Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-04-10
correspondents OF Inc TImcS.
MEDICAL SCIENCE.
EXCELSIOR, March "a, 1855.

will commence with the remark that mankind as
a race are very ignorant of the laws by which the
human system is governed. Here is one of the
many causes of suffering among mankind Sit is
the rock on which thousands have split and found
premature graves. What would we think of q
Railroad Corporation employing an engineer to
run passenger train for them who was entirely
ignorant of his business and knew little or moth
ing about an engine? Yet this is not more abb
surd than what we every where behold, for each
one of us is running an engine in the person of
our own bodies much more complicated than
4 steam engine as that is more complicated than
a child's wagon, and yet We wrap ourselves in
the drapery of luxury, carelessness and fatality,
and lie down to pleasant dreams. Consumption,
that enemy to human life, which so insidiously
steals upon us with his hectic flush and hack
ing cough, is in majority Of cases induced by
the wanton recklessness, false modesty, and would
be fashionableness of youth. Where, oh where
is the firm step, the healthy glow and the athletic
limbs of our grand parents With few excep-
tions their duplicates are nowhere to be found
and why? Oh Jane has become a little delicate
and gone to boarding school; Mary, not liking
music and drawing Susan commenced teaching,
but being rather feeble, she has given up her
school and gone to Water Cure. What does
all this mean? Simply because the thick calf
booecs Of the grandmother have been found
rather uncomely, and the thin slippers have taken
their place, and the loose calico frock has been
substituted for close drawn boddice waist dresses.
4 ~, ~, t,to ulor NINA
al all, instead Of plain nutricious diet, pamper
ing the appetite Wit! daintes, pastries, condi-
ments, and poisonous confectionery, and last,
though not least, infaming the passions with ev-
cry icticious story or novel that comes within
reach and then il nature true to the last, sinks
beneath this ten-fold burden and the delicate ma
chine off the track at the age of % or soon
or, it is called a mysterious Providence. Away
with such nonsense and superstition. My chris
tan friend, do not be shocked at this expression;
had your lovely daughter been educated in tin,
domestic school Of her good grandmother, worn
her thick shoes, slept in hen well ventilated apar-
mcnt. taken her outdoor exercise, worn only hcr
plain loose frocl, eaten her bread. assisted
her mother in Tie kitchen, instead Of lingering
the piano, she would row .Iavo been blooming
Miss, with tn, glow Of health upon her cheek,
AMI YOU would not have been called to weep over
her early grave. Parents, these are facts and you
must look them in the face they arc not TO be
triled with.
Evils Of like character and even worse are found
among the other scx. SO much for some of the
causes Of this Unsuitable monster. consumption.-
Prt S,rs ono thnSn oImonitiOnc ANNA foo I,to ro-
nc. ] have lovely daughter just tu!ne / l6, who
is in rapid decline, and has all the symptoms
Of this discasc what can be done for her? Why
bring her along and you will see. But she has
taken medicine till she is tired of it, Ayers Cher
ry Pectoral, Wistar's Basom, and Doctor SO and
so has attended upon her for several months, all
to no purpose. But, sir, that is nothing to the
case you have not taken the right course. She
does not need medicine If there is sufficient vi
use Of water, and if organic destruction has not
taken place, she may be cured Here is mistake
which many make in the treatment of Diseases
They make entirely a local thing of it, and ad-
minister remedies only to the lungs, whereas in a
majority of cases the scat of the disease is else
where, either in the liver, stomach, or lower or
gans.
The first object should be to strike at the root
OF the disease. | find more than one half of the
cases Of supposed consumption on thorough cx-
animation, to have deep rooted disease which ex-
listed previous to the lung affection and was the
primary cause Of it. There is point in the dis
solution of the system beyond which the patient
cannot be restored. 1t is sometimes nice mat
ter to ascertain just where this is, but have Of
ten been surprised to see patients recover under
the use Of water, some of which had little hope
of myself. There is great mistake in the popu-
lar ideas in the use Of water as a remedial agent:
it is generally called cold water cure and sup
posed to consist almost wholly in the use of cold
water. but this is not correct. Weuse more warm
baths than cold. Few invalids can bear cold
water, especially in scrofulous cases, and such
is the power and character of many baths that
they should be trided with as they often are
in many eases Of domestic treatment, carried on
without the advise Of one thoroughly acquainted
with IIydropathy. Another popular error reSpec-
ting IIydropathiete, is tho supposed nltraism re-
specting Diet, presuming every believer in this
system to be full blooded Grahamte and live
on bran and water. Now we believe in q good,
wholesome, generous diet; in the use Of animal
food for patients once day with a few excep-
tions; | am now speaking of Chronic patients
under treatment. So rapid is the change in the
system of patients under treatment, that there is
great demand for new supplies of matter to be-
come assimilated with the regenerated organism
Liver complaint, which is more common than con-
sumption, is often caused from carelessness, ir-
regular habits and improper diet. The eGnest -four
is too concentrated for common article of diet for
many persons of sedentary habits. This, with
late suppers, eating too fast, but little exercise
an inclined position of the body, the free use of
tobacco and bad respiration arc the causes of
many a case of liver complaint. Our atmosphere
is so filed with oxygen and electricity that on be-
ing absorbed by the blood through the medium of
the lungs. it consumes great portion of carbon,
the combustion of which is the principal cause of
animal heat, and thus prevents many of the NOR
bid deposits peculiar to a more southern climate.
On this account dyspepsy is comparative strang-
er here. l am well aware that the principles of
Hygiene are not congenial to the feelings of many
of our epicure invalds, mutitudes of which will
be sacrificed on the altar of sensualtv and indul
gcnce, but perhaps here aud there one NAV be-
lieve and be saved.
P. S.-We are much obliged for the gratuitous