Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-12
CLIMATE As A CURE.
An Illinois Physicians Opinion on Pull
monarY Tuberculosis.

monary tuberculosis.
The following letter from DIR. j. B.
Denham, of Winona, ILL.,, to the Peoria
Herald-Transcript, is from the pen of
an expert in tubercular troubles. DR..
Denham recently visited New Mexico.
"If the physical signs in a given case
are such as to cause the physician to be
suspicious Of pulmonary tuberculosis,
and his examination is supplemented by
a microscopic analysis which demon
strates the presence of the bacilli, the
first question that presents itself to
both doctor and patient is where should
the patient go for an early arrest Of the
disease which counts it's victims by the
hundreds Of thousands annually in the
United States.
1T is not my intention, except in an
impartial manner, to consider the
claims of different localities within the
reach Of persons of moderate means.
There are two things that should be
considered If a change of climate is to
be made.
81. Can you afford to make any sac-
rifice in order to reach the desired spot
in the early stages of the disease?
"2. Having been benefited and the
disease arrested, never return, except
for short periods in the early summer
or fall, to your former location.
Having decided upon a change of To-
oofiop 4ha cI1acfio, +hnr o0rF,o~f, tho
patient, Where shall I go?'
From Maine to Florida, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, come the leaflets
of the much-advertised health resorts,
tages.
THAT each is possessed Of special ad-
vantages to a consumptive patient is a
fact well recognized by the physicians,
but just where to send this particular
patient is a question requiring careful
study, both of the particular Ease in
point and the climatic conditions that it
will be safe for him to encounter.
"Climatologists who have given the
question careful investigation for the
purpose of furnishing information upon
this point, alike to physicians and pa
TENTS, insist on an NATURALIZATION of
each case, and protest most earnestly
against sending a patient to this Of that
resort because it happens for the time
to be popular. The locality as to tenn
perature, rainfall, altitude, soil and
drainage contains points Of vital inter-
est to be considered in connection with
each case. In other words, we should
try to find the climate that exactly
suits the patient, instead of trying to
make the patient, already weakened by
the disease, fit some fashionable health
resort. There Is no better Judgment in
recommending the same climate for all
cases than there is in prescribing the
same drug for all diseases.
From observation it is apparent that
a great many persons in failing health,
showing signs of lung trouble, change
their location from one section to an
other with magnificent results as to
their health. Health is restored, and a
long happy life follows, yet no health
resort was visited, although the new To-
cality is a veritable fountain Of youth
to them.
pillars Of wood and stone, together
with the expensive a~ppurtenances that
go to make up the modern health resort,
are only beneficial if the pure outdoor
air is suitable to the particular patient,
All hat is within these walls can be
found at most homes at immensely less
expense, and the pure air Of any locality
can be as well secured in comfortable
rooms where you do not come in direct
contact with patients much more Sc
riously affected than yourself.
Residents of the Missouri valley
have considered several points in the
west as almost ideal health resorts. II
the climatic conditions suit the indi-
vidual case and relief is sought early,
California presents several fine types OF
climate as to temperature and eleva-
ton. New Mexico, western Texas, Colo
| RADIO and Wyoming offer at various
points great hopes for the tuberculosis
patients. The little city Of Eddy, N. NJ,
| with its Carlsbad springs, perfect drain
age and fine system of irrigation is just
now entering the sanitary arena with
many fine points in its favor. One OF
! Chicago's highest medical authorities
who has given this subject much study
and has Travelled the world over, says
Of New Mexico: II believe 1t will in
time, when settled, be the chief sani-
tarium for consumptives in the west ;