Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-10
HIGH TRIBUTE TO
SOUTHWESTERN
CLIMATE
interesting Article from North
American Journal on Homeo-
pathy Shows Trend of Times
Toward tuberculosis Treat
ment,

) III NlflU Va iut llliltN dillQIlE DlN
sicians who devote themselves to tn,
especial study OF tuberculosis is fore
IDLY illustrated just now in frequent
articles directing attention to the high
usefulness of the high. dry climate OF
the southwest in the treatment of thu
white plague. one of the most inter
esting of these articles is the following
by f. w. Seward. Jr. Of Goshen, y
z. taken from a recent number OF
the North American Journal OF
Homeopathy:
Laymen and physicians the country
over are now engaged in the study OF
the Great White Plague, and it goes
without saying that everything bear
ing upon this important subject de-
serves serious attention, Not only
should physicians give their serious at
t~ention to the subject. but they should
} be duly cautious in endorsing as well
as criticising the various methods of
treatment recommended from time to
time.
! am not going to treat the subject
OF tuberculosis as Il whole. for in so
doing | would only be reviewing what
we have ali read, oven and over again,
in the quiet Of our homes. In a gen
eral way | might say that we have
come to believe that tuberculosis is an
indoor disease and hat ii should be
treated by fresh air.
Years 6 physicians had d more or
less general idea that the western eli
mate was good for tubercular subjects.
They sent their patients west in ac-
c%ordance with this belief, Naturally
these patients did one or two things;
they either recovered or died. l ad-
NIT that many died. but I insist that
many recovered. Naturally the ply
sicians of those who died had little
faith in climate for tuberculosis. while
the physicians Of those who recovered
became convinced that there surely is
something in the relation of climate
to tuberculosis: and there is.
There is a tendency in the east at
present to preach the gospel of fresh
air and. at the same time, to advise
against change of climate. To me this
seems somewhat Inconsistent, and as
an argument in favor of climate,
submit the following:
We all agree that tuberculosis of
the lungs is benefited by fresh air. IL
this is true. does it not stand to rea-
son that the purer the outdoor air the
better? The air Of the swamp is
surely different from that of the
mountain top: that at sea level differ
ent from that at an altitude of 5000
feet. Also. there Is a difference due
to location other than altitude. There
arc areas where cloudiness predomi-
mates ana there are areas where there
is a large percentage of humidity pre-
vailing, and there are areas where
there is a minimum Of humidity. The
question Of atmospheric pressure also
deserves recognition, The question of
temperature comes in for its share of
consideration. and so on, until we
come to believe hat the simple err
preston fresh air. only points the
way to a larger question, namely, that
of climate.
How should we apply the fresh air,
or climate. to our patients?
Should we tell them to sleep in al
hammock in their back yard? send
them to a farm in the adjacent coun-
try? Send them to the mountains of
Sullivan county (New York) Send
them to the Adirondack mountains?
or send them to the great table lands
Of the southwest?
Now. if fresh air is desirable. ii is
better that the bedroom window be
opened three inches than not at all;
better six inches than three; better
twelve than six; better entirely open
than half way.
Applying the same line of thought,
it would seem that a patient would be
better off in the adjacent country
than in a hammock in his back yard,
better in the mountains of sullivan
county, where there is an altitude of
about 1900 feet. than nearer sea
level. better in the Adirondacks where
there is an altitude OF 1900 to 1000
feet than in sullivan county. and bet
ter still In the region of the great ia
lands of the southwest, where
there is an altitude of from 5000 to
6 5000 feet, and where the other at
tributes which go to make up climate
are superior TO those of the other To-
cited.
The great southwest is a region
climatic conditions as related
to III health in general and TO tuber-
i'm particular are, AS yet. but
little appreciated. II is an immense
made up Of lrts of Colorado,
Texas. New Mexico, Arizona ana Call
Naturally ONE portions of
great territory are not as good rs
others. but as IL is not my purpose to
at length into the matter. | will
only say that those who have recently
IN medical literature that ell
mate in consumption Is a will-o'the-
Wisp." tina lit is the end of the rain
bow with its pot Of gold. ever just be-
yond. resting i'm Colorado. New Mex
leo. Arizona. California" and that
patients. like children IN their sim
PIE faith chase n. wasted. worn and
weary. but hopeful they fall asleep
and awake to find that the magic end
OF tho bow of promise rests upon the
mystic hores OF the spirit land
not OF what they speak. For. in
region H. found the best fresh
air" IN our country. the best climate
for the consumptive and a remedy
with which every physician should be-
familiar and should use freely.
but iudiciously. Do not mistake me,
there f. no spring Of youth" there
and climate alone will not cure tuber-
It must be accompanied by
such habits Of life and such general
a. would apply IN any case
regardless OF climate. Also. an early
iiagnosis Is essential. Cases Of or
-s 49,. 49, IT'D tf..ma. uEw..ll