consump-
ton is very iRffequent. Indeed, SO true
| is this that we are forced to the conclu-
sion that extreme cold is inimical to the
production of consumption. The
primary effect of cold climate is an in
/
changes take place more rapidly, to-
gether with the products of increased
tissue metamorphosis. To meet this in
creased demand on the economy, more
food is taken, the digestive power and
appetite are increased, and all the proc
esses. which govern organic nutrition
are improved. The processes of absorb
ton, secretion, sanguihcation, assinnla-
ton, respiration and circulation are car
ried on much more actively than in
warm climates Cold, whether it be
water or climatic, is well known to be a
powerful tonic. That increased oxida-
ton of the tissues takes place in a cold
climate is shown by the increased car
bonic acid which is thrown off from the
| lungs The most robust health is main
| tanned where constructive and destructive
metamorphosis of tissue is most actively
carried on, and it is the fair balance of
this process of destruction and repara-
ton which constitutes the phenomena of
life. The effects of heat on the system
are much the opposite of those of cold.
Heat is relaxing and enervating. Oxis
dation of the tissues is greatly lessened
when the body is in an atmosphere
| warmer than itself. The effect of hu-
Nudity combined with heat is not only
Immediately harmful and dangerous,
but is very likely even to give rise to the
tuberculous cachexy through suppress
sion of cutaneOus Transportation.
! Out of vast accumulation of facts
with regard to climate, there are some
upon which the profession are agreed.
Among these is that of altitude. Careful
| investigation of this matter made by
| competent and trustworthy men, both
in this coontry and in Europe, clearly
| indicates the Importance of this altitude
| in the climatic treatment of cOnsump-
ton. There is much more ozone in the
lower strata of the atmosphere, and that
this is exceedingly valuable in the eli
matte treatment of phthisis is clearly in
Dictated. Ozone possesses high oxidiz-
ing power and purifies the atmosphere
by chemically uniting with the products
of decomposition. 1t destroys organ
isms by combining with them. 1t also
promotes nutrition and blood changes
by supplying to the respiratory organs
IA most active form of oxygen.
A careful study of the facts adduced
in his paper leads DIR. Jones to the fol-
lowing conclusions: (10 No zone en-
| joys entire immunity from pulmonary
consumption. e. The popular belief
that phthisis is common in cold climates
lis fallacious: and the idea, now sopre-
yalent, that phthisis is rare in warm eli
mates is as untrue as it is dangerous.
I (3.) The disease causes larger pro-
| portion of deaths on the sea-shore|the
mortality diminishing with elevation up
to certain point. a. Altitude is in
imical to the development of .consump-
ton, owing chiefly to the greater purity
of the atmosphere in elevated situations,
its freedom from organic matter, and
| its richness in ozone. o. Moisture
arising from clay soil or due to evap-
Grafton is one of the most influential
factors in its production. Co., Damp
ness of the atmosphere, from whatever
cause orsin any altitude, predisposes to
the development of the disease, and Is
hurtful to those already attacked. o.
Dryness is quality of the atmosphere
of decided value. (S.) The most I'M
favorable climate possible fora con-
sumDtive is one of uniform high tenn