Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-16
DR.. Hunter On Chronic Con.ump,,.,.


Consumntion, generally begins with slight drv
eoHgh: IL was probably the frequency of cough
preceding the disease that led the ancients 20 be-
heve that cough was the cause rather than the
eDeof OF Consumption. This cough may continue
Tor several months years without any other
symptom 1t is scarcely ccugh- but rather a
"ha6k' Now, the cause Of this slight cough il
the presence Of fnbercles in the lungs and II the
patient were TO die suddenly OF any other disease
or from an injury. we should find the lungs
studded or filed with fine turbercles IL is com
mon, on examination after death, TO fad the
lungs Of persons dying Of fevers aud infamma-
tons stuffed with tubercles, and this, too, when
In health the existence of Consumption bad not
even been suspected. Many Of those friends with
whom we are in daily intercourse, and whom We
regard as really healthy, thus carrying about
In their lungs the elements Of their own destruc
This form Of Consumption begins differently
In different cases man, apparently In perfect
health. has an attack Of catarrh sore throat
and wnen this subsidies IL leaves the dry hacking
cough, before alluded to. Not unfrequently a
splitting Of blood is the first symptom, and indeed
il almost invariably marks the commencement of
the disease; this may be only a slight streak in
the mucus, or IL may be considerable and of A
bright red color. In many cases, Consumption
sets in after ''chiHS and fere,s,' and these occur
almost with the regularity of dgHe. Ia others VIC
have a sense Of heat in the palms OF the hands
and soles of the feet, or flush on the cheek; cold
feet and hands are also frequently observed.
Many persons mistake the fever and chillinesS
which occur in the early stage of Consumption
for Intermittent fever. As the disease PROGRESSES
preparations occur, generally towards morning,
and even the bed.
The stomach is not much disturbed in the early
stages Of Chronic Consumption. IL is by no mCa
uncommon for the appetite TO continue unusually
good until after DiarrhGa sets in when il gen
orally becomes caprcious and poor. I'm females.
after fever occurs, the monthly sickness is almost
always suppressed, and IL is common for the
Cough and Disease in the Lungs 20 be assembled to-
this gHnrity, while in reality il is only the re-
suit depending upon the debility Of the constitu-
ton induced by the disease. After the fever and
perspirations have become established the vast
ing of the flesh and strength goes on so rapdlv
that the body may be truly said 10 consume atcaV
The joints soon appear larger than natural from
the wasting of the feshy parts, the chest becomes
contracted, the features sharpened. and the ewes
attain peculiar wildness and brilliancy
The matter expectorated changes with the mo-
gress Of the disease. In the commencement the
Cough is dry, but after time ,caterV or slightly
frothy secretion follows. AS the disease APP
proac hes the second stage, this gradually changes
to sticky, jelly-like. or gluey substance often
dark I'm color, but more commonly inclining 90 =
greeniSh, with now and then streaks Of yellc,,
color
When tubercles soften, the expectoration he
comes still more yellow and pus-like The mat
ter expectcrated from cavity in the lungs is pc
cullar. IL is of a whitlsh yellow color with a
fessor Forbes used this sputa as looking
:. almost lake t,ttLe balls Of cotton or tcooLn Al
times the matter expelled is very offensive but
more commonly il is without the least smell
Sometimes il has S,ceetiSh, at others a saItish
taste.
frequently the patient complains of min and
e;imes can place his hand the very seat of
his disease but more frequently there is no pain
beyond sense Of oppression or an occasional
stitch IN the Side, and IL is by no means unrom
mon for the patient to point as the seat of his
disease, the most healthy part of his lungs
In this form OF Consumption the patient ia al
ways getting batter" and yet as steadily grow
Ing worse-that is lac appears 10 improve for a
while, and then relapses into a worse condition
| than before, each succeeding attack leaving him
more feeble than the previous one. He splits pas
for time has fereT, Hight-SIcedtS loses Gupeftrs
flesh, and strength, coughs necessarily. aud can
scarcely sleep at night. Gradually the cou1h
abates, the expectOration becomes less and nearly
disappears, the fever and sweats vanish. and ~.
| imagines himself rapidly getting well He game
| several pounds in weight, and his physiciaS
points to II as an evidence Of improvement from
treatment, or from Cod-Liver Oil. But soon all
1.-The old symptoms return; the hectic fever and
night-sweats, the cough and expectoration Of prs
| increased frequency Of pulse, and loss Of the
newly recovered flesh and strength
Now, you would ask. why is this1 The re,,op
| is easily understood-Cons umption is caused by
tio rcies-these are produced by Catarrh, or Sore
Throat, or Bronchtis-by impure air or dust or
irritation of some kind in the ATTITUDES of the
lungs. This irritation is kept up for a long time
before tuberclts begin TO form; but. sooner or
usual, causes their rapid deposition. Soon the
cold disappears, or the irritation is witbdrawn
ana tubs relies cease to form. Those formed how
ever, remain, and gradually develop Themselves
After few months the lungs are again p.nosed
In some manner 10 irritation, when further d..
post OF tubercles take place, and in another par,
of the lungs.
A q the tubercles are not deposited AZ tbe s,r,,
time, they do not all Snffen at the same period Inn,
In successive crops, as they were formed when
they have softened down into ..,nqtr,r, and ar.
being expelled the patient las fever and nersnira
toa; his appetite becomes Toor and he loses flesh
aud 81. ength. But soon as the first cron =
'n'owh on, all th'se SYMPTOMS vanish. and lie
90 nues to improve until the second cron is rp,dv
Tor expulsion, WHEN lac again relars,s Now -
every softening Ct tubercles a part of the lung =
Or Ken down into a odrHy; hence. as the lungs
become gradually destroy ed. the body becomt.
gradually wasted-each attack leaving the moor
Invalid weaker than tire which preceded n
During these periodical improvements nosfrKyS.
aud villainous compounds Of every de.cription
ID ain credit for effectng the change which tale.
place, while, an reality, they but Interfere win
the proper action of nature. The poor patient is
by such means, being 'cured from the day no
b'comes an invalid, to the day he is laid in his
,r:ve."
am not now going to speak of treatment. butt
cannot refrain ON making one practical obs-rva-
uon on the lnJudiciousness Of the usual cou-sr
recommended by most physicians IL is no mn
usual thing for Intelligent men to advise the con
sunptive to take coed OF hiRlSeIC'' TO -
reese IA the open air. TO s.ltrs tr,H :, lint q.
take rery Attls medicine" Now what does all
this mean, but to advise that be shall wait for III
tnbercics to soften in the lungs and thereby de-
s.roy nun, Instead OF striving earnestly, Diet =
from taking place! Left 10 nature alone death :
the almost Inevitable Issue. Tie aim of the pby,I
cSn, then, should be 10 cause the absorption g
the tubercles; In other words 20 make the svsts N
take them up and throw them out by the B6,r,y
the Kidneys, or the skiH. IL is Ivy ABSORPTION IN
soT9rr!ous gtaHdS are removed-that ssreHings on
t"mors vanlsh-that dropSieS disappear: and lv
making this the chief aim and object of INV treat
ment, | am able, through the instrumentalitv Of
limitation 10 effect the cure Of Consumption nv
causing the absorption and removal of the tuh.,
Giles from the lungs, thus preventIno nIce,s,;o,
ana destruction of their substance