NOTES ON HISTORY AND CLIMATE OP NEW MEXICO. 325 



and ospi'oially in the dryness of the atmosphere of our continent is the 

 patient interested. 



With all the dampness found at the city of Mexico, it is stpted by Dr. 

 Peaslee that "Phthisis is not indigenous in that city, and it is not sel- 

 dom arrested in those who come here from the north. A member of the 

 Mexican Congress assured me that the natives do not die of phthisis, 

 and that the lives of phthisical patients from the north are usually much 

 prolonged by a permanent residence here." {Ibid., \). 2Q1.) He thinks, 

 however, it presents no special advantage to phthisical or bronchitic 

 patients, and he cannot recommend it to such as a winter residence. 



But there are other places of lower altitude in this country (Mexico) 

 which he believes to be fully equal, and in some respects even superior, 

 to any of the famous resorts abroad, mentioning "Cordova (altitude 

 2,715 feet) and Orizaba, (1,030 feet.) both presenting a tropical climate 

 and all its productions and the most grand and picturesque scenery. 

 Cordova has, moreover, sometimes been visited by yellow fever. Jalapa 

 also, now accessible by railroad, is doubtless equal to either of these 

 places as a sanitarium for this class of patients, and as a residence is one 

 of the most beautiful places on earth. Its great humidity may, however, 

 render it unsuitable to some cases, and the sudden chill of the northers 

 must also be guarded against in these places. But Cueruavaca, 60 

 miles south of Mexico and not accessible by railroad, has an altitude of 

 5,428 feet, and the same climate and productions as Orizaba, and is far 

 more desirable. In addition to these, Tetecala, not far from Cuerna- 

 vaca; Atlixco, 23 miles from Puebla, and Monterey, are mentioned by 

 Dr. Peaslee, though the latter is only accessible by a tedious journey by 

 diligence." 



It may be interesting to compare with the climate of Mexico that of 

 Colorado, Utah, ]^ew Mexico, and Texas. Whatever may be lost of the 

 tropical air and productions as we go northward from Mexico may be 

 more than made up by the dryness of the atmosphere, a short wet sea- 

 son, and diminished rainfall. 



In some localities dust-storms are sufficiently prevalent to be prejudi- 

 cial, on account of the irritation they occasion to the air-passages. In 

 Texas tJie heat of summer is extreme, and the sudden vicissitudes of tem- 

 perature and moisture and extreme chill produced by northers are 

 worse, perhaps, than in Mexico. In Utah (see Eeport of Surgeon E. P. 

 Vollum, Circular isTo. 8, Surgeon-General's Office, May 1, 1875, ii. 343) the 

 humidity is marked in the spring months, arising from the winds passing 

 over Great Salt Lake from the northward, bringing the watery vapors 

 not only from that great body of water, but also from the regions beyond, 

 supplied by the southwesterly currents that are seen to pass over at a 

 great altitude most of the winter long. This statement is true as to 

 the climate of Camp Douglas, 2^ miles east of Salt Lake City, and at an 

 altitude of 4,901 feet above the sea. 



"Great Salt Lake, with a shore-line, exclusive of offsets, of 291 miles, 

 is vast enough to furnish a horizon in jilaces like the ocean itself." 



