CLIMATE AND HEALTH. 205

State dry and bracing; atmospheric changes are infrequent,
and not so great as in other sections east of the Rocky
Mountains. Rains are infrequent, and sunshine and fine
weather the rule. The State possesses insular, interior, dry,
and moist localities, semi-tropical and cooler sections; and
if the nature of any given case should necessitate a change
of base, a suitable climate can be reached in a few hours
and at a triflipg expense.
 For fear of being accused of painting Florida in too
bright colors, we shall use the language of others:
 'Dr. Charles A. Lee, the learned editor of Copeland's
'Medical Dictionary,' remarks : 'Proceeding south from
Canada to Florida, the seasons become more uniform in
proportion as their annual temperature increases, and they
glide imperceptibly into each other, exhibiting no great
extremes. Compared with the other regions of the United
States, the Peninsula of Florida has a climate wholly pecul-
iar. The climate is so exceedingly mild and uniform, that
besides the vegetable productions of the Northern States
generally, many of a tropical character are produced. We
have already spoken of the mildness of the climate of this
region; it appears to possess an insular temperature not
less equable and salubrious in winter than that afforded by
the south of Europe, and is, therefore, well adapted to
those forms of pulmonary disease, as bronchitis and incipi-
ent phthisis, as are benefited by a mild climate. Mildness
and uniformity are the two distinguishing characteristics
of the Florida Peninsula. If we compare the climate of
East Florida with the most favored situations on the Con-
tinent of Europej and the islands held in the highest esti-
mation for mildness and equability of temperature, in re-
gard to the mean temperature of winter and summer, that
of the warmest and coldest months, and that of successive
seasons, we shall find the results generally in favor of the
former.' After citing the mean difference of successive
months and annual range of a number of climatic resorts in
comparison with stations in Florida, he remarks: 'Thus it
is easily demonstrated that invalids requiring a mild winter
residence have gone to foreign lands in search of what
might be found at home-an evergreen land, in which wild
flowers never cease to unfold their petals.'
 "In discussing the most suitable climates for invalids,

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