The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-12

alLlo ana pItAIrh%-thA ~ " hdhLTOu9
confequencsst 20 shich u SO often leads, should awaken
from their lethargy all who are nursing dry coughs OF
However slisht ana apparently unimnortspt such
coughs nay seem, they lead on, by sure gradations, to
In addition to these varieties OF bronchitis-an Of
which, II viii be well tor you to remember, have thsir
seat in the mucous membranes OF the air tubes OF the
lungs-tbere are several others, wsich are less common,
md, therefore, OF less importance. OF these, we have
. lan OF plastic Illumination cfara sterized by a kind
OF false membrane forming on the inside OF the tubes,
sometimes only in the larger branches, and again ex
tending through the smallest ramifcations. IL is, in
fact, more commonly seated in the smaller tubes, d.
minishing their size considerably. Again We have the
very opposite TO this state-nameiy, an enlargement or
citation of the air tubes. This occurs in several forms.
be enlarged uniformly; or they may DO merely swollen
out at the extremity, in q globular form; or there may
be alternate contractions and dilitations along the tubes.
In addition TO these, we have alterations of the mu-
cons membrane Of the lungs, resembling (f the same
character, and produced by the same causes as) ulcera-
tionS IN the throat,
II you have read carefully what ! have said on the seat
Of bronchitis, viz, that II Is within the lungs, you will
readily understand how inadequate for its cure must be
any remedy which does not penetrate the lungs as deep
ly AZ the disease itself. Applications Of nit ate Of silver
the fountain Of the evil. Here you see the consequence
Of miscaling a disease. Your physician informs you
.ns. your ~ , me ssas1 i ,a bronchitis ~ and 't s.ast,s syn yysS
"every second or third day to your throat II the un-
necessary suffering you thus undergo were the only con-
portance; but the disease within your lungs is all this
time gaining . hrmer hold-tbe mucous membrane is
becoming thickened, and the smaller bronchial tubes
closed up. These obstructions 20 on increasing until
sufficient air cannot be drawn through the air tubes TO
produce she Change IN me oioca from senoas 70 sr.srsi
dark to q bright red color. This change Ia produced in
the lungs BY the air we breathe, and cannot occur IN
less II In received In sufficient quantity. When consider
able distractions exist In the bronchial tubes, thecarbon
which constitutes the impurity o. the blood, is not wholly
removed, but a part In retained and sent again through
the system, impeding the circulation, irritating the brain
and nervous system, and deranging digestion. Under
the lungs. There 10 no warning given Of the fearful
change which Is taking place. Without pain, without
cough, without e1pectoration, the seed Of this most In.
sidious and mortal disease Is sown, and soon brings
forth It's fruit In the melancholy changes which mark
the progress OF consumption. Thus consumption arises
As . consequences Of neslseting or msltssa.ins bronchitis
aiyes through the 'tomach. 1t Is . grand dssideratum,
In the treatment Of all dissases, to get the remedy direct
blisters, purgatives, and so forth, on this principle. In
pulmonary diseases the same rule holds good; but how
this is an air cavity. No but BY inhalation We can
reach, thoroughly and naturally. AL diseases situated
within thin, the ga: air tubes !! and cell. Of the lungs. ..
means the act Of inspiring, or drawing in q breath. In
medical pArlance, It means a mode Of administering mo
medicine, p as We would say, ~ take q medicine''-the
difference being simply, that the one is inhaled or breath
order to show that all medicines inhaled into ths lungs
are not alike, any more than all medicines taken into the
stomach and, hence, that the benefits to be derived
" " 6ucpcuu upOu III oxpeTleuC6a ana
skill Of the physician who prescribes them. I should
have deemed this explanation unnecessary, but for the
and whose communication / am always happy to receive,
appear TO have got the erroneous idea that "inhala-
ton, " instead Of q new mode Of practice, is come spsci-
nc remedy or nostIpm, alike applicable to the most op.
poste forms of pulmonary disease. To make It such, Is
to degrade 1t TO the base level Of quackery. 1t can never
s Ds nones.y ,e e% pscysi., w,,non ~ : s. ,I,' Emo anow .na ,s 2. q. 1.-the the
tation OF the remedies accordingly.
the first object Of treatment is TO cleanse the air tubes
OF the lungs by expectorant inhalatons. Having at.
tanned this object, we next seek 70 allay the irritation on
which the secretion deg ends-to soothe and heal the in.
by inhalation in bronchitis, is as follows:-Ths inhaler,
which is made OF glass, and holds about . pint Of fluid,
shall filed with cold, warm or hot water, according to
the nature Of the case. The medicines prescribed for .
dose are then added. and the patient directed TO inhals
gently but deeply, into the lungs, being careful to sx.
auid, being medicated, thoroughly imprsgnates the air
with its properties. On inhaling through the elastic
tube, a vacuum ia created, 10 oil which a stream Of fresh
air rnsLes down the glass tube, and breaks up in bub-
bles throwing the whole into intense agitation. Each
inhalation is continued for Eve, ten, or fifteen minutes,
meals, or twice . day, on rising and retiring. In this
manner every effect that can be produced by medicine Is
i Ss.''n By . in Ply ' 1.lyin w' Il. : n ossiss .. %I pas into t a%' SSis,
the vapor 10 rendered " eIpectorant," !" soothing"
.ssimu r. a.ysi,. ,,l'. snS u,sn. or ' ..nIs1 EN-. nj, a. t plea.
ment will rarely d~isappoint the patient OF = speedy and
radical cure.
There il one point more to which | viii advert before /
close, and that is, the unwillingness Of those safisring TO
acknowledge Themselves in any danger, until their DIS
ease has reached an advanced stage. This has, no doubt,
arisen, in a great degree, from the presumed hopeless
ness Of such cares. Stnl it Naturalization all who have
. frequent desire to . clear the throat" and who be
casion, are ON the high road to those changes aud symp-
toms which constitute pulmonary consumption This
disease begins, in the majority Of cases, as q : cold"
the ~windpipe, rendering tse voice slightly hoarse and 10
distinct, first observed on reading aloud-and, finally, It
involves the g bron chial tubes aud I" air cells The
seat OF the primary disease IL the mucous mcmbrsns ot
the throat. wirdpipe and bronchial tubes. The expscto.
ration comes from this membrane, and the ,ubercular
matter is deposited on its surface. II, therefore, you
would avoid the dangers which attend consumption IN
an advanced stage, you win not disregard these signs OF
impending evil; but by prompt aud judicious means,
seek to restore the offending organ 10 Its former tone
and health. You may think give undue importance
70 these affection, from "hieh most persons sui-
own immediate relatives and friends, who are nav in
the last stage Of consumption, and ask them how their
disease began They will, In almost every instance, tell
you Of . slight cold, a hacking cough, or . little sore
ness in the throat, which were treated NJ scarcely
worthy Of notice, a few months ago: and viii aed that
their cough grew worse, their expectation increased,
that hectic fever set In, and they began 20 lose flesh.
stil Ipey regard II as only q slight bronchial adec.
have journeyed onward TO the brink Of the grave, now
yawnlDg TO receive them, as tributes from Ignorant or
IDiudici0us practicel
cannot too strongly impress upon the minds Of those
suffering from catarrhal or bronchial affection, the i'm.
portapee Of this connection. II ca'aIh aud sore throat
were successfully treated we should have few cases OF
bronchitis. Hbron.hitis was generally cured, we should
bavef few cases Of consumption. All are but links in th.
same cham, ana hang upon each other - cause and
effect.
In my next communication ! shall take up the subject
Of " consumption and It is probable, from the i'm
porfance Of the disease, that my remarks viii be cen
tinued through several letters. am, nc,
ROBERT HUNTER. NJ. d.,
Physician for diseases Of the lungs, SIS Broadway.
New Yors--Ieb. 10. 1886.
In Consequence OF Mr.. Albert II. NIcoisy
laboriDg under a fcry severe hoarsepess, his usual semi.
weekly auct on sale ~ stocks and bonds, which should