Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-28
PULMONARY CONSUMPTION.
LETTER No. s.
To IL. Editor Of "a. Sta,:

To the Editor Of tAs Star:
Pulmonary Consumption consists In a general
emaciation Of the BODY with debility and cough,
and sometimes win PUulent EI pectoration This
Is disease Of the hrst importance. both account
Of its frequency and futiiity IL las been accurate
ly calculated TO carry on prematurely fourth Of
the inhabitants Of Great Britain and that the annual
victims of its ravages in America exceed ninety
Eve thousand There are 1--WE species Of this fatal
disease. and have no hesitation to state that four
Of the I'VE are durable by the application Of suita-
Die means at an early period. before the Lungs
shattered or the Constitutions broken down. As for
this inhammatory species. II never was cured nor
never will be; letmedical men say what they will.
say the contrary, and will convince them by facts
thcugh they make great pretensions. and give false
hopes TO the patient until the fatal hour arrives
winch Is very criminal In any PLY To Law false
Inducements and encourageInents before patients
LOT IL IS only madness 10 attempt it. He breathes
NOT VIAL arr, man that cure Iuhsmmatory
consumption this state without hes itation or fear
Of contradiction.
The chief symptoms are inhammatory hest. con-
stant fever, loss Of appetite and total
from the commencement: i'm any such "a ! am
tell by the simplest examination or the minutest
description OF the from the patient ar his
friends and In such instances ! conclude that the
fatal decree is wrought ia heaven. and that mAu
cannot reverse it, and that death had Laid IL, iron
grasp upon its victim. IL 10 in such case. that a
physician forfeits the confidence OF his patients
sacrihces his reputation In consequ of hay-
ing sufficient knowledge of the different species II
Consumption In his attempts 10 cure where II is
impossible. Should medical men in general have
sufficient knowledge Of the fatal species, they
could clearly Judge from the Garlic 81 period and
speak accordingly; but unfortnnatel, for them
serves and their patients, they groIe la the dark
AMI putting the lives Of their I,atrIts in leonardo,
cut OF the slender thread that life h:tngs on am
aware there are thousands pretending Ia cure Con-
sumption that know no n ore about the nature az
nor the mode Of treating il than the patients them
seves; aud clearly confess that in hincty-nins
cases out Of hundred they create more harm than
"a IL hiatt
die Tor the want of sufficient medical aid when
these eau he proved rs facts
"a each species differs i'm its symptoms i'm some
degree from the other, and requires an op;,o.it..
mode Of treatment. that il would DE tcdious 10
treat them here distinctly in a limited space lik,.
the present and. besides, have laid them before
Tie public previously; but l shall describe the
earliest :, mpton,s, from the ofigination and its
progress upon the system 10 the fatal termination
Of it. ii not check i'm its progress Th. earliest
symptoms OF Consumption are insdious and OBJ
scure. The patient is, perhaps. sensible Of some
degree Of uneasiness and unusual languor and
brcathes with less freedom than formerly M.
coughs occasionally. but does not plain Of ia
being Troublesome and rarely expectorates; yet at
the same time. II he makes i deep inspiration he
is sens BILE Of some degree Of uneasness in some
particular part Of the chest. These SYMPTOMS grad
uaily increase, until the pulse is found quicker
than usual. particularly towards evening: a more
than ordinary perspiration takes place in the
OF the night. and If the sleep be not Disturbed bv
coughing, considerable fit Of coughing taxes
place In the morning. and the patient feels relaxed
and enfeebled. The cough increases in frequency
from being dry, is accompanied with p,irulent
mucus, varying according To the peculiar mod A.
cation OF the disease-with a fuaInv or frothy or
whltlsh phiegm-with small particle Of yellow
color, connected with IL i'm ordinary cases Tie
eNpectorated substance is Of a deep yellow col, r
at The commencement and as the disease ad vances
blood.
The uneasiness in the chest only perceived Al
first, on making deep inspiration or breathing
is now permanent, and attended with a sense OF
weight; the hectic fever has assumed its full char
acter, and the patient can only lie with comfort on
one side; the strength fails rapidly the pulse va
res from one hundred to one hundred aud tbirtr
IN minute, the teeth increase in transparency
and the whites Of the eyes are pearly white: the
nose Is sharp; the cheeks are red; the eyes smk
but bright the countenance as if smiling; the
spine rejects. and the shoulder blades stand ont
ike the wings OF bird. There is frequent de-
sire Tor heavy signing, and the sufferer thinks his
breathing Is checked in his stomach or chest
which causes his respiration or breathing 10 be
shorter and shorter and quicker; weakness and bad
feeling felt in the stomach, weakness Of the back
and loins; costiveness prevails to great extent
bad taste in the mouth in the morning and de-
sire to hack or hawk up little phleyin from the
throat, Which resembles a bit of boiled starch or
tough Jelly, which relieves the throat for the pres
ent moment; but no sooner that sputta or phlepm
Is removed or expectorated than its place is sub
sntnted or filled with another; this is decay Of
the bronchial tubes In this state the irrit,ti, 70
penetrates into the body OF the lung The patient
should not neglect or overlook those fatal and
alarming symptoms, for short time leaves them
beyond the reach of medicine.
There Is feebeness, languishness and an ex-
cited temperament on the slightest cause and a
total prostraiion Oh the least exertion nutteriag
OF the organs OF the stomach, cold feet. peeyisb
temper, desire 10 pick the nostrils, sleepy drow-
sy, and heavy. depraved appetite and diges-
tion; the skin is scruny and dry, dizziness in the
head, and confusion Of ideas. La feuales there
Is suppression OF the monthly flow As the dis
ease progresses. there is i swelling of the lower
ehtreniitles, with frequent attac ks of diarrhpa
The local pains in this disease uncertIin nost
patients have some pains in general. The pains
IN the chest are owing Ia catching cold. which
was neglected. or imperfectly treated, and is at
tended with serious consequen
remain, respectfully, &c.,
j. ID. DURKIN. MD,
Physician for the Throat and Lungs, OF n. York
Can be consulted at his Office, No Az Pennsyl-
vahla avenue, south side, between Sd and Y sts .
Washington, opposite the United States Hotel
No communications answered from patients nm
I'll they come 10 the office and undergo a minute
examination which is necessary in order 10 give
ample satisfaction
Dr. ID can he consulted from a. m 10 D. M
On Sunday from To p. IN.
NJ "a A