Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-10-09
SILVER CITY. new MEXICO.
As o Resort for Persons With
Weak Lungs
y n,snr WILLIAM m,re n y

Reprinted from ihe October, 1893.
numbor Of the New Orleans Medical and
Surgical journal.
Statistical evidence roos 10 show very con
e%iuslycly that me climatic conditions most
inimical TO the dciopmcnt and increase Of
chronic pulmonary disease are. ON the one hand,
q NE on The occan away from Tie hand. and on
ne ether. residence 70 q certain altitude, say
from SOU b 1000 feet, where the sunlight IS
abundant throughout Size year and the air conf
parnuvclY free from aqueous vapor.
A. a msturai consequence The medical profess
sion hes nof been siDe IN testing and proftlnF
81 iir f~befupcuiic effects Of those conditions
that present such favorable prophylatic results.
and q MAY be said with little fear OF contradict
ion that today the climatic treatment Of chronic
pulmonary disease Is the one most relied vpon
70 bring about early and permanent results.
Cod liver %. Iron, the hypophosphltes. out
door exercise, and tie MI other tonic meas
urcs 20 often resorted 10 ioF the purpose Of 70
noying debility. are coming to be regarded a.
bridges rom emergency 10 emergency, rather
shan distractions stcmminE The implacable tide
81 disease. Cures produced by these agents
have been observed. but they arc as uncertain
~ they are and only serve as fur
ther Srgumen why those who desire more than
temporary alienation should seek 10 attain this
consummation BY immediate aud permanent
change Of residence.
When we come to the question Of the plod-
ding medical practitioner thus surrendering a
Tcmunerative case for the sake Of principle and
the bUnoft Of the said case. and the sim more
important one Of the patient leaving q comfort
able home, perhaps changing the character Of
his business occupation, 10 go tonnothor country
with strange people aud surroundings, Il must
be remembered that Il Is a chance for life. aye.
Tonewed health and ylgor through an indefinite
period OF years. And this chance for the
patient Is b be balanced against prolonged
mvalldlsm with death lis happlest outcome.
Il Is not intended here to dwell upon the re-
markable immunity from pulmonary diseases
enjoyed by sailors and s~eafarlng people, as Is
eyIdcnced, for example, by the very low death
mte from these affections Ia the American and
British nayiea. and immunity due In a large
degree 20 the stiffness and freedom from con
tamlnation OF the rcsplred sea air, together with
she constant exposure 20 sunlight. But as n life
on the ocean. except for single voyages, Is not
practicable to the majority Of luvalids this
mode of.trcatment becomes applicable only 10 a
minimum Of cases.
Many places throughout the United States
have been cxtolled as health resorts for persons
threatened with or suffering from phthlsis. and
n catalogue even OF the most prominent Of them
wonld take up more space than can be permit
ted In this article. But few Of them have been
found beneficial longer than one or 1--we season.
u each ydlr, and rs a result the unoRendini
c%onsumptlye, constantly seeking a suitabl,
climate, has become, like the accursed Jew IN
~. NuH.r.a a 81. Al. f. - A.. m-NN
The coneensus OF opinion given forth by those
VIII have studied cllmatology both IN the oit
and new world has been well expressed IN III,
following synopsis drawn mp by Dr, Charles
DensiOn, Of Denver, Colo, which may be re
gardet rs The necessary re%quirementsI for nm,
climate In which tuberculous patients can ex
pect 70 attain permanent health.
1. Dryuess AS opposed TO moisture.
3. COolnesshr cold preferable TO warmth o
heat
J. RarefaetiOn as opposed to sealeyel pres
sure.
(. Sunshine as opposed 20 clOudiness.
Variability Of temperature as opposed t
equabliiiy,
COMPENSATORY PROPORTIONS.
O. Marked diathermacy OF the air to be pre-
ferred TO the smoky atmosphere OF cities or IN
dense mir strata of moist currents.
7. Radiation tand absorption Of heat by rock
and sandy loans better that latent absOrptlo
by water and damp clay soils.
8. Mountainous connguratiOn OF the countr
(quick drainage) cOntrasted with the natnes.
etc, Of level sections
o. Frequent electrical changes Of atmOspher
also moderate winds Except In quite cold weatl
err, preferable TO continuous stiffness Of the all
10. Inland attitudes contrasted with sea a
(total absence Of land lnnuence); but IN certal
cases sea voyages and island resorts % be pr
ferred as compromise substitutes for high alt
tubes.
In answer 70 the question. is there any porto
OF our country that combines all OF these warrior
requirements we would answer emphaticall
yes; IN almost the whole area Of the terrltori,
Of New Mexico and Arizona, IN portions
Colorado. and the mountainous districts OF Cal
fOrnla, may be found climates that conform
the foregoing requirements. But New MexiC
possesses them TO a ~lgreater degree and oy.
alarger surface % country than any OF IN
others
New Mexico covers an area OF l2i 900 squaT
miles, with an elevation above the sea as follow
0.D00 square miles .... ......f. feet or less.
dl.lul squire mlltd...s- .-.4sNuo 70 u 90 Tee
bI.f1 square niles go. ......b,O0 10 1000 fee
2s1O square miles.... ......7 1000 feet and owe
~, 200 square miles.
As the requisite conditions Of climate are y
marked under an altitude OF 1900 feet, and as
portion Of the Territory Is lower than 500 fee