Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-13
DR.. Robert Hunter On the Treatment Of
Pulmenary Diseases.


iINTRoDUcTokY.1
To the Editors Of the star:
Gentlemen As this Ii the season Of danger TO
those suffering from affections Of throat and lungs,
propose, with your permission, to contribute to
your columns series Of plain practical letters on
the nature, causes, and treatment Of cat'frh,
bronchitis, asthma, and consumption. In laboring
reform In the treatment Of these AFFECTIONS, have
received great assistance from the press In all
parts Of the United States, and have reason to
believe my efforts have been not only approved
by the public, but by all the philanthropic and
liberal members Of my own profession.
When, In 1851, first introduced the direct
treatment Of lung diseases by the inhalation Of
warm medcated vapors, Il was the universal
practice to pour medicines into the stomach and
TO torture the external walls Of the chest by
tons, Issues, and tartar emetc and croton oil pus
tuations Ii this cruel practice bad even In
limited degree proved beneficial, there would
have been some reason for its continuance, but
what was the fact? Why bronchitis and asthma
were among the approb,ii med,corHn, and the
universal verdict Of mankind had pronounced
consumption tReurabls 1T not strange, then, that
any can be 80 weak as still 90 hope for cure from
treatment the universal failure Of which pro-
duced this very sceoticism as to the possibility OF
curing these diseases by any meant! Yet so II Is;
aud We daily witness even Intelligent patients
treading the same doWRirdvd road to an inevitable
grave, apparently hoping for benefit to the last.
Now, in all chronic diseases OF the lungs med
cines given by the stomach must fail for the sim
pie reason that they do not reach the seat Of the
maladv. In the earlier stages Of consumption,
and In all cases Of bronchitis and asthma the dis
ease Is purely local, being confined to the air-
tubes and aI-esHs. No solid or liquid medicine
can reach the affected parts, and all experience
proves that, unless they are reached, cure Is i'm.
possible. And In this respect diseases Of the
lungs are not different from those Of other parts.
We could not cure even u simple chronic opthal-
mia without making direct application.
The advantage, then, which l claim for inhala-
ton Is that IL enables me In the most simple and
i
use directly to the diseased parts. Ii has double
merit, because medicines inhaled act not only on
the lining membrane Of the air tubes and cells
within the lungs, but also more powerfully upon
the blood than the same medicines would II given
by the stomach Ii combines all the advantages
Of local and constitutional treatment, and sums
lief Of the pulmonary invalid. Indeed, 1t 10 not
possible for me TO conceive that the art Of med-
cine can ever add to the efficiency Of this treat
ment beyond the discovery Of new medicines to
be administered In the same manner.
The wide publicity which the liberality OF the
press enabled me to give to these views, at last
opened the eyes Of the public to the fatal error
Of practice which had so long prevailed, and
they began TO see that 10 was not the disease
which was incurable, but the treatment which
was false. The effect was to cut of Pretty gen.
orally the wholesale use Of nostrums by the
stomach, and turn the attention Of both physi-
clans and patients to inhalation az the only ra-
tionsl method of treatment. What was the
consequence? Why, sir, within three years
rom my Introduction or this system and my
exposure Of the old fallacies, the mortality from
consumption in the city Of New York had d.
minished thirty per cent, being a salvation Of
more than one thousand Tires year, These
facts are on record In the City Inspectors Office,
where they are made up weekly from the returns
Of physicians.
now desire to see this practice not only uni
versally acknowledged and adopted by my pro
fessoHal brethren, bu. its benefits extended to
the poor by the establishment Of hosp tails for the
exclusive treatment Of pulmonary maladIes In all
the large cities Of this country. Until this is
complished 1t Is my purpose to go on In the great
work have commPnced-that Of enlightening
the public mind and preparing It for the estab-
lishment Of Inhalation upon solid and enduring
basis as one Of the grea test discoveries Of medi.
cal science.
My next letter will be on Chronic Catarrh,
which regard as the first link In the chain Of
causes which inevitably ends in consumption.
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT HUNTER, nj. d.
Physician for Pulmonary Diseases.
200 Pa. ar, Wa. hiHgtoH, March IL, 1867.
NorE-Dr. HUNTER is now on a brief profess
sional visit TO Washington, and can be seen by
all who desire to consult him at his Rooms, on
Pennsylvania avenue, opposite Willards Hotel
See his card in another column.