Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-26

from the South, 10 ten months of
the yea practically no rain falls the
total annual rainfall varying from
eight to twelve inches, as compared
with from forty to fifty or more inches
in the East. The absence of rain
produces a twofold effect-an almost
%cloudless sky, so that the sunshine is
practically constant, and an exceed
ingly dry atmosphere. The air is so
dry that one feels its peculiar pareh-
ing effect in his nose and throat for
weeks after his arrival; while the sun
shine seems to battle everything in
a flood of mellow gold.
There is, in addition, the important
factor of altitude. The whole country
slopes from north to south with q gen.
eral altitude of from 1000 to 5000
feet. 1t is the constant sunshine ball
anced over against the altitude which
produces such an equable climate, for
the and winters are very
nearly alike in these mountain re-
gions. Where the altitude falls be-
low 1000 feet. this climatic balance
is not SO marked. Such places as Ell
Paso. whose altitude is 400 feet; or
Tucson. with 2,400 feet; or Phoenix.
with LOO feet. though they are ideal
for nine Or ten months in the year,
are too hot during the summer for
the bes. results.
One can not be in the southwest
for any length of time without realiz-
ing that the impress and the influence
of the healthseeker are everywhere. 1t
is estimated that there are $4,000 tu-
bercular invalids in Colorado. New
Mexico and Arizona; and though 1t is
impossible ever to know the number.
with any degree of accuracy, | believe
that the estimate is too small. 1t is
a fact hat all of the towns and cities
are filled almost to Overlooking. Ii
the healthseekers and their families
were to leave, the country would prob
ably lose more than half of its popu-
lation. a large part of The business
of the land consists i'll supplying the
needs of these people. providing board
ing houses and institutions where they
may live, as well as stores and shops
where they may get the ordinary ne
ccsslties of life,
There are three welt known alterna-
tives for the healthseeker in this
the s%anatorium, the boarding
and the ranch; and | propose to
say something of each in turn. My
own experience was gained chiefly in
a sanatorium.
There are already numerous we'll
known institutions in Colorado, New
Mexico ana Arizona. and every year
the number is considerably increased.
They vary in size and equipment from
establishments run by physicians in
of their own. to great institu-
tons like the Agnes Memorial" in
Denver. which accommodates more
than $50 patients and represents an
investment of several hundred thous-
and dollars. The type of architecture
also varies from a single large build
ing to institutions which provide an
individual tent. or an individual cot
tage. for every patient. The rates
at all of the better sanatoria are about
the same, varying with the service
rendered. from $40 to $25 per week,
which includes everything. In the
there are numerous endowed or
charitable institutions where none but
free patients are received. In Denver
Agnes Memorial" is partly char
table, costing about $40 per week, and
The great Jewish National" is entirely
free to jew and Gentle alike. But
most of the institutions of the south
west are purely private. md are run
business ventures. They are none
The less excellent. and this fact is to
be taken as indicative only of the
f~avorableness of the locality for the
of the disease.
The SanatOrium Is the Grail.
W., -, e.. lg.~. Il, ~ Of fhAGnt
Institutions. 7 found the actual situa-
much different from what ! had
supposed ii to be. I expected to go
20 a hospital where | would find sick
y looking people who would make life
miserable by their i~ncessant, heart
breaking coughing. In fact. ! had
purely as an experiment, because
had proved to myself that was not
of working out my W case;
intended to stay but a month or SO.
nd then move on . How | changed
nv mind and determined to fight 1t
1ut to the end has already been told
n How I Got Well
| found thai the patients did so lit
lie coughing that wondered whether
hey had any trouble whatever-until
learned that any patients cough will
,ery much decrease If he strictly fol-
the rest cure. In appearance,
hey were more healthy looking than
he average person in ordinary life. All
them seemed happy and contented.
md | wondered even more until
'ound the reason-thcy were getting
and they knew it. There were
men and women varying in ages from
wenty to forty-though one man over
fifty years of age left the sa%natorium
,ured while ! was there-and they
from all parts of the country
The feeling of being in a hospital dis
appeared after the first day. for
here was nothing to foster IL. and
to countcract il. Every pa
lent had a cottage of his own. and
he continuous life in the open air
made one feel as If he were camping
,ut. with all wants cared for.
The idea Of the sanatorium includes
/ complete isolation from all the
ares and burdens of ordinary life. so
hat the patient may devote his en-
ire time TO the seeking of his cure
,ntinuous life in the mild out-of-doors
$ required. Absolute rest. most of
he time spent on ones back. is strictly
enforced; and this change in mode OF