The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English Part 159

BUFFALO OUTRANKS ALL IN HEALTHFULNESS.

A great deal of precious breath has been expended in bl.u.s.tering about "Buffalo zephyrs," as our delightful lake breezes are sometimes ironically termed. It seems to be a popular belief among our sister cities that old Boreas has chosen Buffalo for his headquarters. When we hear a person dilating upon "Buffalo's terrific winds," we are reminded of one of our lady acquaintances who recently returned from a European tour. She was asked how she enjoyed her sea voyage, and she replied, "Oh, it was delightful, really charming! There is something so grand about the sea!" We were not a little surprised at this enthusiastic outburst, as we had been told by a member of her party that the lady had industriously vomited her way to Hamburg and back again. But the lady's enthusiasm was easily explained. It is fas.h.i.+onable to characterize sea voyages as delightful, charming, etc. Now, we suspect this popular notion about our "trying winds" is traceable to the same source. It has become customary to call Buffalo a "windy place," and so, when the traveler feels a slight lake breeze, he imagines it to be a terrific gale. Whatever may have originated this notion, certain it is that it is utterly, undeniably false; and, in making this denial, we are not alone dependent upon observation, but upon the

FACTS OF SCIENCE.

The issue of July 18, 1874, of the Buffalo _Commercial Advertiser_, contained a series of tables, furnished by the Signal Service Bureau, showing the velocity of the wind at eleven prominent cities for the year 1873. An examination of the table shows that the total velocity for the year was the _lowest in Buffalo_ of any of the lake ports; while Philadelphia and New York showed far higher aggregates of velocity than our city. On this subject, in the issue of August 21st of the same year, the editor pleasantly remarks: "Only the interior and southern seaboard cities, and not many of them, show a lower total velocity of wind than is marked against this city; and as for those places, heaven help their unfortunate inhabitants in the sultry nights of the summer season, when they are gasping in vain for a breath of that pure, cool lake air, which brings refres.h.i.+ng slumbers to the people of blessed, breezy Buffalo."

EQUABILITY OF CLIMATE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: One of our Physician's Rooms--Bureau of Correspondence--Invalids'

Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute.]

Then, in regard to _equability of climate_, the great desideratum for invalids in any locality, here again sentiment and science are greatly at variance. An examination of the official records of the Signal Service Bureau, and the statistics of the Smithsonian Inst.i.tute, showed that out of a list of forty cities on the continent Buffalo ranked highest for equability of climate. Thus we quote from an editorial in the _Advertiser_ of the same issue: "While the aggregate of change for Buffalo stood at 67 for the year, that of Philadelphia reached 204, Was.h.i.+ngton was 224, Cincinnati 205, St. Louis 171. Winchester, in one of the healthiest parts of Virginia, reached as high as 201. Aiken, in South Carolina, a famous resort for invalids, touched 220. St.

Augustine, one of the lowest in the list, showed a much less equable climate than that of Buffalo, being 94 to our 67." The transition from summer to winter, and _vice versa_, is exceedingly gradual, and, consequently, Buffalonians are seldom afflicted with those epidemic diseases which generally appear in other localities during the spring and summer months. Thus the thermometric readings of the Signal Service Bureau for 1873, show that the average temperature for July and August was 74. For September it was about 64, which was again reduced by about 10 for October. The monthly average for November was 73, and for December 25, which was also the average for January. Then the readings for February showed an average of 26, for March 32, and 43 for April.

A more equable and gradual transition from midsummer heat to midwinter cold cannot be shown by any locality on this continent. Seldom does the mercury rise above ninety during our warmest summers, or fall below zero in our most severe winters. In J. Disturnal's work, ent.i.tled "The Influence of Climate in North and South America," published by Van Nostrand, in 1867, the climate of Buffalo is thus characterized: "From certain natural causes, no doubt produced by the waters of Lake Erie, the winters are less severe, the summers less hot, the temperature night and day more equable, and the transition from heat to cold less rapid, in Buffalo than in any other locality within the temperate zone of the United States, as will be seen by the following table." The table referred to shows that, "during the summer months, the temperature of Buffalo is from 10 to 20 cooler than that of any other point east, south, or west of the ports on Lake Erie; while the refres.h.i.+ng and invigorating lake breeze is felt night and day." The author further adds that "during the winter months the thermometer rarely indicates zero, and the mean temperature for January, 1858, was 20 above."

A careful investigation into the comparative climatology of the several great social and commercial centers, proved _Buffalo to be superior to all others in the climatic requirements for the invalid_. Besides, it has the important advantage of being a central point of traffic and travel between the West and the East.

ADVANTAGES OF LOCATION.

The second important consideration in projecting this home for invalids was _location_. It has generally been customary to locate inst.i.tutions of this character in rural districts, removed from the advantages of city life, on the plea of escaping the confusion and excitement so detrimental to recovery. The result is well known. Invalids have regarded them more as pleasure resorts than health resorts, spending the summer months there, but fleeing to their homes at the fall of the first snow-flake. The good that was done in the summer is undone by carelessness and exposure in the winter. A location that would combine both city advantages and rural pleasures, seemed to us, upon reflection, to be the desirable one. Fortunately, Buffalo afforded the happy mean.

Our extensive parks, our unsurpa.s.sed facilities for yachting, fis.h.i.+ng, and all aquatic sports, our many sylvan lake and river retreats, our world-famed Niagara,--certainly a more desirable selection of rural scenes and pleasures cannot be found in another locality in America.

A GENUINE HOME.

In erecting the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute, our paramount design was to make it a genuine home--_not a hospital_--a home where the child of fortune would miss none of the comforts of her palatial home, while the poor man would find not only health but his pleasures multiplied a thousand fold.

OUR TERMS MODERATE.

The wholesale merchant's prices are far less than those of the retail dealer. He can afford it, his sales are so much larger. It is on precisely the same principle that we are able to make the rates at the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute comparatively low. If we had only a limited number of patients, we should be obliged to make the charges commensurate with our expenses; but our practice having become very extensive, and the income being correspondingly large, we are enabled to make the rates at the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute so moderate that all who desire can avail themselves of its medical, surgical, and hygienic advantages.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Prescription Department--Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute.]

FACILITIES FOR TREATMENT.

Of the many advantages afforded by the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute, in treating disease, we can make only brief mention of a few of the more prominent.

DIVISION OF LABOR.

In the examination and treatment of patients, our practice is divided into specialties. Each member of the Faculty, although educated to practice in _all_ departments of medicine and surgery, is here a.s.signed to a special department only, to which he devotes his entire time, study and attention.

ADVANTAGES OF SPECIALTIES.

The division-of-labor system proves as effectual in the exercise of the professions as in manufactures. In the legal profession this has long been a recognized fact. One lawyer devotes his attention specially to criminal law, and distinguishes himself in that department. Another develops a special faculty for unraveling knotty questions in matters of real estate, and, if a t.i.tle is to be proved, or a deed annulled, he is the preferred counselor. In a certain manner, too, this has long been practiced by the medical profession. Thus some physicians (and we may add physicians who call themselves "regular," and are specially caustic in their denunciation of "advertising doctors") are accustomed to distribute cards among their patrons, certifying that they give special attention to diseases of women and children. In this inst.i.tution each physician and surgeon is a.s.signed a special department of medicine or surgery. By constant study and attention to his department, each has become a skillful specialist, readily detecting every phase and complication of the diseases referred to him. Not only is superior skill thus attained, but also _rapidity_ and _accuracy_ in diagnosis.

Thoroughness and efficiency in any branch of learning can be secured only by devoting to it special study and attention. When the faculty of a university is to be chosen, how are its members selected? For instance, how is the chair of astronomy filled? Do they choose the man who is celebrated for his general scholastic attainments, or do they not rather confer it upon one who is known to have devoted special attention and study to the science of astronomy, and is, therefore, especially qualified to explain its theories and principles? Thus all the several chairs are filled by gentlemen whose general scholars.h.i.+p not only is known to be of the highest standard, but who devote special attention to the departments a.s.signed them, thus becoming proficient specialists therein. The same system of specialties is observed in the departments of a medical college. The professor who would a.s.sume to lecture in all the departments with equal ease and proficiency would be severely ridiculed by his colleagues; and yet it is just as absurd to suppose that the general pract.i.tioner can keep himself informed of the many new methods of treatment that are being constantly devised and adopted in the several departments of medicine and surgery.

PROGRESS IN MEDICINE.

In no other science is more rapid and real progress being made at the present time than in that of medicine. Even the specialist must be studious and earnest in his work to keep himself well and accurately informed of the progress made in his department. Thus it so often happens that the general pract.i.tioner pursues old methods of treatment which science has long since replaced with others, acknowledged to be superior. The specialist, on the contrary, by confining his studies and researches to one cla.s.s of diseases only, is enabled to inform himself thoroughly and accurately on all the improvements made in the methods and means of practice in his special department.

The difference between the practice of specialists and that of general pract.i.tioners is aptly ill.u.s.trated by the difference between the old-fas.h.i.+oned district school, in which the school-master taught all the branches, from a-b-abs to the solution of unknown quant.i.ties and the charmed mysteries of philosophy, and the modern seminary, with its efficient corps of teachers, each devoting his or her whole attention to the study and teaching of one special department of learning.

We attribute the success which has attended the practice at the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute, in a great measure, to a wise adoption of this system of specialties.

ADVANTAGES OFFERED TO INVALIDS.

Obviously, the most important of these advantages is _facility of treatment_. Of the thousands whom we have cured of chronic diseases, we have probably not seen one in five hundred, having accomplished the desired result through remedies sent either by mail or express, and advice given by letter. Yet in some obstinate forms of disease, we can here bring to bear remedial means not to be found or applied elsewhere.

That thousands of cases of chronic disease, p.r.o.nounced incurable, have, by our rational and scientific treatment, been restored to perfect health, is conclusively proved by the records of practice at the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute. Here, in obstinate cases, are brought to bear all the most scientific remedial appliances and methods of treatment.

A system of mechanical movements, pa.s.sive exercises, manipulations, kneadings and rubbings, administered by a large variety of ingeniously-contrived machinery, driven by stream-power, has been found especially efficacious and valuable, as an aid to medical and surgical treatment, in the cure of obstinate cases of nervous and sick headache, constipation, paralysis, or palsy, stiffened joints, crooked and withered limbs, spinal curvature, tumors, diseases of women, especially displacements of the uterus, or womb, such as prolapsus, retroversion and anteversion, chronic inflammation, enlargement and ulceration of the uterus, and kindred affections; also in nervous debility, sleeplessness, and other chronic diseases. Mechanical power, or force, is by these machines transmitted to the system, in which it is transformed into vital energy and physical power or strength. This mechanical, pa.s.sive exercise, or movement-cure treatment, differs widely from, and should not be confounded with, "Swedish movements," to which it is far superior in efficacy. Coupled with our improved and wonderful system of "Vitalization" treatment, it affords the most perfect system of physical training and development ever devised. For the restoration of power to wasted, undeveloped, or weakened organs or parts, for their enlargement, this combined movement and "Vitalization" treatment is unequaled. It can be applied to strengthen or enlarge any organ or part. We also employ both Dynamic and Static electricity, "Franklinism" and Electrolysis, and chemical, Turkish and other baths, in all cases in which they are indicated. Inhalations, administered by means of the most approved apparatus, are employed with advantage in many obstinate lung, bronchial, and throat affections. We have no hobby or one-idea system of treatment, no good remedial means being overlooked or neglected.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A glimpse of some of the rooms for the application of Electricity, Mechanical Ma.s.sage, "Vitalization"

treatment, and other agencies prescribed by our Staff; furnis.h.i.+ng a perfect system of physical and remedial training, carefully adapted to the wants of the most delicate and feeble, as well as to the more robust.]

A FAIR AND BUSINESS-LIKE OFFER TO THE AFFLICTED.

Reader, are you accustomed to think and act for yourself? Do you consult your own reason and best interests? If so, then do not heed the counsel of skeptical and prejudiced friends, or jealous physicians, but listen to what we have to say.

You perhaps know nothing of us, or our systems of treatment, or of the business methods we employ. You may _imagine_, but you _know nothing_, perhaps, of our facilities and advantages for performing cures in cases beyond the reach or aid of the general pract.i.tioner. Knowing nothing, then, of all these advantages, you still know as much as the would-be friend or physician who never loses an opportunity to traduce and misrepresent us, and prejudice the afflicted against us.

Now to the point--are you listening? Then permit us to state that we have the largest, the best, and the finest buildings of any like a.s.sociation, company, or firm in this country. We employ _more_ and _better_ Medical and Surgical Specialists in our Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Inst.i.tute than any similar a.s.sociation, company, or individual, and actually have more capital invested. We have a thoroughly qualified and eminent Specialist for every disease that we treat. We treat more cases, _and absolutely cure more patients_ than any similar inst.i.tution in America. In addition to those we treat medically, we perform all the most difficult surgical operations known to the most eminent Surgeons, and so frequently do many of these operations occur with us that some of our Specialists have become the most expert and skillful Surgeons on this continent.