Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-21

oN THE PHILOSOPHY OF INHALATION ITS ADvAN-
TAGEs OVER THE OLD MODES OF PRACTICE Az
EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF PULMONARY

On THE PHILOSOPHY OF INHALATION 1Ts ADvA1
TAGEs OVER THE OLD MODES OF lRAcTICE A
EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF IULMoNA RY
DISEASES.
To the Editor Of the Worcester Spw
Inc practice OF administering medicines BY jnhala-
uoh III an diseases OF the lungs claimed is based
upon sulcuy rational and scientific principles. The
process is simple, direct and natural and 1t certain
ly requires no argument to convince any one that
remedy, when inhaled breathed into the lungs
must be more e1lectua and decidedly curative than
when init oduced into the stomach where it can ony
reach the lungs ill very indirect and general man
hef Inc most powerful medicines can be introouc-
ed INTO the system i'll this manner and all their ben
enclal effects can be realized without the least UNI
pIeasanthesS or inconvenience. And more than this
ny nmlhg thelr action and direct influence to the
parts diseased, we save the stomach from the rrat
ing eHect OF drugs and preserve the appetite and
hutiluve functions of the system while the lungs
are being healed. We claim that this mode of pro-
ceduIe Is more rational than any other because it
conveys the remedy possessing tile power to cure to
the part TO be cured and is the best possible form for
prompt action. Medicated VaporS, 1t should be OBJ
served, are medicines i'll the most attenuated and
delicate form. They are the minutest Dossible dvis
ION ION OF soild and fluid substances, The cohesion
winch binds the particles OF matter together togeh-
er, beng overcome, their subtlety, heed scarcely
say, causes them to act with the rapidly OF touch
single grain reduced to the form OF yapor is more
active and produces more sudden and immediate re-
suits upon the system, when inhaled or breathed
imam hundred grains is capable OF doing when in
uOuuceu INTO the stomach III solid or fluid form.
1t Is an established TACT, founded upon careful OBJ
serNauOn ana experience, that the speedy and GER
VI Ie0leuleS proportion thelr di-
visibility or minuteness of their particles The daily
experience OF every physician proves this to be true
before crude medicines can exert any action upon
the system, they must be digested decomposed in
the stomach, and their active principles must be eli
minated. Until this has taken place, they cannot
extend their action beyond the organ which con-
talns them. These illustrations may serve to ex.
PLAIN the reason why medicines. when breathed into
tho lungs are more immediate in their action and
powerful III their effects than medicines in solid or
cIuue FORM, when taken INTO the stomach. Much as
has been said, there is still great OF correct in
formation on this subject. one person speaks OF in
nalauon as new medicine which, like Sarsaparilla
or Cherry Pectoral, Is offered a nostrum Tor the
cure OF Consumption; another supposes there are
several different Kinds of inhalation each of which
is adapted to some particular disease of the lungs
as one lnhalant Tor Consumption, another for
Chronic Catarrh, Asthma, ana SO on Now ali
tins is simply an absurdity. Inhalation is no par
ucular hostrum, applicable TO all forms of pulmo-
nary disease, nor is 1t a peculiar combination of
remedies, each adapted to particular disease. 1t
is IN Itself complete system OF practice, as commit
cared ana requiring. as much judgment, experience
ana skill, as any other system or mode OF admins.
trauon. We frequently hear it said by persons who
come 10 consult us that they have tried inhaatio
| under the direction Of their family physician who
to retain them under his care, and prevent them
| from gong elsewhere, has furnished them with an
inhallng bottle and set them to nhaling something
but 1t ana them no good. Now this is no argument
against lnhalahon, Tor when we consider the limited
! experience and scanty knowledge possessed nv
most medical men on this subject shall not won
der at their failure nor want OF success. We have
always commended that eIperience is the only safe
autnOlty III TINS practice, that nothing but special
attention to its administration can ever enable the
physician, however learned or skilled in other de-
partments, 10 succeed i'll it. and develop to the world
It's vast Importance. There some Musicians hut
Tor the honor OF humanity let us hope they are few
III number, who, after having truitessy ex hausted
every resource known to themselves not only con
tlnue i'll personal attendance upon their consumn
i've patients, but take the advantage of the conf
aence reposed in them by trying to dissuade them
by every artiul insinuaton in their power from re.
sorting to inhalation, though it be the only means
tnat can hold out ray of hope. Such conduct il
nlghly reprehenslbe, and beneath the dignity of our
| glorious ana godlike art We are fully justified In
making the assertion that the profession, as body
almost universally acknowledge the necessity of a
radical change in the old treatment Of diseases Of
the lungs, and that they are convinced that the
chahge must be an adoption of the direct applica.
lOn OF medicines to the of disease through the
lnstrumentaiity OF indicated Hhaiation Suc1i evil
uences are apparent from the fact that the most in
lelBeht members of the profession in every section
OF the country, are now silently resorting TO NV
way OF experiment in the treatment of their con.
sumptiye cases WIN
When the great mass of medical practitioners no.
knowledge themselves incapable of successfully
computing the rayages OF PULMONARY Diseases wa
leei That the time has come when more rational
and successful treatment should be adopted N e
certainly not consistent with humanity or reason n
expect that the public will look quietly on and sea
tle lnfoads OF disease unchecked or unalle Waited
without making an effort to stay its progress by Civ
ing TRIALS TO new medicines and other modes of
treatment, especially when their success has been