The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

small figures which 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
teresting instances OF coIncident prevalence or
such winds and pneumonia have been given.
Bronchitis Is often considered to be affected
by the same influences as pneumonia But this
apparently Is not altogether correct The dis
tributon OF bronchitis. in the United States In
1850. was by the same as that OK
pneumonia, also Sturges stated that a.
Gibraltar different winds appeared responsible
for two diseases-the east, which Is damp.
seemed 10 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-
chtIs.
Heart disease has climatology well worth
looking into. Haviland held that it was most
prevalent in places not we'll flushed by wind.
But very little has been done on the subject
Only few years ago authoritative statements
were made in reference to a district well known
70 me which were in direct reverse of the facts.
For asthma We have good deal Of empiria
knowledge the chief fact being It's caprlcious-
ness. Gout and rheumatism, dyspepsia.
dnaemid, neurosthenid, neuralgia, and con-
ralescencc from acute diseases have, apart
from balneology. each certain useful china
toogy of It's own. but discordant statements are
made In respect OF them.
The Importance of considerations such as the
foregoing may be made still obvious by
also regarding them from the points Of view Of
diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment
.sv.t spe-.s doubt that very marked
difference exists. in expectation Of life gener-
ally. between the great towns and the country
districts II so. surely this must affect the
prognosis of almost all cronic diseases. and as
most OF our efforts at prognoss, inadequate as
thew sometimes have been. emannte from our
crowded centres. there surely Is need for e1ten'
sive inquiry into the prognosis OF these COM
plants in rural areas, where l am sure the
outlook IS different.
Moreover II density Of population has this
effect, Is II not possible that by comparing rural
populations with each other we may come to
discover climatic factors also which tend TO
modify longevity? This seems TO me an In
vcst!gation which promises TO repay the trouD!s
1t would entail.
II It he true that certain disease is specially
rare in certain place, and II good reason can
be shown that this rarity Is not merely fortuit
GUS may We not hold that a patient prone TO
that disease will. by residing IN that place, have
specially good hope OF avoiding the dlseaseR
Such consideration applies to tuberculosis
and one cnei Reason why | have devoted 30
much time in endcnvoring to esta bllsh the value
OF shelter from rain bearing wind In lessenlns
the frequency OF pulmonary tuoercuioss Is De
cause I see. In places so sheltered. the moss
suitable place OF residence for those In whom
tubercle has become quescent, or for those who
belong TO families whose proclivity TO tuoercu-
losis is pronounced. 1 feel sure that there are
districts in England which cases OF phthisn
would be wise TO avoid ana where sanatorh
ought not to be erected.
Similarly, / think that there are districts
where old people with strong concerous family
history should not settle, and districts where
those who have had repeated attacks or pneu-
monia run some risk In residing. One cannot be
dogmatic yet on these two latter points. bus
would 1t not be well II one couldf