True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-27

AueSe are tue only possible means tnat
can be used 10 act upon the diseased
lungs. Upon the frs. and second means
enumerated, the " old faculty Of Physic"
have hung all their treatment for age
past, and such continues to be their prac.
tice down to the present time. 1t has
been so unsuccessful as to establish the
incurability of consumption in their own
minds, as clearly as a thousand deaths
to single cure can. The administration
Of medicines, thus directed by erroneous
principles, could not result otherwise.
They were intended to produce a cura.
live effect upon the lungs, and yet were
applied to the stomach-were intended to
cure a LOCAL disease in the lungs, and
yet from their mode of administration
must spend their influence upon the en-.
tire constitution ! The last mentioned
method by INHALATION brings the
remedies in the form Of medicated vapors
into the lungs. in direct contac; with the
seat of disease, thus producing curative
effect where it is demanded. In the
treatment of no other disease have we SO
potent a remedy--one SO certain and so
rational-one so simple and phiosophi-
cal-one so safe. and yet.so successful.
Consumption is caused by an obslruc.
tion to lhe free ingress of air to the lungs
by the deposition of tuberculous matter
in the air tubes and cells, or in the pull
monary tissue. This deposite appears in
a diversity Of forms, sometimes in the
form ofsnall, shining, homogeneous bod.
les, in size, varying from millet seed 10
pea--ar other times in large irregular
masses from one 10 hlee inches in size
of greyish color or, gellauhous in ma.
ture, ofa rose colored appearance. These
may increase in size by The repeated ag-
gregation of new ones or, by the accu.
mutation Of new accrtions TO their SUBJ.
stance. They may remain stationary for
years, if not excited to assume new
character and if not very numerous may
exis, for long time without any serious
de,riment to the health, Ior even comfort
of the individual. But unfortunately this
is seldom the case. A change usually
takes place in the deposit, called soften
ing. This commences, in general, at the
centre, and progresses toward the circum-
ference, ultimately converting The whole
tubercle into soft yeIlowish mass OF
matter. The irritation pruduced by this
confined matter, speedily produces infa
nation and liberation; and thus bursting
through its containing walls, establishes
a communication between the turbrrcle
and bronchial tubes This increases ir.
ri,alion, and producing cough, the patient.
discharges it, by expec,oration, leaving
behind ii a CAVITY. You will see by
:his, portion Of the lung is destroyed.
These cavities are often lined by men,
brane. endowed with the faculty Of Sc
cretIng matter, by which irritation Of the
lungs and distress Of The patient is increas-
ed. Several of these cavities may form
simultaneously in near proximity 10
each other, spread, destroy the adjacent
lisue and form cavities, irregular in shape
and of great magnitude. 1t is by such q
process of destruction that the lungs are
disorganized, and so much impaired that,
unable longer to perform their allotted
function, the patient perlshes.
Now, wha, does these facts point
to?
Firstly-Prior to the formation of cav
tiles endeavor to promote absorption Of the
tubercular deposi by appropriate inhal-
ants. What mean by absorption is the
power of certain vessels to take up and
convey tIIese matters from the lungs 1t
is analagous-indeed the same process
by which black eye, or discrlored
bruse, vanishes or fades away.
Secondly-altcr solening of the .uber.
ces and the formation OF cavities, pro.
mote the expectation of the contained
matter; aud then change the character Of
he liuing membrance of the cavity, aud
thus accomplish II cicatrizalon, or heal.
Il ing up Of the cavity. Tns can all be
done by proper expeclorant and Alternative
Inhalations.
In order that you may see oreclear.
ly, the delightful philosophy Of such an
application of medicine permit me to ad.
vert to a few facts in regard to the Lungs.
The lungs are two concial organs, situa
ted within the chest. Their function is
that of respiration. The respiratory
movement emb aces no, only the inspir.
alton Of air, bul also its expiration. The
! Lungs are separated from each other by
= the heart and membranous septum. cal.
led the medias,inum The right Lung
has three lobes the left but two. In
structure lhece organs are composed Of
T the bronchial tubes terminating in air cells;
!. the rami6ca,ions of the pulmonary artery
and veins, arteries aud veins Of the bron-
l. CHA; nervous aud lymphatics, all held
together by tissue, called their parenchi.
r ma. The trachea, or wind2ipe, divides
d into two branches, one communicating
0 with the right and the other the left Lung.
0 These branches divide and subdivide 10
v their termination, which is in the inter.
cellular passages and air cells. Before
their termination, they diminish in size,
II varying from one fiftieth,. to one thirtie,h
l. of an inch in diameter. The air cells
are irregular in shape, with thin walls, and
communicating with the intercelIulal
passages and bronchial tubes. 1t ha,
le been computed that these cells cannot fall
% far short of SIX HUNDRED MILLIONS; and
m present an absorbing surface ofabout FIF
Of TEEN HUNDRED SQUARE FEET. The min
d ute vessels for the distribution of th'
le blood over this vast surface are called ca