The national Republican., 1866-10-25
The Min Cure.

'.a Inc m1Ih SuFGs
As an article Of food, milk has been largely
employed in all ages and in nearly all coun-
tries Its dietetic value in many chronic
diseases has also been generally admitted and
carried out in practice; hut It's use Us a medi-
cine is mostly empirical, the experieSe Of
one seldom serving as q guide to another.
Dr. PHILIP KARELL, physician to the Empe-
ror Of Russia, has record Of 200 cases treated
by himself and other physicians, in which
milk was the chief and often the sole remedy,
administered according to new method.
The results which he has obtained induce him
to publish his observations in proof Of the
efficiency Of this mode Of cure, provided al
ways that II be carried out methodically and
by an experienced prescriber. It is not Of.
fered as panacea to be used indiscrimi
nately and without measure and rule. Dr..
KARELL tells us that in impoverishment Of
the blood, in ell dropsies, in asthma, when re.
sulting from emphysema and pulmonary CO.
tarrh; in obstinate neuralgia, traceable to dis.
orders Of the intestinal canal; in diseases Of
the liver (simple enlargement and fatty de-
generation); in all these cases DR.. K. consid-
ers milk TO be the best and surest Of RENE
dies. Milk might be called o nutritive cure,
but II might as we'll be defined seddtiue
cure and Q regulator Of nutrition. 1t has
been found serviceable in enlargement and
other organic diseases Of the heart, and is es.
pecially to be recommended in obstinate dys-
pepsa, and in catarrhal, rheumatic, and
gouty affections, as also in nervous maladies
not resulting from local cause Gastric or
stomachc cases formed the greater portion
Of the 200 that have been recorded. Fever
10 no contraindication to the milk treatment,
but greater caution should be used in such
cases, and the quantity Of milk not rapidly
increased.
DR.. Karen gives the following as his mode
Of treatment: He generally begins by direct
ing the use Of milk alone. and forbidding all
kinds Of nolrishment. He begins by pre-.
scribing for the patient at regular stated in
tervals, three or four times daily, half tum.
bier or tumbler---that is, from two to six
ounces Of SKINNED milk. Its temperature
will be made to suit the patients taste; |,
should not be swallowed at once, but taken
slowly, and m small quantities, so as to mil
J with the saliva. The milk must Of course bt
Of good quality, and obtained from country
fed cows. II the patient digest the milk well
the dose is 10 be gradually increased. The
first week Is the most dincult to get over
unless the patient has strong will and firm
two quarts arc generally administered eacl
day. II the cure progress favorably, the
milk must be drunk four times daily-at
: in the morning, at noon, at 4 p. m. and at
p. m. II the patient desire It, the hours ma,
be changed, but regular intervals must still
be insisted on. No confidence can be in
spired, and no cure expected, il the physician
says to the patient, Drink milk in whateve
: quantities and whenever you wish" Tn,
patients, when obedient to the physician'
orders, complain neither Of hunger nor thirst
: although the first doses appear very small
! to them.
Doctor K. did not find that the addition o
, beef tea, wheat bread and water to the small
, quantities Of milk first taken by the patient
was productive Of any satisfactory result
The cure never was complete when anything
except milk was taken at dinner. Some
times, on reaching large allowance Of mill
as, for example, ten or twelve glasses dali,
the invalid became worse and II was ne
d cessary to begin the treatment anew. Cor
' stipation at the beginning is always Of goot
= augury. II il persist, relief will be obtaine
Q by the use OF stewed prunes, roasted apple!
and mild aperients. The coming on Of dial
0 rhea would indicate that the milk was to-
rich or was administered in too large dose
Ordinary darrhGa is sure to be cured o.
proper method in the milk treatment.
the patient be very thirsty, he may be al
lowed to drink water or Seltzer water, and
n he have a strong desire for food, he may b
allowed, at the end Of the second or thir
!, week, little stale bread with salt, or q sma
piece Of herring. At the dinner hour h
may, as in the morning, take q small quar-
l. tity Of stale bread Once day, in place
pure milk, DR.. X. gives some mush, made (
T. milk and oatmeal After continuing u
y milk treatment for FIVE or six weeks, it ina
- be modified by allowing, according to ci
:. :. cumstances, milk only three times a da
10 and, once q week, steak or chop. DR.. /
found raw meat to be the easiest Of dige
o ton.