CLIMATIC.

BY EDWARD C. FOLSOM, M. D.,

Resident Physician, Santa Monica, California.

I WILL state in the beginning of this article, that my health always compelled me (asthmatic, and better in warm weather) to seek warm resorts in contrast to cold ones, so that I shall refer only to the winter resorts, most of which I have visited in search of health. Winter resorts bring invalids with a range of diseases far different from summer resorts—and in the combining of the two, California stands alone and unrivalled.

Dr. Bell, in his admirable work on Climatology, says:

"Climatology is the sum of the influences exerted upon the atmosphere by temperature, humidity, pressure, soil, proximity to the sea, lakes, rivers, plains, forests, mountains, and, doubtless, by some other conditions of which we have no knowledge."

Now, from a careful reading of the various works on climatic effects on the system in health and disease, we come to the one important conclusion, namely, that no climate is curative or desirable for man's abode where foul air, foul soil or impure water are to be found; and while it is true that certain symptoms, and even diseases, are ameliorated in unhealthy localities, still the system must suffer from other diseases of as fatal a character if subjected to the influence of air and water contamination.

Pulmonary consumption, according to Dr. Bell and others, "probably depends on foul air conditions more than any other disease, and the effect of different climates on this disease is usually the chief feature considered by the various authors in climatology-from a medical standpoint."

The atmosphere being composed of oxygen and nitrogen (in the proportion of 23 parts of the former to 77 parts of the latter), with an oxidating state, or one of great activity possessed by oxygen and called ozone, the great preventer of putrefaction. We have at once the reason why it is so important for the lungs to take in pure air, or oxygen on a state of activity. As an illustration of the wonderful power of ozone on organic matter in a state of decomposition, I would refer to the experiments of Drs. Wood and Richardson with blood. Let us glance at some of the noted winter resorts:

Nice-Situate in the South of France, on the Mediterranean. The climate and waters of Nice are said to be specially beneficial in the following complaints: Dyspepsia, scrofula, nervous affections, paralysis, neuralgia, lymphatic maladies and diseases peculiar to females. This is noted as a winter resort. I found it so cold that it was not the place for me, and got away as soon as possible. Ice forms many nights during the winter months, and the invalid needs thick wraps and a fire daily; the rains are frequent and cold, and the sea-bathing is only safe for a strong and robust person. You will find the hotels full of shivering invalids-it has been fashionable, and the "correct thing" to winter at Nice.

Monaco, Mentone, and Cannes, short distances from Nice, are also resorts having much the same climates as Nice.

Florence, Italy, is very little warmer than Nice; is inland, on a river (Amo), and subject to very disagreeable winds. Some winters snow falls, and in general the air after sunset is cold and damp. More or less malaria is found, especially near the river.

Rome, Italy, is some warmer than Florence-though very little in winter-and a cold, raw, penetrating dampness is felt nightly by invalids during the winter months. The summers are very warm and unhealthy, and all leave the city who can.

Naples, Italy, is a much more desirable winter resort than any of the above named places in regard to temperature; but the sanitary conditions are such that one never is safe. The island of Capri, reached by steamer from Naples (about twenty miles), has the best climate of any resort I have mentioned. It has quite a variety of elevations, and the air feels soft and balmy.

While many Europeans derive some benefit from their resorts, the American invalids feel "out of place" and get homesick among natives of a different tongue, and with habits and customs so dissimilar, and I found that nearly all from America were extremely anxious to get home; many had come to stay one or two years, and after a residence of as many months had got discontented and homesick. Now if any climate will cure a homesick person, I have failed to find such. We all know what power the mind exerts on patients, and how important it is that they are made comfortable and contented with the quarters they occupy.

Florida-I have passed four winters and one summer in the "land of flowers." The winter season varies much from year to year, and at different portions of the State-the further south you go the more you feel the soft, warm climate peculiar to the State. The rainfall of the State is on an average 50 inches yearly. The Spanish records of St. Augustine, Fla., for 100 years show the mean temperature to be 60° F. for the winter months, and 86° F. for the summer months. When the winters are not their "wet ones" they are very pleasant; and though the summers are not as hot as one would expect from the latitude, yet they are so extremely long that one sighs for the winter to come. Outside the larger cities the invalid leads an out-door life, and if anything is truly beneficial certainly they are taking the right medicine. Nine out of ten invalids who visit Florida go north in the spring too early, and the sudden change of temperature is very fatal. Diseases of the throat and lungs are the ones more commonly found sent from the north to spend the winter in Florida.

SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CAL.

This town (incorporated) is situate on a high bluff, directly on the bay of Santa Monica (an open roadstead). It is eighteen miles west of Los Angeles city by railroad and carriage road. The soil is dry, and there are no marshes near the town, or any mud-flats exposed at low water. The climate is influenced and the temperature equalized by the ocean. Mean temperature of January and July:

Santa Monica, Cal.... Jan. 54°....July 70°.... Difference 16° Jacksonville, Fla......" 55°.

55°.... 66

40°....

82°...
73°....

66

27°

The population of the town and vicinity has been about one thousand, permanent, during the past four years; in the winter we have an addition of several hundred, visitors, etc., and dur ing the summer from 1200 to 2000 extra-this being the nearest seashore resort to Los Angeles.

I have been engaged in the practice of medicine here for the past four years, and will state some few facts from personal observation.

Asthma-I have been of age (till I came here). almost entirely free from it.

afflicted with asthma since two years Since my residence here have been I have seen a number of cases in

my practice; the results of residence here vary-some are benefited and a number cannot stay here over night (the latter cases usually do better at an elevation).

Diarrhoea-uncomplicated-is very rare and amenable to

treatment.

Bronchitis, chronic-A large portion are benefited, and many entirely cured by a permanent residence here.

Malaria-This is a non-malarious locality.

Catarrh-When it occurs among the permanent residents is much the same as elsewhere; but those subject to it in the East find great and permanent relief by residing here. One family, of three, come here every winter for relief-the father told me that they used one hundred handkerchiefs per week when at home (Minnesota), and, drawing one from his pocket, remarked, "this lasts me here as long as other people."

Diphtheria-I have seen six cases here during the past four years-two of which terminated fatally; both of these cases brought the disease here (non-residents).

Croup, membraneous-Have met but one case-the child died; family history was, that the children were all "croupy," and one had died some years previous of the same disease, in another city.

Dysentery-Very uncommon; no fatal cases.

Phthisis, pulmonary-I have seen but one case that originated here, and that resulted in death. Many invalids in the very last stages come here for the same reason they go elsewhere, and with the usual results-the same old story, "a little bronchial affection"; "am advised to spend the winter in California"; "where is the best place?" etc.

Pneumonia-This terrible disease is much rarer and less fatal in Southern California than at any place of same temperature I ever saw or heard of; the disease yields to treatment, in most cases, in a way truly gratifying to the physician.

Rheumatism-The usual number of cases occur among the residents; but I have not seen any bad case of the inflammatory variety. I have seen several bad cases of the inflammatory form further north, and they receive great benefit from the "Hot Springs" of Southern California.

Typhoid Fever-Far less fatal or frequent here than at the East. I have heard of but two deaths from it in this place and vicinity for four years.

VOL. II. G-2.

All diseases of children are of milder form than East. Those peculiar to the summer and during dentition are of infrequent occurrence and little dreaded.

Paralysis I have seen a number of cases, each differing; they all improved by residence, sea-bathing, etc. Some very much benefited by residence alone.

Midwifery cases do remarkably well; the diseases of childbed are almost unknown, and I have yet to see the first case of puerpural fever here. I have attended nearly all the confinement cases occurring in this vicinity for four years, and have not had a single death among them. So great has become the faith of women in their security in Santa Monica that a number have come from Texas, Arizona and New Mexico for accouchment; and I know of one lady who has come here every year for the same purpose.

Wounds heal with great rapidity here. The antiseptic condition of the atmosphere I have never seen excelled.

The sea air of the Pacific coast is remarkable for its salubrity, notwithstanding its humidity. According to statistics, the proportion of deaths from consumption, as against those from all other causes, are sixteen times less at sea than on land. Scrofulous affections of the joints and glands, and all kindred diseases; many nervous affections, the result of overwork and debility of mind or body, are benefited and cured by the sea-air treatment.

Dr. Bell, in his Climatology of the United States, says: "The higher electrical state of, and the more constant presence of, ozone in the atmosphere, the common prevalence of air in motion (which equalizes temperature and scatters pernicious effluvia and condensed vapors), are all fertile sources of health, abundantly found at the sea shore." "Warm insular and seacoast places, with a clean soil and devoid of organic matter in process of putrefaction, are commonly free from pulmonary diseases, and generally healthy."

The summers here are cool, day and night; the days of winter are comfortable for out-door employment; fires are needed mornings and evenings through the winter, but seldom during the daytime. The sea-bathing can be enjoyed all the year round-there is hardly a day in the whole year that ladies and children do not bathe in the ocean; but one must get gradually accustomed to the water, and not stay in too long, and