[COMPLIMENTS OF THE AUTHOR 
NEW MEXICO: 
ITS CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES EOR 
CONSUMPTIVES. 
BY 
J. HILGARD TYNDALE, M. D. 
[Reprinted from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of 
March 22 and April 5, 1883.] 
CAMBRIDGE: 
printeb at ttje Uinersibe Press. 
1883. NEW MEXICO: 
ITS CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES FOR CONSUMP- 
TIVES. 
BY J. HILPARD TYNDALE, M. D., NEW VORK. 
When we wish to obtain knowledge in reference to 
the climate of any section of our country, the meteoro- 
logical reports of the United States Signal Service are 
our chief source of information. They are accurate, 
and are cheerfully and quickly furnished. Meteorolog- 
ical data represent the ever-shifting phenomena in the 
sea of air surrounding our globe. The “ climate ” of 
any region is the embodiment of some stable elements 
with the above changes superadded, in which embodi- 
ment regional geography and local conformation play 
a prominent part. For this reason it is well to visit 
and inspect in person the territory, the climate of 
which it is desired to investigate. Hence my recent 
trip to New Mexico. 
Personal observations with regard to climate include 
the use of your own powers of observation, the finding 
of meteorological data kept by physicians or some sci 
entifically inclined individuals, and personal interviews 
with them. If my material is somewhat scanty, it is 
because in previous observations I have had to deal 
with a region of advanced civilization, whereas in New 
Mexico everything may be said to be new, notwith- 
standing the evidences of civilization of by-gone ages. 
In determining whether and how far the climate of 
any locality or region of country is suitable for con- 
sumptives in the earlier stages, we look for certain 
elements which reason and experience have shown to 
exert in combination a beneficial influence upon the 2 
New Mexico. 
general condition and upon the destructive process 
going on in the lungs of a patient. In my opinion the 
great desideratum lor an ideal climate is an aseptic 
atmosphere with considerable altitude for some, and little 
elevation or sea-level for the other forms of pulmonary 
consumption.1 
AN ASEPTIC ATMOSPHERE. 
Germ pathology is now sufficiently far advanced to 
justify us in accepting the fact of germs (bacteria) 
being the “ferment of contagion,” the organisms which 
usher in putrefaction in phthisis (I am not satisfied of 
the specific character of the tubercle bacillus), to cause 
us to reflect upon the importance of excluding further 
invasions from without, and to check proliferation 
within, if not to destroy the already existing breed, 
and lastly to reason from the premises of the known 
facts, that lowlands with warmth and moisture are the 
breeding grounds of septic organisms. Now a truly 
aseptic atmosphere should not be steadfastly warm or 
hot, nor loaded with moisture, as the result of evap- 
oration from large bodies of water on the one hand, 
while the geological substratum of a chosen locality 
should not admit of subsoil moisture on the other. 
The importance of subsoil moisture in the develop- 
ment of pulmonary consumption was urged by Dr. 
Bowditch, of Boston, as early as 18G2.2 
The elements of meteorological changes concern- 
ing us are humidity, degrees of temperature as to 
means and equability (diurnal and annual range), 
barometric pressure, the movements of the air ocean 
(frequency and velocity of winds), the rainfall, and 
intensity of sunlight. More or less frequent electric 
1 A series of articles giving the opinion of the most prominent 
pneumatologists of our country on the elements going to make up a 
suitable climate for consumptives will appear shortly. 
2 Topographical Distribution and Local Origin of Consumption in 
Massachusetts. By II. I. Bowditch, M. D., of Boston. (Medical 
Communications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, vol. x., No. 
2, 1802.) New Mexico 
3 
changes, not too frequent winds, and occasional rain- 
fall, are not disturbing factors in the benefit to be 
gained by consumptives. On the other hand rapid 
and frequent thermometric changes, a lack of stability 
of temperature; winds of great velocity and some per- 
sistence ; and a high relative humidity of some dura- 
tion— these three elements, when combined for a num- 
ber of days in any region, are known to be the fruitful 
source of severe colds, of acute inflammation of the 
air passages.1 
Seibert proves from six hundred cases that “ if a 
strong wind accompanies a high, or a rising, or a long- 
lasting high percentage of humidity, together with an 
already low or then falling thermometer, then the fre- 
quency of pneumonia will be found to be astonish- 
ing” 
The qualities necessary, then, to constitute an asep- 
tic climate, one which yields no breeding ground for 
infection, and where the meteorological conditions do 
not favor acute exacerbations of pulmonary troubles, in- 
cludes the contrary of the above conditions, namely : — 
(1.) Dryness, absence of persistent humidity. 
(2.) A cool or moderately warm atmosphere, with 
a reasonable equability of temperature. 
(3.) Shelter from or absence of frequent winds of 
great velocity. 
(4.) A preponderance of clear days over the cloudy 
ones — in other words, abundance of sunshine, as a nat- 
ural accompaniment of the other constituents. 
ALTITUDE. 
Elevation above the sea level may be spoken of as 
low, medium, and high altitude, ranging say from 1500 
to 6000 feet. The latter may be considered as the 
“ line of immunity ” in our latitudes. The proper al- 
titude for any given patient should be chiefly deter- 
mined by the condition of his heart’s action. Feeble 
1 Seibert on Meteorology and Croupous Pneumonia, in American 
Journal Medical Sciences, January, 1882. 4 
New Mexico. 
impulse and rapid action, to begin with a low or mod- 
erate altitude (1000 to 2000) ; moderately weak im- 
pulse and rapidity of action, somewhat above normal, 
to medium altitudes (2500 to 4000 feet) ; no great 
variation from normal impulse and action, to high alti- 
tudes (4500 feet and over). 
With increasing elevation the pressure of the air 
column is diminished; equably lessened barometric 
pressure is indicative of a relatively low degree of hu- 
midity, and accords with relative dryness found at 
high altitude. 
Of ozone we need not speak here. Its importance 
and action upon the human organism are undergoing 
investigation.1 
Now let us see whether these requirements (which 
for the want of space I have given only in abstract) 
are found in New Mexico, and if so, to what extent. 
The physical aspect of New Mexico may be briefly 
summed up as follows : The “ Spanish Range ” of the 
Rocky Mountains enters the Territory from the north, 
and, spreading out into spurs, like the spread fingers 
of a hand, gives rise to numerous valleys between each 
spur. The rest of the country is a broad expanse of 
rolling meadow land, at an elevation varying from 7000 
to 6000 feet, sloping off toward the south, and decreas- 
ing in elevation down to 3000 feet above sea level. 
Away from the general range, mountains, valleys, and 
plains are more or less abruptly intermingled. In the 
words of Dr. Bizzell, “ Rapid transition and great di- 
versity of elevation, containing within its border deep 
valleys, gorges, and canons, associated with mountains 
and elevated and more or less arid plains.” 
The soil is, of course, a porous one, as is the case 
throughout the Rocky Mountain region. 
Water courses are few and far between. Such creeks 
as there are, all have their fountain-heads in the re- 
gions of eternal snow. The water is clear and sup- 
1 See Ozone in Relation to Health and Disease. By Henry Day, 
M. D. (London.) New Mexico. 
5 
posedly chemically pure, being largely melted snow. 
Temperature of mountain-stream water about 58° F. 
Vegetation is as sparse as it is in Northern Col- 
orado, notwithstanding the more southern latitude. The 
pine growths of the mountains and mountain plateaux 
are not sufficiently dense to impregnate the air with 
terebiuthine odors, and thus to be considered as a di- 
rect antiseptic agent for continuous inhalation. 
In considering in how far we find the elements 
which we accept as constituting a suitable climate for 
a majority of consumptives we will begin with 
ELEVATION. 
Every degree of altitude is represented, from 3000 
feet to 8000 feet and over. As 6000 feet represents 
our “ line of immunity,” we have use only for altitudes 
from 1500 feet to 6000 feet. The Atchison, Topeka, 
and Santa Fe Railroad traverses the Territory from 
north to south. Along its line have grown up the 
principal towns and settlements, representing all the 
above elevations. Traveling through Kansas on the 
same road it became clear to my mind that coming 
from the East through that State, and passing through 
New Mexico from north to south, an invalid is enabled 
to make a slow journey, beginning at a comparatively 
low altitude in Kansas, and traveling westward, to 
gradually ascend, until an elevation of from 6000 to 
7000 feet is reached. This may be accomplished with- 
out deviating from a straight course westward, and 
fyet to stop at towns of such size as to afford the neces- 
sary comforts of life, good food, society, medical at- 
tendance, and other things pertaining to civilization. 
To illustrate this I will give the names of such places, 
together with their elevations, from east to west on 
the railroad : — 
In Kansas: Topeka, 904 feet; Emporia, 1161 feet; 
Newton, 1433 feet; Earned, 2015 feet; Kinsley, 2207 
feet; Dodge City, 2499 feet; Lakin, 3020 feet. 
In Colorado: Las Animas, 3959 feet; La Junta, 
4117 feet; Trinidad, 6034 feet. 6 
New Mexico. 
In New Mexico: Las Vegas, 6452 feet; Santa Fe, 
7013 feet. 
Beginning in the south, at the junction of the Ter- 
ritory of New Mexico with Old Mexico and the State 
of Texas, the figures run upwards toward the north to 
Raton, near the Colorado line, as follows : — 
El Paso, 3662 feet ; La Mesilla, 3844 feet; Socorro, 
4665 feet; Silver City, 5890 feet (not reached by 
rail) ; Albuquerque, 5006 feet; Las Vegas, 6452 feet; 
Raton, 7861 feet. 
Our next question relates to the aseptic qualities of 
the atmosphere, and the elements which render it so at 
these several elevations. 
DRYNliSS. 
The low relative humidity of the elevated regions of 
New Mexico are primarily due to far inland position, 
a fact dwelt upon by Dr. Charles Denison in his work 
“ Health Resorts in the Rocky Mountains,” and previ- 
ous papers. The great distance from the Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans, as well as the Gulf of would 
preclude any great quantity of moisture from these 
great sources ; and such as it might be, is still further 
diminished and diluted as it ascends and spreads into 
space. The other source of more or less constant hu- 
midity, subsoil moisture, is naturally absent at such 
elevation, where the soil is a porous one. Of the rain 
and snowfall, the tables of the Signal Service as given 
at their three stations, Santa Fe, La Mesilla, and Sil- 
ver City, will give information : — 
Altitude, 3844 feet; latitude, 32° 17'; longitude, 
106° 48' ; mean annual barometer, 26.070. 
Mean relative humidity from September, 1877, to 
August, 1882: — 
Average mean of five years : 43 per cent, saturation. 
Average mean for each month of the year : — 
I.A MESILLA. New Mexico. 
7 
January .... 51% 
February . . . . 45% 
March .... 35% 
April ..... 31% 
May 29% 
June 31% 
July 49% 
August 50% 
September . . . 47% 
October .... 48% 
November . . . 46% 
December .... 51% 
Minimum percentage (greatest dryness) 22.5, May, 
1879. 
Maximum percentage (highest degree of saturation) 
64.5, January, 1879. 
Altitude, 5890 feet; latitude, 32° 48' ; longitude, 
108° 15'. 
Mean relative humidity from May, 1878, to Decem- 
ber, 1882 : — 
Average mean of four years: 43 percent, saturation. 
Average mean of each month of the year ; — 
SILVER CITY. 
July . 52% 
August 61% 
September . . . 56% 
October .... 54% 
November .... 53% 
December .... 49% 
January .... 58% 
February .... 54% 
March 42% 
April 34% 
May 33% 
June 34% 
Minimum percentage (greatest dryness) 18.8, June, 
1878. 
Maximum percentage (highest degree of saturation) 
67.8, August, 1881. 
Altitude, 7013 feet; latitude, 35° 41'; longitude, 
106° 10'; mean annual barometer, 23.262. 
Mean relative humidity from January, 1872, to De- 
cember, 1882:— 
Average mean of ten years ; 45 per cent, saturation. 
Average mean of each month of the year : — 
SANTA Ffi. 
January .... 52% 
February .... 64% 
March .... 42% 
April 35% 
May 28% 
June 30% 
July 46% 
August 51% 
September . . . 43% 
October .... 42% 
November .... 49% 
December .... 55% 
Minimum percentage (greatest dryness), 20.0, May, 
1873. 
Maximum percentage (highest degree of saturation), 
71.4, August, 1876. 8 
New Mexico. 
The most noteworthy fact in connection with the 
above showing is the very low mean relative humidity 
in three places, representing the southern, southwest- 
ern, and northern portions of the territory. The 
higher percentages of humidity, occurring in the sum- 
mer months of July and August, as also in the winter 
months of December, January, and February, are in 
accord with the rain and snowfall. On some parts of 
the coast of California the rainfall is out of all propor- 
tion to relative humidity and its percentage, a fact 
which makes dryness a very doubtful constituent. 
Precipitation. Annual Amount (in inches and hun- 
dredths). 
LA MESILLA. 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
8.07 
7.80 
7.10 
15.05 
SANTA FE. 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1S77 
I 1878 
1879 
1880 
9.73 
19.93 
18.97 
15.97 
13.15 
19.52 
11.44 
9.89 
SILVER CITY. 
1879 1880 1881 
13.77 16.90 30.82 
At Fort Union the total rain and snowfall for the 
year 1881 amounted to 39.48 inches. 
In comparing the dryness of these several localities 
it will be observed that the Mesilla Valley carries off 
the palm, both as regards relative humidity and precip- 
itation ; none of the monthly averages of five years 
show more than a trifle above half saturation (50 per 
cent.), while as low an average as 29 per cent, is New Mexico. 
9 
reached, and in one month 18 per cent., a degree of 
dryness rarely attained. As proof of this I reproduce 
the mean relative humidity of various sections of our 
country: — 
New England States, 73 per cent.; Middle Atlantic 
States, 74 per cent.; South Atlantic States, 79 per 
cent.; Gulf States, 82 per cent.; Lower Lake Region, 
79 percent. ; Upper Lake Region, 70 per cent.; Ohio 
Valley, Tennessee, and the Northwest, 73 per cent.; 
Lower Mississippi Valley, 58 per cent.; Denver, Colo- 
rado, 42 per cent. 
Hy far the heaviest rainfalls occur in the months of 
July and August. While there is scarcely any rain 
during the other months, the rains of midsummer re- 
semble deluges in their character. Very little snow 
falls except on the highest mountain ranges, from 
whence it drifts in small part into the valleys and the 
towns located therein. 
Closely allied to the subject of dryness is that of sun- 
shine. Of this there is an abundance in New Mexico, 
the number of perfectly clear days far outnumbering 
the overcast, cloudy, and rainy ones taken together. I 
regret that, aside from the reports appended, no rec- 
ords have been kept anywhere of the number of clear 
days in any one year. The only private data I could 
stir up were in possession of parties at Las Vegas Ilot 
Springs, and these, I have reason to believe, were not 
reliable. 
Number of Clear, Fair, and Cloudy Days. 
LA MESILLA. 
Year. 
Clear. 
Fair. 
Cloudy. 
1878 
238 
93 
34 
1879 
262 
81 
30 
1880 
191 
135 
40 
1881 
161 
157 
47 10 
New Mexico, 
SANTA EE. 
Year. 
Clear. 
Fair. 
Cloudy. 
1877 
140 
168 
61 
1878 
160 
169 
36 
1879 
169 
152 
33 
1880 
184 
137 
45 
1882 
188 
183 
39 
The year 1881 is omitted, as the report was incom 
plete. 
SILVER CITY 
Year. 
Clear. 
Fair. 
Cloudy. 
1879 
246 
87 
34 
1880 
230 
104 
32 
1881 
222 
109 
82 
Average Number of Clear Dags in the Summer Months 
(April to October) and the Winter Months ( October to 
April). 
Locality. 
Summer. 
Winter. 
Yearly Average 
La Mesilla. 
140 
115 
255 
Santa F<5. 
87 
104 
191 
Silver City. 
112 
122 
234 
A residence of nearly two years in Colorado justifies 
me in saying that on “fair” days the sun shines dur- 
ing a goodly portion, if not the greater part of the day. 
-This fact enables me to state that the sun shines during 
a number of hours almost every day in the year and 
quite certainly in this proportion : — New Mexico. 
11 
La Mesilla, 325 to 333 days ; Santa Fe, 298 to 32G 
(lavs ; Silver City, 330 to 335 days. 
In the first two above-named places there were no 
cloudy days for the three consecutive months of June, 
July, and August, 1879 (a very dry year). At Silver 
City the number of cloudy days for each month in two 
consecutive years is worth recording : — 
c* 
h 
O' 
,0 
£> 
Year. 
a 
3 
ei 
o> 
Pn 
March 
April. 
May. 
June. 
July. 
Augus 
5 
a> 
A 
.3 
o 
3 
a> 
t* 
o 
5 
0) 
ft 
1880 
1 
3 
0 
2 
0 
0 
12 
5 
3 
0 
l 
5 
1881 
0 
2 
0 
2 
3 
2 
8 
6 
4 
1 
3 
2 
The next question to interest us is that of 
TEMPERATURE. 
Points of importance are the mean temperature of 
months and seasons of the year, showing the warmth, 
coolness or coldness of the atmosphere in degrees, and 
the diurnal and annual ranges of temperature (the daily 
fluctuation, together with the number of degrees the 
thermometer runs over during a year) showing what we 
have to expect of the equability of the temperature: — 
Monthly Means of Temperature. (Average Thermomet 
rical Reading for each Month.) 
LA MESILLA (FIVE YEARS). 
January 41.1° 
February 46.5 
March 53.5 
April 59.8 
May 69.2 
June 77.3 
July 79.6° 
August 76.5 
September 69.5 
October 63.7 
November 45.6 
December 44.4 12 
New Mexico. 
SANTA FE (TEN YEARS). 
January 28.2° 
February 31.7 
March 39.1 
April 46.6 
May 66.0 
June 66.4 
.July 68 0° 
August 66.9 
September 62.6 
October 49.8 
November 36.9 
December 28.1 
SILVER CITY (FOUR YEARS). 
January 37.2° 
February 41.0 
March 47.2 
April 48.6 
May 61.7 
June 70.3 
July 71.6° 
August 68.6 
September 63.6 
October 66.6 
November 39.6 
December 39.3 
January 29.6° 
February 36.9 
March 43.6 
April 62.0 
May 60.5 
June 71.3 
FORT UNION (TWO YEARS). ELEVATION, 6700 FEET. 
July 72.5° 
August 69.8 
September 62.2 
October 62.8 
November 39.3 
December 37.2 
In all of the above four localities, representing the 
southern, northern, southwestern, and northeastern 
parts of the Territory respectively, we find the coldest 
weather to occur in the month of January. Then 
there is a constant upward tendency, until in July the 
highest readings of the thermometer occur; after which 
there is an equally steady decline to the end of the year 
Mean Annual Temperature 
Yearly average temperature, as the result of obser- 
vation of a number of years: — 
La Mesilla, five years, 3844 feet above sea level, 
00.6°. Silver City, two years, 5890 feet above sea 
level, 53.7°. Santa Fe, ten years, 7013 feet above sea 
level, 48.7°. Fort Union, two years, G700 feet above 
sea level, 49.8°. 
The extent of fluctuation of temperature, to show 
wbat sort of equability we are dealing with, is illus- New Mexico. 
13 
trated by the range in each month for one year (1879 
to 1880), and by the annual range (difference between 
hottest and coldest day of that year) : — 
Monthly Range. 
LA MESILLA (SOUTHERN PORTION). 
July 52° 
August 53 
September 63 
October 59 
November 62 
December 57 
January 530 
February 57 
March 57 
April 57 
May 55 
June 51 
SILVER CITY (SOUTHWESTERN PORTION). 
July 390 
August 42 
September 47 
October 44 
November 53 
December 51 
[ January 540 
February — 
March 
April 54 
May 61 
1 June 55- 
Daring part of February and March the minimum 
thermometer was unserviceable. 
SOCORRO (CENTRAL PORTION). 
July1 40° 
August 40 
September 47 
October 40 
November 49 
December 58 
January 500 
February 60 
March 60 
April 51 
May 51 
June 52 
July 48° 
August 46 
September 48 
October 46 
November 46 
December 66 
SANTA FE (NORTHERN PORTION). 
January 570 
February 54 
March 63 
April 51 
May go 
J une 54 
1 Observer absent on repair duty. 14 
New Mexico, 
FORT UNION (NORTHEASTERN PORTION) FOR TIIE YEAR 1881. 
January 87° 
February 88 
March 71 
April 70 
May 48 
June 49 
July 61° 
August 44 
September 59 
October 61 
November 63 
December 70 
What is accomplished by the thermometer in run- 
ning over the degrees of Fahrenheit during a year 
will now be shown by the 
Station. 
Elevation. 
Maximum. 
Minimum. 
Annual Range. 
La Mesilla. 
3844 
104° 
17° 
87° 
Silver City. 
581(0 
91 
13 
78 
Socorro. 
4665 
95 
6 
89 
Santa Ke. 
7013 
95 
-13 
108 
Fort Union. 
6700 
96 
-25 
121 
Annual Range. 
These figures serve to illustrate the worst feature of 
the climate of New Mexico, as indeed of the whole 
llocky Mountain region, namely, a lack of reasonable 
equability of temperature. 
To give an illustration of what we shall call an 
equable climate, I append the monthly and annual 
ranges, together with the mean temperature for one 
year (1879 to 1880), of a locality where equability 
abounds, but, as usual, in the company of a high de- 
gree of humidity: — 
Keg West, Florida. 
July 19° 
August 19 
September 18 
October 15 
November 24 
December 15 
MONTHLY RANGE. 
January 189 
February 19 
March 24 
April 24 
May .20 
June 22 
Annual range, 30° (maximum, 94°, minimum, G4°) New Mexico. 
15 
MONTHLY MJ5AN. 
July 84.4° 
August 84.7 
September 82.5 
October 79.8 
November 74.0 
December 74.2 
January 73.1° 
February -73.1 
March 76.3 
April 76.8 
May 79.1 
June 83.4 
Annual mean relative humidity, 74.4oj0 
Equability of temperature is, of course, not found 
with altitude and dryness in New Mexico, and this 
fact makes it an undesirable climate for those cases of 
consumption in whom general sensitiveness and irrita- 
bility of the mucous membranes and the skin is a promi- 
nent symptom. This state of hypersensitiveness is not 
affected by the ruling degree of temperature (the 
means), hut by sudden and ungraded fluctuations. 
Neither is the “ irritable heart ” of such persons suited 
to high altitude, as it cannot he readily disciplined into 
normal action. 
But* for all cases of slowly progressive destruction 
and infiltration there can be no question that as dry- 
ness and equability are not found together in the tem- 
perate zone, dryness is the absolute requirement, and 
equability of temperature a secondary consideration. 
A perhaps still worse element of temperature, which 
is an invariable accompaniment of dryness, is the diur- 
nal range, the fluctuation of the thermometer within 
twenty-four hours, as we find it in the Rocky Moun- 
tain region or anywhere where the radiation of heat 
from the earth after sundown is not intercepted by the 
“ moisture blanket.” I select three stations at differ- 
ent latitudes in the Territory and do not give the mean 
of the daily changes in each month, but simply seize 
at random upon the first day of each month (1879 to 
1880), by which the facts will be amply shown : — 16 
New Mexico. 
LA MESILLA. LATITUDE 32° 17'. 
1879 
1880 
Julv 
49° 
January 
2lo 
August 
35 
February 
21 
September 
46 
March 
43 
October 
3t) 
April 
35 
November 
39 
May 
32 
December 
44 
.1 une 
33 
SOCORRO. LATITUDE 34° 5'. 
July 
28° 
January 
13° 
August 
18 
February 
16 
September 
33 
March 
34 
October 
24 - 
April 
30 
November 
18 
May 
28 
December 
33 
June 
34 
SANTA FE. LATITUDE 35° 41'. 
Julv 
40° 
January 
28° 
August 
32 
February 
. 14 
September 
32 
March 
* 41 
October 
22 
April ,. 
34 
November 
23 
May 
25 
December 
31 
June 
40 
The diurnal ranges are all the way from 15° to 50° 
F. In the Signal Service the daily readings are taken 
at seven a. m., two p. m., and nine p. m. There are 
two reasons why this great daily fluctuation should not 
be considered quite so much of an evil factor. One 
reason is, that this variation is largely due to the sud- 
den evaporation at nightfall, and is increased at night 
time ; a time when patients should be in-doors, after 
spending the day in the open air. Another reason is, 
that changes at dry, elevated stations may be therino- 
metrically great, but still convey oidy the sensation of 
comfort. 
WINDS. 
Neither theory nor the teachings of experience jus- 
tify the belief that more or less frequent movements of 
the atmospheric ocean have a harmful effect upon con- New Mexico. 
17 
sumptives. On the contrary, these movements are 
necessary for changing the air surrounding us, which in 
stagnation becomes charged with deleterious matter. 
Rain absorbs and precipitates these admixtures, while 
atmospheric motion scatters them. Great velocity of 
wind and persistency may and do prove harmful by the 
increased rapidity with which the warmth of the body 
is being continually carried off; an infliction under 
which the average consumptive gets chilled and fails to 
react, giving rise to internal congestions. 
At high altitudes, and in the absence of high shelter, 
winds of great frequency and long duration are plenti- 
ful. Most towns in New Mexico are built along the 
line of railroads, and as these roads mostly run parallel 
to mountain ranges, the majority are visited by fre- 
quent and persistent winds, which are a source of great 
discomfort and irritation to the consumptive; more es- 
pecially so when accompanied by dust. The only 
remedy for this nuisance lies in selecting such spots as 
are located in a nook or corner of the mountains, pro- 
tected on several sides by high hills. In other words, 
protection against winds is to be found in local shelter 
only. 
In the matter of local shelter, Santa Fe, Socorro, 
Silver City, Las Vegas Ilot Springs (not the town), 
and Raton, are favored spots. 
In the following tables will be found the direction of 
the most prevalent winds, as also the number of times 
they were observed to blow during the year from their 
respective points of the compass : — 
LA MESILLA. 
N. 
NE. 
E. 
SE. 
S. 
S\V. 
W. 
NW. 
1880 
42 
9 
28 
106 
89 
66 
153 
41 
1881 
77 
19 
15 
121 
88 
76 
90 
71 
West and southeast winds the most frequent 18 
New Mexico. 
SANTA FE 
N. 
NE. 
E. 
SE. 
s. 
SW. 
W. 
N1V. 
1880 
100 
100 
105 
80 
53 
201 
43 
183 
1881 
137 
134 
140 
68 
167 
41 
1 115 
Southwest winds the most frequent. Northwest 
next. 
FORT UNION 
N. 
NE. 
E. 
SE. S. 
S\V. 
W. j NVV'. 
1881 
175 
103 
83 
49 191 
197 
153 i 144 
Southwest winds the most frequent. Cold north 
winds in winter. West and northwest winds next in 
frequency. 
S1LVKR CITY 
N. 
NE. 
E. 
SE. 
S. 
8\V. 
W. 
N\V 
1880 
53 
29 
27 
72 
84 
117 
181 
241 
1881 
100 
7 
4 
53 
138 
91 
116 
262 
Northwest winds by far the most frequent. 
Having reviewed the physical aspect and the cli- 
matic advantages and disadvantages, a word or two 
with reference to the quality of food, social advantages, 
and medical attendance. 
Since the advent of railroads food is abundant and 
of reasonably good quality at most hotels. Cattle are 
plenty. Vegetables and fruit are very sparingly raised, 
except in Southern New Mexico, where fine grapes 
grow in the Mesilla Valley, from which a wretched 
wine is manufactured. Prices at hotels and boarding- 
houses are reasonable. New Mexico. 
19 
In all the towns one will find very excellent society 
(organized, if I may so call it), composed of as hospi- 
table people as you would meet anywhere. . The pres- 
ence of the lower class of Spaniards, with their filthy 
habits and unseemly adobe houses, is not particularly 
cheering. Yet to my mind there was something pic- 
turesque in their whole surroundings, as well as those 
of the Pueblo Indians, the descendants of the Aztecs. 
The medical profession is well represented through- 
out, and the colleagues are well up to the times, ener- 
getic practitioners, and most diligent readers and stu- 
dents. 
In New Mexico we do not find that variety and 
grandeur of scenery which distinguishes Colorado. 
It is of a more subdued order, there are many 
quaint and charming spots. 
A few remarks about individual places : — 
RATON, 
near the Colorado line, and the first station reached al- 
ter passing through a long tunnel, is beautifully lo- 
cated and sheltered by high hills clad with a tolerably 
heavy pine growth. Dr. J. J. Schuler, who is prac- 
ticing there, lias just commenced to keep meteorologi- 
cal records. 
has 8000 inhabitants, and is the business centre ot the 
Territory. The chief attraction are the Hot Springs, 
with their improvements in the way of hotels and the 
bath-house. The springs are about forty in number, 
but only a few are utilized. My interest in the springs 
confined itself to the alkaline muriates, known to be of 
benefit to consumptives by improving digestion and as- 
sisting assimilation. The analysis of these, as deter- 
mined by Professor Hayden, is as follows, in what is 
called Spring No. 3 : — 
Sodium carbonate, 5.00. Calcium carbonate, and 
magnesium carbonate, 11.43. Sodium sulphate, 16.21. 
Sodium chloride, 27.34. Silicic acid, 2.51. 
LAS VEGAS 20 
New Mexico 
Traces of bromine, iodine, and lithium. 
Temperature 123° F. 
Private meteorological data stated that there had 
been no rain during the entire winter of 1881-82, and 
only a few inches of snow, which all passed off in 
three days or less. The kettle formed by the moun- 
tains is open only to the northwest and southeast, the 
openings of a canon through which flows a clear 
stream dignified by the name of Rio Gallinas. 
My thanks are due to Drs. C. C. Gordon and W. It. 
Tipton for much kindness, assistance, and hospitality. 
SANTA k£. 
is the oldest city in the United States, being 333 (one 
third of a thousand) years old. It has a foreign ap- 
pearance in every particular, and everything in and 
about it makes you imagine yourself in Spain. The 
location of the city is such as to he sheltered from 
harsh winds, the situation being one of considerable 
slopes at the foot of a high mountain. Santa Fe is 
the capital of the Territory, and has, like most Mexican 
cities, a plaza in its centre, and many very beautiful 
gardens, also a ver}7 well-conducted hospital. 
LA MESILLA, 
one of several towns in the Mesilla Valley, a stretch 
of land in Southern New Mexico, about one mile wide 
in its northern portion, and spreading out to six miles 
in its southern. Taking our sensations and not the 
monthly range for a standard, the air is mild, with a 
bright sunshine nearly every day in the year. Vege- 
tation does not decay, neither does meat; they un- 
dergo shrinkage and dry up to the extent of mum- 
mification in dead animals. In the absence of the 
congregation of many individuals in one locality we 
have here some of the true aseptic qualities, from the 
presence of which we may reasonably hope for repair 
of ulcerated tissue after a “ line of demarcation” would 
be set up for the destructive process, and the healing 
process aided by water abstraction and shrinkage. New Mexico. 
21 
This valley presents to the invalid the advantages 
of a very moderate altitude, varying from 4000 feet 
near the Rio Grande to about 7000 feet in the high 
ranges of the Guadaloupe and other mountains. Ihe 
protection of the valley from sharp winds is chiefly to 
the north. 
In a letter to Dr. W. D. Bizzell, of Mobile, Ala.,1 
Dr. O. H. Woodworth writes from Mesilla, “ Our cli- 
mate is very dry, mild, and equable ; no dew falls ; the 
rainfall is only about eight inches yearly. The eleva- 
tion of the Rio Grande V alley at this place is about 
4000 feet above sea level. Our winters are very mild 
and pleasant; of course we have a few cold snaps oc- 
casionally, but not disagreeably so. Snow seldom falls 
in the Rio Grande Valley, which is bordered by moun- 
tains, and when it does it melts as fast as it falls, never 
remaining on the ground more than an hour oi so. 
Our summers are cool and pleasant; the sultry, suffo- 
cating “heated terms” of the States are unknown. A 
person can sleep out-of-doors (owing to the absence of 
dew) the year round, except in rainy weather, of which 
we have comparatively very little.” 
Other places have been mentioned when speaking 
of elevation. Of course the benefits of the climate are 
not confined to the towns, but, on the contrary, it is 
my belief that in the as yet uninhabited country in the 
northwestern part of New Mexico and the adjoining 
portions of Arizona, as well as the Mesilla V alley in 
general, together with other valleys in Southern and 
Southwestern New Mexico, will be found choice spots, 
where proper altitude is coupled to local shelter. 
SILVER CITY 
is a new town, located some distance off the railroad, 
in the southern part of the Territory (Grant County). 
From this place Dr. Lewis Kennon, an ex-army sur- 
geon, writes me as follows: “ I here is rarely a day 
1 Climate of the United States considered with Reference to Pneu- 
monia and Consumption. By W. D. Bizzell M. D. 1875 22 
New Mexico. 
in the year that an invalid cannot take exercise in the 
open air. I do not think there were three such days 
in the past winter. 
“Diseases of the heart, either with or without valvu- 
lar disease, do badly here. All diseases of the breath- 
ing apparatus do well, I can almost say without excep- 
tion. Bronchial trouble is marvelously benefited almost 
from the first. The most miraculous changes for the 
better are produced in broken-down systems from over- 
work or dissipation, all forms of neurasthenia, and that 
state of debauch you Eastern folks see so much of. . . . 
We have every range of temperature, but dry in all 
and everywhere. Some authors speak of an ideal cli- 
mate. This is very near the thing, for phthisis, here 
in Grant County.” 
In endeavoring to determine the suitability of the 
climate of New Mexico as a whole for a great propor- 
tion of patients suffering from the various forms of 
pulmonary consumption, we must compare the actual 
find to the ideal standard set up at the beginning of 
this paper on the one hand; on the other, look to prac- 
tical results actually attained. 
Elevation is present all the way from moderate alti- 
tude to the supposed “ line of immunity,” and higher 
still. 
Dryness — a mean relative humidity of low percent- 
age— forms the leading feature of climatic advantages. 
According to Yivenot’s classification1 the following 
range of degrees of moisture may be set down as rep- 
resenting so many varieties of dryness : — 
Dry, below and up to 55%. 
Moderately dry, 56 to 70 %. 
Moderately moist (or moist), 71 to 85%. 
Excessively moist, 86 to lOOfo. 
Referring back to our tables it will be seen that the 
climate is a very dry one. 
The possibility of a full and unobstructed sun bath 
1 liudolph v. Vivenot, Ueber die Messung der Luftfeuchtigkeit, 
Schmidt’s Jahrbucher, Band 132, p. 248. New Mexico. 
23 
is given in the number of perfectly clear clays, which 
gives us not only length of time, but, with such dia- 
thermancy of the atmosphere as exists in those regions, 
great intensity of sunlight. 
Equability of temperature, of course, does not exist 
at considerable elevations in the temperate zone. The 
great monthly and annual ranges of temperature at 
the various stations mentioned, together with the great 
and sudden daily fluctuations, show no approach to 
anything like reasonable equability of temperature. 
After a time, when meteorological records shall have 
been kept for several years at a number of places in 
the Territory, we would do well to select for our pa- 
tients, in addition to the appropriate altitude, those 
localities wherein we find the nearest approach to an 
equable temperature, and the most perfect local shelter 
from winds. 
In lieu of any further general observations I quote 
from the publication prepared for the railroad com- 
panies : — 
“ The statistics of the United States Army Reports 
demonstrate the important fact that New Mexico has 
the lowest ratio of respiratory diseases to be found in 
the country, the cases being 1.3 per thousand, while 
in various other localities the proportion ranges from 
2.3 to 6.9. 
“ A very striking evidence of the curative character 
of this wonderful climate is found in the army records 
of the time of the Rebellion. Among the troops orig- 
inally sent to New Mexico, in 1861, there were some 
350 cases of catarrh. At the expiration of a year no 
cases were reported, and all who had the disease and 
remained in the country were cured. Dr. Symington 
said ‘ that in a residence of eight years in New Mexico 
he had seen but two cases of phthisis among the na- 
tives.’ ” 
Of the advisability of remaining in one locality the 
year round I would say that a change in summer and 
winter is desirable. The more elevated positions in 24 
New Mexico. 
the mountains afford a retreat from the summer heat 
(especially in July and August) of the southern lati- 
tudes, while numerous little sheltered valleys and 
canons afford protection from the sudden storms of 
winter. All these changes may he found within com- 
paratively short distances, and in this manner many 
consumptives may continue to “ live within the bounds 
of restricted vitality.”