The National tribune., 1891-07-30
HEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
BY FELIX l. OSWALD, N. D.
CXY.
MooTEp QuEsTIoNs-icontinuedl.


the principal newspapers and distribute post
ers and circulars at many railway depots
Others 90 not advertise at all. They rely on
their reputation and enjoy fair patronage. Is
not their success an indirect proof that the ex-
peFlence Of their patrons encourages them TO
repeat their visits? Aud il so. does that not
demonstrate the remedial effect Of certain
mineral solutions and the fact that drugs are
not wholly valuoless? Many visitors of -
springs DO not care anything for its reputation
rs fashionable pleasure resort. but come
merely for the sake of their health; and they
have come every Summer for a long number of
years"
The secret or the remedial effect OF Summer
resorts la the neighhorhO0d of mineral springs
can generally be found in the purity OF their
air and the sanitary influence Of outdoor exer-
else in forests aud highlands. OF a hundred
popular pleasure resorts Of tho United States
about 40 are situated on the seashOre; OF the
remaining 60, at least half hundred in the
highlands. ea-bathinE has. no doubt tonic
effect. The sanitary value of salt water has, per-
haps, been somewhat ovcrratcd. but sea water
is generally cool the splashing of the surf is the
equivalent Of shower bath seaside rambies
are pleasantly diversified by she'll hunting ard
hshlng, and may be eujOved even By patients
not specially fond Of pedestrian exercise for IFS
own sake. Mountain resorts mostly cure
health seeker IA spite Of the circumstance that
the proprietor has built his hotel in tire imme-
date neighbUrhoOd Of q mineral spring. The
special place mentioned IN the communication
OF my Virginia friend is situated at an eleya-
ton of nearly 1000 feet above tide-water; the
nolghboring streams abound with perch and
trout, the wood with huekeberries; ramble
on the backbone Of the Alleghanies is prone
made on the roof OF Old Virginia; amateur
naturalists can OH their sachels with rare herbs
aud minerals or chase the butterflies on the
N all fuvifGa
the pleasure seeker TO spend large part OF his
tine out OF doors. The fare is wholesome and
abundant; the cheapness OF country produce
makes authorizations superhuous; honey ~
cents pound, the best mountain butter 10
cents pound. milk five cents a quart-how
can the visitors Of that highland Goshen fail TO
thriyeg The few rainy days can be whiled
away IN ten-pin alleys or IA the airy reading
room OF the hotel, whose managers endeavor
TO suit all tastes aud frequently engage a band
OF skiiiul musicians an occasional lecturer or
photographer, or such TOpe-dauceTs aud profess
sOrs OF legerdemain as may turn up in the
neighbOring cities. Musiietos are never seen
IN that altitude; fever and hay asthma are
unknown. What need Of fashion worship TO
explain the popularity of that Summer resOrt2
The fact IS that the entire ab0lishment of
fashion journals and Irritation balls would not
seriously impair the attractiyeness Of the best
pleasure resorts.
And the best health resorts could equally we'll
dispense with their mineral springs. Some OF
the most popular sanitarums of the Allegha-
mes and western Sierras are visited exclusively
for the sake Of their climatic charms The
Hotel del Monte, in southern California, is
thronged every Summer with refugees from
the bake-Oven heat OF the inland valleys. Ce-
sars Head In the highlands Of South Carolina,
attracts thousands by its scenery aud freedom
from malaria. At the very summit Of the Ten
nessee Mountains, ClOudland Hotel enjoys q
large patronage not only Of occasional sight
seers. but Of permanent boarders. who have
found the dry, cool air Of that altitude a relia-
bic cure for ailments which drugs fail TO re-
iieve.
Hay asthma disappears at an elevation OF
1000 feet above sea level. Fever and ague
promptly yield 10 the lracing temperature OF
the higher attitudes. At 5000 feet above the
level Of the Atlantic a patient with the pre-
monit0ry symptoms Of yellow fever upon him
will recover surely a the neighbors Of his
home in tho lowlaHis would few months
after, when the FIRST hard night frosts expurgate
the atmosphere Of the coast swamps. Quinine
may have y similar effect, but besides being
less prompt IN its action, and in critical eases
much less reliable, il will afllct the patient for
years with occasional attacks Of sick headaches
and humming ia the ears. The mountain cure
will leave no such after-cffects. 10 will nip
fcvcrs in the bud because the microbes OF the
disease are killed out By the breathing Of cold
air quite rs quickly as by swallowing bitter
antiseptiCs. Mountain air will restore tho dys-
peptic's appetite, aud secure the blessing of
sleep TO patients whom drugs can only stupefy
at the risk OF more aud more incurable nerv-
business. Chronic asthma is relieved by short
sojOurn in the highlands because their atmOs-
phere is free from the underlined admixtures
which aggravate the affection i'm the damp or
smOke-clOuded air Of the valley towns, possibly
also, because our lungs can expand more read
ily where the rising barometer indicates the
decrease Of atmospheric pressure. "COds"
soon yield 10 outdoor Tambles in the neighbor.
hood Of "A highland resort, unless the patient
should perpetuate his trouble by keeping his
bedroom windows permanently closed; sick
headaches disappear under the magic influence
OF the cool mountain wind; weakly children
after a few weeks enjoyment Of upland ram
bles aud wholesome fare become rs stout as
young Indians, and develop an appetite apt to
modify their popularity as lOng-term bOarders;
cOnsumptiyes experience relief Of their chronic
cough alter the first cool, clear day, and NAV
secure a new lease Of life if the favorable wea.
ther should continue for a couple of weeks; in
the earlier stages OF Brights disease a change
Of diet and climate may effect permanent
cure.
All these benefits Of Summer resort in the
highlands are totally independent OF the in-
Clucutu Vicinity OF "A Inlhtfdi spring, ana are,
indeed, only too often impaired by the habitual
use of strong mineral waters There are So
called chaiybeate springs, which cannot be
readily distinguished from other highland
fountains, and, considering their GOODNESS aud
freedom from organic admixtures may possibly
do more good than harm But thu ease differs
when the presence O! 4 large percentage of
iron eolOrs the water with tinge Of irty yellow.
or when the admiGiure Of sulphur becomes
positively nauseous. Such springs are liable
10 all the objections against drastic drugs.
They will relieve constipation for the same
reason that "blue pill" will stimulate tor
pid liver. The system hastens to rid itself of
health endangering drug and that feyerish
and wholly-unnatural activity Of the organism
is mistaken for a sign Of restored vigor. After
a largo dose Of sulphur water the bowels act
more freely, but the patient IS all the while
conscious Of feeling OF uneasiuess, resembling
that experienced during the operation of a
viTulent medicine. Those dsagreeable symp-
toms may DO temporarily counteracted by the
outdoor recreation and the wholesome fare Of
the Summer reson, but in q day or two the
patient complains Of a relapse the sense of
general WEAKNESS returns and constipation
makes IL necessary 10 repeat the purgative-
this time probably in an increased dose Every
popular spa Of Europe and North America is pa
trOnized by habitues who will swallow as much
rs 10 or even Is pint cups of nauseous sulphur
water or rust yellow chal ybeate in single fore
noon, aud the worst about il is that the system
is thus made more aud more dependent upon
the aid Of an artificial stimulant.
docs IL not stand 10 reason that nature has
intended such springs for some wise purpose of
her oWnT" q champion OF the sulphuT-water