The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-15 00:00:00

THE INHALING TUBE.

This being the true pathology of phthisis, the object of
treatment should obviously be to imitate the curative pro-
cess which Nature herself adopts ; and for this purpose we
may have recourse to various expedients. That which I
have indeed found convenient, and very successful, has been
the inhalation of common atmospheric air through a tube,
which, while it admits the air freely, presents a slight ob-
struction to its egress. The full inflation of the lungs is
hereby secured. The chest becomes by degrees expanded,
and the healthy relation between the lungs and the wind-
pipe apparently simple, is not well understood ; hence,
many persons take it up, and deriving no benefit, lay it
aside as useless. Tho manner in which inhalation operates
is similar to that effected by catarrh or bronchitis. It pos-
sesses, ihowever, this important advantage, that what Na-
ture merely attempts, or imperfectly accomplishes, is hereby
effected more surely, and without superinducing any new
disease. I have never known an instance of bad effects, or
even inconvenience, resulting from the use of the inhaling
tube. Medicated vapours, though formerly not much
esteemed by me, I have found from experience to have a
soothing and antispasmodic power. The Inhaler for Herbs
combines both the mechanical as well as the proper medi-
cinal action.

The use of the inhaling tube I consider to be essential in
the treatment of phthisis; indeed, all other treatment is
comparatively secondary and ancillary. It possesses the
negative recommendation of simplicity and safety; and it
may be advantageously resorted to in cases of asthma as
well as phthisis. In asthma the windpipe is too small for
the volume of the lungs, and, though it may seem contra-
dictory, the mechanical respiration by the tube has the effect
of restoring this disturbed relation to its healthy standard.
The objection to it, on the score that asthma is liable to be
superinduced by its use, arises from mere prejudice. Could
I but present one-tenth part of the cases which have been
rescued from premature graves, chiefly by means of using
this instrument, it would force irresistible conviction on the
most incredulous, or at least induce them to institute a
number of experiments, patiently and judiciously, so as to
satisfy themselves of the truth.

Consumption among musicians is thus accounted
for :

It may be asked, why is consumption so prevalent among
musicians who perform on wind instruments ? The answer
obviously is, because they make several successive expira-
tions to ono inspiration. This is in direct opposition to the
natural function of respiration, and also to the mechanical
process as regulated by the respiratory tube, and therefore
producing effects directly the reverse, contracting the chest
and diminishing the size of the lungs. On one occasion I
was consulted by the leader of a band, on behalf of himself
and fellow••musicians, as to the best method of counteract-
ing the effects of this irregular breathing, and I recom-
mended that they should all take a long and quick run im-
mediately after the close of their performances, or provide
themselves with a tubular walking-stick, constructed on
the principle of the respiratory tube, and respire through it
at proper intervals. Ihis was followed by the best effeceffects.Thus upon examining an objection which apparently mili-
tated against my views, we find in reality it constitutes an
indubitable confirmation of their truth.
Many instances of consumption are supposed to occur
among females who habituate themselves to the use of very
tight stays or corsets, a practice against which many medi-
cal men of high repute have long declaimed. The confine-
ment and stooping attitudes of young persons in counting-
houses, manufactories, and various kinds of mechanical
occupations, send thousands prematurely to the grave, and
sow the seeds of disease, the fruits of which are sure to be
reaped by future generations. All these preceding effects
may be accounted for upon the simple principle 1 have laid
down—contraction of the chest, and want of due pulmonary
exercise.

The North American Indian, in the humid atmosphere of
his boundless forests, exposed with very imperfect coverings
to the rigours of variable and inclement winters, almost
uniformly exhibits symmetry of the chest and a sound state
of the lungs. It is only by coming in contact with the
habits of civilised nations that he suffers from the invasion
of the malady, which desolates the regions we inhabit.
In the appendix aro numerous testimonials to the
efficacy of the author's treatment.

Flowers, and How to Arrange Them. By Miss

Maling. Smith, Elder, and Co., Cornhill.

This is a very pleasant and useful little manual
upon a subject upon which the public have long
needed information. Indeed, the proper arrange.
ment of flowers, involving as it does a knowledge of
the harmonies of form and colour, is really a branch
of the fine arts—lower, of course, than those which
depend upon less perishable materials, but still akin
to them in nature. Upon the beauty of flowers we
need not dilate. It has been always admitted. The
polished Greek and the swarthy Indian have alike
delight in them. Poets have grown elequent in
their praises. They form at once the cheapest, the
most innocent, and the most universal source of en-
joyment. From the poor seamstress with her single
pot of musk to the Duchess with her gorgeous con-
servatory, all cultivate or admire them. Still there
is a difference between mere sensuous or instinctive
feeling for their beauty and that artistic apprecia-
tion of it which a cultivated taste alone can give.
The latter is far higher in kind. It is more inde-
pendent of fashion. It sees the connection between
various forms of beauty more distinctly. It ac-
quires a clearer insight into the harmonious con-
struction of the universe, and it brightens the brain
as well as purifies the heart. All works, then, that
tend to this end are worthy encouragement, and we
are glad to class Miss Alaling's little volume among
the number.