Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-20
The Error of Popular Opinions, in
regard to the Ages most predisposed
10 Consumption.

The experience of every age and the
s!atistica! tables Of every eminent suLhori-
ty upon this subject, clearly show that Of
all the diseases to whlch.the human family
! Is liable, none is 50 prevalent or so fatal
/ in its Issue, as Pulmonary Consump ption -
| We have unhapply but to turn to the re-
corded experience of the past, to be con-
Vinced that the general belief is unfor-
tunately correct. Yet some of our reade =
will DOUBTLESS be surprised to learn that
while many of its vctems are amongst the
most interesting and too often the most
talented portion OF adult life, still larger
number are to be met with more tender
though not less interesting age.
| On turning to one of the most eninen,
authorities of the age, the celebrated Louis
1--WE shall fnd," (says Prof. Watson,) "by
reference to two short tables, one drawn
up by him. containing observations reativa to
l23 cases, and another by Bayie, respecting
| 100, some fact. throwing light on this
subject. The two tables agree in the main
very closely. Thus from the age of Is to
that OF 20, Louis met with IL deaths from
Pnthsis, Bayle with 10; from 20 to 80,
Louis met with SO. and Bayie 90; from 80
10 80, Louis 33, Bayle %; from 40 to 3d.,
Louis %, Bayle 81; from so to 60, Llus
II, BsyIe rs; from 80 to 70, Loui. 5,
Bayle s. We see from this account, how
erroneous the common notion is hat con-
sumption does not occur at an advanced
period OF life; that a person who has
reached 80 or 40 years, is ihenCeforth safe
from that disease.
"Frum these two tables and others COL
lec;ed by Sir James Clark, it appears that
taking the deceEnial periods, the greatest
number of deaths ftom Phthlss happens
/ between the ages Of 90 and 80. The next
! greatest number from 80 to 40; the next
from 40 TO 20; and that after these it is
| doubtful matter whether more Ep'risb ci
consumption between 30 and Co. or be.
( tween 10 and 90, which last is only one
/ half cf IA deceHnial period.
| "These calculations refer, cs you Will .e-
mark, to uman lie after the age OF pub
erty. before shat age, tubercu!ous disease
Is ieartully common, especially in infancy
and childhood. Among 920 children (532
girls and 3S5 boys who died from the
.
than 53S (nearly three ifths of the whole
were affected with tubercles."
: The mortality amongst women is greater
than that amongst men, no doubt in part
owing to their sedentary occupations and
the consequent deprivation OF the necessary
amount of pure air, engeEdering Il cachec.
tic STATE OF the system.
The same result is produced amongst a
certnin class OF mechanics, Gnd from the
same cause combined with the Irritating
nature OF their employment.
! The causes of consumption ere far toe
Numerous to admit OF any thing but a pas
sing allusioni az they viii be considered in
detail on future OCCASION. Our present
object is to draw tn: attention of the pub
lie to the fact of the great prevalence ol
this fearful disease at ,an age which has
been considered as little subject TO its in
fluence, the remarkable tendency TO the
deposition of tubercIes in infancy and child
rood, is owing TO something more than
their inability to resist :he influences which
tenJ to the production of disease compared
with adult age, and it cannnt be doubted
that one Of its most prevalent causes is
the absured system of clothing adopted by
mothers of their children.
With all the advantages of adult vigour
we deem it necessary TO protect our bodies
and particularly our lungs, by the warmesl
apparel; and experience proves that those
who do not do so, are doubly liable to su
fer from the ever varying temperature Of the
air.
Not so with poor chldren--their instin.
cts, were they able, are not permitted .to
exert their saulary nonltions, but nsteat
thereof, that part of their bodies which oI
all others is the least able to resist the
influence of cold and variations of TEN.
perature is suffered to go eentirsly unpro,
tected, and thus their health, and too Otter
their lives are sacrificed TO the idol o
fashion.
There can be no doubt that the crue
exposure of SO large portion OF the ches
and limbs, is the real cause o: the grea
prevalence, and fatality of consumption in
infants and young children.-Hunter's Med
Specialist.