Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-06-14

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breath Of one lung and allow the oher 10
lie idle, the idea originated Of attempting
to cure disease in the one lung, which is
under your mastery, while the o'her goes
on with its functions. The ouu uau in
which consumption is ever cured, is by the
collapsing or drying up of the lungs, the
cessation of breathing in il, and the sinking
of that side of the chest. the other side
Of tile chest generally becomes enlarged.
Consumptive people live on for years, when
10 all ntents and purposes they have not
hay lung. And distinguished writer
has expressed the opinion that one twentieth
part of the air usually taken intolthe lungs
at one respiration is sufficient to sustain
| life.
The system Of cure here proposed is
founded on careful consideration of these
facts. If the lung can be placed at rest
by the admission Of air to the cavity Of the
chest, the great obstacle to the cure Of
consumption is removed. So long as it is
kept continually in motion by the passage
Of the air through every portion of it, an
ulcer or any other disease which may ex.
ist cannot possibly heal. If the motion
did not aggravate the complaint. the state
OF distension in whchthe lung is kept, and
the separation Of the diseased or liberated
surfaces, maintained by this dlstension,
would prevent tine union of the opposite
sides of the ulcers. A wound will not
unite unless the edges are kept together
and sword wound of the lung is onlv
cured by the instantaneous sinking down
of the wounded organ and the consequent
contact which isproduccd between the sides
Of the cut. Thus nature seems to have
pointed out this means of cure, and 10
have placed consumption, as it were, ua.
der an impossbility Of being removed by
medical remedies, or by any other means
than the knife.
Now the object Of the operation for con.
sumption is 10 make a permanent opening
into the side of the chest, so as to allow the
air 10 enter freely and compress the lung--,e
give nature All opportunity (whilc the lungis
in state Of rest to absorb the diseased
mater, or to heal the liberated parts by
cicatrization, and to afford the surgeon an
opportunity to resortto the ligature or knife,
where they may be beneficial. In the first
place, the surface on which nature has to
act in her curative attempts is very much
reduced in the next place, there is no in.
tenuptIon to her efforts, occasioned by the
process of breathing, or by the irritation Of
the hectic fever, which seems to be SIM
ply an indication Of her struggles and her
inability to conquer :, great dIsease-since
we invariably see it manifested when the
body is laboring under very extensive ex-
ternal sore, or an internal disease or ab-
sccss, where there is no possible chance
for The escape ofthe matter or the consoli-
dation of the parts. as in the case of the liv.
er and the lungs. In the next place, the
matter or pus, instead Of compelling the
lungs to violent efforts for its expulsion
through the windpipc, anG The want Of
strength to do which is frequently, if not
generally. the immediate cause of death in
this disease, finds ready issue by the ari.
fetal opening. Again, the parts cannot So
well become callous in state OF quiescencc,
and iflhey have already become so by the
constant motion, as in fistula, the compress.
sion 10 which they are subjected will pro-
mote their union, as in ulcers on the Leg
their collapse alone favors this result. To
be brief, where applications, incisions, in
spect!ons, &c. are required, they are
easily made. Ifit is found necessary 10
remove any disease part, it can be effected.
1t is not necessary to enter into the details OF
the operation. 1t is not as severe as one.
half of those daily performed in this city;
and as 10 its practicabty, We will no:
throw away reasons in discussing matter
which admits of no dispute. Those who
are awarethat an incision has been made
into the abdomen, and an ovarium ofenor.
NOUS size successfully removed, (by DR..
ID. L. Rogers, )-that the bold aud skilful
hand ofDr. Mott has entered the breast and
almost passed a ligature around the heart
itself those who know that hip joints have
teen removed BY dash Of knife, as in
case by d.. Kearney Rogers, will not
wonder that diseased lung, which has
ceased to perform its functions, should be
seized and taken out mainly from its loca-
ton in the body-much less need they be
alarmed at the trivial operation of making
small incisionin the side as the first step in
the way of giving life to the destined victim
Of consumption.
Were the operation the most terrible, as
it is the most traing, there would be no
cause for apprehension that a mans sys-
tenn in 50 low a state as that ola consumptvc
patient would not be able to bear the shock.
Persons reduced to the very confines of
the eraye.by any long protracted disease
in one of the extremilies, undergo ampu.a-
ton better, and rise with renovated health
from lis effects sooner than those who are
L.a..L. Iou,, IN the full strength of their