Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-17
A Physician Whose Life Was Saved
by Residence at Santa Fe Tells Of
Climatic Advantages.
HOW LUNGS ARE HEALED
Why Physicians No Longer Send Patients
to Sea Coast Towns Durability Of Con-
sumption by Climate Now Admit
ted by the Medical World.

uuU. Uuu acres OIL when is tlllaDle land.
mas a population or zS2, OOO, OF winch
UUU Is Inaian. It's greatest length IS
5,v miles; its greatest breadth, $50
miles.
The high interior of our continent
comprises in the large table-land eX-
from the great divide in Colo-
rado, through New Mexico, is not ex-
celled anywhere in the world as a re-
sort for consumptives. The altitude,
the companies, land colonization en-
terprises ana dryness, the purity of at
mosphere and the large amount OF
ozone it contains, coInbine TO create
conditions very favorable to recovery
ron tuberculosis.
There is, perhaps, no subject in medi-
cal literature upon which medical men
in general possess less practical infor-
nation than upon the subject OF Gil
mate. This statement, which is based
upon an observation of more than sew
en- years, is not made in a spirit OF
criticism, nor is it in any manner in
tended as a reflection upon a class OF
scientific men so honest, conscientious
and Intelligent, as the great body OF
medical practitioners in our country.
east have been obliged to rely for their
information on this subject almost en-
tirely upon such representations as are
commonly made in the m~ultitudinous
mass of ~"write-ups" issued by railroad
persons in general, who have Some
thin7 to SELF in the shape of an Eden"
of one kind or another.
The American Genealogical Asso-
citation has done much to correct this
evil by collecting and distributing relia-
BILE statistics, and it is today doing con
time, prove of great practical and per-
manent value to every practitioner Of
medicine in the civilized world. The
'chaff" is gradually being winnoWed
from the pure grains Of truth, and the
unfortunate sufferer from disease, who
is compelled to leave home, friends,
and all that is most valued in life, and
seek change Of residence in a climate
favorable to the perpetuation Of health
and life, will be the chief beneficiary.
My residence in the Territory of New
Mexico extends over a period of more
than five years, during which time /
have had a very favorable opportunity
of observing all that is most valuable
bearing upon the subject of climatic
conditions of this region. I am convin-
ced that, within the geographical boun-
daries of this vast territory, climatic
conditions exist superior in many res
poets to any other equal area on this
continent. The climatic characteristics
of the Territory of New Mexico embrace
in an almost ideal condition those most
sought and valued in the treatment of
diseases of the lungs and respiratory
system.
An absolutely ideal climate is not to
be found anywhere, ana 1t Is a waste of
time to seek for conditions which exist
only in the minds Of visionary writer's.
What is claimed for this region is that
1t possesses in a remarkable degree the
most desirable elements furnished by
natures laboratory for the treatment
of certain diseases.
In writing Of climatic conditions, it is
impossible to avoid allusion to a disease
that has baffed our best scientific
minds for centuries, and which remains
with us today as it accompanied the
Jewish people in their wanderings
through the desert, a scourge to the hui
man race, a mighty destroyer of life, a
"Banquo's ghost" that will not down.
I mean tuberculosis.
The principal involved in the selection
of a suitable climate for the treatment
of persons afflicted with diseases of the
lungs Is n Of chemistry rather thar
physiology, and in order that this fac
may be made clear for the purpose o.
what follows, it may be we'll to discard
a few ~antiquated and stubborn fallacie!
that have been too long insisted upol
and chung to with unreasonable tenac
ity. There are medical men today
some Of them teachers at that-wh,
claim that there is not, nor can Their
be, anything in any climate that cal
be regarded scientifically as having
direct curative action upon disease. A
we proceed we will see whether or no
this declaration can be sustained in tn
light of practical demonstration an
observation.
The leading writer's and teachers O
medical science today over the entir
world are agreed that climate holds tn
first place In the treatment of pulmon
airy tuberculosis, and that any syster
Of medical treatment ignoring the i'm
portance Of this great factor is unwo1
thy Of much consideration by physI
clans. Only a few years ago patient
afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis
were rushed to southern France an
Italy, because the climate in thes
places was soft and balmy. In our ow
country, it was Florida and the Pacif
coast towns in southern Californi,
Only the temperature Of these. localieie
was considered; moisture and it's cor
gener, malaria, were seldom or nevt
taken into account. Patients succun
bed promptly to their disease, and
was a long time before the physician
living amidst these conditions awol
to a realization Of the causes respons
BILE for the many fatalities. Today IL
sea coast towns are almost abandone
by consumptives. and physicians inhal
iting the very towns formerly advoc,
ted as health resorts for this class
invalids, are sounding trumpets
warning, and telling the afflicted
avoid these places as they would cha
mel houses.
1t is held and taught by the able
medical authorities over the emit