The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-01-11

NH i y eel "a m e o gu 8 4.
a correspondent of the Albany Weekly Jour
nal fnrn ishes the following account:
REM ARKABLE CURE OF PULMONARY
CONSUMPTION.


REM ARKABLE CURE OF PULMONARY
CONSUMPTION.
..... albany, Dec. IA, lS4l
Mr.. Editorials confirmed pulmonary consumP
ton generally considered to be necessarily incura
BILE, have thought that short history of cure OF
such disease, which was successfully treated might
prove interesting to your readers, and serve as an
encouragement persons similarly afflicted not to
yield entry TO dependency, but 10 hope for like
result. The patient in this case was young man
about Is years ofage, son of Mr. Anson Packard.
of Bainbrige Chonango CO. The disease was sup
posed to be hereditary in the family two OF his Sis
ters having already been the victims of this terrible
malady. He was subj ected TO medical treatment
early in the spring oflS33, but the unremittng and
skillful attention of his attending Physician Dr. c.
b. Nichola, seemed be entirely useless las the dis
case progressed apparently unchecked till July, al
which time his emacation was extreme hectic foyer
had developed itselfaccompanied with night sweats,
chilIs, diarrhGa profuse expcctoration Of puruent
matter, and with almost incessant cough. All
hopes OF his recovery were abandoned by himself.
and friends, and his dissolution was daily expected
On conversing at this time with DIR. Nichols, was
surprised to hear him for the first time express an
opinion that his recovery at least probable-In
explanation of such unexpected opinion, he said
TINT as only one lobe Of the Iungs(he left one)was
diseased he had on examining the chest with the
stethescope, discovered that the inner surface of
the pIcura or that portion of il called pleura CO sta
lis had become diseased and was secreting pus rap
idly, and would soon fill it with tho left pleural
cavity sack in such a 10 arrest entire
Iy respiration with the diseased lung, compelling
the RICH, lung(the sound one) perform the offices
e
the left lung nature, with such friendly assistance
as medicine would afford would be enabled TO heal
the abcesses or ulcers of tho diseased organ, and
by subsequently opening the chest and removing
the pus that embarrassed the action Of the left lung
that respiration and healthy performance Of all
| its functions would be restored to it. must con
Tess that this opinion appeared 10 mo so very sin
gular that almost doubted the Doc tors ingenious
ness IN making it. But about two months after
wards was called upon by Dr.. Nichols, and in
vited to accompany him TO Dr.Packaid's, and wi
ness the operation he had previously explained &c
me On ontering the room of the patient, we found
him supported in high>backed chair, apPare ntly
in state of impending sufocation. The left side OF
the chest was entirely quiescent but the right side
was laboring hgbtnly; the quantity OF matter accu
mulaied in the left peural cavity was so great as to
ton, aud it was beating strongly on the right side
| Of the stornum breas, bone. The distance from
which it was removed from its natural situation
was measured by Of The persons present, and i
was found to be seven inches and half AS the
| respiration ofthe patient was very difficult ant
painful, Dr. N. did not dare delay the operation
longer--a bandage was passed round the lower par
of the chest and the operation commenced, by mi
ipc ahO inch
tie ribs down to the intercostal muscle, which wa
then carefully dssecled through so not 10 woun'
the ntercostal artery, and the penra exposed
| which was then pune lured with abscess lancet
steel director Introduced. and the pleura divides
with probe pointed bisoury to an extent core
| bonding with the external wound. "A common siz
| ed wash bowl was then hold before tho orihce ant
FILLED with pus from the chest, about the consis
tcnce of cream. The patient becoming faint, th
orifce was closed with tint of India rubber, ant
he was removed TO his bed; IN few minutes hi
breathing became easy and full and extended 4
bo,h lobes of the lungs. The quantity of matte
drawn off at the fi,st opening exceeded three quart
and in the evening of the same day the tint was /
moved from The wound, and about two pin,s NOR
taken away. | had forgotten to mention in til
proper place that Dr. Ms opinion that the ulcer
in the left lung would heal perfectly verified
the expocoraon Of pus having ceased some tw
or three weeks before the operation. Tue pleur
continued to secrete pus about nine months durin
which time the opening in the side was kept pervi
Gus and the matter removed twice every day. Iii
mother informed me that she did not doubt that tn
J quantity ofmatter drawn from her sons side durn
the progress of the cure would have much exceed
cd in weight that of the whole body. The result
however, was a perfect cure, and he is at this tim
as strong and healthy young man as you will ofte'
meet with think Dr. N. should have reported thu
case himself for it is in every respect very sing
lar one. But not having done so, hope you viii
consider the imperfect sketch have given Of !
worthy of publication.
Feed the hungry and cloho the naked