crc^^coccc LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, # # ^^/. F^'^' ^ cc: ^^ CC sr o cc f UNITED STATES OP AMERICA, f ^-^ < ^ < < CC Cx^ c cc r .<.CC C^cr-c^^ 2^'^^ c ex: cccc lK^:cc;c Fruit Cidtiire— Peach 117 drape Culture 110 Manufacturing Kesourees 128 Description of the Augusta Canal 181 Summerville, Richmond County, Ga , 143 Hea LTH AND Profit: ^S ^OUND IN JhE illg jjin^! foott of mm[^m 5r ^outli |^m'olina Part First. ^ General "Descj'ipUon of the Sand ITiU Region of South Carolma and Geo7'(/ia, The following pages treat of the " Sand Hill " region of South Carolina and Georgia. They have been written at the request of N^orthern friends of .the writer, who appreciate properly the benelits to be derived by consumptives from the invigorating temperature of its dry and mild Winter climate. Resembling in many respects the '^ Indian Sum- mer " of IN'ew York and Pennsylvania, the tempera- ture of this region does not depress the invahd by its cold, nor exercise, in the Spring, the enervating influence so much complained of by those who pro- long their stay into the early Spring months of the regions farther South, along the coast or in the interior of Florida. 10 fliLLY Pine Region of The coldest clays are general^ in the months of Decembar and January, and it is seldom that the thermometer marks at sunrise lower than 28° or 30° Fah. So seldom, indeed, is ice formed at night, visible at the middle of the next day, that the occur- rence excites the comments of the native residents. Though the rain, on an average, falls annually nearly as deep as at other places along the " eastern slope " — say about thirty-seven inches — the inconve- nience therefrom is not as great as might be sup- posed, inasmuch as the porous nature of the sandy soil enables it to absorb the falling water so rapidly that out-door exercise may be indulged in an hour or two after the storm clouds have cleared away. Winds and Soil. The prevailing winds in Winter are also drying winds (being from the north, northwest, west, south- west, and south), which soon evaporate the little surface moisture, and thus the atmosphere soon parts with its humidity. This fact explains the reason why so little inconvenience is experienced from what would be considered severe cold in a damper climate, the sea coast, for instance, where there is much more humidity, and where a much less degree of cold is found to be uncomfortable. For the same reason, an eastern wind, so much complained of in other regions of the Atlantic slope, though charged always with a large amount of vapor of water from the ocean, in reaching the borders of these hills, parts with much of its vapor in a very short time. I have often seen heavy nimbus or rain clouds rise rapidly and threatening in the east, and driven rapidly before pEOR<^iA AND South Carolina. li the wind, disappear in a few hours, with only a few drops of rain, and producing but a temporary effect upon the wet-bulb thermometer. Fogs. Fogs are of very rare occurrence, never lasting longer than an hour or two after sunrise, and seldom dense enough to obscure vision within two hundred yards. Five or six fogs in the Spring and Autumn are as many as ever occur; and I do not recollect to have seen more than three or four in the winter in a series of years. Water, In consequence of the nature of the soil com- posing the Sand Hills, they may be likened to great natural lilterers, which collect the rain and pass it through the pure sand to the stratum of clay beneath, which is the water-bearing bed of the Hills. Dr. Joseph Jones, formerly Chemist to the Georgia State Agricultural Society, now Professor of Chemistry, University of Louisiana, I^ew Orleans, in alluding to the water of Turknett Spring, near Augusta, Georgia, from which the city is supplied with drinking water, says : The specific gravity of this water is but very little greater than that of pure distilled water, being 1000.007 per cent. The solid residue left after evaporation equals only four and one-fourth grains (4.25) in the gallon of water. The solid residue is composed of salts of lime, magnesia, soda, potassa, and silica. The water also contains, in common with all spring water, carbonic acid gas. This spring rises from the base of the hills upon which the delightful town of Summerville stands. 12 Willy Pine Region op directly upon the MlUedgeville road, and represents the character of all the springs in the Sand Hill Te^nperatitre of Water, The temperature of the well and spring water varies from one to two degrees, but may be consid- ered to obey the law which governs the temperature of all spring and well water below seventy to one hundred feet from the surface, viz : the mean yearly temperature of the atmosphere which, in this region, is about 64° Fah. This equable temperature of the springs may be attributed to the equal depth of the water-bearing clay beds. Water at this temperature is a most delightful assuager of the thirst, and by its' purity assists very materially in depurating the blood of many ingredients which may be considered causes of disease, if permitted to remain in the system. The purity of the water of this region accounts for the exemption of its native inhabitants from calculus and kidney diseases generally, and, I have no doubt, in purifying the circulating fluid it also has a very powerful influence in eradicating malarial fevers from the system. Coher Spring^ at Aihen^ S. C The Coker Spring, at Aiken, S. C, may be taken as a type of all those in the Carolina hills, and resembles in every respect the waters of Turknett Spring, the analysis of which it corresponds to. If I recollect rightly, the temperature of this spring is exactly 64° Fah. Georgia and South Carolina. 13 Area of the Sand Hill Mef/ion in Georgia and South Carolina. The area of the Sand Hill region, though very imperfectly defined on its northwestern and south- eastern borders, in the States of South Carolina and Georgia, is comprised within a narrow belt or area, extending from the northeastern border of South Carolina to the southwestern border of Georgia, reaching a maximum elevation at Aiken, in the former State, and Summerville, in the latter, of nearly six hundred feet. The average width of this pecuUar formation may be estimated in the two States to be about thirty miles, more or less. To the geologist it is an extremely interesting portion of the American continent, particularly as it lies between the primary and tertiary regions, separating distinctly these two geological regions. For more interesting data on this subject, see Part Second. Surface Soil, The surface soil is sandy, covered with a thin vegetable mould, which soon blends with the gray and white sand below when disturbed by the plough, becoming unproductive after one or two years (with- out manure) in cotton and the cereals, yet always yielding a prolific crop of fruit, particularly the peach, nectarine, apricot, pomegranite, fig, pear and phim, of man}' varieties, from the delicious and juicy magnum bonum and green gage to the common damson and wild [)lums of the country (Prunus Americana); and (P. Chicasa) watermelons reach dimensions almost incredibly large to those not 14 Willy Pine R EGION OF familiar with the fact ; wliile cantelopes, which are grown in great profusion, possess a flavor surpassed by none in the world. JBerries. Blackberries of both varieties — the black rasp- berry, strawberries, and whortleberries — are v( ry abundant. The black raspberry is not indigenous, and requires cultivation. Sciipperuong Grape. The grape is indigenous to the country, of which the scuppernong is the most hardy and abundant producer, having never been known to fail in ripen- ing its fruit, and is entirely exempt from those blights which, in other countries and regions of our own, have nearly destroyed the vine. Mr. Berck- mans, a distinguished horticulturist and vine-grower, now residing near Augusta, in the Sand Hill region, whose nursery is well worth seeing, states that he has never known this vine to fail in a series of years. Its fruit is of a most delicious and peculiar flavor, and makes a wine of the best quality, surpassed by none other grown in America. Its rapidity of growth is so great that when once well rooted it will cover a large area of ground, and the amount of fruit pro- duced from one vine is almost incredible. It is propagated from the root, never should be trimmed, and onl}^ requires trailing on arbors or trellises to ensure its full vigor and health. This grape was originally brought from North Carolina, but it is now the common grape of this region, and promises to supplant all others in the estimation of the vine- pEORGIA AND SoUTH CaI^OLINA. 1^ growers of Georgiu and Carolina. It may be propa- gated by layers without difficulty, and will, no doubt, become a most certain source of wealtli to the region in which it flourishes. Clay Soil. In some localities the clay (argillaceous sand) lies near the surface, overlaid with a mixture of deconi- [)osed vegetable matter and dark sand; and there the soil is both productive in cereals and cotton, retaining for some time the manure put upon it, and heing of very easy cultivation. Weeds and Grasses. Weeds and grasses are less annoying to the farmer than elsewhere, and are easily subdued by the plough; the corn being generally left to shift for itself after the month of July, and sometimes much earlier. Roots, The sweet potato yields most abundantly in this soil; some of the roots grow to the size of six pounds, and a very common weight is from two to three pounds. Ruta-baga and other turnips produce good crops when manured from the barn yard or wdth bone dust, as do also beets, parsnips, carrots, salsify, radishes, etc. The delicious bur artichoke and asparagus yield early and luxuriantly. Straw- berries and green peas ripen in the month of April, and are, in turn, succeeded by snap beans, early cab- bages, and lettuce. These vegetables come into use at least six weeks earlier than in the Northern States ; while the Irish potato is often dug in the fiiLLY Pine Region of month of June. The early varieties of the peach, apple, and pear ripen in the early part of June, and apricots in the month of May. There are other fruits which the careful horticul- turist could produce in ahundance, hut, as they rc(|uire care, and are now unremunerative, they are neglected. Yellow Fine, On the sandy ridges, the natural growth is gener- ally small and stunted, excepting the long leaved or yellow pine, which acquires large dimensions, thus affording a superahundance of material for fencing and building purposes, beside yielding, from the superiority of its wood, a large income to the possessor of a ^vater power, who cuts it into lumber for the neighborhood, or ships it to the coast for foreign markets. I^ear the water courses, of which there are many (for this, notwithstanding the sandy character of the soil, is a well-watered region), the trees grow luxu- riantly, such as the beach^ white oak, poplar, syca- more, maple, elm, hack berr^^, etc. The beauty of the field and forest consists not in verdant grass, but in its stead we have flowers, bright and beautiful, and of delicious odor. The woods are particularly rich in flowering shrubs, and the fields in the various genera and species of tlie composite order of plants. The Coriopsis and Crisopis, l^ymphia and Cynthia, Liatris and Erig- gonum, ISTapthalia, Yernonia, Kudbeckia, Aster, and Gnaphalium, and many others of this order, flourish in their beauty ; while Yaccinum Arborium, whose Georgia and ^outh Carolina. 17 glossy green leaves contrast strongly with its luxu- riant white flowers in nodding racemes, sometimes cover the branches so thickly as almost to obscure the foliage. Many of the Leguminoseae are very beautiful, but the pride of the woodland is the yellow Jessamine (Gelseminum Semper-virens), whose bright yellow petals are often seen hanging in thick clusters and festoons from the boughs and tops of medium sized trees, presenting a more beautiful appearance than can be equalled by the florist in a less favored climate; perfuming the atmosphere at early morn and evening with an odor unequalled in its fragrance. Few Meptiles. In these woods and fields the student of natural history may find days of unalloyed pleasure, and wander for hours, unmindful of fatigue, amid the beauty of its flora, regardless of reptiles, of wdiicli there are very few, save on the banks of the streams where the shrubbery is too thick for pleasant walk- ing. Even here, however, this cold-blooded enemy of our race is seldom seen, since he generally makes his escape at the noise of man's footfall. Productiveness of the Low Lands. Though the soil of the hills and ridges is generally unproductive, save in fruit, as before mentioned, yet the lower lands bordering on the creeks and water courses yield abundant crops of wheat and maize, even with the careless system of cultivation practiced before emancipation; but, with the improved a2;ri- culture of the white man'a own hands, cultivating i8 Hilly Pine R EGION OF and iiuiiiurhig thoroughly a small portion of hind at a time, there is no reason why labor should not be amply rewarded. I know that thirty bushels of wheat have been raised to the acre; the same land ploughed in when the wdieat was removed, and twenty-iive bushels of corn and ten of cow peas attained as a second crop. When the proximity of the great marts of trade lying upon the Atlantic is recollected, with the great and increasing facilities of transportation taken into account, there is every reason to believe that the remuneration of capital and labor will be equal to that atforded by the rich alluvial lands of the South- west and West, so abounding in cholera, malarial fever, etc. From these this region is generally exempt. Facilities of Transportation, Regular lines of steamers from the ports of Sa- vannah and Charleston twice a week, with railroad transportation to these ports, afford rapid carriage for earl}^ fruits and vegetables to the cities of IS'ew York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, where they bring very remunerative prices, and must invite a ready sale. When the low price of land, the cheapness of building, the character of soil, rendering it very easy of cultivation, the little outlay of capital necessary to establish oi'chards and vine- yards, are considered, the per centage upon capital invested is enormous. Heretofore there has been comparatively little enterprise in this direction, cotton having absorbed the attention and available means of the more intel- Georgia and South Carolina. 19 ligent portion of the people; but now that the unre- liable nature of negro labor in large gangs, and the scarcity of money, have forcibly turned the attention of the planter to that kind of agriculture Avhich will yield the greatest income upon small investments, the hope is indulged that before long this land, now neglected and wasted, will be covered with orchards and vineyards, and that each family will literally dwell under its own vine and tig tree. Lespede^a Striata. Heretofore a great desideratum has been some herb or grass to cover the surface of lawns and afford grazing lor cattle and sheep Kature now seems miraculously to have supplied this want in the Lespedeza Striata, or Japan clover, as it has been named by the common consent of all. This growth is spreading, from apparently many centres, over the whole middle and up country of South Carohna and Georgia, with such astonishing rapidity as apparently to have been sown by the bountiful hand of heaven from the clouds. During and before the war it was only known to our botanists, and it is not described in either Elliott's or other Botany of the Southern States, and therefore could not have existed generally when these books were written. It is supposed by Professor Gray, I learn, to have been of Japanese origin, though it has been known for many years to Mr. H. W. Ravenel, of Aiken, S. C. The popular opinion is that it was brought into the country by Sherman in his march through, but it has been found very far from his line of march, and was known before he invaded these States. The scientific 20 Willy jPine Region of attribute its rapid spread to some peculiar eliauge in the climate and soil inexplicable with our present knowledge. So rapid is its growth that whole regions of country, from the mountains to the Sand Hills, are being covered by it. It grows abundantly in the forest under-shade and in the sunny red clay, form- ing a vegetable mould for itself by the decay of its stem, to sprout out again in the Spring luxuriant and green ; growing thickly when there is a vegetable mould, eradicating the common grasses which are of no value as forage, and killins: the broom sedo'e. It is said even to give the nut grass a hard tug for existence, but this I can hardly credit. In some favorable localities it has been known to grow to the height of three feet, as stated by farmers, but it is generally not more than from four to ten inches high. Cheiuical Analysis. An analysis of the Lespedeza Striata by Professor Eains, of the Augusta Medical School, shows it to be rich in potassa and soda, and very similar in its constituents to clover. It should, therefore, prove not only valuable for grazing, but also as a renovator of worn-out lands, for which it seems to have a wonderful fondness. Already, I learn, the cattle are showing the benefit they derive from it in their greatly improved flesh and sleek skins, as they are said to devour it with great avidity. A botanical description of this plant is given in the second part of this work, under the head of ''Botany of this Region." Georgia and South pAf^oLmA. Qi Health and Diseases, After mentioning the many water courses of this Sand Hill region, I might be expected to feel some hesitation in asserting the remarkable and unsur- passed health and longevity of its inhabitants, but the rapid increase of its population from natural causes alone would support me, since there has been no immigration to it for years ; while it has afforded a large surplus population for emigration to Alabama and the other Southwestern States. White, in his Statistics of G-eorgia, article Richmond County, gives the ao;es of some of the oldest inhabitants of this county. Page 506 : Mr. D'Antignac died at the age of 89 ; Agnus Martin over 80 ; James Gardiner over 83 ; Mrs. Griffin over 90 ; Mrs. Dawson over 91 ; Mr. N. Murphy 80 ; Mr. Rowell over 80 ; Mrs. Tinley nearly 103. There are now living in Augusta, 1849, in the same family, four persons, each of whom has exceeded 83 years. In 1826, an African, knoAvn as old Orua, died on Mr. Course's plantation at the age of 96. Mr. Course had, Avithin twenty-five years, buried twenty-nine Africans from the ages of 80 to 140 years. Old Amy died at 140. She arrived in Charleston when there were but six small houses ; she retained her speech, her sight and hearing to the last. Jack Wright was 109 years old ; he had been a servant of Lord Anson when stationed at Charleston, prior to his voyage round the world. There are now living in this county many persons known to me, who are over 80 years of age. Healthfalness, Its elevation, character of soil, and vegetation, exempts it fro in malarial fevers, excepting in a few localities immediately in the neighborhood of mill ponds, or on the banks of the larger streams, where- 52 j4iLLr j=^iNE Region op the swamps widen out to some extent ; even here it is seldom found to produce those high grades of con- gestive, hiUous, remittent, and continued fevers so common in the same latitude elsewhere. Indeed, the character of the soil and the purity of the water seem inimical to the growth of those spores upon which malaria depends. Typhoid fever and dysentery sometimes prevail in the Summer and Autumn season in sporadic cases, hut are seldom fatal, excepting from neglect and im- prudence in permitting the patient to indulge in solid articles of diet. In the years 1850, 1851, and 1852, there was an epidemic constitution of the atmos- phere along the waters of the Edisto river, which seemed to be Typhoidal ; for, upon a case having been brought into that section from Atlanta, Ga., in the person of a child eight years of age, it spread from place \o place along that river; but so mild was the type that not a single patient died of forty occurring in the three years. Pneumonia, Pleurisy, Bronchitis, and Catarrhal affections, generally, are more rare than in any other region I am acquainted with ; for a physician in good practice for this region may pass through a whole Winter without seeing more than half a dozen cases of either of the first two, though bronchitis and nasal catarrh may occur here as elsewhere, from im- prudence or exposure. These diseases always yield readily to treatment, rarely terminating unfavorably, excepting in extieme age, or from some great impru- dence on the part of patient or friends ; and this is rather to be wondered at, since the houses of the country are very open, exposing the patient to Georgia and South Caf^olina. 23 draughts of cold air — perhaps at the very crisis of his disease. All catarrhal affections are sooner re- covered from than in any other climate I have prac- ticed in. That character of acute articular Rheumatism so often seen in cities and damp climates is very seldom observed in this region. I remember to have seen but two cases in a practice of seven years which were at all severe. These appeared to be epidemic, havino; occurred in a hoarding: school, commencins^ in each case with inflammation of the eye, or catarrhal apthalmia, with sudden subsedince in the eye, and metastasis to the large joints. I know of no climate better adapted to the relief of chronic cases of this disease, and can recollect many cases which have been entirely relieved by a residence in it. Calculous complaints, and diseases depending upon Lithic diathesis, are so rare that I do not recollect to have seen a case in the native population, or one which originated in the climate, during my residence in Aiken. Diseases of the Liver, Diseases of the Liver sometimes oi-iginate here, though many persons have removed to the climate for relief, Avith removal of all the symptoms. Bilious derangements sometimes supervene upon errors in diet, and much exposure to the sun, in those unac- customed to it. It is not, however, surprising that these diseases should occur, and the wonder is that they do not oftener appear, when the fatty diet of the people generally, who eat much greasy food, is considered.* *This remark refers to the plain farmers of the country. ^4 fliLLY Pine jIegioh of Anasarca or Ascites, and diseases of the circu- latory apparatus, seldom trouble patient or ph3'sician. Asiatic Cholera is never known to have occurred, and Cholera Infantum, the summer complaint of infants everywhere in America, only occurs here in a few isolated cases, and is generally of a mild character. As a general thing, the healthfulness of the cli- mate is as proverbial for children as for adults, as the number of large families will attest ; there are many families which have never lost a child by disease. Furthermore, I may say that no disease can be said to be endemic to the climate or soil, and those which do occur are more amenable to treatment than in any region I have ever been in, inasmuch as there are no endemic causes calculated to maintain diseased action ; and the powers of nature, aided by judgment on the part of the medical attendant, con- duct the patient to an almost sure and rapid recovery. Pulmonary Consumption. Phthisis, or Pulmonary Consumption, is rarely known to originate among the native population, and when it does is of so chronic a character that the patients live on from year to year with apparently little discomfort. Dr. Amony Coffin, an old resident physician of Aiken, whose accurate diagnosis and familiarity with the disease, acquired by an extensive practice among the invalids who resort there for relief, remarked to me : The wonder is not that so few cases do occur among the natives, but that those who do suifer from it live to a ripe old age, to die of some other disease, perhaps, essentially not Phthisical, Georgia and South Carolina. 25 Causes of XJxemptton. The peculiarly benelicial influence of this climate in Pulmonary Consumption may be attributable to its perfect healthfulness with respect to other dis- eases; the result in part of the dryness of the soil, the peculiar influence of the pine growth, its eleva- tion above tide water, the absence of stas^nant water and hirge water courses, the purity of the water, but more particularly the absence of humidity in the air and severe cold, as well as the habits and customs of the people. We, therefore, shall ask the attention of the reader while we consider seriatim the last named causes, as we deem it important in the dis- cussion of this subject that all the points bearing upon it should be clearly stated, since it has been asserted by many that cHmate seems to exert but little direct influence as a cause of Phthisis, and that the habits and customs of a people are more directly concerned in its causation. The force of this assertion cannot be denied, for it seems sus- tained by facts, since we always find a comparative absence of the disease among a rural and sparse population, enjoying an abundance of food and domestic comforts, with out-door labor and exercise. In Hall county, Ga., where all of these conditions exist, a case of consumption was never known to liave occurred. The accompaniments of civilization, refinement, and luxury, are far greater causes, cer- tainly, of this malady, than mere climatic difler- ences, excepting in so far as they modity the habits and customs of a people. There are, however, certain conditions of climate which are supposed, 2 26 fiiLLY Pine Region of upon physiological principles, to be directly causa- tive of Phthisis ; these are humidity and cold. We shall, therefore, consider Sumidity as a Cause of I^hthisis, In estimating the influence of atmospheric hu- midity as an exciting cause of Pulmonary Consump- tion, we find a great discrepancy of opinion among writers on the subject, growing, no doubt, out of defective data from which their conclusions were drawn. The great difiiculty of bringing men to think alike on any subject is proverbial. This is a defect of our mental organization, perhaps, and in no science is this more evident than in Medicine, expressed in the trite maxim that "doctors will dis- agree." In the absence of positive data, we are compelled to state our opinion, as based upon our own impressions, derived from observation, and the weight of medical evidence, which certainly accords to it a baneful influence upon the disease, both as an exciting and aggravating cause. This opinion is based upon the known physiological action of hu- midity upon the lungs and skin in diminishing the vaporous exhalation from these organs, thus render- ing the blood more watery, and adding to that con- dition, which in the consumptive already exists in excess. Humidity also has a tendency to maintain the blood at an elevated temperature, as any one will observe who is unable to perspire when the ther- mometer stands at 90° Fah. This, however, is not the only evil resulting from humidity, since it also interferes, very materially, with the supplementary action of the skin in relation to the lungs. The im- Georgia and South Cai\olina. 27 portance of this relation is so abl y maintained by the most distinguished writers on Phthisis and climate, that I deem it only necessary to allude to it in this place. The effect of humidity is to enervate the body; and if it had no other evil influence upon the consumptive, this must be considered a serious one, since it would interfere with that exercise, so essen- tial to healthy digestion and nutrition, the impair- ment of which is often the first step in the causation of PuUiionary Consumption. If we accept the above statements as facts, and they cannot be denied with our present physiological knowledge, we can readily understand one of the reasons for the health- fulness of the Sand Hill region of Georgia and Carolina, and more particularly their comparative exemption from Pulmonary Consumption and kin- dred diseases — since, from what has been said, it is essentially a dry climate. Cold as a Cause of JPJitJiisls. The eftect of severe cold upon the animal organ- ism is to depress the forces of the S3'Stem by abstract- ing the animal heat more rapidly than it can be generated ; and, as the first effect upon the lungs is to arrest transpiration, it very materially serves to impair the power of calorification, which process is mainly carried on in the lungs ; being caused, as is supposed by Leibig, by the oxygen of the atmos- phere acting upon the carbon of the blood, as it is exposed in the capillary net work of the pulmonary air tubes, causing a chemical combustion, and the conversion of the carbon in the blood into carbonic acid, which is expelled at each expiration. If this 28 Willy Pine Region of be the first efiect of severe eolcl, it must necessarily impair the vital capacity of the lungs so acted upon. Vital capacity signifies nothing more than the num- ber of cubic inches of air which each individual can exhale in a forced expiration. Now, the relation between vital capacity and the process of calorifica- tion is such, that as one diminishes, so does the other. For example : an individual who can inhale, at a deep and full insperation, three hundred and fifty cubic inches of air, will certainly generate more animal heat or personal warmth. than one who can only inhale two hundred and fifty. jN'ow, the infiu- ence of Pulmonary Consumption is to diminish, very materially, this vital capacity, as has been proven by many observations ; hence, under all circumstances, a cold climate, particularly when associated with moisture, must be injurious to that person whose vital capacity has been thus reduced, since it would be impossible, from the nature of his defective respi- ration, and the watery condition of his blood, to supply the amount of animal heat necessary to maintain the integrity of his functions, as it has been shown by recent experiment and observation that a very small loss of animal heat will destroy life. The abstraction of even the smallest amount would mate- rially diminish vital force so necessary to the per- formance of digestion and nutrition. I should, therefore, say that a patient whose vital capacity is materially reduced, should seek a climate adapted to his powers of calorification, and that in such a cli- mate he would find the temperature best adapted to his case, particularly if it be a dry climate, which favors the supplementary action of the skin. Georgia and South Carolina. 29 This hypothesis of the relation between animal heat and vital capacity is sustained by the thoracic dimensions of the Esquimaux, who, though but five feet in stature, has the thorax of a man six feet tall. On the other hand, the native of the torrid zone, though much taller, lias a narrow and contracted chest, as described by travellers and observed by myself. This difference of thoracic conformation between the natives of the two thermal extremes is accounted for upon the supposition that the require- ments of the Esquimaux are greater for animal heat than the native of the torrid zone, who generates more heat than he requires, which, if not carried off by profuse sweating, would consume him with fever; for it has been long shown that sweating is a cooling process, and that in a hot climate fever is always the result of a deficiency in this respect. There is another fact connected with the relation between functional activity of the lungs and vital capacity mentioned by travellers in the Andes, viz : that in consequence of the diminished oxygen in a given volume of atmosphere, by reason of the greatly rarified condition of the air at high altitudes, the thorax and vital capacity increase to meet this requirement of the system; and hence the supposed, and perhaps established, fact of the benefit resulting to the consumptive from a long sojourn in this region, independent of the equable temperature which must necessarily exist at 8,000 feet altitude in the torrid zone. Takina: the above facts into consideratioii, w^e can readily understand that if the stamina of an indi- vidual be sufficiently good to enable him to with- 56 fiiLLY Pine Region o^ stand the demaiids upon his power of calorification, that he would be materially benefitted by a chans^e to a dry cold climate, such as St. Paul's, Canada, and other res^ions it is now the fashion to recommend to consumptives. Unfortunately, however, there are a very few consumptives who avail themselves of this climate before their vital capacity is materially reduced; and thus their power of calorification is so impaired as to be unable to supply the demands for this vitalizing principle, and functional, as Avell as organic, decay is the necessary consequence of the change to that climate.* For such, a milder climate is better — sufficiently dry to favor cutaneous and pulmonary transpiration, and thus support the sup- plementary action of the skin, and sufficiently cool to enable the patient to take out-door exercise with- out the enervating effect of too much warmth. Such a climate we believe to exist in the sand hill region of Georgia and Carolina. As before stated, climate probably exerts very little direct influence in the causation of Phthisis, farther than the mode and manner of life it engen- ders, and the daily hygrometric and thermal changes *Dr. J. Farrar, of St. Paul, Minnesota, writes to the Hartford Conrant^ warning consumptives, in the advanced stages of disease, against seeking relief in that State. The Doctor says: "A more changeable climate from one extreme to another I have never expe- rienced in this country. The changes are more sudden, too, than they are in our New England States, thus making this climate totally unadapted to iiatients suffering with bronchial or catarrhal complaints, though hundreds are annually sent here by their physicians and friends for a relief or a cure of the above troublesome, and not unfrequently fatal, complaints. I have seen no evidence of the dryness of the ah- here in the interior of the State. I have yet to learn of a single instance wherein a patient with bronchial or catarrhal disease has been in the least benetitted by this climate. But. on the other hand, they are maladies continually originating in this State. Not afevysuck have consulted me in regard to their cases sine e my brief sojourn in St. Paul. I invariably send all such (or rather advise them) to spend the winter in South Carolina." Georgia and South Carolina. gi resulting from it. In order, therefore, to present this subject as fairly (to the consideration of medical men more particularly) as possible, and as my desire is not to claim more for our region than it is richly entitled to, lest I should be accused of exaggeration, I shall endeavor to represent the habits and customs of the native population as graphically as is consist- ent with truth and the plan of this work, since they bear an important relation to the subject. Habits and Customs of the Wative I^opula- tion wi the Sand Hill Hegion of South Carolina and Georgia, with reference to their bearing upon Pulmonary Consump- tion, There is no region of the world, perhaps — !N"ew England not excepted — where the natives are more frugal and simple in their manner of living than are the farmers and well-to-do people of this region. Their diet, though plain, is amply nutritious to supply the demands of the system. Their clothing is suffi- ciently warm, though flannel is rarely worn by them. Their houses are built apparentl}^ with the view of admitting as much air as possible, and not to exclude it; seldom plastered, rarely ceiled over-head; the outer weather-boarding being the only protection against the inclemencies of the weather. The win- dows are constructed to admit light and air, since they are often not even closed with sash. Even in the coldest weather it is rare that the door is closed, excepting at night, when the family have retired, or the rain enters the house through it. A large fire- place, with a blazing fire, upon which the wood is piled in enormous quantities, seems to roast the 32 Willy Pine R EGION OP front, wliile the back is almost freezing. To one unaccustomed to such habits it is not only trying to the temper, but most inimical to health. These people seem not to feel the discomfort, and, what is most singular, never contract colds from the unequal heat of their bodies. Contrast this with the habit of the ]N"ew England household, who are constrained (perhaps by the severity of their climate) to double their sashes, and close up their chimney with an air- tight stove, in addition to which the doors are listed, and only opened to atford ingress and egress to their sitting room. The first habit ensures a free ingress to a large amount of oxygen, at the expense of com- fort to those unaccustomed to it; the other a danger- ous diminution of this vital principle, with more temporary comfort — too sure in the end, however, to result disastrousl}^ to the occupants of such a dwell- ing, and which is, no doubt, one of the most positive causes of the great amount of Pulmonary disease common to the inhabitants of that region. The resi- dents of these Hills are essentially an agricultural people, and by reason of the mildness of the climate are never forced to keep in doors, even in the most inclement weather. The principal articles of diet are corn and wheaten bread, vegetables, and such flesh as they are enabled to rear themselves; and as the cows are only kept for milk, and sheep for wool, they are seldom killed; consequently, swine flesh and poultry enter very largely in their dietry, which is served up at every meal, viz : Breakfast, dinner, and supper. Their drink is simply cold water, and a very weak decoc- tion of badly burnt colfee — Rio being generally pre- pEORGIA AND SoUTH CAROLINA. gg ferred. Some few indulge habitually in the appe- tizing- dram, though, unfortunately, this habit, I learn, has increased since the war. In the exemption from disturbing causes to create a restless night, tliey are generally sound sleepers; and having retired early, as is the custom of the people, they are early risers, and daylight finds them performing their cus- tomary ablutions preparatory to a day's work. They breakfast at sunrise, dine at meridian, and sup at dark. As all of their habits are such as to ensure a continuance of health, a plenty of free air, and with ample clothing, food, and out-door exercise, there seems to be nothing that can produce Tuberculosis. This description refers directly to the general popu- lation, not to the wealthy few. Aitkin, in his most philosophical and practical work on practice of medicine, says, in speaking of the consumptive patient: It is important to secure for the patient a uniform, sheltered temperature and mild climate to live in, witli a temperature at 60° Fall., and a range of not more than 10^ or 15^5 where also the air is dry, and the drinking- water pure and not hard. A very near approximation to these conditions are found in this region, and particularly in the neigh- borhood of Aiken, S. C, and at Summerville, near Augusta, Georgia. These blessings are within the reach of every man of moderate means. A few hundred dollars invested in land and a house will enable him to surround him- self with every comfort. The price of building- material and mechanical labor is such that a cottae, unless it is actually storming, will do you more harm than any injury you will receive by being in damp weather, providing your body be kept warm while out and dry by proper covering. I know several gentlemen who were supposed, and in fact known, to be consumptive before they entered the army during our recent civil war, and who assured me that their health improved every month that they were exposed to the inclemencies of the Winter in Virginia. It is not the bivouac and march which diseases the soldier, but the barrack and the camp. I knew many men who came into the hospital I had charge of during the war, who confessed that the life of the soldier in the field had benefited them. I kept a record of many of these cases, but had the misfortune to lose it on my homeward journey after the surrender of Richmond, and regret to find no data, referring to the influence of field service upon Tuberculous Phthisis, in the Sanitary Commission Report, published 1867. All authorities, however, both in and out of the profession (for there are many who can speak experimentally on the subject), urge the necessity of avoiding confinement to the house even at the expense of damp clothing; providing 44 Hilly Pine Region of they are only warm while taking exercise. A gen- tleman, then in the last stage of the disease, once consulted me in Maryland, who stated that two years before he and two others had started for California across the plains on horseback, in company with a train of emigrants, by the advice of their phj^sicians, each of them having had hemorrhage from the lungs, and other unmistakable symptoms of consumption. He said "that the dread of dying away from his friends, and on the bleak plains, so acted upon his fears that his faith failed him, and that, like poor Pliable, he turned back, after being out two weeks. His companions, however, continued on, and are now both well, and carrying on their respective callings in the N'orth. He stated that the exposure seemed to benefit him, and, after the first one or two days, the exercise ceased to fatigue him ; and though the occasional showers wet his clothes, it gave him no inconvenience. People," he said, ''attribute the great improvement derived from these journeys across the plains to the climate, but I am inclined to think it is living on horseback, in the open air, which a man can do in any good climate." If, with this exercise, the patient indulges in simple but an amply nutritious diet, avoiding artificial stimulation to improve appetite, he will do well. But, above all, he should avoid alcoholic stimulants, excepting a little at each meal, for nothing is so injurious as alco- holic beverages on an empty stomach. I am aware that there is a general impression prevailing, both in and out of the profession, but more particularly out of it, that alcoholic stimulant, in some of its forms, is a most valuable curative means in the treatment Georgia and South Carolina. 45 of Tuberculosis. To a very limited extent this is no doubt true, but as a general thing, to be beneficial, the patient must become a martyr to an evil greater in every respect than the disease ; for my experience leads me to hold to the opinion that, in the great majority of instances, those who prolong their lives by its use die martyrs to drink, only prolonging by this agent a life whose moral^degradation is worse than an early death. These remarks are not intended for those who use it by medical advice in moderation during meals, as an adjunct to the general treatment of deranged digestion, which in some cases cannot be met by any other means, perhaps. The rule for its use should be that observed by the physician when he finds it necessary in diseases attended with debility or prostration, viz : to discontinue its use as soon as he finds ii to produce feverish excitement, indicated by flushing of the face and inordinate excitement of the pulse; for these aie certain signs that its eftect is injurious, and that the consequent depression will certainly be greater than that w^hich preceded its use. I feel much hesitation in expressing such decided opposition to the use of a remedy of which indi- viduals generally deem themselves the best judges ; but having seen great evil resulting from its use, in a medical point of view, I feel constrained to express an opinion derived from an experience b}^ no means limited. If its excessive use was sure to result inva- riably in a cure, there would be some excuse for holding to it ; but since it is not only not^a specific, but is positively injurious in many cases, since its inordinate use has been known to cause Phthisis 46 fliLLY Pine JIegion of where it was only suspected to exist, we are au- thorized to raise a question as to its benefits when the physical and moral evils are so great. Indeed, as an exciting cause of Phthisis, it is one of the most positive, laying the foundation of gastric de- bility, retarding secretion and excretion, and inter- fering in every w^ay with that nice balance in the functions of all the organs, which, like the regular movements of a well adjusted machine, is immedi- ately arrested by the breaking of a single pivot. That lassitude, which always supervenes upon the inordinate use of alcoholic beverages, is most delete- rious to the consumptive, since he should always bear in mind that he is constantly contending against a powerful foe, and, like a skilful general, he should husband all of his resources for the constant and un- remitting battle waged upon him. Mens sana in corpore sano should be the motto engraved upon the mind of every man, and to preserve the equable balance of the two requires the constant watchful- ness of the intelligence with which we are endowed; and a remed}^ so calculated to disease the one, though under certain conditions it may improve the other, makes it an agent which the conscientious man should use and recommend with great caution. Such is the responsibihty which has presented itself to me when I have thought its use indicated, for so insid- ious is the vice of drink that it seizes upon some constitutions like a consuming fire — suddenly and quickly ; while in others a larger indulgence is neces- sary before the habit becomes fixed, but once estab- lished, is sure to cling with unyielding tenacity to its victim. This vice of constitution, for such it becomes, Georgia and South Carolina. 47 is not confined to sex nor age, moral or immoral — all are alike liable to become its slaves, unaware of the clanger, perhaps, until the eli'ort is made to abandon it. If the experience of ev^ery physician was appealed to, I have no doubt that the truth of the above remarks would be corroborated. As before stated, the objection to its use is not intended to apply to all cases under the advice of the medical attendant, but simply to point out the evils of its general use, under the popular impression that " a bttle can do no harm," and that it is invariably beneficial in the treatment of Pulmonary Consump- tion. Fatty Food Sometitnes Deleter ions. Returning again to the subject of diet : the general impression among consumptives is, that they should indulge in much fatty food. As a general rule, this is, perhaps, true; but in some instances fat, with saccharine food, is converted into butyric acid, which then becomes a poison to the system rather than nutritious, and when this is the case it should be abandoned as soon as the patient discovers any acidity of stomach to occur after eating. Antacids in these cases will avail nothing: the only remedy is to avoid the cause. Carbonate Soda and Alkalis are generally injurious in Phthisis, since they tend to increase the watery condition of the blood. This advice may seem out of place in a work intended only to show the remedial inttuence of the climate of our region upon Phthisis ; but the author feels that often-times the climate is reproached for its inefiiciency, when really it is not in fault, and 48 fliLLY Pine Region of error in diet, or some bad habit, is constantly coun- teracting its beneficial and remedial influence. An- other reason for volunteering the above suggestion is, that there are many patients who, from various motives, prefer not consulting a resident physician, and thus they remain ignorant of the cause of deranged digestion, forgetting the fact that in a mild climate much fatty food is not as essential to the pro- cess of calorification as in a cold one, and, therefore, is not borne so well. To the wealthy class of invalids who find it neces- sary to visit the Southern climate every Winter, I would suggest that they obtain their own residences, build, if they can't rent them, comfor/:able to their ideas of comfort. A Winter villa in this climate may prove far more beneficial to them than a Sum- mer one on the Hudson or the sea shore, and when there is no longer occasion for it, it can be sold or rented without dififtculty. Were it known generally at the IN'orth that comfortable cottages could be rented for the Winter season in the town of Aiken, S. C, or Summerville, near Augusta, Ga., there are, no doubt, many families who would avail themselves of the opportunity cf coming South for the season, who are deterred from doing so by the want of such resi- dences. As a pecuniary investment, it would prove very remunerative, since building is cheap and rents are high. There is another class of sufferers from the regions of the Northern climate to whom I would address the following remarks — I mean the hard-working mechanic and small tradesman, who, perhaps, has saved a few thousand, or even a few hundred, dollars. Georgia and South pAi^OLmA. 4^ lie finds that the cold is very ti\yiiig to him ; a hack- ing cough, restless nights, and pains in his chest dis- turh him. He is induced, perhaps, to ask medical advnce. The phj^sician finds unmistakahle evidences of IMithisis in liis diminished vital capacity, acceler- ated pulse, gradual emaciation, shortness of breath, and other signs generally indicative of the disease. If he remains in the climate pursuing his avocation, the relentless destroyer will seize upon him irre- trievably. He cannot aftbrd to leave his family, abandoning his business, and carrying with him the savings of years of toil in search of that which he may not find, unless he avoids a return to his home and his avocations, and, therefore, he is compelled to stay at home, and trust to remedial means only cal- culated to postpone his almost certain fate if he remains. To this man, while not too late, the Sand Hill region of Georgia and C'arolina offer not only a home at very little cost, but greater chances of recovery from his disease than he can elsewhere find, with far greater comfort tlian he could possibly enjoy in a colder climate, and an abundance of every fruit and grain, with the assurance that if he should be called from this life he will leave his family a com- fortable home and ample means of living the remainder of their lives. In the preceding pages I have addressed myself to those invalids who are strong enough to avail them- selves of the advantages offered by this clinnxte for out-door exercise. When from any cause, but par- ticularly from advanced disease, they are unable to do this, the comforts of home and the consoling society of friends ofler them greater advantages, 4 50 fiiLLY Pine Region of probably, than they could find here, for a cliaiige of climate to such persons, with the attendant fatigue and change of habits and discomforts they may meet with, would be more injurious than any benefit from change of climate, the main advantage being the facility it offers for daily out-do(^r exercise in a dry atmosphere. In concluding this part of the work, I will again state that a permanent benefit can onl}' be hoped for from a permanent or very protracted residence in this reo^ion. The debilitatino: influence of the cli- mate is more imaginarj^ tliau real, for the heat, though more protracted, is never as great as in the Middle States at midsummer ; and the uiglits are, in conse- quence of the dry nature of the air, always very pleasant, and toward morning quite cool. There are many cases of recovery when the residence has been permanent, but only an amelioration when it has been of slu^t duration, too sure to be attended by a return of symptoms as soon as the same exciting causes which first induced the disease again come into play. For farther information in relation to the climate, see Article Climatology, Part Second. Puhnonary Constnnj>tion a Curable Disease. The question of the curability of Pulmonary Con- sumption is no longer one which the enlightened physician of the present day denies. There are still living, however, some old physicians, or were a few years ago, who are so prejudiced by preconceived opinions and obsolete doctrines as to say they have Georgia and South Carolina. 51 never cured a case of true Phthisis in their lives, and deny tlie previous existence of the disease in these cases, which have been supposed hy the more modern doctor to be actual recoveries. That they have never relieved a case is not to be wondered at, since the tlrst remedial means they resort to is probably a cough mixture, containing squills, tartar emetic, and opium, to allay irritation with some mucilaginous preparation to lubricate the air passages, applying a large bUster to subdue Pleuritic inflammation, enjoin close conflnement to the room, if not to the bed, to prevent serious results from exposure with a blis- tered surface. This was the practice of their day. Thanks to improved means of research and a clearer knowledge of pathology of the disease, these fatal errors of the past and early part of the present century have nearly passed away with the men who orio-inated them. When we read of the vaunted specifics for consumption published to the world by learned professors and distinguished practitioners, such as Arsenic, Prussic Aci