Year: 1864

or nights rather, Of midsummer, when i,


falls as low as Sc degrees. But these


changes are so regular that you know
just how to provide for them. You know


at what hour you will need your thick
oil-cloth coat, and at what minute Sou
can trust to linen dustcr. You may
wind up your habits like an eight days
clock, and know that they will come
round, each in its place at the right
time.


The dust and heat are the great obsta.
cles to outdoor exercise in the summer
but these may be overcome. You can
reduce them to minimum by . precise
calculation.


For example, l rise at five O'Clock in
the morning; walk half mile, taking in
my hand, and eating by the way, some
Jumps Of crushed sugar, on general sani.
tary principles mount horse; ride
four miles to the East, on an unused road
which cuts the wind at right angles then
turn back, with the wind at the same an.
gle on the other side of my face; and
cat my steak or chop at seven O'Clock with
a will. And this is repeated, morning
after morning, with the same sun, the
same breeze at the same angle, for six
weeks nos. In this way l have cool
sun, not particle of dust, and air oxy-
genated, genial, exhilirating, inspiring.
and pure enough to gladden. . fairy
During the heat of the day keep With
in doors for the most part. but l am new
Or too warm in my study on the lower
aoer of my house. We here are rarely
tortured, if ever, with the fevevish thirst
and nervousness which make . hot day
in humid climate 30 tr, ing.


theoretically, therefore, this must be
good climate for consumptivss. Yet per-
sons die here OF lung diseases in numbers
more, perhaps, than of any other disor.
der. OF the $50 deaths in Sacramento
in 1863, 10l died of diseases seated il
the respiratory system. 1t may be the
inhalation Of dust : or something il the
protracted dryness Of the atmosphere
or the great contrast between sun and
shade /; or the great change from the dry
to the wet season or the careless habits
people form in relation to guarding
against changes Of temperature, when the
changes are not painful or uncomfortable
or the undermining effects Of ohills and
fever, of which there are more or less in
all these valleys, away from the coast
or the prevalent use Of intoxicating liqu-
ors, much Of which is poisoned beyond
the natural poison-from some cause
multitudes who had the germs of disease
on coming, never recover. and others have
the disease originate here.


Still think this climate is, on the
whole, good one. l have met with a
large number of persons who have told
me that they had protracted colds or
hemorrhages, and all the indications of
lung disease, in the East, but who now
have good health, and regard their lungs
as sound. My own health, after the FIRST
two months, has improved.


But one who thinks of coming out here
for his health needs to bear several things
in mind. The first is the danger and the
shock of the removal. The hard voyage
the change of living and habits; the
hurried transition through widely differ
ent climates and zones, just rapid enough
to give the system the greatest shock
without allowing it time to become at.
tempered to them and the different con-
ditions here, cause nine persons out of
ten to experience some sickness after ar.
irving. 10 the invalid the effect is espc-
cially unfavorable. 1t requires great
physical stamina to bear transplantation.
The constitution must make new adjust
ments, with slow and uncertain benefits.
1t is always an experiment and a risk,
with pretty certain injury at first.


Again, this region, as | have said, is
more or less subject to caills and fever
Sacramento much less than most other
valley towns farther away from tho sea
breeze. 1t is a great delusion in New
England, that this disease and consump-
tion are not likely to af1ict tho same per-
son. Nothing is more common, where
this disease has broken Gown the constitu-
tion, than for consumption to set in aud
complete the work and rarely is one
sick with consumption here, whom ohils
and fever do not in some stage help for
ward to the grave. Let one indu 60 in
no hope for his lungs from tho fact that
he can here occasionally get breath Of
miasma!


Again, on arriving one should beware
Of another stale lie, still going the rounds,
here and in the East both. 1t is, that
there is no danger of taking cold in the
night air of Oalifoania-a lie not unlike
the one that one never takes cold at sea.


The belief of this lie and bad whiskey
have sent thousands of young men to
premature graves in California. A friend
who repeated it to mersnd who told me
he was in the habit after hot day, OF
going out and lying on the porch and
sleeping. | noticed during the convcfsation
splitting blood and giving other indica-
tions OF some chronic trouble with the
throat or lungs The night air is indeed
delicious, but insidious and treacherous.
You had better put on thick coat and
hat, before yoa take any whtfs of it.


Again, don't think you will want only
thin, summer clothing in July and Aug
ust. You will need thick Shaker-Aanael
even in the hottest weather, to break the
sevcrity of the transitions from outdoors
to indoors in the daytime, and to keep
you comfortable in the open air at light !;


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