Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-10
THEORY OF MEDIGATED INHALATION
DRG. HUNTER AND RAMSAY.
ON THE
SYMPTOMS OF CONSUMPTION.
Continued.

we stated In our last letter that IN the
early stage the most common symptoms u
consumption are a dry hacking e0ggh," a
sense of " shOrtiess of breath on eeertion,"
and "iaereased frequency Of the pulse"
Another symptom which should lead us
to suspect the health of the lungs is pain.
During the course of the disease, it is
unusually present in some degree; but
varies very much in intensity. 1t may
be the first indication Of tubereles in
the lungs, or not appear until after ulcer
alton has taken place. In one case, it is
a sharp stitch in the side; in another,
a dtH aching under the breast-bone; in a
third. n sense of burning; while in 8 fourth
we have only u feeling of goeiqht and oe-
preston It's seat, too, is often distant
from tie part of the lung affected. It
may be in the opposite side Of the chest, or
tot0 dolon an the SIDE, whereas tubercles are
always deposited at the top Of the lung.
Sometimes We find the pain Immediately
over the part affected, but this is not usual
AT times, the pain has very much of a
rheumatic character; and at others resem-
oles neuralgia. From this, it will be I'M
derstood that pain Is a very unreliable
symptom 1t is no proof that the
lungs are sound, that the patient
has never experienced n pain;
since more than one third of those
labering under this disease never have the
least indication of it. The lungs, as a rule,
do not manifest injury by pain; even
acute inflammation is very rarely attended
by any suffering. If there is pain soreness,
Gehiag, aoeigAt or oppression, however, it
should be regarded as a suspicious cir
cumstance, and the lungs immediately
sounded" to discover its cause. When
considerable disease exists in one lung, pa
tients sometimes find it uncomfortable to
lie or that side, and the sense Of discomfort
produced by doing so is the only incon-
venience they experience.
The " losing q little Jlesh" is often an
early symptom of consumption. 1t takes
place in many cases, even though the
appetite remains good, and the food is
abundant and nutritious. When n patient
grows thinner, without any appreciate
reason, the lungs shoald always DO sus-
pected as the cause. The same is true of
those who rapidly gain flesh, and then as
suddenly lose Il. These changes merely
indicate the changes taking place in the
lungs. Still we do not always fndaDDqrent
loss of flesh in the first stage of tuber-
cles. In young women, in particular, we
very often find the lungs seriously Affect
ed while they still retain their color and
plumpness. But, as a rule, if we reduce
the matter to a certainty, by weighing we
shall find q few pounds of difference be-
tween their present and former weight.
II, with the less of weight, there Is a dis
position to sigh. a dark diseoloration be-
lon the eyes, and a quickened pulse, with
some he0t IN tho hands, set it down as
almost certain that the lungs are
affected. Still we have, in II few in
stances known persons TO gain flesh, dur
ing the whole of the first and second sta
ges of e~Onsumptiye disease, and that, too,
where the tubereles were rapidly under
going changes, which, if not arrested,
must soon have ended fatally. Strong
nourishment will sometimes improve the
weight of persons, who are hopelessly af-
fected, though the Increase in weight ex-
erts no beneficial influence on the disease
itself.
The irritation produced by tubercles,
even in the first stage, will sometimes give
rise to a sense of eAitliHess, followed by
Slight fersr, in the after part of the day.
PerspirafioH towards morning; but we do
not generally have hectic tcr0r and night
stseas until after the tubercles Begin TO
soften. As rule, when the third stage
commences, the patient feels chilly, as eve
ming approaches. AFTER he gets into
bed he discovers that his hands and feet
burn, or feel hot, and towards morning he
per$Ptre&- For a time the perspiration
is slight; but as the disease advances,
often becomes so profuse as to dreneh the
bed. About One in every ter escape
ssse0ts altogether, while fully tso
Of every three escape them, until after
the softsring Of the tIbereiss commences.
In young females irregularities almost
occur sooner or later, and often
is the frst and onlyseidense they have
Of disease. We examine the lungs, and
are surprised 10 lind them the seat Of
tubercles. Too frequently, in
such cases, strong medicines are given 10
restore the suspended function, and the
careless physician only discovers his cruel
when his administrations have
aggregated the pulmonary disease. The
are then attributed to the sup
preston, when in reality they ars the ea,las
'ehieh produced t. When anydoubt exists,
the proper course for a patient is to sub
nit the lungs to a careful examination by
a physician specially skilled IN pulmonary
eases. 1t would be too much to expect
.he medical attendant TO confess an error
IF diagnosis, and yet few are SO learned
experienced that they do not make
many mistakes in the early stage of OBJ
cure cases, and distinguishing between
'HrHtsnt bronchitis and tZbersuIoHs ulssra-
l0n Of the taHgs. Much of the mortality
'aused by consumption results from
he hesitation and delay in adopting
proper treatment ne the early stage.
And this evil will continue so long as the
men resist the division of medical
Practice into ~specialities. 1t is only 5y
ssetasjes attention to a class Of
DISEASES so iNfricate ard important rs those
I the Lungs, that the physician cGn asqgtre
experience essential to express dag
osis and SUCCESSFUL treatment. We mean :
% dispGragsmeHt Of our professional
schea zoe sag that the general prae-
hoioeeer skilLfVE, hos nSither time
or sufficient op~portanities to become q gooi
teeoseopist, and yet, while he continues to
eat consumption, the Tres Of his p%atiOrts .
ang UPON his skill IN this respect. The :
employed depend on the stage
nd form of the disease, and no physician
successfully treat a patient while he is
} doubt and uncertainty as to the nature
nd sDSent Of the P"lm0HGry Affections.
NoTE.-Drs. Hunter and Ramsey can
3 consulted either personally or by Iette,
their Office, No. % southwest corner Of
Ionument Square. On Monday next =
Ieir letter on the Durability of Con
Imption will appear in this paper. \
LEGAL NOTICES. I