Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-28
DR.. Robert Hunter. Of New York. on the
Complications Of Consumption
LETTER No. L.
II NIL a. r.x.,:a..,,,

Complications Of Consumption
LETTER No. I.
I 10 he Editor Of the pVgi"ian:
Though in the early stage the destroying inhu.
| enec of consumption 10 wholly confined to the
| lungs It's effect, are seen IN the disturbance
al the VII lie systeni. Every organ III Tho body
| deeply sympathizes with the npelcd functions
If the lungs. Tia function OF the iun-s - to pu-
! iy the blood OF its carbon, without winch there
can b, no strength In the muscles or harrnouy IN
the action Vi the other organs.
Whatever interlercs with the free admission oi
pure air to tAs longs, renders the blood impure
anI uuhs " noorish and sustain tGe toho oi the
body. The e,ssulAiion Vi impure blood wsakens
It's vitality. and produces al imperfect perform
ance oi tGe functions Ut every pA't
TINS disturbance / call sympathy. But 1t Is
sonetires more than that ncrvou, connection ex-
istlug between u diseased and healthy organ, ~
whica the term Vt sympathy L. frequently APP
piled. IL is twtiol Dyapathy acting through
TIE Dlood and through the nerves. Inc failure
tho part Of the lungs to curly Tie blood. links
together the several parts u tho Do ~ IN the con-
sequences. Tho injury which began IN the lungs
taus becones Transmitted from organ to organ un.
al the cal n,aladp is lost IN the VIDE range OF
com iicaiiJns to which II has gwen rise.
Ihrse complications ofton occur with much
greater violence IN one organ than III Others
la vue the stomach is it, Chief seat and we Ind
tie appetite capricious; soinei'mfs l." s'od, III
other, niserabiy pour We aay have pain III
the sio,nach." 'fatuienco," ''ro,nitnI," "etucta-
tlons,'' aud ull the train vi dslres.es which mark
confirmed dyspep,isI In aaotber tue bowels ma
nile,t the symptoms of confirmed "enronie dysen-
cry" or "chrunio d'arrh"ea." II there are gra-
nniutious of ulceratons ~ tho lauces AID larynx,
the disease Is mistaken Tor "a mere atfecti IA vi
the throa'," aud AS y con-equen-e the lungs
are wholly neglected. Should there be much
i'm cha cal i,Ail
ra become nHamed and adhere to the walls OF the
chest. Ms is ,e,y common II. every iorm ut oon-
SUMPTION, the disease Is thought 10 be only Giro
me pleurlsy," or "rhcnu, tam III tue muscles ot
the chest" or "nearaisia
These and many other affections are consequent
ces Of the pulmonary disease, Aud sl'ting directly
from IT. That they are frequently mistaken Tor
tue chle disease, and wrongly treated there can
De- o.dpnbt In Tact am almost daily made
aware OF the truth Of tins observation by pn-
tent, themselves. But this Is .lot IL be wonder
ell al wacn We consider all the difficulties which
he IN tue way ui the general p acIluuuer acqulr-
ny hat experience winch is necessary To detect
pulmonary disease il the early stagf, The PITY
rlcial requires long mud constant practice. to be-
come accurate in diagnosis with Tho Ill Telescope.
Without great practical experience, the most pro-
found bJos Knowledge Will aIOt ave han IRON ma.
king many grlev0ns mistakes. Aud the difficulty
Is not alone from the inexperit nee Of the rhys
can, bat also and to II great decree from the un.
willingness Of patients 10 believe their lungs arc
Diseased or To have their chests carefully rxanln-
ed. They strive Ia persuade them,elv that
tier lnnsS sound, and though t,lrd with up.
prchrnslon they 20 to the physician f"r his op'n,
ion, | I'M aht almost say with deilterate inten-
tlnn II disguise miscolnr th III wn.st symptoms,
that they may lead him to de, 'de they WISH.
Let me warn thu reulcr To be "v"r watch!u of
the chcst, and do not rest sat fed wacn you have
ANY fears in regard To Your la ~, uatd You have
outalurl IL careful cxunnatiu,,, and lne best I'D.
wee ,ul can procure An error nav cost You
your Ii!e II You nave tube clcs aud they are
II ii discovered unt!l in telr neconn siasr, y"ut
vac from being simple. becor one II eXtreHle
ped.
have thus briily glanee at :. lew # the more
I mui1u cpmplcati Jn- ni consulh ,tlnI ina PLAIN,
pInctIcai manner, becuusc knGv aunt tnc'e IS No
phul On which the lubic entertain such errone-
GU, opinions, and, from mistakes III .c.ard to the
rraI cause and treatment Of Will h, such calami-
tuu, results spring,
# i, oamon Tor epocts and elists to describe
tonsuon disease OF little sutleling They paint
the ylms OF 1t as slowly fading w. plird IN mind,
without pain OF body, and in the iliest and keenest
enjoy mrnt Of every sense and faculty. Like with
eIIng flower gliding gently down 10 the grave, dihus
ny around her IS she fades an alnos phere OF increas
ing sweetness. But alas poetry is not true TO life.
ere lew diseases 10 be DIRE AIDED for the suf
sumption is s,ealihy. 1t comes wtaont any warn
ing oil It's approach, and generally firmly sealed be-
fore II is detected ut all Thus far IT, lest riptloas
OF fancy correct, but now comes n tram OF com
pcatc, m.eres which Try the strongest tortltude.-
The chl.s during the morning are followed by con-
suuiing tcver in the afternoon, and To aran by
halsnng preparations nj night. SLEEP is broken by
cough AMI the day harassei by efforts 10 rApectoraie
Tue breath becomes "pent up by peuraic pnins, and
~ sooner these subdned than ditrrt scizes up
the bowels. Day by day the oppression on the
chrst The heart nnlpittte5 and labors 10
inyre the thick and impure blood through the OBJ
straetrd lungs. The appetite. becomes enpricious,
the limbs wasted, and the whole body enietbled.-
Bat terror formidable than oil is The steadily
increasing and present sense of mpe h'ing suho-
cation As the air-rells nnd tubes beeon filled up
10y the extension OF the disease the spa re for the
breath grows less and less, until last the poor sni
lcrrr dies actually gnsping for air.
Aud there is nothing 10 console the r"usnnpiire in
the usual treatment Of this disease. Remedy after
remedy fails to afford relief Change OF climate
ony increases his hardship, and in too many nt-
stances hastrns the fatal issue The past presents
bleak ard dreary prospect aud the experience of the
preseut--if except the bright promise Of inhala
iiun--no hope Tor the future
Snch is the reality Of tbs terrible disease, d.
vested OF nli fancy. II presents concentration OF
bodily and mental suffering ~ which there is scarce
a parallel in the sad catalogue to which our flesh is
heir.
Your oht servant,
ROBERT HUNTER, " D.
Norvell House, lynchbnrs, july -, 1860.