Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-01
GOOD FOR HEALTH.
DR.. Alexauder's Able Report
on Los Angeles Climate.
NATURES BEST SANITARIUM
he Conditions Which Make the
Atmosphere Here So Condu-
Give to Health.

select site for branch home West of
the Rocky Mountains, General Nelson
A. Miles, Brigadier General U. S. A.,
commanding the department of Arizona,
Colonel Alexander, Medical
Director of the above military depart
ment, to investigate and report with re-
gard to the climate, hygiene and mortal
ity Of Los Angeles and vicinity. Follow
ing is Colonel Alexander's report:
DIR. ALExANDER's S REPORT.
ERsDEPARTMENT oFARIzoNA)
MEDICAL DIREcToR's OFFICE,
Los ANGELES, Cal. June 27. 1887.
To the Commanding General, Department
of Arizona:
sIR-In compliance with your request
1 have the honor to submit the following
report in regard to Los Angeles and a
suitable location for Soldiers Home"
AS have been here but a few months
and have not had the opportunity of in
vestigating the subject thoroughly, give
extracts from the State Board of Health
and Health Officer of the city:
Los Angeles, "a degrees, minutes, 35
seconds north latitude; lib degrees, IL
minutes, 4S seconds, west longitude.
Seventeen miles inland. Elevation from
$50 to 450 feet; open approaches from the
ocean from the south and west. Shell
tered on the north by the foothills of the
Coast Range and on the east by the Sierra
Madre mountains:
TOPOGRAPHY.
The territory to which this inquiry is
restricted embraces the counties of Santa
Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino
and San Diego. 1t comprises an irreg-
ular outline extending about from lati-
tude 80 degrees 80 minutes to 35 degrees
0 minutes, and from longitude 81 de-
rees to 43 degrees 40 minutes.
Four of the five counties have a wide
exposure on the sea. Two-thirds of the
coast line OF Santa Barbara county and
about one-half that of Los Angeles
county presents southerly exposure.
The western part Of this region is
traversed by low ranges of mountains,
varying in altitude of from $500 to 5000
feet.
By far the most important part of
Southern California is the western slope
of the Coast range of mountains, which
from narrow strip in the north widens
to broad plain in the South. Its area
is materially increased also by the val
leys of numerous short rivers, which
traverse the mountain ranges and flow
toward the ocean.
This region is possessed of wonderful
fertility and is capable of supporting a
denser population than any other part of
California.
The conditions of the soil and climate
are such that it will produce almost any
crop that can be grown between the lati-
tudes of Lake Manitoba and Key West.
There are many varieties of soil to be
found in the Southern counties of Cali
fornia. These, in their bearing upon the
climate of the region, may be classified
with their retentiveness of moisture.
The non-retentive soil includes the red
ard blue clay, of which there is but
little, and the well-known adobe.
HUMIDITY.
A knowledge of the total rainfall of a
region gives but little insight into its
climatic condition; the distribution of
the rainfall reveals much.
In Southern California the rainfall oc-
ours almost wholly during the winter
months. A few scattering showers occur
in November and December; then an
occasional rain in April and early in
May.
The average rainfall of the southern
part OF the State may be seen from the
following table. Of the five stations
mentioned, Santa Barbara and San Diego
are on the coast; Los Angeles is about
seventeen miles inland, Average rain
fall, in inches, at Los Angeles, 17.6
inches. During the summer months the
relative humidity is much less than in
winter. The deposition of dew ceases
altogether and the atmosphere becomes
very dry. There is no decomposition of
organic matter, because there are no
summer rains; as result, the air is so
pure and free from organic germs that
meat exposed to the air does not purify.
WINDS.
During the winter months the prevail
ing winds are from the south and south
west; during the summer months from
the north and northeast. During the very
hot days in the summer a stiff breeze all
along the coast blows inland to replace
the rising current of hot air.
TEMPERATURE.
Period covering four years. Los Angeles,
mean temperature, June, July and Au-
gust, 66.1; mean temperature, January
and February, 500. Sunstroke is almost
unknown. Although the summer days
may be unpleasantly warm, the nights
are invariably cool.
DISEASES.
Authorizations: A., absent r., rare {;
V. r., very rare; O., occasional; F., fire.
quent.
LOS ANGELES.
Rheumatism, R.. intermittent fever,
V. R.; remittent fever, r.; typhe-ma-
laria, o.; diarrh9a, o.; Group, O.. !:
bronchitis, o.; congestion Of lungs, r. !;
pneumonia, R. bronchial asthma, R. !;
hay fever, V. R. pleurisy, V. R.; car
dlac asthma, r.. acute disease of liver
r.. myalgia, r.. infantile commissions,
H.. cerebro-spinal fevers, V. r. ; tetanus,
A.; tubercular meningitis, v. R.; chol.
era morbus, R.. cholera infantum, v.
r.; influenza, O.; catarrhal fever, o. !;
laryngitis, O.; pthisis, V: R.; measles,
O.; scarletina, o.; dyptheria, O.; cry
sipelas, V. R.; puerperal fever, V. R. !;
functional cardiac disturbances, O.;
organic diseases of liver, O.; typhoid
fever, o.; hydrophobia, A. trichinosis.
A. taenia. V. r. peritonitis idsopathic.
V. R.; acute nephritis, R.
In 1868 severe epidemic of small
pox occurred. The inhabitants then
were almost all Spanish or Mexicans.
This is the only epidemic known OF.
Diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, etc.
have never been epidemic, though cases
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