True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-17
LETTER NO. III.
To the Public and the Profession.

The reader will observe, from what has
preceded, that various kind of lNHALANTs
are used in order to fulfill the indications
in any particular case. In The early stage
of consumption, the idea is TO dispose of
the tubercuIar deposits in The lungs, upon
whicn the entire danger depends. The
inhalalonS that will accomplish this are
called Alternative InhalantS. After the
disease passes into the state of liberation
and cavities are formed, we wish, il pos
sible, to evacuate the matter from the
lungs, that we may promote the healing
up of the cavity; just as we would first
cause discharge Of the matter contained
in a common boil or abscess, and then
heal itup. Here then the case would
demand an expectorant and Alternative in.
halation. Another case may present in
dicalious of great irritation within the
lungs, producing hacking, irritable and
almost constant cough, very harassing to
the PARENT and threatening exhaustion
and speedy death. In such cases an
Anodyne inhalation will give speedy re-.
lief, and if followed BY expectorant and
alter alive inhaIants, the relief viii prove
permanent. Again, cases may present in
which there is not only very copious
secretion of matter from a lining mem.
brance ola cavity, but also from the whole
mucous lining of the Lungs, and then we
find an Astringent inhalation comes into
requislion. In another case we may
have spasmodic cough, or one depending
entirely upon nervous irritation; then
an Anli-spasmodic inhalation is deman.
ded.
BY these remarks, it will be seen We
have FIVE classes of inbaants Alternative
Expectorant, Anodyne. Anti spasmodic
and Astringent. Now, these classes are
composed of great variety of Medicines
and the reader will sea that it requires
not only grea, judgment and discrimina
ton, bui also an intimate and comprehen
sive knowledge of the various character:
presented in the course Of the disease, tC
adop, the proper kind Of finhaants to it.
treatment. This is an important truth
and should be duly considered by patients
who have been gulled by DR.. Curtis, o
New York; engaged in putting up inh,l
ing medicine by the Pac ckage,' as Hy
gean Vapor," and vends~eEm Throughout
the country offering the SAME KIM
of medicine, as an infallble remedy, il
all stages of consumption. This cours,
is calculated to bring inhalation into dis
repute. and thus degrade it to the bas,
level of quackery. Inhalation can NEvEl
be successfully employed, without ful
and complete history Of the case-th
symptoms, as they have presented from
the first attack to the present time, a
we'll as knowledge ofthe peculiarities o
the constitution, and the kind of treat
ment to which the case has been subjec
ted. This known, and the kind Of nhal
ants can then be so selected, as to NEE
the indications directly before us.
The manner of administering the in
halations is:
/. By an instrument constructed {
glass. This may be pint or quart in ca
pacity, the entrance 10 it being close
with cork and silver plate. Into thi
instrument the medicine is placed 'Phrc
the plate, glass tube passes, to with
an eighth Of an inch Of the bottom
Another tube about a quarter Of an Inc
in diameter, pdsses through this plat