An American Italy for invalids : a dissertation, showing the advantages, incidents, etc., of a journey on the plains, in the Rocky Mountains and Mexico, for the cure of all chronic diseases / by R.E. Fullerton.

  • Fullerton, R. E.
Date:
[1871?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An American Italy for invalids : a dissertation, showing the advantages, incidents, etc., of a journey on the plains, in the Rocky Mountains and Mexico, for the cure of all chronic diseases / by R.E. Fullerton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, the present population oJ Colorado, although largely made up of reconstructed invalids, wear more young Paces and elastic forms under gray hairs than any people I ever knew. During the very warm (lays, which alternate with storms, and destroy the ecpiable temperature, the air is so dry that the snow docs not melt, but is absorbed by the air. Drippings from the eaves, or Aery sloppy roads, are very seldom seen. These facts very greatly offset the objection to this fine climate on account of the great fluctuations of that season. The most serious effect from these sudden and great winter changes of temperature result from those of night. Instead of growing gradually cooler— thus preventing that weakening perspiration which is the result of the relaxa- tion caused by sleep—frequently, at this season of the year, during the night, zephyrs bring a warm air from the Pacific slope. In this way. instead of gradually falling, as it does in this climate during summer, and in Mexico through the winter, the temperature of the air some- times rises 10° to 20° towards morning, and one night as much as 38°; ne- cessitating the hazardous risk of throwing off bedding, which, if retained, would cause relaxation, exhausting perspiration, severe colds and the want of long and refreshing sleep, so necessary to the infirm. Except when emerg- ing from bed into the bracing morning air, a time at which all persons (un- less it be those who have had night sweats, or are very thin in habit.) should actively take the cool air baths, any throwing off of bedding at night, or clothing during the day, is unsafe, unless very particular attention is paid to atmospheric changes. North of Mexico the advantages of camp life cannot be enjoyed during winter and spring. There, where a shower of rain may not be seen during the whole winter, that mode of living affords an exrmi- site pleasure, difficult to understand by those who associate inclement weather, with the idea of camping out, notwithstanding any information to the contrary. As additional evidence that abundant vegetable and auimalcular produc- tion and decay (for where the former is found the latter is certain to be,) and an atmosphere pent up by forests, are prolific sources of miasma and disease, we refer to facts known of the Cross Timbers, lower and upper, of the State of Texas. Most of these belts of forest are upon high, dry and sandy, rolling lands, where there is no stagnation of putrid waters; and yet the old settlers along these belts of timber know that the inhabitants within these timbers are very liable to fall intermittents. remittent and bilious attacks, whilst those out a mile or more on the prairies, if on hi°-h dry and rolling lands, are not similarly attacked. Such diseases do not so frequently occur, nor in so severe a form, on high, rolling lands as in flat. marshy bottoms; and yet the same cause and effect are found everywhere in woodland districts, and in marshy prairies or open lands where vegetable production is profuse.