Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-10-29
DAILY EMPIRE.
tFrom The Cincinnati Bnquirerl
DR.. Wolfe on Consumption and Medica-
ted inhalation
LETTER XIII

In my last letter, described chronic con,
sumption, end shall now take up the latent
! form
Latent consumption Is characterized by
an absenca Of cough expectoration, pain
and splitting Of blood, although the lungs be
loaded with tuberolea These symptoms In
not q few cases, are absent even til death
results but IN the majority, after q long pe-
riod OF ailing health, splitting Of blood cough
or pain set in suddenly, and the disease runs
a rapid course. The tubercles existing in
the lungs, often work out their III influences
! by secondary changes in the blood, and
other diseases are set up, which destroy the
/ patient, and from tho absence Of the promi-
nent symptoms Of lung disease, the physi,
clan and patient arc both led nstray, aud at-
tention is directed towards removing the
diseases, which are the Effects instead Of
attacking tho cause Or if the physician
knows the cause, he conceals It Cor the pa,
tients sake, because he knows no remedy.
In such cases, the patient goes about with
less alaoriiy than when 10 health; business
is an exertion; he complains Of various dys.
pepte symptoms heartburn pain in the
stomach, waterbrash, uneasiness during di-
gestion, pains Ia liver or right shoulder, cos.
tiveness alternating with diarrhea, disturbed
rest, end emaeiatlon more or less. The ar.
inc will even present the chemical and mi-
croscopic changes observed in functional or
organic affections Of the stomach and liver.
tistula in ano occurs almost exclusively in
such cases and appears to keep the tuber-
culous disease in check, as does also chron-
10 inflammation Of the peritoneum, (invest-
ing membrane OF the intestines which Oft
en- masks Intent consumption, and is most
frequently in females while lstula is more
common to men. Besides these, various
other symptoms are complained Of indicting
q dlsensed state OF the body, and often puz-
zle the medical attendant,
The 0bseryant physician will generally
see marks in the oountenance Of tho patient
that viii maze him suspect the existence OF
tuberoles--suoh rs the delicate appearance,
the pearly hue Of the white OF the eve, va,
rying in tint from yellowish white in the
lair to deep, blueish gray in the dark com-
plexioued, and very slight spasmodic
twitch OF the corners Of the mouth and nose
in speaking, which increase to a shiver over
the cheek as the deposit in the lungs aug,
ments
On examining the chest, depression will
be found above or below the collar bones, or
both. When the deposit is great, these bones
stick out so to speak. On tapping in the
immediate neighborhood of the collar bones,
sounds are produced establishing that tu-
bercles exist in various stages Of develop,
ment--nay even cavities, although there
has boen no cough. These eases are gem
orally pronounced bilious or dyspeptie, or
anything but what they really are, and the
treatment Of course cannot be appropriate.
would particularly impress the fact that
active purging and the use of mercurial
preparations, are peculiarly apt to rouse the
tuberces into activity and to develop rapid
consumption. AT present. the orthodox pracs
he i'r bilious and eyspeptic complaints is
c4l,sn nr blue pill, which are rank poisons
in tie ms of disease under consideration.
The obNivus practical inference is, that in
all cases at all resembling what have de,
scrib0d it is absolutely necessary to have
the chest examined by "a competent and
truthful physician, before undergoing treat.
ment, and il tuberces are present, lnhala.
tion presents the only known means for
their removal
N. b. WOLFE, NJ. d.
Physician for diseases of tho Lungs and
Throat, No 53, Ninth street Cincinnati o.