The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-07
CLIMATE FOR ALL
Changes for the Sick to Be Found
Within City Limits, Says
E. g. Walton.
No Need of 1,oo0-Mile Trips-Phys-
ioian Says There's Something
in the idea.

A Journey from the third ward to the
fourth ward is recommended by b. 6.
Walton, tho local real estate man, to per-
sons travelling for their health. Invalids
might proftably go. south, he suggests,
from Plymouth avenue to Grant street.
They might take trip east with excel
lent results, from Lowry Hill to Loring
park.
These interesting proposals for seeking
health at home are set forth by Mr.. Wal
ton in the following communications:
Physicians generally, all the world
over. when confronted by what is to them.
an unsolvable problem order their pa
tients to try change Of air. This can be
explained In various ways:
'One. that they do not wish to acknowl-
edge their own defeat; another that they
are tired kicking against the pricks; an
other that 1t is an acknowledged fad. So
Mr.. or Mrs, Patient Generally well-to-do)'
breaks up home life and departs to un-
known seas in search Of health and that
particular mixture of ozone that will be
to him or her the elixir Of life.
No physician yet born has attempted
to study the topography Of his own town,
and make a diagnosis Of the various wells
or Ills contained In its residence sections
In towns where a river runs thru the cen
ter there Is a marked difference usually
in the soil on either side. also. when the
| city is divided by hills. The peculiar con-
ditions Of atmosphere, therefore. can be
as marked within a city's limits as WITH
| In those Of a county or state.
Atmosphere Is largely dependent on
topography; damp air seeks depressions
and dry air attitudes as q rule. altho very
high altitude means mists, while very
low depression means draughts. These
intense changes, however, are not met
! with in the small circumference Of city,
but only the mean changes, and 1t is to
l theSa that hoo
There are In this city, for instance
! very many kinds Of soils, very many
kinds Of air. and consequently many com
plete changes Of comb1na lions. In North
Minneapolis the soil is largely clay foun-
dation with few rocks or stones but heavi-
many stones and pebbles, few trees and
an entirely different atmosphere.
Food for Thought.
| Here is chance for thought. Would
not the person suffering from continued
colds and catarrh. living on clay and
| among generally damp surroundings, be as
much benefited by moving onto sandy,
| dry soil. even In the same vicinity, as
by going off several hundred miles?'
Often within one or two blocks the differ
ence is SO marked as to be almost un-
believable and the air is of an absolutely
| different nature.
The most marked change in Minneapo-
lis is that Of Loring park and Lowry hill
Altho only one-eight mile apart, the
winter Of the former is as a rule degrees
| colder, while its summer Is to 10 degrees
hotter; the one is damp. the other dry;
| one gets a sweeping narrowly confined
| wind. the other a, broad, sweeping breeze;
one Is of the marsh, the other of the hill
| tops; and a person complaining of rheu-
| ma tism and cramps in the Loring park
| district, can get as big change in two
/ blocks rnf ~,
miles. Vice-versa, the dry sand and pure
ozone of the hills mean vocal trouble to
some, dry Skin and nervous tempera-
ment; why not try. q change of air and
move into neighborhood combining the
| very necessities your nature Graves? a.tss
The city contains every variety of at
mosphere, every variety Of soil and prop
erly diagnosed and laid before the public.
| would save many broken up household
and many a homesick invalid. If, there
fore. one isn't well in his present location,
| 1T is a matter Of small expense to study
the peculiar conditions in other localities
and choosing the one most suited to his
requirements move there and try what q
change will do. This entails no expense
or the breaking up of home life, and will.
l have no doubt, result in many cure
seemingly impossible.
:" Should some practical person take this
idea and put 1t into practical shape, many
a roaming Minneapolitan could be kept
at home and many a citizen. now sickly
and uncomfortable, made WELL
These are only ideas. unconfrmed and
crude; still the gfst Of the fact should APP
peal both to the professional and alayman.''
A Physicians View.
There's a substantial basis for Mr.
Walton's recommendations said Dr. Lei
M. Crafts, altho I'm inclined to think
he has taken up the subject with rattle,
too much enthusiasm
Physicians and other students of eli
matology have always recognized the
varying influence Of different soils in tn,
same city. Where malaria is prevalent, To-
example. you will often find that it at
tacks the residents on low land badl,
drained. and that it is never heard of ii
other neighborhoods where the land il
higher or better drained. So in souther,
cities patients with malaria are frequentl,
advised to move a few blocks away to
dryer Or higher location.
But the influence of soil on the al
/, would be confined to the interior of
81 dwelling If the soil is sandy, the celia
will probably be dry. If the soil is clay
]. the cellar is more likely to be damp, an,
! that dampness. of course. will affect tn
air inside the house. But outside tn
building the air in one part of the tow
Is practically not affected by the eleva
ton or the soil. except that the movemen
of the atmosphere will ma turally be NOR
g active on the hills than in. the valleys
! Part of North Minneapolis has dampe
1 soil, no doubt, than many of the sand
districts south Of Hennepin. But the ex
e ternal air will pass from the South Sid
\ to the North Side: and vice versa, With
$ Fifteen minutes. even in a moderate breeze
The air changes too quickly outside {
e dwellings to be affected by differences c
S soil within the circumference OF a city.
I'm some extreme cases change fror
e a dwelling in very damp locality on tn
: North Side to a high and dry location o
S the South Side might afford benefit to
patient. It's much the same benefit thu