The Press., 1893-06-08
ADDRESS
Delivered before the Conn. Medical Society at Hartford, May 25, 1893, by it's President,
c.B. NEWTON, M. D., OF STAFFORD SPRINGS.

c. B. NEWTON, M. D., OF STAFFORD SPRINGS. Gentlemen, Fellows of the State Medical Society: I wish to express to you my appreciation of this unsought honor conferred upon me, also my thanks, which offer you in the name of the coun- ty society represent, and mayI ask your indulgence in the performance of the duty which devolves upon me as your pre- siding officer. In the performance of this duty will occupy the time allotted to me to introduce to your attention a subject which has perhaps during past years received more attention in the lab- oratory and at the seaside than any other pathological study-the observation of a disease which has no geographical limits, but is frequent, more or less, among all the peoples of the globe. CONSUMPTION, or more definitely pulmonary tuberculosis, causes greater mortality than any other disease in our northern climate, which is alternately tropical and frigid, especially that bordering on the Atlantic seaboard and the great system of inland waters up- on our northern boundary.
 We have abundant evidence for believ- ing that there are constant relations be- tween certain meteorological phenomena and the prevalence of tuberculosis as cause and effect. AS physicians, while trying to reconcile health with ignorance of it's laws among our people, it is our plain duty to be sanitarians as well, be- cause this is a most promising and fruit ful field for research-because here we will find the ways of averting diseases which are difficult of cure. A study of the climatology of our country is import ant, that we may be able to direct our tubercular patients to localities best suit ed to the individual, having regard to complication and stage of disease, and financial ability. Though the facilities for rapid and easy travel are great in any southward direction, the time is not yet when an invalid without money is welcome at any establishment for the cure of phthisis. His best help will be from the warm and equally dry atmosphere-a minimum of humidity and with homelike surroundings. Securing these, with we'll regulated habits he has all that can be obtained from "health resorts" There is no charge for sunny skies, nothing to pay for enjoying what is born of perpetu- ual summer. Persons of wealth and of social nature would enjoy living in more expensive manner at any of the great san | itarians.
 ;. But now we have in mind the great ma jority who cannot afford to pay for what they do not need, but can afford to live as they do at home. A native physician to instruct him how to meet the new condi- 1 tions about him, how to dress and adapt himself to the new climate-this, with the slightest medication, is all he need to regard, and when, if so fortunate as to recover, remain there. To return north would be to provoke return of the dis ease, if hereditary. If primarially induced by harmful occupation or habits, with this correction the disease might not re- appear on his returning to these bleak hills of the north. It is not needful that the patient should at once go to tropical climate.
 The climate of Aiken, s. O., is dry and tonic-in latitude between 33o and $40 north in the vicinity of Augusta, easy of access s-altitude 600 it. above sea level. Has wide and nice streets, churches, pub lie and numerous hotels and boarding houses for the accommodation of invalids and visitors. It has porous, sandy soil, and is favorite resort for pulmonary in valids. It is sufficiently remote from the sea coast. The moisture of the easterly winds is but slightly felt. The climate is characterized as sunny and dry. Here the consumptive finds conditions favora. ble for recovery or mitigation of the dis ease.
 ! 1t is advised that the best time to gc south is before our September storms
 reaching the south in season to enjoy the finest season of the year, which extends from the above time we'll into the winter months, when, to escape any of the chill and frost of winter, the invalid may gc to Palatka or St. Augustine, Fla, where the air is warmer, but not so invigoratine as the more northern resorts. Probably the cases are few who find this necessary The time for returning north should be SC late as the last of May. It was once con isidered an act of the greatest imprudenct
 for the invalid who had fully developed tuberculosis to undertake a journey tc , Florida or to any of the gulf states at the commencement of our northern winter
 and with reason, at a former time wher
 facility of travel could not be compared with that of to-day. Now there is nc exposure and so especial effort. Every want and luxury is anticipated, so tha , the difference between the home and tn, palace and sleeping car will be chiefly
 that the latter is in a rapid motion, anC hardly realized-only as pleasant sense 7 l-that they are exchanging the "comins winter" for 8 more cOngenial climate Going south with the sun and retu4nins
 with his return few are able to do, so fo fullest benefit and permanent recovery they should remain.
 , If the predicted time ever comes, inva ! lids in Boston at evening, as a bird ol
 wings, may in the morning breakfast a fl St, Augustine or at the Golden Gate
 This will be as nearly possibility as an , other fanciful idea, which Edgar Fawcet tHdb u0WS bAo dSbIOuOLuoI r promised for tonight would be realized 2 the inhabitants of Mars at last would 2 Egive intelligible sign to thousands wh, ' await it here on earth.".
 { In Dr. w. w. Morland's 'Florida an,
 South Carolina as Health Resorts" h
 says "this crusade after health is too ire v quently begun at the wrong time; i'm perfectly carried out when rightly begun ;; . that he will do wisely to inform himsel
 as to the surroundings which await hin
 in the proposed place of his sojourn, am f also to assure himself of his ability t
 command comforts and attendance whe n among strangers"
 The chief objection to sanitaria locate :, upon our sea coast is the alternate dr. 3 winds of the main land with the great hu