The national Republican., 1862-03-21
lassas c.As.-psis..
LErTsa No. 8.

~ We Edltovs 1 he NailGWal RPSblican.
his is,snover iorS X consumption more
iasldious q Md dvsocM than either Of those al.
ready described. II y called "Latsnt Consump.
tion" because tubercles exist In the lungs for
long time without manifestlng any Of their
usual sympioms. There is no cough, no expec
torstion, or splitting Of b'ood. Most frequently
there are no symptoms that point TO the lungs,
and but few that Indicate arrangement Of usual
health. Bat there Il somsthing 10 the oounte.
nance which is readily detected BY The prac-
Hsed eye Of the physician, and which IL en-
tirely overlooked By the nearest friends. The
but, since be never complains Of snythlng In
the lungs, the physician has rarely IN oppcrtu,
nifty 10 Investigate the case until the disease y
firmly established. The sufferer goes on, feel.
log weak and depending, perhaps becoming
thinner, and has little energy Of mind, but still
remains ignorant Of the true caus, ot the mis-.
chief. he consul1 any number Of "doctos,' "
and gets the most opposite opinions. Some
treat the case very lightly, and promise a
speedy cure. Others advise "change Of ais and
quiet" One says II 10 oil stomach" another
that the liver b out Of order. he tries the pre-.
scriptlons Of each In turn the Regular, the
"Homepath," and the "Watef Cure" but find,
be gets no better. And yet he cannot scc Why
be does not get well. Nor do any Of bis physi.
clans enlIghten him. Those who know the
least about bis disease promise the most, but
accomplish nothing Those who have dlscov.
cred the true state Of the lungs, do not reveal
their knowledge, because they do not wish to
alarm where they knew Of no remedy. .
In such case, II We carefully examine the
state Of the lungs, We fnd dullne@ In the upper
part OF one lung or both, and generally below
the collar bone. This dullness Is occasioued
by tuberoles. II, at this stage, the physician Ia
attendance fails 10 discover the real condition
Of The lungs, and TO adopt proper means 10 ar
rest the progress OF the disease, the patient i
irrsvocably lost. This kind Of consumption Il
far more common than Ia supposed; but wher
ipdiolously treated, II Is the most curable o.
aM.
Speaking of the frequency Of this form Of tbt
disease, Lseuec remarke: We may, indeed, say
that The greater number Of cases Of consump
tlon are latent, since nothing is more common
than to find tubercles in lungs otherwise qnit'
healthy, and in persons who have never shows
aay symptoms OF phthisis. II has frequently
appesred 10 me, from carefully comparing tb'
history Of my patients with the appearances OF
dissection, that the greatest number Of first ~
lacks are mistaken for colds Tho Queen
physician, Sir James Clark, In alluding to th,
liability 10 mistakes OF this character, observes
We have koown more than one example q
extensive tubercular disease Of the lungs dis
covered on post morte,n examination, whel
during life the disease was looked for In th'
stomach, liver, or bowels.'" .. ......
With the melancholy experience, which al
must have had, Of the folly Of allowing con
sumption 10 become firmly seated before II /
discovered, every person should make II poiu
to have the lungs carefully examined every few
months, by some physician In whose skill an,
experience he has the fullest confidence an,
by 90 doing many will happily realize th
wisdom Of the old adage, tan ounce Of proven
| tion Is worth pound OF cure"
My next letter will be on splitting OF bloo'
and hemorrhage from the lungs.
Your obedient servant,
| RoBERr HUNTER, N. D.,
| Physician for Pulmonary Diseases.
2U3 penn'a Ave-, Washington,
March 20th, 1862.