The herald., 1894-01-01
THE IDEAL CLIMATE.

tributed to the Medical News an ex-
haustive discussion OF the influence OF
climate on breathing capacity. with a
comparison of various American eli
matte resorts. He shows. in the first
place-what hardly calls for proof--thst
anything which develops breathing
power is favorable to general health.
and especially to the condition OF the
lungs. Free breathing of pure air of
the right temperature is the best pre-
ventive OF pulmonary diseases.
From this it follows that the best eli
mate for weak lungs-or any other kind
OF lungs, for that matter--is one that
will encourage the patient to stay out of
doore as much as possible. "Equabil-
ity, topographic attractions and scenic
beauty, preponderRnce OF pleasant
weather, and especially OF sunshine,
absence of soil moisture and OF excee-
sive atmospheric humi1ity-these are
all qualities that make a climate desir-
able for chronic invalids, because they
render open.air life and freedom of
action at all times both prudent and
pleasurable, and therefore inviting"
There are few parts of the United
States, or any other country, that fully
answer these requirements. Florida
was long favorite resort for consump-
tiyes in winter-of course, it was out OF
the question in Hummer-but DIR. Wal
liam shows that it is anything but an
ideal resort. 1t is subject to malaria /;
it is swampy, rainy, foggy and enervat-
ing. "None of the effects and advant-
ages of varying altitude can be obtained,
the elevation at the highest point on
the peninsula being not more than few
feet above sea level. The whole penin-
sula is practically an ieland--or An arch
ipelago of islands--aDchored in the gulf.
Its most ambitious rivers are little more
than broad, alligator breeding bayous,
or black and almost stagnant' water. !"
Some consumptives do we'll in Florida,
but "beyond the bare feasibility OF
spending the greater portion of every
day in the open air, when rain or thick
fogs do not prevent. there is nothing in
the climatic characteristics to stimulate
or in the slightest degree develop the
breathing capacity. 1t is inclined to be
debilltating and languor-inducing,
rather than tonic climate"
Other noted climatic resorts have
their special disadvantages. The noun
tain regions OF Georgia and the Caro-
linas are subject to trying fluctuations
of temperature. The Adirondacks and
White Mountains, which, of course, are
summer and not winter resorts, are
suited only to the robust. Colorado is
better than any of these, but its great
elevation makes respiration go difficult
as to overtax weak lungs, and its eli.
mate ie too severe to be safe in al cases.
By a process OF exhaustion DIR. Wal
liam reaches the rational conclusion
that the only ideal climate in the United
States is to be found in Southern Cali
fornia. 1t is, to his mind, the most
unique and unquestionably best all
round American clinlste.D 1t is 'sthe
most peculiar, and at the same time, in
all it's features the most inviting and
sanitary climate for invalids as class
that has yet been made known on this
continent. 1t may be fairly questioned
whether anything in Europe can boast
oil such a combination of favorable quail
ties with 30 few Objectionable oEes."
1t is not merely the absence OF cold
that distinguishes the climate of South
ern California. There is an indescriba-
BILE charm about existence there that
has laid hold of all who have come
under its spell and has made the &C.
counts they have written of their ex-
periences seem like the tales of romano.
ing dreamers. DR.. Wallian cites the
testimony of physicians, army officers
and literary people to the unique
attractions OF Southern California, which
he sums up in these nine points:
81. A mild, equable and yet bracing
temperature.
"2. A warm and porous soil.
"3. Pure, aseptic air and freedom
from missmata.
"a. Preponderance OF sunshine, light
rainfall.
.'5. Absence of high winds and
etorms. Thunder and lightning are
practically unknown.)
''6. Ready access to a great variety
OF elevations, ranging from sea level to
10000 feet or more, as desired.
~. A varied and beautiful landscape.
IS. A soil-productvenes unparal-
leled in any civilized quarter of the
globe.
49, A combination that, as q whole,
constantly and automatically tends to
enhance the respiratory function and to
stimulate and develop the breathing
habit"
Iuo nCicuLluC CouClubiUu III tudL III uuo
race should acquire the habit of breath
ing two or three times as much air as at
present, it could shake off the most
fatal forms of disease from which it now
suffers, and almost indefinitely increase
the average expectation of life. This
end could be most easily attained if
every ybody could live in e climate like
that of Southern California, which un-
fortunately, is impossible. Nature is
not lavish in her best gifts.