Arizona daily citizen. (Tucson, Ariz. Territory [i.e. Ariz.]) 1884-1901, 1901-03-06

order that the patient may live contin
uously Ill the open air for period ofsev
eral months, or, for that matter, for {
year, or several years, a climate is re
qulrcd which is continuously warm anC
dry. Such 4 climate the United State!
does not possess, but the nearest APP
proach to it is Arizona.
Physicians rare'" send their pa mt.
to the arid -sg;cns curing :-an=1eI Il
tins l consider S1eat ristake. ht
patients should be sent to the arid re
gions so soon as there is evidence of in
lection from the tuberce bacillus, ant
should tfe made to remain there unit
they are well, or until it is apparent that
the case is hopeless. a
Many physicians in the east order
patients to California for the winter
apparently with view of sending them
to dry climate. The relative humidity
IN southern California is as great, and
IN some instances greater than that ot
the Atlantic coast, and many of the best
| physicians in California regularly send
their tub rcular and asthmatie patients
to Tucson. California is a beautiful
country, but the fogs which come in
from the sea, and the emanatioBs from
the vast irrigated regions, make it far
inferior to the inland desert regions for
| pilthisical patients. | think it may be
assumed as Il general rule that wher-
ever there IS irrigation there is high
degree of relative humidity, and patients
suffering from pulmonary phthisis
should never he sent to an irrigated dis
trict. Indeed. some of the California
! physicians have declared that irrigation
and malaria go together
The city of Tucson has, in my opin-
ion, advantages as health resort
which can not be equailed anywhere in
North America. know of no locality
where such a moderate winter climate
and such low degree of relative humid
ity are combined with the same latitude
and altitude. 1t is no longer considered
imperative TO send tuberculaI patients
to an altitude of S 900 feet, or over. In
fact, clinical experience has proven that
| more frequently patients required to be
sent to an altitude or less, rather than
more than 5000 feet. The altitude OF
Tucson is 2 400 feet, and that seems to
be amply high for all but the most ex-
ceptional cases. The city is situated in
basin near the underground Santa
Cruz river. 1t is completely walled in
by massive mountain ranges. To the
north is the Santa Catalina range; to
the east, the Rincon; to the south, the
Santa Rita; and on the west, the Tue
sou. Each of these ranges has an Hlti-
tude of 5000 feet at least. Mount Lee
mon, the highest peak of the Catalinas,
has an elevation of 1000 feet, and
Mount Wrightson in the Santa Ritas,
reaches an altitude of nearly IL ,000
feet.
The scenery at Tucson is as impress
sive as anywhere in the Rocky noun
tains. and the gorgeous sunrise and sun
set beggar description.
During the nine months, October to
June, inclusive, 1895. there were but
twenty-five cloudy days, and nine OF
these were in one month. Some idea OF
the transparency of the atmosphere NAV
he had when state that, Mt midday,
and with the unaided eye, have seen
Venus when it was but ten degrees east
pi the SUM-
DIR. \, II. Matas, a Physician of II
years practice in this City, says
''Sincc consumptives must depend ON the
resisting forces OF nature for the cure OF
thrir disease, it is evident that an carly
selection OF q good winter climate Is the
most important factor for their cure and
future welfare.
They need a warm, dry climate in
gintrr. free from fogs, heavy frosts
storms. chilling winds and sudden at.
fnospherE changes, a climate wllcre
there is n constant sunshine and plenty
Of pure air, and where they can have
outdoor exercise daily. Treatment as
well as climate must ie undertaken
early to do good when there is yet q
good foundation upon which 10 build
| the system. We must remember thai
aatuse alone cures. aud where there IL
no nature there Is mo- hope. Physicians
and climate can only help natare, and
they can do no good when nature is
destroyed.
"The official weather reports and sur
veyors of the United States. as weil a.
the scientific climaioiogists, admit that
Tucson is the CENTER of the most favor
able zone IN the Southwest for the i'm
provcmcnt and maintenance Of life OF
cousamptises in the United States, Il
not in the world.
DIR. ". n. Purcell. County Physician,
0bserves:-'.lt is an undisputed fact that
proper climatic conditions give the
greatest relief to those affected with OF
having tendcncy to phthisis.
Vixen a phthisicai tendency exists
great care should he exercised to prevent
its development. AS humidity is ssch an
important factor in the cause of COM
sumption. those affected with or having
n prcdisposition TO lung disease should
Immediately seek the proper climate tav-
orabic to their condition.
The climate of Colorado has been re
commended for its beneficial effects for
consum ptiou, my long residence there
gave me ample and sufficient opport
unity of Judging climatic conditions
there existing during the summer months
The mountainous portions of Colorado
undoubtedly have beneficial effect on
tuberculosis subjects, but cannot re-
commend Colorado during the fail and
winter. as the changes are often severe.
becoming raw and cold within few
hours, and as these are atmospheric con-
ditions to be avoided, it would not be
advisable to spend these seasons there.
Those having peculiar type of consti-
tuition with a hereditary tendency to
consumption would do we'll to avail
themselves Of an opportunity and come
here and remain exempt from disease.
ut is a fact that those born here OF
tuberculosis parents seldom ever have
the disease develop, SO long as they re-
main In this climate. 1t is my opinion
that there is no other section of the
United States which viii compare favor
able with that in and about Tucson for