The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-14

Chicago. Aug 14-Dr A p. o'Brien,
OF this city. give the following advice to
persons afflicted with The KIondike gold
fever:
on the subject OF one who should and who
should not 90 to the Kiondikc, lis a hard
task There is much exaggeration cur
rent about the risks involved in he journey.
The common talk about the fatal effects
of arctic cpld may lie discounted largely
Man especially man reared in the tenn
pcra,s zone -hak the power OF assiaii ing
hi.-.Self with climatic changes more Than
any Other mammal Changes from hot
10 cold. froH moist 10 dry, from high aiti
iudts 20 seacoast. and the reverse are
Found beneficial in individual eases in the
bighes. degree.
For many constitutions the braciii;s ef-
9s-,t of d trip 10 the northern ldtitudes is
positively beneficial. Snow and ice are
not in themselves 10y any means injurious
to the ph ySicai IA aith OF the average native
OF the temperate zone. They NAY he dis
agreeable bat they are not ushesithfii,
pnIesS the soil of the district wneFe they
occur i Ct a nature To retain danpness.
c1Gys re bad in this respect; gray,aiy sCils
are safe.
Scientific re.'ards have well established
that the average duration OF human life
is greater in proportion as the residence is
advanced from the equator toward the
poles. There are exceptions. OF course,
bgt only suca. as prove the general rule.
,Ss- .ItS n rnF in.
voyage 10 Indis or Panama than in one u
Pering Straits.
Climate, however is ret the oriy thing
TO be oons;dcred when there is question.
IA a mctiICal setlse, Of t..r risks Of diAtaf,;
and Luxurious expedition, undertaken by
a multitude of persons widely differing, as
ali fnultitudes must, ia The capacity of in
diyiduals for standing hardship and priva-
tons.
To the weak. or those disposed to special
aiinleuis. conditions which are only Ia
vieOra'ii to the man in average health
are often absolutely fatal. Weak hearts
aud weak lungs cannot face Northern blasts
or temp aratgres below zero. Rheumatism
and les Kindred affections are equally ill
fitted for such tests. Nor are such per
sous, whet her young or old, as have been
long accuSio'ils~d tD purely sedeatary or
cspai ions or to lives of ease and luxury,
physically fitted for the hards hips OF the
KiOndike. In the former the vital and
ressstive Do gvers have never been developed:
in the latter they have been Slapped.
Weak eyes would be severely tested 10y the
glare OF A snow covered land. and blind
ness is bot one OF tie dangers TO be feared
hY arctic exnIosers.
In brief. l would say that persons sub
seat 10 troubleS of the heart throat orlunes
should stay away from the Klon dixie Ply
steal exhaustion. colds, scurvy, rheuma-
tam aad snow blindness aTe the chief dan
gers 70 t,a apnreheaded ON the trip from "A
medical standpoint. For the healthy in
other r,spetSs than those mentioned there
is no more danger to be dreaded than In
any ordinary change Of residence. Alaska
is not mere unhealthful in Itself than Hi
land Only those that are able to bear
harsfshlps should face them. bat - far as
hygienic conditions go, there need be no
special apprehension On the score OF Alaska.
In cnnclusisaa | would say To those Of weak
lungs aua weak heaIts. and sedentary
people generally, stay at home. The 9th
en- may balance their chaaces without need
of doctors advice
woaid ADVISE al persons who contera-
plate gai.ag 20 the klondike region 10 in
clsiae In their outfits a medicine chest COM
p,,spd Of the following drugs, the cost Of
which ss,,uld be within SO: