Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-24
DIR. JAMES
ON NJ

Gentlemen: However interesting the
study Of Consumption may be to physi-
clans themselves, the only matter Of any
interest or importance to the public is
involved in the question, Is COnsump-
ton durable? If not, why not? There
must be some good and sufficient reason
why this malady should form An excep-
ton to all other diseases. If it be cura-
bic then, by what means can cure be ac-
complished? / take it this is what the
public desire to know, and what the
physician should endeavor to explain.
If l entertained the opinion, general in
my profession, and almost universal
among the people, that Consumption is
beyond the skill of man to uprOOt, the
task Of explaining its treatment would
indeed be easily accomplished. It would
consist ia a mere enumeration of the diff
ferent remedies which have been
found most effeetual in palliating the
distressing symptoms which eharacterize
it-cOugh, pain, fever, perspiratiOns, &c,
for it may be truly said Of most physi-
clans, that they have striven to 0Se
the best means to mask the disease anu
make the patient comfortable, but the
very worst to egact his recovery. But,
believing as FHo that Consumtion is
durable, it becomes necessary to point
out with accuracy what / mean BY the
term Consumption.
The term " Consumption" was origin
ally applied to many diseases situated in
different organs, and having no symp-
toms in common, except the wasting or
emacistiOn of the body. They were
called consumptions because the body
consumed sway. This use OF the term
led to great confusion among writers, and
it was soon found necessary to designate
the kind OF consumption meant by pre-
fixing the name of the affected organ.
Lsennee, the great ~discOverer of the
StethOscope, in the course of his extern
sive researches into the pathology of the
lungs, found that small granular bodies
always exist in the lungs in genuine con- /
sumption. Those bodies are called tuber- 1
cles; and, since the time Of Laennec, the
term consumption q been restricted,
and understood to apply to a disease Of
the lungs characterized by their pres
ence. When, therefore, I4reak Of con-
sumption, l mean not oeiy q disease of
the lungs, but tubercubr disease. / am
particular that this shouS4 be understood; \
for the changes which these tubercles
undergo produce the destruction of the
lungs, and all that : 1aneholy train of
symptoms which mars the progress of
consumption, while theis 5eat-the air
tubes and cellsof the ungSIindicates the
treatment necessary for their removal.
The tubercles regulate the stage of the
disease by the changes which they IN
dergo. We say consumption is in its
first stage when the tubereles are small
specks or points of a grayish colOr-half
transparent. In this condition they re-
semble millet seed, and hence are called
military tubercles. This tubercular mat
ter is secreted from the blood. 1t is not
only poured out into the air-cells, and on
the free surface of the mucous lining Of
the air-tubes, but deposited ia the deli
structures which go TO make up the
lungs. Whatever interferes with de-
carbOnization OF the blood viii produce
tubercles. They are always the product
Of q defective performance of the func-
ton of the lungs. Cstarrh produces them
by inducing and feeding irritation in the !
and windpipe. Irritation in the /
and wiudpipe is always followed
by bronchitis. Bronchitis is always at -,
tended by the secretion of yiscid mucous
Dr. phlegm, which blocks up the air-tubes 5
and prevents the admission of air. The 5
moment the air Is shut off from acluster Of
a~ir-cells, these cells become the center of
imperfect earbonization, and sooner or
thACL vi 0CLOl8G ~llEGItAlJuE. HAr4- / -
hen, you see q chain of irritation Begin
hing in a simple catarrh, and ending ia +
consumption. II is not the irritation
hat produces the tubercles-for irritation 9
u any other organ than the lungs would "
lot be followed by their DEVELOPMENT
it Is tine obstruction which the viscid
mucous causes ia the air-tubes. The v
iawking up of this sticky kind OF mu- n
Gus msy be the only symptom of con Q,
1mption in the first stage. From this
will understand what a fatal mistake
hose make who wait for more serious G
ymptOms 10 arise. se
In the second stage Of consumption the
lbercles become much increased in size
0 the first they were OF the size Of y
lillet-seed they have now become OF II
yes varying from 8 small pea 10 a IA,
bert. They have also undergone a &,
In color-from pearl gray to vel =
W. When taken from the lungs oFl
.Fsons who have died, and pressed be- n,
the fingers, they break down inst :,
ke humps Of old cheese. These chsesv 0'
ibercles, from their size, increase the
,structiOn to the lungs, causing short M
- Of breath, and, generally, q consid- On
able addition TO the cough and expec- 81,
20
AaeAhss ssaS0Oi consumption IS caused
these cheesy tubercles becoming soft m,
led down into pns, and by their pro- -.
icing liberation Of the substance of the 81
ngs. When the process of liberation 50
mmenees, we have ali the worst symp-
inaugursted-hectic feyer-niOhf 4,
'eats-spitting Of bloOd-loss of fesh
"a strength-and pleuratic mains Ao
aese, by slow degrees. wear out fbe :
'wers Of life, and the patient sipks Ia,
Here, then, yon have an Outline Of !.
at disease 70 which We apply the term SCI
=
JAMES HUNTER. n. ia
Memphis, Tenn, March Is, l&S.
no b c~oNTLSpEol .