Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-12-26
DR..
Ga tie Cure CT C0asEmp ion by Medi.
Gated inhalation.
LETTER 10 j.
To tie Editors Of TIE Chronicle

To Ms Editors Of TIE Chronicle:
l would not thus protracl the discus
sion of my subject, did | not believe you
deeply interest d in ii. for rou know no;
when consumption, may raise the voice
Of lameniatiOn and mourning in your own
household, or over the pallid remains Of
some relative, or dear friend to awaken
within your breast The deepcs; emotion OF
melancholy aud sorrow.
In his ieitcr " Sh to direct your a.
teniiou TO two important ~proposiii, rs
l. Al local diseases. demand a local
application o. medicine. Ii With local
disease constitutional disease also exists,
it demands Il corresponding treatment
The profession Is united, in regard 10 the
propriety of treating affections o. the
nose, ear. eye, mouth, throat, stomach
and bowels by a local application of med
icine 10 them. Such prasiice IS strictly
orthodox, and is in complete harmony
with the views advanced in regard tu in
haiation. The occulist treats the in
hsmed eye, by washes applied to it,
The auriSt by injections into the ear.
The same principle applies in treating
the throat. stomach and bowels. These
are all lined by a membrane, which ply
sicians call mucous. The lungs are lined
bY The same M mbrdne. Now, il Il be
correct TT, atment-and none deny it.
to medicate the eye, EAR stomach, bow
els. &c, by a local application of medi
cine, it is equally correct TO treat the
lungs-lined BY the same me1a6rane- b.
a local remedy.
2. Medicines inhaled into the lungs,
not only produce a curative impression
at the seal OF disease, butalso act through
the medium of The circulation, into which
they are absorbed by the vessels of the
lungs, and thus act much more efficient
~, and with more certainty. than when
given by the stomach. Any person who
has ever witnessed the inhalation Of
chloroiorm or sulphuric ether, in surgi
cal operations, cannot fail to realize the
rulhfulness of this statement. The va
por of these articles is absolved into the
circulation, and deadcns all s~enslbility.
A few drops is often sufficient for this
purpose, when inhaled into the lungs !;
and ten times the same amount would
moi produce the same impression. if ad-
miniStered by the stomach. Who has
not seen cases of swooning OF fainting,
instantly aroused TO consciousness, by
the inhalation of camphor or ammonia Il?
Let the diSbelieyer GO inloan atmosphere,
charged with n~oxious matter. or gases,
or into a room where typkus fever, small
pox or any disease of a contagious ma
lure, is prevailing, and the entire system
will become affected and contaminated
with it. Upon the other hand let an in
dividual be placed in an atmosphere, i'm
pregnated with the healing influence of
vegetable balsamic vapors, and lis sana-
tive influence, besides accomplishing a
great local curative effect in the lungs
by absorption, passes into the current Of
the circulation, permea,ing every tissue.
and impartng tone and strength, and
vigor to every fibre. This is the kind of
attn osphere we furnish the lungs for in
halat,ons ; either BY a suitable instru-
ment, or, by medicaiing the patients
chamber. BY inhalation, we can dead
en- sensibility-sedate TO the calmest
sleep-phrenzy the brain with widest
delirium-purge, or vomit- stimulate or
narcotiSe- soolh or irrilate-c control vas
cular excitement, or calm nervous irrita.
lion. Yet this mode of administering
med cines is entirely safe in the hands of
those having a correct knowledge of it.
The youngest infant, and feeblest invalid,
may use the inhalations.
Iwi>h here, tointroduce an overwhelm-
Ing TACT in regard TO the inhaled remedies.
not only producing a local effect upon
the lungs, but also a constitutional in
preston. The average amount Of blood
in the human body is twenty five pounds;
ten pounds of this fluid circulate through
the lungs every minute the lungs pre-.
sent an absorbing surface of fifteen hun
dred square feet /; in two and Il halt min
uies, every drop OF the blood will have
passed through the lungs, and in passing
over this great absorbing surface, must
be thoroughly imPregnated with The
medicinal virtues. oi the inhaled rene
dies. Thus is il demonstrated, that the
reatment of diseases of the lungs by in
halation. is nota "mere local treatment"
but combines a constitutional impression
more efficient than the old treatment
by the stomach /; because in reaching the
circulation, it first produces a local i'm
pr, ssi0R at the seat OF disease.
l. would perhaps be well, at this stage
Of our Investigations, TO speak of the
kind cfmedicines used asinhalsnts. U on
this point | would remark. they are all
derived from the vegft table kingdom, and
are so classified, that a selection may
be made calculated TO meet the indica-
tions in any particular case, or any stage
of the disease. l am frequently asked,
do you use colonel or mercury in treat
ing lung affections? To this | answer
unht siiatingiy, l DO NOT. There is moth
ing in my opinion--and that opinion
founded on experlerce-mOre detrimen-
tai 10 cousumpives, or those pre-dis-
posed 10 the disease, than the admins
uation of mercurials. They hasten the
soflening of the Iubercular matter, and
consequently the progress of the disease.
From no litlle experience, in both hos
pital ami private practice, this conc usion
Is founded and choose rather to fol-
low the light which experience throws
upon my pathway, than bow alle.ua.ese
to the ticIation of great leaders in the
profession. Following Science, | adopt
the use Of remedies hat are sanctioned
by experience, and proven to be good
by their results. This is the only cor
rect foundation, upon which to build a
system OF medicine.
''Sieze upon truth where'er its found.
On Heather, or on Christian ground"
Yours, &c,
S. D. HARDMAN, NJ D.