The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-02-06
DIR. JAMES HUNTER,
(LATE or NAV YORK CITY,
On Pulmonary Consumption.

0h. JhIuAAo iiONAEhi
(LATE or INV YORK ciTY)
On Pulmonary Consumption.
TO The Editors Of The jackson Clarion:
SIRs--In my last letter concluded my OBJ
servations on diseases of the nose, throat
larynx and bronchial tubes, and Low come
to speak Of pulmonary consumption, that
dread malady in which these affections in
variably end, If neglected OF not properly
| treated. Consumption is the most fatal dis
ease in the long catalogue of bodily affec-
ti0ns, aud hence appeals more strongly than
any other to the physician for the interven.
tion of his art. No period Of life is exempt
from this scourge II occurs at all ages, and
is constantly selecting its victims from the
most talented, interesting and useful men,
beers of the community.
In this, and, indeed, in all countries lying
in the temperate zone, II causes one death in
every four which result from disease The
deep interest and great Importance of eve
rything which promises TO mitigate its raw
ages cannot, therefore, be overestimated.--
The weekly bills of mortality point us to
the startling fact that, of those who have
passed the age of puberty, fully one in every
three persons we meet in the great thor
oughfares Of business and pleasure, Is under
the ban of this terrible disease, and destined
to fall q sacrifice to ii, unless saved through
the prompt adoption of more rational means
of prevention than any usually employed
No man, however strong of constitution, is
proof against its silent and treacherous APP
prOaches.
In this and subsequent letters shall ex-
plain every thing on which it is necessary for
the public to be informed regarding the ma
tare and theory of this disease-the causes
sal
approach may be known; the several stages
and forms it assumes; the ages, classes and
catliags most predsposed to 1t; and lastly,
those principles of practice which, If adopt
ed In time, and faithfully employed, will
lead to lis prevention when not yet 5estab-
lished, and, when 1t is, to its successful treat
ment
CONSUMPTION is caused by tubercles in
the lungs. For a long time the term con-
sumption was applied Unfortunately to
all diseases of obscure nature, attended by
wasting or emaciation of the body They
were called consumption because the body
slowly consumed away. When the study of
pathological anatomy-that is to say, the |
anatomy of the organs in disease became |
more general, IL was soon discovered that |
disease of the lungs was more frequently the |
cause of wasting than all other chronic dis |
eases combined and hence from this time |
consumption of the lungs attracted more at
tention, and in the course of tine, the APP
plication of the term was limited to pulmo-
nary disease alone When, therefore, use
the term consumption, wish the reader to
that mean not only disease of
the lungs, but d particular kind of disease,
by the deposition of tubercles
In their substance.
TUBERCLEs are little granular bodies de-
posted from the blood. They are most fire.
luently located beneath the mucous men,
Crane Of the ATTITUDES, but they are also de-
oosited in the air-cells, and on the free sur
ace of the mucous membrane. When they
IRE formed on the mucous membrane Of the
lir-tubes, it is not uncommon for small par
icles to become detached and expectorated
~ the patient long before any liberation
las taken place in the lung Tubercles are
ound in three different stages. In the first,
hey are grayish, half-transparent, and feel
irm and rough when the finger is passed
'ver them. 9s
They vary in size from a millet-seed to
omnOn pea, and are known In medical par
ance by the name of military tubercles In
his stage they cause very little disturbance
4 the system. All we ordinarily find is
hat the breathing is slightly shortened, and {
erhaps there is q disposition to hack and I
lear the the throat frequently, but beyond
hese indications the patient has no warning
what going on in the lungs.
second Stdg6--The military tubercle5 in I
rease in size by the accretion of fresh par /;
cIes thrown off from time to time by the
!ood, and also undergo change in color.
hey were in the first stage halftranspa- a
mt; they are now Opaque, and becoming g
allow. III we cut through a portion Of the !
ing in which tubercles in the second stage
1ist, we find it studded here and there G
18th what looks precisely like Jumps of 8
reese. You can separate these, and they 4
reak down between the fingers just like bits !,
old cheese. In size, tubercles in the sec
I'd stage vary from pea to filbert, but it
also common to find here and there o tu- r
'rcle of much larger size Ii there are a a
eat many tubercles, there will be a good !,
sal of shortness of breath or secretion, and :
me loss of flesh. Tubercles cause short o
US Of breath by closing the air-tubes and :
lis Of the part Of the lung in which they
Q situated There may also be cough and !,
ucous expectoration arising from the irri- "
ti0n they produce.
Third Stage Having reached the stage of A
eesy, or crude tubercle, the disease may q,
main stationary for weeks, months, or even
airs, awaiting sufficient exciting cause
carry it on to the last change. Sooner or tt
ter the pressure and irritation produced p
the tuberculOus matter, or fresh cold al
SN1ONo
sues, and the whole breaks down, forming
ulcerous excavation, or cavity, in the
TT of the lung diseased. The matter or b,
IS formed by the destruction of the walls =
the air-tnbes and cells and by the sof-
ned tubercle, is poured out into the bron-
lal tubes and coughed up and expect0ra- -
!. As all the tubercles are not formed at
Q same time, but in successive crops, so
ftening does not take place in all at the
mas fr.aa fk.. Act Il. l. -. l.an
n caused by the liberation and breaking
wn of part Of the lungs has passed, e
Improvement takes place in the (
nptoms, and the patient naturally thinks
is getting well but soon a second crop of
bercles softens and then part of the lung
1aks down. This successive softening,
lowed by temporary amendment. slowly
{ surely, undermines the strength of the W
item. As soon as the first softening of the
Dercle takes place, we have all the worst
nptoms nauguFated-hetic fever, night oc
eats, increase of cough, profuse pnrulent NJ
pectoratiOn, loss Of flesh and strength, etc. -
such is q brief outline of what takes place
the lungs IN the three stages of Consump- I'll
n. Before death takes place, a considera-
portion of one lung becomes destroyed,
usually the other affected. Sometimes
eral distinct cavities exist in the same
g, but it is more common for the inter- %
ling tissues TO become obliterated, and
several small cavities to unite and form
, large excavation.
TO BE CONTINUED.
JAMES HUNTER N. D.. /
No. 217, Second Street, Memphis, Tenn. o
february LIST, 1867. Il
IoTE.-Dr Hunter visits Memphis, previ- DG
TO his return TO the east, at the earnest i
citation Of numerous parties residing in
} section OF country. Those who desire -