The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-22
SAN ANTONIO AND WESTERN
TEXAS COUNTRY.
The Place for Invalids Generally,
And Especially the Afflicted
with Pulmonary or
Throat Diseases.

in San Antonio, | have contributed
many articles upon the subject of climate
In pulmonary diseases to the medical
journals of the country, and have en-
deavored to portray the advantages Of
the climate of Western Texas as they
actually exist, and without highly col
ored gloss or Establishment. In my cor
respondence to the widely circulated
Texas sun upon the same subject, shall
write with the sole desire to truthtully
set forth these advantages, in the hope
of influencing those catarrhal, bronchi-
tic, asthmatic and consumptive patients,
who are capable of receiving benefit at
its hands, to seek the health restoring
influence Of this climate, as thousands
of us have done before them.
1t will be asked what are the special
features of this section of country that
make 1t so beneficial in these diseases.
They are many, prominent among which
are high and hilly country, free from
malaria in amy form; pure, dry, noun
famous atmosphere, invigorating in the
extreme; a southern latitude. the Their
mometer never reaching zero, seldom
the freezing point; almost an entire alb
sence of frosts and of fogs, the latter,
when present at all, being only along
water course. very light, and being
readily dissipated by the early rays Of
the morning sun. In no other section Of
the United States in which the writer
has visited, or of which he has heard, are
the above conditions found to exist in
their entirety, and these go far in max
ing ours the most healthful and salu-
brious climate in the Union.
Florida is low and malaral; California
has nearly six months of humid weather
annually; Colorado has its severe cold,
its heavy SHOWS and frosts and its in
tensely rariiied atmosphere; Minnesota
has the conditions of Colorado. except
ing, perhaps, the last named objection.
Western Texas, as | have outlined 1t,
has n southern climate, II perfect free
dom from malaral influences. n pure,
dry; bracing atmosphere, incident to an
altitude of from GOO to 1900 feet above
the sea, in latitude sufficiently south
ern to afford immunity from severe cold.
AS before stated, in no other State in
the Union are these conditions to be
found conformity, and hence ii Is that
the climate of Western Texas is superior
to that of any other pulmonary health
resort in the United States, in the many
dangerous and oftentimes fatal throat
and lung diseases.
The class of cases most certainly and
promptly cured or greatly benefited by
n proper life in Western Texas, are those
afflicted with nasal catarrh, humid and
cardiac asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis
and the hemorragic and pneumonia
forms of consumption. Great benefit Is
derived in some cases of tubercular con-
sumption, as well, but, as Il general rule,
patients well advanced in this form OF
the disease, the predisposition being
well marked rs hereditary, had better re-
main ut home or go north instead of
coming south to have the fatal results
follow the more rapidly by Fastening
the process of breaking down the tuber-
culous deposits.
In the class of cases named as durable
in this climate, the results are some
times almost miraculous. AT other
times, owing perhaps to peculiar
idiosyncrasies OF the patient, or to some
local cause, Improvement Is slow and
the exercise of patience and persever-
ance on the part of the patient Is neces-
sary. The most inveterate case of throat
or bronchial disease will be benefited in
this climate if the subject will give the
climate and himself a reasonable chance.
Outdoor exercise; and plenty Of II,
wholesome and nutritious food, and
other essentials to health, are none the
less necessary here because we have u
health giving atmosphere. Combine
these with the climatic influences and
recovery is certain where recovery Is nj
all possible, as can be attested by the
thousands of invalids who are now per-
manent residents of Western Texas,
themselves former invalids from the
north or east. They are to be found by
the hundreds in San Antonio, they are
to be found In every town and in every
hamlet, and on nearly every farm oil
ranch in the health domain of Texas
and their number will be augmented
lust in proportion as the health restor-
ing influences of this climate become
known throughout the civilized world
The writer knows of no climate in the
United States where nasal catarrh, bron'
chitis and asthma are more certainly
and speedily cured tnan IN the climate
of Western Texas, and an experience o.
nearly four years in this health domain
favors him with no little knowledge
upon this subject. They are almost in
variably speedily and thoroughly re-
lieved, even when chronic and annoying
to severe degree, This is true also II
pneumonia and hemorrhagic forms o.
consumption, and In those cases of tuber
cular consumption where improvement
is possible. The pure, dry, bracing at
mosphere of the health belt of Texal
has saved and prolonged the lives o
thousands Of pulmonary invallds, and Il
will certainly favor with new lease o
life thousands more il they will only con
sent to give it trial; If they will only
tear themselves away from the destruc
tive influences of the northern climate
from northern and eastern cities, wher,
the atmosphere is heavily ladened with
noxious gases and dusts from the score
and hundreds OF manufactures within
their limits-and will take up their resi-