REMEDIAL VALUE OF THE CLIMATE OF FLORIDA. 647 



that it is well-nigh impossible for them to give unprejudiced state- 

 ments concerning the healthf ulness of the State, its adaptation to the 

 cure of disease, or any other subject, which even remotely touches 

 their personal interest. A prism is placed before your eyes, and you 

 are caused to see everything covered with the colors of the rainbow. 



However, I snatched one fragment from the page of fact. During 

 the last six months of 1881 there were thirteen deaths in Jacksonville 

 (population 8,000 *) from consumption, these deaths being of residents 

 only, and excluding all non-residents or visiting invalids. This is a 

 mortality of 1*62 per 1,000, being a greater mortality than occurred in 

 Cincinnati during the same time, which was 4*24 in a population of 

 280,000, or 1*51 per 1,000. These figures do not establish the rate of 

 mortality, from this disease, in the city of Jacksonville, for in so small 

 a place a series extending over a number of years would be necessary. 

 But, when facts are so difficult to find, we must content ourselves even 

 with a straw. It is much more satisfactory to thus have an indication 

 from a populous center, than the rate from sparsely populated country 

 districts, which, as is well known, are comparatively immune every- 

 where. It may be stated, in this connection, that natives of Florida 

 taken with consumption frequently seek other places and climates as a 

 means of cure. 



In endeavoring to show the unfitness of Florida for consumptives, 

 I have spoken of the disease en bloc, and made no reference to the dif- 

 ferent types, as I believe it better to convey the impression that Florida 

 is not suitable for any type of the disease. Possibly in the rare inflam- 

 matory kind, with dry and heated bronchial tubes and beginning 

 laryngeal symptoms, the soothing and relaxing air of Florida may be 

 of temporary advantage. But the forecast of such cases is seen ab 

 initio, and we do not look for a cure, such as may frequently occur in 

 cases of the more chronic sort, when proper medicinal treatment is 

 given and a proper climate is selected. 



We do not mean to say that cases of consumption never improve in 

 Florida. Undoubtedly there are cases which get well in Florida, just 

 as there are in every locality, and even at home. 



Turning from consumption, we will look on the opposite side of 

 the picture. Are there no diseases of the lungs in which this delight- 

 ful climate is beneficial ? Undoubtedly ; and it is the efficacy of the 

 climate in this other group of diseases the bronchial, often wrongly 

 diagnosed as consumption that has given reputation to the climate. 

 The "taking of cold" in Florida is a comparatively infrequent event. 

 Even when one does take cold it is only manifested by slight sneezing, 

 and that is the end of it. There is no tendency to acute inflammation 

 of the Schneiderian membranes, the extension by continuity to the 

 fauces, larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes; in fine, to that compound 



* The population of Jacksonville, including suburbs, is considerably above this, but 

 the mortality statistics are limited to a district the population of which is as stated. 



