The Portland daily press., 1864-10-22
DIR. Morse on Consumption.
(Continued.l f0
Consumption in Children.
LETTER NO. XXI.

To the Editor Of the MqiBs state Press.
sSIR:-In my preceding letter briefly explained
the difference that exists in different cases Of con.
sumption. The difference being in the tempera.
ments of the patients and not any real difference
in the disease itself.
also said it would occasion some surprise when
say that there is no period in human life during
which consumption Ia prevalent or so fatal as be-
tween the ages of three and fteen. In children this
disease does not manifest itself by active symptoms
There il no spitiiog of blood, fsO very rarely
Where cough it is in paroxysms. There Is no
exrec oration for all the matter forced up from the
lungs is swallowed. There 10 commonly moistaEe on
the forehead during the night, but seldom disinQt
night sweat some foyer during the day butit gem
orally ascribed to worms. Dinrrhea 10 q very COM
mon symptom, but it is almost to be attributed
t5indigestion, Or thought to DO mere summer com.
paint. r $1,000
There ia one symptom which Is always present,
viz: gradual wasting away, but ffem what have
said will be understood that 1t IL possible de-
tecI consuml tion in children by the general g. mp
toms. The stethescope Is the only safe reliaT
always suspect The health Of the lungs in children
when observe them subject to any of the folio NipE
symptoms erup ions about the face puffy and chap
ped lips pustales tue edges Of the eyelids-erup-
tions behind The ears-sorentss and running from
the nose--swelling of he glands Of the neck, and
gradual wastng Of nesh and strength. None Of
these necessarily signs of cons1mpion, hut they
show bad state of the general health, which in
great many cases, will be found to arise from the
presence oftuberces In the lungs. An examina.
fion will always put the mater beyond doubt and
consequently that parent Fho neglects to have il
made Is guilty ofgreat cruey and neglect. The
ment o. TINS disease Ia onaIen varies with the age
ment without difficulty. and indeed generally regard
it as pleasure. III y do not understand that the
mild, soothing yapors they draw from 1t are medi-
cnes, designed to act both upon the lungs and the
hood. Under TOUR years, all medicines designed TO
Ia don
every breath the child draws carries into the system
the subtle agents required for OFT disease
That In halafion the most delicate and powerful Of
all the methods by which edicines administer
cd will be understood by considering the effects pre-
duced BY breathing the coniagion Of disease and
the miasmatic Of fene. Do not thaee enter the
tenn through the lungs, and corrupt the blood with
the knowledge of the patienti Medicinal Vapors
channel, and while they heal the lungs and purify
the blood they save the inva id nom the disgust and
discomfort of other forms Of M dication Propery
treated, consumption a more GU able In childI en-
than in adults. The changes In the system Of children
are so rapid, and their vitality so that they
less in the adult <ata
As the object this letter is to impress the public
with the impo Of great attention to the breath
ing Of the lungs in children, cannot more appro-
propIiatsly close than by quoting the sensible re-.
marks Of Sir James Clark, on the same sabjecti-
al ~ y ~ ~
consideration of the physician The mortality from
tuoerculous diseases In infancy and childhood 10
much greater than Is generally believed F" The prac-
tic u differences to be deduced from the facts obtain
ed by the French Psychologists sufficiently EVIL
dent, and require little comment, They shcw usthe
paramount importance Of attending to the health Of
infants and children.
with thfs close my description ofths varieties Of
consumption Hereafter shall point out the caus-
es which produce shat condition of the blood on
which tuberc'es depend l nn 4
Your Obsdient Servant.
M CHAH. MORSE, NJ D., % -.
Physician for Diseases Of tho Throat and LunRs
Office No. q Smith street, Portland, Ne. 100 20
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