New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-23

tom OF colump.,on Il takes place "a many cases
even though the appetite rem lIn5 gco ana the 1000
h,nucr. without any appreciable reason, the lungs
should always be suspected The cause Inc same Il
true Of those who raDdiJ gam Jfssh, aGd then az
suddenly lose It. These changes merely indicate the
changes taking place in the lungs. Stu we 90 not
always lind apparent loes Of flesh in the first stage
OF tuberc'es. In young women Ia particular nave
very often found the lungs seriously affected While
they still retained their color and piumpness. But
rule, il we reduce the matter TO a certainty by
weighing, we shall find few pounds of difference
between their present and former weights. If with
the loss of weight there is disposition to sigh, a
dark discolor0tiob 6elow the eyes, and a qvickehed
pulss, with some hat IN the hands, set it down as
almost certain that the lungs are affected. Still
have in few instances, known persons to gam
flesh during the whole Of the first and second stages
OF consumptive disease, ard that, too, where the
tubercles were rapidly undergoing changes, which,
If not arrested, must soon Rave ended fatally Cod
liver oil is a very powerful nourishment and viii
sometimes improve tie weight OF persons VINO are
hopeessly affected, though 1t eXers 10 beneficial ln-
iuence on the disease itself.
The irritation produced by tubercles, even in the
first stage, will sometimes give rise to sense OF
chiilineSs followed by slight Jerer in the after part
of the day, and perspiratiOn toward morning, but
We do not generally have hectic jerer and Hteht
sueats until after the tubercles 6egtn 10 Sojen AS
rule, when the third stage commences the patient
shoulders and If be Winter, turns his back to tue
fire. After lie gets into bed he discovers that his
hands aud feet 6ura or feel hot, and toward morn
ing he perspireS. For a time tne persplratlon Is
slight but "a the disease advances, often becomes
20 pouse as to drench the bed. About one IN every
I'm escape night SreotS altogether, while fully tioo
ont of every three escape them until after the sctten-
ing Of ta6crclcs cOmmeaces.
In young females irrcguloyities almost always
occur sooner or later and often this is the first and
ONLY evidence they have OF the disease. We
examine the lungs, and are surprised to lind them
the seat Of military tubercles. loo frequently ID
such cases strong medicines given TO restore me
sus peuded function, and the careless physician only
discovers his cruelty and ignorance when his admin
istra ions have aggravated the pulmonary disease
that ii can no longer be mistaken. the tubercie'
are then attributed to the suppression, when in
reality they are tie cause which prodnced II. One
thing must he said OF medical men-thcy never
acknowledge TO the patient an error IN DIAGNOSIS;
they would even dispute with the Gre0t PhyS'c'aa
of all, sooner than admit an error OF judgment ana
yet is not too much TO say that not one general Prac'
titioner 10 a thousand is able TO distinguish by the
stethoscope stage o. consumption from another,
or between paTHlcHt bronchitis aud tubercHfouS
ulcerat on OF The iua2s. Who, then, can feel sur
prise at the frightfui ravages OF consumption when
the great MACS Of physicians to wnom invailds
first apply for TeIet are incompetent 10 pro-
nounce Judgment on the state OF the lungs
unit, the time for successful treatment has passed.
This erl will continue so long az medical men resist
the division Of the profession into special depart
ments, and until they encourage their patients 20
apply to these whose devotion TO one class OF dis-
eases gives them the skill and experience essential
to correct diagnosis and successful treatment. No
general practitioner, however sklial, has the time
or sufficient experience to become good steihosco
pisi and yet long be continues TO treat con-
sumption, the lives OF his paiiens hang upon ais
skill in this respect The remedies employed must
depend on the sage and torn Of the disease and no
physician can successfully treat patient while be is
in DOUBT and uncertainty as TO the nature snd extent
OF the pulmonary affection
10 be Confined
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT HUNTER, VI. d.,
Physician for Pulmonary Diseases,
No. 81? Broadway.
N,r. forG, Juty2!, 1862. y
NoTr.-The writer of these letter.. m association
with Dr. jas Hunter devotes his occfas,re at,en-
II. e al IA NJ yb.f ,,,rf