The Kennesaw gazette. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1886-189?, December 01, 1886, Page 3, Image 3

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of 20°. Such a combination of climatic conditions must be trying to the pul monary invalid. The Gulf and Pacific coast resorts are often unwisely chosen by persons of low vitality (as are their opposites, (the cold northern stations,) when a moderately invigorating climate would have been preferable. Surgeon G. K. Wood, of the U. S. army, says that, “the injurious effects of sending consumptives to the hot, low and moist coast, aud the islands of the Gulf of Mexico should be aban doned. In diseases of debility, the remedies are tonics and stimulants. What is more debilitating than affec tions of the lungs? And what less ton ic than heat and moisture combined?” If a physician desires to promote suppuration in an inflamed part heap plies heat and moisture in the shape of a poultice. May not (and the wri ter puts the question to conscientious physicians on the Gulf coast,) heat and moisture combined, promote sup puration in a diseased lung? Relative humidity ot various signal service stations: STATIONS. Winter. Year. Denver, Coli 54.0 48.0 Los Angeles, Cal. 63.5 67.0 Atlanta, Ga 68.8 67.0 San Antonio, Tex. 69.9 67.6 Saint Paul, Minn. 7’2.3 69.0 . Jacksonville, Fla. 7'2.6 71.0 Atlantic City, NJ j 79.2 79.4 Note. —Relative humidity is the degree of moisture below 100, which is complete saturation. RAINFALL. “The total amount of rain falling at any place during the course of a year, a season or a month is of less impor tance * * * than is the distribution of such rain.” — Dr. Rich ards. The rainfall at Atlanta is variously recorded at 54.36 inches by the ob server at the United States sigtial ser vice office, tour years observations, 48.99 by Col. R. J. Redding, assistant commissioner of agriculture, and 46.83 by the post surgeons at McPherson Barracks. The measur meats of the signal officer are taken in the heart of the city; by Col. Redding one mile west of there, and by the United States surgeons two miles south-west. That there may be discrepancies in re ports from two neighborhoods is shown by the report of the Chief Signal offi cer, U. S A. for 1884. At two sta tions (one volunteer,) one in Wash ington, D. C., the other at the Receiv ing Reservoir across the Potomac river there was a difference of 1.64 inches. There was a difference of 3.57 inches between the measurements at the sig nal office, in Cincinnati and on Col lege Hill, three miles out. In both instances, the excess was in the city. Observations continued in this line might develop the fact that there are conditions existing which produce greater rainfall in cities than in subur ban places. As “one swallow does not make a summer” neither will two facts prove a rule. An analysis of the rainfall for the years 1882-’B3-’B4 and ’BS shows that there fell during the four years 218.46 inches of rain. 157.83 inches fell dur ing 54 days. The hours composing these days were distributed through every month of the years excepting three. During these three months no heavy rains fell. To make it plain the rainfall and time are put in form of a table below: Years. Total of Total hours Total Total 1882 heavy rain of heavy rain days rain 1883 in inches, fall in days. fall. 1884 1885 157.83. 54.00 1450 218.46 It rained continuously for twenty- four hours but twelve times during the four years. The longest single period when rain fell was forty hours, in 1885. The writer knows from observation at various health resorts —Rocky Mountain and Appalachian —that persons who leave home in search of health, having that object alone in view, are prone to look only for verifi cation of what good features of climate they have read of as existing where they may go. Now, there are some disagreeable days in winter, as there are every where, from Key West to Mackinac, which may weary the invalid. Still, it is repeated, they are as few as are to be found elsewhere in our country of changeableness of weather. The longest “rainy spell” was for twenty-one days, in January 1885, with one intermission of three days, and another of four. The topography of Atlanta is such that the surface drainage is perfect in ad directions. There are no swamps, ponds or lakes near the city. The nearest river is six miles distant. So, there is ncthing to breed malaria. Fif ty per cent, of the rain fell after 6 p. m. and it was clear before 8 a. m. FOGS. During 1884 and ’BS there were but three foggy days, and one foggy morn ing which cleared early. .—a’ - uSwcts u yxgi Wfl rfOTs I 1 ivflfl Er 1 witF-B Si??' •* t WF W j M J 3g!-USal| Biliks. ® ■iglSEi Ilf’"'' r '* '1 19 4 s SMB S -Ay T’~ m Ji ... - - J i IrW WMB CHAMBERLIN, JOHNSON A CO., DRY GOODS, ETC., ATLANTA. CLOUDINESS. Sir W. Temple thought that the best climate where he could be abroad in the air with pleasure, or at least without inconvenience, the most days of the year and the most hours of the day. In this connection arises a considera tion of the clear and fair days. They numbered 271) on a yearly average, for a period of seven consecutive years. In comparison with Denver, in “cloudless Colorado,” Atlanta stands well. In a scale of 0 to 10 Denver has a proportion of 3.77 to Atlanta’s 4.25, or only 0.48 less than Atlanta has. A comparison of the cloudiness in Atlanta with that of Saini Paul, Minn., is given below. Table of cloudiness by seasons for the year. 60 s £ CITIES. ’S I -a ™ Saint Paul, Minnj 5.20 4.90 492 Atlanta, Ga|3.6o 4.8 Q 4.25 The observations at Atlanta were for three consecutive years. WIND. Dr. C. T. Williams, of England, in his Lettsomian Lectures, upon “The Influence of Climate in the Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption” says: — “A bracing though somewhat gusty THE KENNESAW GAZETTE. climate avails more than a mild, still and somewhat relaxing one, and in stead of seeking for a sedative atmo sphere to allay the cough and reduce irritability, we should in most cases se lect a stimulating one to increase the appetite, and to invigorate the system of our patients.” He also asserts that “neither excessive humidity nor dry ness of air are [is] favoraole.” While Atlanta has almost daily breezes, it has no high winds. It is out of the cyclone zone. January and February have some gusty, and, disa greeable days, however, they are so few as not to prove trying to invalids. A person who cannot endure such had better remain at home, as his life could only be prolonged anywhere. Sixty-five per cent, of the wind comes sweeping over the rugged coun try of northern Alabama, East Ten nessee, N. W., N. E. and North Georgia and North-West South Caro lina. In passing over these heavily timbered, hilly and mountainous re gions, they are sponged of their moist ure, and come dry, purified and invig orating to the system. Ten months of the year are, on the average, unsurpassed for pleasantness of weather. In fact, barring some days in January and February, At lanta has as uniformly fine a climate as is to be found elsewhere on earth. A distinguished physician of Atlan- ta, of inter-national reputation, recent ly remarked to the writer that, “after having sojourned in all parts of the World, with the exception of Africa, he had never found a climate compar able to that of Atlanta for pleasant ness throughout the entire year.” Prof. W. A. Hammond, of New York, recently sent a patient to Atlanta, with the injunction to “live there as, after investigating the climates of the United States he had come to the con clusion that it had the best climate in the United States.” Having shown that Atlanta has an equable temperature; a small annual and daily raime; relative humidity be tween the extremes; a comparatively small degree of cloudiness and rain-fall semi-tropical, the writer feels that the factors show a good sum on the side of salubrity. The full force in mercantile and me chanical or manufacturing establish ments can work, without discomfort, the entire year. With Atlanta’s low summer temperature and healthfulness, it offers inducements to northern man ufacturers who may desire proximity to cheap pig iron of superior quality, and forests of hard wood convenient. To their laborers they can say, that the saving in fuel and by wearing ’thinner clothing than in the North are equivalent to an advance of 20 per cent, on wages. ADAPTATION OF THE CLIMATE TO DIS EASE. The writer is now brought to the di rect consideration of the diseases to which the climate is remediable. Bron chial Catarrh, including chronic Bron chitis, whether the expectoration is scant or profuse, Laryngeal and Pharyngeal Catarrhs, especially those cases complicated with aural troubles, so common and intractable in the North, are readily cured. To the ar my of consumptives Atlanta, and the region tributary to it, offer asylums. The consumptive may choose an ele vation of from 1,100 feet at Atlanta, to 3,000 on the Blue Ridge mountains, north of there. Patients, more than physicians, are generally blamable for not promptly seeking a change of climate, upon the discovery that a lung has become tub erculased. Why persons cannot realize that the same causes that produce an affection will aggravate it, and for that reason they should early abandon home for a suitable climate, is enigmatical. Ear ly changes are curative m a large pro portion of cases. After softening has progressed the proportion of recaverius is small. Life is, however, prolonged by a change, even then. Medical lit erature contains reliable accounts of cures after cavities have formed. Few persons have the perseverance to fol low out such a hygienic regimen as is absolutely indispensible to a cure. Without which cure is impossible. And where health is being restored, it is always the better part of wisdom to remain and establish a new home. Northern Georgia is favorable to re covery from Catarrh of the Apex, Chronic Pneumonia, Caseous Phthisis, if destruction of tissue is not so advan ced as to forbid active and persistent out-door life. Its climate is especially conducive to the cure of Catarrhal Pneumonia and Libroid Phthisis, Hoemoptysis, Catarrh of the Bladder, Dyspepsia, Insomnia, Nervous affec tions and Chlorosis. Persons broken down by disease or overwork will soon gain strength and spirits by a residence in Atlanta or one of its numerous sub urbs. The general healthfulness of a region is popularly measured by the ratio of deaths from consumption. Folks die everywhere. If they do not die from consumption in sections of the low country, in great numbers, the pro portion dying from malaria may be as great as from consumption in some re gions of the North. In north Georgia the mean is struck in both diseases. A study of the accompanying mortali ty tables, collated from the reports of the Census of 1880, may prove to be interesting. Prof. Henry T. Campbell, of Au* gusta, Georgia, ex-President of the American Medical Association, recent ly gave the writer abundant informa tion to show that the region in and about Augusta has been preventive of the development of consumption in persons whose progenitors died of the disease, contracted in the North. Re search in relation to the region about Atlanta goes to prove that a likeprop holaxis prevails there. There are now living in Atlanta a mother and two adult sons, sole survi vors of a family of ten. The husband of the lady, three sons and three daughters died of consumption. The mother and the remaining sons moved to Atlanta years ago to escape the fate of the other members of the family. The sons had premonitory symptoms of consumption at their native place. The mother had hemorhages. The tendency to which has been entirely overcome by her residence in Atlanta, Several nieces of the head of the 3