now sunny,
cloudless, an hour hence convulsed with lightnings and deluging the
earth with passionate rain; or like its winds, to-day soft, balmy, with
healing on their wings, to-night the wind fiend, the destroying simoom,
rushing through the land, withering and scorching every flower and blade
of herbage on its way. On the other hand, the calm, phlegmatic
temperament of the North accords well with her silent mountains, her
serener skies, and her less vehement, but chilling winds. The South,
too, is the native home of the most violent acute diseases, such as
yellow fever and cholera. But, aside from this general climatic
influence, there is the yet more restricted one of locality. It has
often been observed that certain classes of diseases are most prevalent
in certain localities, the prevalence in every instance being due to
peculiarities of climate.

EXTREME HEALTHFULNESS OF BUFFALO.

In the published records of the examination for military service in the
army, during our late civil war, this fact was clearly and definitely
stated, and maps were prepared and presented showing the comparative
prevalence of certain diseases in the several States and districts
represented. The maps are prepared by a graduation of color, the lighter
shades indicating the localities where the special disease under
consideration is least prevalent; and it is a very significant and
important fact that in all chronic diseases not due to occupation or
accident, Buffalo and its immediate vicinity is marked by the lighter
shades. Thus, in epilepsy, paralysis, scrofula, rheumatism, and
consumption, our city is little more than tinted with the several colors
used to denote these diseases.

[Illustration: A Patient's Room.--Invalids' Hotel
and Surgical Institute.]

There is a popular, but unfounded, belief that Buffalo is a hot-bed for
pulmonary diseases. This idea could have originated only in an ignorant
disregard of facts; for medical statistics prove that in her freedom
from this class of diseases she is unrivaled by any city in America, not
excepting those on the seaboard.

EVIDENCE OF HEALTH STATISTICS.

Compare, if you please, the statistics of Buffalo with those of the
great Eastern cities in this respect. In Boston and New York the
death-rate from consumption shows a ratio of about 1 to 5 of the whole
number of deaths. In Baltimore and Philadelphia the ratio is 1 to 6,
while in Buffalo the death rate from consumption is on