, 1861-12-12

" When tubcrclcs soften, the cxpectoratfon
becomes still more yellow and pus-like. The
matter expect grated from cavity in the lungs
with rugged or woody surface. The cc!ebra-
ted Professor Forbes used to describe this
sputa as looking *tal1nost like little bulls OF
cotton Or wool" At times tie matter czpcl-
led is very offensive, but more commonly 1t Is
without the least smell Sometimes it has a
sTeetlsh, at others q saltish taste.
Frequently, the patient complains Of pain and
sometimes can place his hand over fhe very
seat Of his disease; but moro frequently there
is no pain beyond the sense Of oppression or
an occasional stitch In the side, and it is by no
means uncommon for the patient to point out,
as the seat of his disease the most healthy
part Of his lungs
In this form Of consumption, the patient is
always ttgetting bettcr,'' and yet as steadily
growing worse -that is, he appears to improve
for while, and then rehpses into a worse con-
leaving him more feeble than the preceding
one. He spits pus for time, has fever. night
sweats, loses appetite, flesh and strength,
coughs incessantly, and can scarcely sleep at
night. Gradually the cough abates, the expec-
toration becomes less and nearly disappears,
the fever and sweats vanish, and he imagines
himself rapidly getting well. He gains seve-
raj pounds in weight, and lis physician points
to it as IN evidence Of improvement from treat
mcnt, or from cod liver oil. But soon all the
old symptoms return, the hectic fever and
night sTeats, the cough and cxpectoration Of
pls-increased frequency Of tie pulse, and
loss of the newly recovered flesh and strength.
Now, you would ask, why is this? The fca-
son is caeily understood. Consumption is
caused by tubercles-these are produced by
cata1rh, or sore throat, or bronchitfs-by I'M
pure air, or dust, or Irritation Of some kind in
the mir tubes Of the lungs. This irritation is
kept up for long time before tubercles begin
to form but, sooner or Later, q fresh cold. or
some greater irritation than usual, causes their
rapid deposition. Soon the cold disappears,
or the irritation is withdrawn, and tubcrc1es
cease to form. Those formed, however, re-
main, and gradually develop themselves. Al.
terra few months the lungs nre again exposed
III some manner to irritation, when 4 further
deposit Of tubereles takes place, and in anoth-
er part Of the lungs.
As all the tubercles arc not deposited at tile
same time, they do not all soften at the same
period, b1t in successive crops, as they we're
formed. When they have softened down into
NATTER" and are being expelled, the patient
has fever and perspiration his appetite be-
comes poor, and he loses flesh and strength.
Butas soon as the first crop is thrown of, all
these symptoms vanish, and he continues to
improve until the second crop is ready for ex-
pulsion, when he again re1apses Now. at
every softening Of tubercles, part Of the lung
is broken down into u cavity; hence, as the
lungs become gradually destroyed, the body
becomes gradually wasted-each attack lear-
ing the poor invalid weaker than the one
Which preceded it. During these periodic IN IN
prorements, nostrums, and yiIIainous com
pounds Of every description, obtain credit for
etiecting the change which takes place, while,
in reality, they but interfere with the proper
action Of nature. Thepoor patient is, by such
means, being q cured'from the day lie becomes
an invalid to the day he is laid in his grave"
am not now going to speak Of treatment,
but cannot refrain from making one practi-
cal observation on the injudiclousncss Of the
usual course, commended By most physicians.
1t is no unusual thing for intelligent men to
advise the consumptiyes to ''takc good care Of
himsch,' to 'exercise in the open air. to
cine" Now, what does all this mean, but to
advise that he shall wait for the tubercles to
soften in the lungs, and thereby destroy him,
instead OF Striving earnestly, deter1niucdly.
FerseTcringly, to prevent that change from
taking place! Left to nature alone, death is
the almost inevitable issue. The aim Of the
physician, then, should be to cause tho absorp-
tion OF the tubcrcles, in other words, to make
the system take them up and throw them out
By the bowels, the kidneys, or the skin, It is
by absorption that scrofulous glands arc re-
moyea-that swellings and tnmors VANISH
that dropsjes disappear: and by making this
the chief aim and object of my treatment I
am able, through the instrumentality Of inha-
ia1ion, to effect the cure Of consumption, BIZ
causing the absorption and removal Of the tn-
beIelcs from the lungs, thus preventing ulcc-
ration and destruction Of their substance.
Inyalids are very liable to fall into the error
q o. surprising that, heeause they have not all
consumption. Now, it rarely happens that NC
find III, or even majority Of the symptoms
described in any one case. This is a malaly
Of infinite variety, and alas, too frequently 80
silent and unmarked in its progress as to be
far advanced before any positive symptom
gives he warning Of its presence. It is like
IN enemy in ambush; we arc often on thceyc
of destruction before becoming aware that NC
are in the least danger
tent Consumption. Your obedicnt servant,
JAMES HUNTER, N. D.,
Physician for the Throat and Lungs, No. IL
Adams street, near Michigan avenue, Chicago.
December 10, 1861.
Office Of Drs. r; g. J. Hunter, No. 81 East
18th street New York