St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-11-05

the Sierra Nevada mountains. They do !
this knowing it is an established fact,
that an elevation of 1900 feet or more
above the ocean level is necessary as
prevention or cure for consumption.
Also what is necessary is an even tenn
perature, no debilitating heat, nor ex-
treme cold, and as dry an atmosphere
as can anywhere be found. (Then what
pernicious habit of evaporating sew
eral gallons of water daily in common
furnace).
In the more Northern California there
is narrow belt between the ocean and
the mountains that is quite healthful,
but one must be back from the ocean 30
as to escape the sea breezes, and so far
from the mountains as to be free from
the sudden changes met near their
base.
The rainy season should also be
avoided, and no person inclined to be
nervous should:go there, as in no place
in this lceuntry, and probably in the
world, is the mortality so great from
nervous diseases as in California. This
has been attributed to mining excite
| ment, but investigation proves this not
to be the cause.
Northern Texas has been considered
by some, and perhaps justly, a superior
place for consumptive's resort. There
are some things, especially the climate,
to recommend it, but at.presenO. the
poor, and the prevalence of fever and
ague make it an acknowledgements. Ar
kansas has climate wellHsuited to re-
lieve bronchial troubles, but here, too,
railroad and hotel accommodations are
poor, and fever and ague,prevails.
Colorado no doubt stands at the head
so far as the number. r.beneftted or cured
is concerned, but one great reason for
this is such large numbers have gone
there in search of health. No place has
received such an influx of consumptives
as this, and probably nowhere so many
benefited but when We come to the
percentage of those cured or helped,
the result is not so very much in it's
favor compared with other places. Still
no doubt hundreds and perhaps thou
sands owe their lives at the present
time to the climate of Colorado. Not
withstanding all that can be or has been
said in favor, there are some serious OBJ
jections to this place. One is the fire.
quent prevalence of strong winds, heav-
lily laden with dust, irritating to sensi-
tive lungs. Also the great tendency to
rheumatism, cataIrb. .and dysentery. Of
late it has been said that persons going
to Colorado lose flesh rapidly-at Den
yer and at Leadville, from one-ffth to
an eighth of their former weight. This
however lacks confirmation.
Minnesota at one time stood at the
head of consumptive resorts, and at the
present is desirable one; still the ex-
treme heat of summer and cold of win
ter antidote much of the benefit receiv-
ed. Besides the extremes in tempera-
ture, cases of pneumonia are frequent,
and catarrh is prevalent.
Florida is now and has been for sew
eral years, great winter resort for
consumptiyes and invalids of all kinds,
and the large number who have been
cured or improved warrants others in
going. Here too we find objections.
Although some have described it as the
} gateway of Paradise" others proclaim
it as ''the most God-forsaken place on
EARTH" One escapes the extreme cold
of winter, sometimes even frost yet
: pneumonia is very.common,.a ,.also fevers
and dysentery; and fever and ague is
!, indigenous to the soil. The atmosphere
may be warm and balmy, yet it is very
liable to be damp, aud the changes are
: sudden and sometimes extreme. There
is nothing exhilerating in the air moth
ing to keep brain and heart in unison.
People become lazy and restless, and
wander from one place to another.
Some in the first stages of the disease
: rapidly recover, while others do not
: improve .and IreturnH discouraged and
! die; and others farther advanced in the
7 disease rapidly decline and die there.
s Some parts of Virginia, Tennessee and
: Kentucky have been and are now re-
b. sorts for consumptives; but those parts
sufficiently elevated to be beneficial
have such large amount of rainfall
during the year they are quite objec.
tionable.
Western North Carolina now bids fail
to rival, possibly excel, all the former
e places as resort for invalids, moro es
e pecially consumptives. In the southern
o portion of the state is a plateau of many
a thousand acres of rich land lying fOu
o thousand feet above the ocean level. 1
e is now being settled by people from
s the North and South, and bids fair t.
), be one of the best fruit-raising district
1t in the United States. The climate i
It delightful, neither hot in summer o
: cold in winter. At present one has t.
e leave the cars at Seneca City, Soutl
: Carolina, and ride in a private convey
i ance forty miles, stopping over night a
G a farm house. This no one seriously in
: disposed could do.
The last place we shall mention