122 BESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



Persons suffering with debility, as well as consumption, should 

 seek a climate marked by dryness, equability, and mildness. 

 The nearest approach to such a climate in Europe is found on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean, at Mentone, Nice, and Can- 

 nes, between Marseilles and Genoa, and consequently the best 

 districts there are filled with invalids. from other parts of the 

 continent. The southern part of this State has a still better 

 climate, more equable, drier, and milder. The injurious influ- 

 ence of moist air upon diseases of the throat and lungs has not 

 been explained, but it is felt very plainly. The equability and 

 mildness of temperature stimulate to exertion, and protect the 

 invalid from dangerous chills and enervating heat, and take 

 away any motive for cutting off ventilation. 



It is only of late years that much attention has been given 

 to medical climatology, and there is, as yet, no comprehensive 

 treatise upon it. The books which treat of it omit to men- 

 tion many material facts, and are devoted to the praise of 

 small districts. For the cure of diseases of the respiratory 

 organs, no part of the continent is equal to California. Our 

 climate has the equable, mild, and dry character that is needed 

 by persons suffering with bronchitis and various forms of pneu- 

 monia. It is now conceded by leading physicians that con- 

 sumption, except in very advanced stages of the disease, is 

 curable, not by .drugs, which are injurious, but by living in 

 the open air, especially in a dry atmosphere. The disease is 

 mainly caused by breathing foul air, and is most destructive to 

 persons dwelling in close rooms. The only cures of advanced 

 cases of consumption, well authenticated, within the range of 

 our experience and study, were effected by the influence of the 

 open air. 



The mildness of climate is important to invalids generally. 

 Perfect ventilation and exercise are necessary in many diseases, 

 and they will always be neglected if they are not conducive to 

 comfort, as they are here. Cold prevents ventilation, and heat 

 prevents exercise. In chronic diseases, as a class, changes of 



