Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-20
FEBRUARY 20, 1910.
HEALTH OF IMPERIAL VALLEY
BY Dr.. Virgil McCoombs

would surely perish.
This idea might have had some foun-
dation in fact when the original inhab-
itant-the side-winder and the chuck
awalla-had possession of this pace,
until few years ago a barren des-
ert. But now in Imperial valley health
conditions have changed as radically as
have the physical conditions-in just
the same proportion as trees have been
planted, crops soWed and titled, in the
same proportion have the health con-
ditions improved until now the tide
has turned and instead Of the sick
and the fall leaving the valley. the in
valid and convalescent come from dis
tant parts to enjoy our unmatched In
dian summer, winter and spring.
That these health conditions actual
ly do exist and that they are begin
ming to be recognized by the medical
profession, mention might be made tn t
1 have now under my care one patient
sent by one of Chicago's most promi-
nent surgeons, another from Ontario.
Canada, another from India apolis
and many from nearer points in the
west along the Pacific slope.
Other physicians in the valley can
tell of similar cases, until the aggre
gate would show that the valley con-
tains representatives from almost ev-
cry section of the United States.
In seeking a change of climate for
the benefit of health, lung and throat
affections are first suggested to our
minds. We have many of these unfor-
tunate people with us, but, as is too
often the case, they come so far ad-
vanced that they do not get the bene-
fit they expect In fact, they are
often beyond help, climatic or other
wise. Also many come with no imam
cial means, expecting 10 get Ight
f1Naf iC
country with few soft snaps and re-
quiring great deal of rustling. These
do not get the food and shelter that
is best for them and that is necessary
to build up a body wasted by raVenous
disease.
But for those who come early and
have been wisely informed by their
family physician before leaving home
this valley affords the best possible
chance for a cure, and many are cured
with no medical treatment whatever,
depending entirely upon climatic con-
ditionS.
1t is worse than useless and next to
criminal to send a man, so sick ano
weak that he is unable to care for
himself, to die or take his chances OF
recovery in strange place and among
strangers. for with this affection now
adays it is difficult to find any one
willing to give such a person employ
ment as he is capable of performing.
There Is no doubt that this place
will compare favorably for this ciass
of patients with the greatly advertised
health sections of our country, all
other conditions being equal.
Being a very dry atmosphere, suifer-
ers from rheumatism do nicely here.
The excessive summer heat, while
rather uncomfortable, is not unheaith-
full. and this, life other localities, mas
the busy season in the fall and winter.
During the summer the skin Is unus-
uallv active and the rheumatic cripple
sweats and steams and is all the better
for it. This great activity of the SKIN
also relieves the kidneys from their
usual work and gives them as near
perfect rest as is possible to De op-
tanned, and hence gives persons ar
flicted with Bright's disease good
chance to return to their normal con-
dition.
A common error Is that Imperial val
lev is conducive to heart disease. PROB
ABLY this opinion has been gained from
the fact that it is below sea level, but
there Is absolutely no foundation what-
ever for such an idea. Heart disease
is found in all attitudes and all latl-
tudes wherever there are human be-
ings, and this valley probably has its
proportion, in the same ratio as any
other locality, but surely in no greater
proportion. 49,.
The county health reports show that
the general health conditions are most
gratifying, and as rigid watch is kept
on all infectious and contagious dls,
eases. this class of cases is kept well
under control and no one need fear TO
make this his home from health