, 1863-10-26
DR.. James Hunter, of Ss Washington
Street, Chicago, on the symptoms Of
Consumption

To the Edito, Of hem. 7. Tribune:
Sm-I now comet speak Of the symptoms
which Indicate that he lungs have become I" af-
fected-that Ia to sly that tu1krclss are deposit
ed. It Is 20 unnsuL thing to hear designated as
"a mere colt" or "a slight bronchial Affection
symptoms which ehonld excite the greatest
anxiety as indicating the commencement Of ftuber-
cular deposition. When the physician presc:ibcs
anything By the stomach to allay such symptoms
he only masks the danger and gives temporary re-
lief while the diseaso itself progresses In the
lungs and becomes mo:e firmly seated. Thou.
sands are, in this way, mialed by false opIu-
ions Hom ettp to step until the
ravages made by the disease rem
der DECEPTION 90 longer possible. Instead
Hnds all Ills symptoms steadily growing worse,
and grows unfortunate for relief He finds that
the least c1e1tion increases his shortness of
ilsth: 70 quiet his fears hs = now advised e
'tvisit the the country" to ' take sea yoyaga,"
orto "go to warm climate for q s.ason.' II It
pe is tod he wA get W soon aa s
and If It be winter, that he must be patient and
wait for the I" enhntng spring. But alasl for
tboee ~bo put faith n these delasive promises;
Too many learn when too late that the T. country"
refe,red TO lies beyond the grave, and tnRs the
nfs's fttn1 feyer is oyer!''
slgEe By which consumption may be known In its
eaI]y etnger, to warn shem Of their danger while
thefe yet strength enough In the system to throw
9eso3s s s s sfais e hss sed df Il Rs T
purulelt expectoration, hectic fevef, and night
sweats he waits for the arrival Of the third etase,
advanced, cure is always difficult, and tue result
u1 certain. IT, on the other hand, he Ia treated in
the early stage, willie the system Is yet strong,
ard the not broken doT We c4n loGS s9,
tion. almost With certainty.
Cough ard Erpectoration;- One Of the earliest
signao q consumption Is cough Fora considerable
by the patient, and may scarcely be noticed by his
nearest relatives, It being In reality little more
than an occasional dEy back. It's most commonly
bed, but 1t may also occur during the day.after
mesla AID after walking OF conycIsing Some
weeks months lates Ia1ying With TIE progress Of
expecto1atioa OF elsa- auid 1ikn saliva, and gem
eraly fsothy. Ater time little points Of pale yel
low Or E!ayish yellow matter make their appeaE-
vaIres this increases, until 1t almost takes the
place Of the clear tnucus There Is no uniformity
In the amount e1pceto1ated in this disease. 0cca-
the9e s deass m he a lans S'S Whe
the other hand, 1t may be profuse, steadily In
creasipg from the commencement, until 1t reaches
in tie laet stage half pint or more IN twenty
four hours. In many advanced cases the spnta
looks like little balls Of cotton or wool. and in
others is Of gretniah yellow color. Now, when
d sa9Sng cough stfa np51a
Of cold 1t should always excite apprehension and
lead to an immediate exam nation OF the lungs
It may possibly tproye unimportant because cry sy
1t ssnspicionE, and 10 man who values health
will disregard its warning. :. When consumption
follows chronIc 6roaeAiis, the e3pectoratson is,
or. .phleCh1n, mixed with more or less Of -ffofhy
shortness orbseath is often one Of the earliest
tieed By the patien: on running quickly up aisht
Of stairs, OF walking up hill. In the early Rtage
this Is very slight, for the amount Of obstruction
progress of lie disease. In eone, It is less 3
shoItness Of breath than scnso Of tightness and
oppression in the chest on ary. active e3ettion.
synpt9n draT as4 deep 5Te.ta esb
nothing the matter there" But unfoftu:
this is 70 tsst q the bafs stfsnn
lungs experience the Rense Of shortness Of breath
! mnch more than thos5 who have naturally large
lurgs becATss tee lstter csa beaF With !o5s q
in the same sense as hnr1ied or rapid o.
want Of ali, and Is often indicated from sishtrg
All pe1Eons hare their breathing hurried By e1et.
ton but t is easy for the pat!snt to disttusutsh
between the amount Of axe1tion he is now able
| to undergo and that he could endure when 10 PET
fect health- The number Of resptEations In health
Fatlcs 11om 70 % 1l1n 1ne e1a1nute. AeA Pet9oa
opposed to be healthy, Is found to breathe more
frequently than this, when quiet and not awaEe
that tho number ct his 1e:pirations arc being
counted set 1t down eure eiSn that he has more
orless shortness Of breath. The blood requires tol
it's publication, that should take into the !nns
q: certain quantity Of air in given period q
time the union between the oxygen OF the ~
| and the carbon Of the blood ts chemical unlor
and can only take place in definite proportion
That ia to aay, We require sufficient air 10 canse
the removal Of the cafb0naceous impurity Of the
blood, and II, owing to distinctions IN the lnugs
minute, the required quantity, wa m1aEcake "
| the deficiency by breathing moro often; and
We tucreaee the number of hreatha taken In . min
| breath This, then Il what Is meant 81 shostnes
Of breath.
Tho pulse. Each additional respiration. as
| xule, ,iAclcases the pulee about FIVE beats. Hence