SALUBRITY. 121 



tion, in some occupations, rising to 33 per cent, of the entire 

 mortality. The Indians at Puget Sound also suffer much from 

 consumption, probably because they spend a great portion of 

 their time in huts filled with smoke. 



At Philadelphia, 12 per cent, of the deaths are caused by 

 consumption, 4 by pneumonia, 2 by croup, and 2 by bronchitis ; 

 but generally, in the Northern States, there are two cases of 

 consumption to one of pneumonia. The proportion of the two 

 diseases is reversed in the cotton districts, pneumonia appear- 

 ing to replace consumption in the warm climates. The deaths 

 by aft diseases of the respiratory organs are 29 per cent, of 

 the entire mortality in Massachusetts, 27 in Maine, 26 in Lon- 

 don, 25 in Havana, 24 in Michigan, and 20 in New York. In 

 California, most of our consumptives are imported. The dry- 

 ness and warmth of our climate oifer little encouragement for 

 it, and the proportion of deaths from it is less than one-half 

 that in New York. 



A mild, dry climate is not only a protection against con- 

 sumption, but also a cure for it. Dr. Copeland says : " Moist- 

 ure is a good conductor of electricity ; dry air, a bad one. 

 The human body receives electricity constantly from the earth, 

 with which it is in contact, and probably develops it through 

 the organic processes. In dry weather, this electricity is re- 

 tained, in a great measure, and the body becomes loaded with 

 it, the nervous system is stimulated, and buoyancy and cheer- 

 fulness of mind follow. In damp weather, on the contrary, 

 the moisture of the atmosphere acts as a conductor, and con- 

 stantly carries away the electricity from the body ; thence it 

 is at a minimum, and mental depression follows." 



Whether this explanation be correct or not, it is certain that 

 a warm, moist climate impairs the appetite and causes languor, 

 and a dry, cool atmosphere stimulates the appetite and invig- 

 orates the system. As debility is the main difficulty in con- 

 sumption, it is evident that the warm, moist climate should be 

 carefully avoided. 



