Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-09-06
TROPICS IN THE FUTURE
DR.. Wilson Says In Time We
Can Work There.
POSSIBLE TO C0LoHIZE JUNGLEs.

Weather Expert Says If Tropica
Diseases Are Studied Vorr;d Zon,
VIII Become the Garden Spot of til,
World Attacks Health Resorts
Value of Rainfalls.
Dr.. ". NJ. Wilson, forecaster Of thu
Milwaukee weather bureau, predicted
before the national convention OF
weather bureau officials that the time
was coming when it would be possible
to ~coloniZe the jungles Of the tropics
and establish industries such as now
exist in the temperate zone, says a
Milwaukee dispatch to the New York
Sun. He said in part:
practically all the great industries
are centered within the limits of the
worlds great workshopAthe temperate
zone. Thus far every effort to plant a
great nation outside of this narrow belt
has failed. Gigantic schemes with elab-
crate and refined preparations for colo
nization Of the tropics have always
been met by the insurmountable bar
rier Of death and disease, until the
West Indies have become known as the
graveyard Of Europe.
zone cannot, however, fail to be i'm
pressed by the absence Of attempt to
classify or analyze the characteristics
Of the various maladies that have pro-
duced the disastrous results of the past.
The way in which the responsibility
has been placed upon climatic condi-
tons IS little less than ~perfunctory. 1t
is a matter Of common knowledge that
certain infectious diseases exist only
within certain limited areas. This has
given rise to the belief that the cause
for their origin ard propagation must
be found in the prevailing climatic con-
ditions. The tropics are deemed abso-
lutely unfit for habitation Of the white
man, while other sections of the earth
are believed to be endowed With heal
ing qualities.
HNiAH% AZ fH'o' - NNuA7 NNl'NiAihNh
tation has revealed some startling
truths showing that diseases formerly
ascribed to climatic conditions are ac-
tually the result of the presence within
the body of a specific germ or living
organism. 1t is known that by the
exclude this germ one may live in its
very presence with safety.
This discovery has had an impor-
tant bearing upon the subject of med
lcal climatology. for while the climate
conditions may in u measure favor the
development and activity of the germs
Of disease the responsibility for their
INVASION of the human body is thus
froW im%personal, irresponsive
to j responsible Individual.
And thinkers of today are rapidly
'eaching the conclusion that the health
fulness of any locality is not so much a
natter Of climate as OF hygiene.
when medical science shall have
IL ...9lascs Indigenous to the
with the same zeal and success
hat have attended the Investigations
nto the ailments of the temperate
zone. one will be able to live in a trop-
cal country perhaps with less personal
'Omfort. bat certainly in no more dan
than in tie most favored spot in
'ur country. The graveyard of Europe
will become the garden spot Of the
world. The iungleG Of Africa will be-
one the scene of immense cities as
veil as England. France. kussia or
America, and TIE dread barrier
f 'clilmate' will no longer exist as &
indrarce to the development Of India
Ike those Of our immense shipbuilding,
.on and steel furnaces and other man
tacturit,G works."
DR.. Wilson also made an attack on
ealth resorts and said that the belief
nat they cured disease was the inven-
on Of the press agent. He said:
"The claims made by promoters Of
artain health resorts that the richness
the air in ozone. the resinous gases
ON the pines. the peculiar purity Of
le atmosphere in a particular locality
the elevation or aridity of the air
ct as a specific in certain diseases are
OF generally based on scientific inves-
but have their origin in the
,rtile brain Of the advertisement writ
or are inspired by the cupidity Of
'me dishonest or ignorant physician.
is common knowledge that the prin-
pal components of the atmosphere are
practically the same proportion the
orld over, that the amount Of mois-
re varies and that rarefaction results
an increase Of elevation. This
nds toward increased lung capacity,
1t it has not been shown that excess
e humidity or absence Of moisture
specific remedies or that a rarefled
mosphere Is essential to the destruc-
IN Of the germs Of disease.
Persons suffering from tuberculosis
I'VE been as frequently benefited by a
sidence In a humid atmosphere at the
vel Of the sea as in the dry and arid