The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01

small figures which 1 am going to submit to
you suggest that this may be the case The
Idea that exposure to cold dry winds Is an i'm
portant cause of the disease is not new and In.
terestlng instances Of coincident prevalence OF
such winds and pneumonia have been given.
bronchitis Is often considered to be affected
NY the same influences pneumonia But this
apparently Is not altogether correct. The dis
trioutlon OF bronchitis, In the United States in
1851 was by no means the same that Of
pneumonia; also Sturges stated that at
Gibraltar different winds appeared responsible
Tor two diseases-the east which Is damp
seemed to promote the occurrence of bronchitis:
the west which there is dry, the occurrence
OF pneumonia. 1T would appear that whereas
dry cold tends to cause pneumonia damp cold
rather tends to cause bronchitis. On the other
hand, warm moist atmosphere has undoubted
therapeutic value in the drier varieties OF bron-
chitis.
Heart disease has clImatology we'll worth
looking into. Haviland held that it was most
prevalent in places not we'll flushed by wind
But very little has been done the subject
Only few years ago authoritative statements
were made in reference to district we'll known
co ME which were in direct reverse OF the facts
For asthma We have good deal of empirio
knowledge, the chief fact being its capricious-
ness Cont and rheumatism, dyspepsia
dnaemiG, nenrdSthcnia, neuralgia, and con-
Udlescence from acute diseases have. apart
from baneology, each certain useful china
toogy of its own. but discordant statements are
made In respect Of them.
The Importance or considerations such as the
foregoing may be made still more obvious by
also regarding them from the points of view OF
diagnosis, prognoSis, prevention, and treatment.
I.tcrc seems no doubt that very marked
difference exists, in expectation Of life gener-
ally, between the great towns and the country
districts. If so, surely this must affect the
prognosis of almost all cronic diseases, and as
most OF our efforts Mt prognosis, inadequate
they sometimes have been emanate from our
crowded centres. there surely Is need for eXten.
Bive inquiry into the prognosis OF these
| n m SIR tha
outlook is different
Moreover, if density OF population has this
effect, IS it not possible that by comparing rural
populations with each other may come to
discover climatic factors also which tend to
modify longevity? This seems TO In
vcstgaton which promises to repay the trouble
1t would entail.
II 1t be true that a certain disease is specially
in certain place and il good reason
be shown that this rarity is not merely fortult-
ous may We not hold that patient prone to
that disease VIII, by residing in that place, have
a specially good hope OF avoiding the dlseaSe2
Such consideration applies to tuberculosis,
and one Ch.cl reason why | have devoted
much time III endcavoring to establish the value
Of shelter from rain bearing wind In lessening
the frequency OF pulmonary Tuberculosis is be-
cause ! Sec in places so sheltered. the most
suitable place Of residence for those in whom
tubercle has become quicscent. or for those who
belong to families whose prociyty to tuhercu-
loSiS is pronounced. | feel that there are
districts in England which cases OF phthisis
would be wise to avoid and where sanatoria
ought not to lie erected
Similarly. l think that there are districts
where old people with strong generous family
history should not settle, and districts where
those who have had repeated attacks OF pneu-
monia run some risk in residing One cannot be
dcSmatic yet these two latter points, but
would 1t not be we'll ii one could?