New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-16

and need not tell him that when disease il far ad
rdnc.d cure is always difficult and the result uncer
tain. II, on the other hand. he Is treated IN the
early stage, while the system Is yet strong, ana tne
lungs not broken dorn, we can look forward to his
cure under the treatment By inhalation, almost
with certainty.
Cough and Ezpectorotion.--One Of the earliest
signs of consumption ia Cough. For q considerable
time this is 30 slight as to be entirely overlooked by
the patient, and may scarcely be noticed by his
nearest relatives, it being in reality little more than
an occasional dry hack. Ii is most commonly
observed an the morning, on first getting ont Of bed
but it may also occur during the ddy--after meals
and after paiking or c0nrers,ng. Some weeks or
months later, varying with the progress Of the
disease, the morning cough is attended by the
erp,ctoroton Of a clear fluid like saliva, aud gen.
orally frOtly. After a time little points of pale
yciior or gr0yish yeilOU matter make their appear
in the frohy mucus and 40 the disease advances
this increases until it ALMOST takes tie place OF the
clear mucus. There il no uniformity In the amount
expectorated in this disease. Occasionally the guam
tity IS very small, even where there Is extensive
disease of the lungs; while, on the other hand, it
NAV be profuse, steadily increasing from the COM
mencement, until it reaches in the last stage nay
pint in twenty -four hours. In many advanced
cases the sputa looks like ttte balls Of cotton or
,1ool, and in others is of green'sh yeltor color
Now, when dry, hacking cough steals upon per-
son in apparent health, and without the occurrence
a.
lead to an immediate examination OF the lungs. Ii
may possibly prove unimportant for dry cough does
not always end in consumpi0n but i IS suspicious,
aud no who values health will disregard It's
warning. When consumption follows ckronic 6ron-
chH,s, the expectoration Is, in the early stage,
Jiu,sh coiored, sticky mueus, or phlegm, mixed
with more or less of frothy s0lic0.
ShortntSS If breath is often one Of the earliest
symptoms Of tubercuar disease. 1t is fret noticed
by the patient on running quickly up flight OF
stairs, or walking up hill In the early stage this
is very slight for the amount Of obstruction IN the
lungs is small; but it keeps pace with the progress
of the disease. In some, IL is less shortness OF
breath than a sense Of hghtRess and oppression III
the chest on any active exertion. Many persons,
when questioned in regard TO this symptom, WILL
draw a deep breath and forcbly strike the chest
with the fist, remarhing "here's nothing the mat
ter here' But unfortunately, this is no test OF the
strength Of the lungs. Persons who have small
lungs experience the sense of shortness of breath
much more than those who have naturally large
lungs because the latter can bear with loss OF ca
pacity. This term, ShOrtneSs Of breath, is used In
the came sense as hurried or RAPID breathing, or
rant of air, and is often indicated by signing. All
persons bave their breathing hurried by exertion,
but ia easy for the patient TO distinguish between
the amount Of exertlon he is now able to undergo
and that he could endure when IN perfect
health. The number Of respirations in health
varies from Is to IL in the minute When per-
son. supposed to be healthy. is found W breathe
more frequently than THE, when quiet and not
aware that the number Of his respratons are being
counted set il down as sure sign that he has more
or less shortneo of6reath. The blood requires for
its purihcation that we should take into the lungs
certain quantity Of a air IN given period of time
The union between the Oxygen Of the air and the
carbon of the blood is chemical union and can only
take place in definite proportion. That is to say We
require sufficient air 10 cause the removal OF the
carbonaceous inpurity Of the blood and, IT. owing to
distractions in the lungs, we do not respre in from
Is TO II respirations minute the required quantity
we must make up the deficiency by breathing more
often; and if we increase the number OF breaths
taken in minute necessarily shorten the length
of each breath. This, then, is what is meant by
shOrtRtss of breath.
TIE pulse. Each additional respiration as rule
increases the pulse about fire BEATS Hence, in con-
sumption, the pulse keeps pace with the shortne.s
Of breath. Ii peraon is found TO take ~ respl- |
rations in minute his pulse will be about 80 or S5
Ii the number of resprations be increased to %
the pulse will range from lO5 TO 10. This is not
invariably the case but the exceptions are rare. |
In health the pulse should range from 90 20 6S-the
average being about Ga beats in the minute. II,
therefore, YOU have a hacking cough and slight
shortness of breath on exertion, accompanied by an
increase in the frequency Of the pulse OF ten oreen
beats per minute you cannot doubt the existence OF
mischief in the lungs and should instantly set about
its removal.
To be continued in my next letter.
Your obedent servant
ROBERT HUNTER, Nj. D.,
Physician for Pulmonary Diseases, No. 1872
Broadway, New.York.
NEw-YoRx, July II, 1862
Note-Later in the series shall consider at some
length the influence Of certain habits and caiogs OF
life in producing this disease and will then answer
the inquiry Of my correspondent from Connecticut
in regard 10 the effects Of Tobacco on health and
longevity. but 20 do now would break the chain
of connection which is intended 10 link together the
several letters, and form complete history OF pull
monary disease. Il. IL.