Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-09
DIR. HUNTER
On the Prevalence and Importance
of Pulmonary Diseases.

On the Prevalence and Importance
of Pulmonary Diseases.
To THE EDITORS OF THE NASHVILLE
! UNION AND Observation-Disclosures In
| laboring as l have done for years to bring
! about a reform in the treatment of the dis
eases of the Nose, Throat and Lungs, have
| received great encouragement from the press,
through whose columns l have freely and
| plainly discussed my views, and my efforts
have been fully recognized by large num-
Der of the medical profession, as we'll as
the public. have published in the prin-
cipal Eastern, Western and Southern jour
mails, series of popular letters on the ma
ture, causes, symptoms and general princi-
piles of Treatment, as well as the most
effectual means of prevention of diseases
ofthe Respiratory Organs, giving and eluci-
datiOn of INDICATED INHALATION as an
auxiliary remedial agency in their treat
ment.
Having located myselfin this city, for
short time, | propose, byyour permission, to
republish them in your valuable journal.
These letters will probably aid the afflicted
in understanding their true condition, and
enable them to judge intelligently for them
selves between the absurd practice OF treating
local diseases Of the nose, throat and lungs,
exclusively through the stomach, and the
more rational method of applying the
remedies directly to the diseased parts.
1t is gratifying to me to observe much
change in the treatment of this class of dis
eases by the more general resort 10 medi-
Gated inhalations, which are now prescribed
by many of the first physicians in this
country. In Europe the ball OF therapeu-
teal progress was kept in motion for many
years by few earnest, liberalminded and
scientific members of the profession, and
after years of close observation, unremit-
ting toll and experimentative investigation,
the results of their labors excited that in
terest which led to the elicitation of the
following verdict from the Medical Com
gress assembled at Lyons, France, in Sep
TENDER, 1864, Established by undoubted
facts the durability of pulmonary phthisis,"
Consumption and the correspondent of
the London Lancet remarks that upon
this head all the orators Of the day were of
one mind"
| would not say anything calculated to
raise and establish false hopes in the minds
of those who are beyond the help of any
remedy that is not a miracle, or any hand
that is not omnipotent But wish to dis
sipate the antiquated idea of its incurability
in any and all stages, and awaken sense
of the fatal prevalence and importance of
those minor affections, such as Catarrh,
Sore Throat, Bronchitis, etc., which pro-
duee consumption in four cases out of five,
and foster the disease in the lungs after il
has been established Remedy the former
and you avoid the latter. If not, they will
i,alxy o,,I -
rows sun will rise and set.
There is scarcely household in this city
that has not been shrouded in mourning by
the visitation of this insidious enemy,
which is constantly selecting its victims
from the most talented, interesting and
useful members of society, and, taking the
published bills of mortality as a guide, |
may safely affirm that fully one-fourth of
the people of this country are prematurely
cut off by consumption and its cognates.
The old routine of treatment has signally
failed, and physicians, judging from their
own experience, proclaim the disease in
durable. But the physician prescribes and
the patient swallows until "hope deferred |
maketh the heart SICK" when, having lost
all confidence, he probably becomes the
prey of some nostrum vender, until the
sands of life have run out and he sinks |
into an early grave.
The wide publicity which these letters
received in the city of New York, on the |
causes and proper treatment of Consump- |
ton, at length fully opened the eyes of the |
people to the terrible and fatal errors of |
the practice through which they and their |
friends had been steadily going down to |
the graves of consumptiyes. The effect |
was to cut off pretty generally the whole |
sale use of nostrums for the stomach, aud |
to turn The attention of both physicians |
and patients to Inhalation as the only ra-
tionai method of treatment What was the |
In a few years from the |
of the system into the city by |
DR.. Robert Hunter, an expose of the old |
fallacies, the mortality from consumption |
had diminished thirty per cent.
The proof is ample as to the potency of |
the practice have so extensively advoca- |
ted in subduing and eradicating pulmonary
disease, where complete disorganization has |
not already destroyed the vitality of the |
system. And it is now generally conceded |
that this practice of inhalation is destined |
to fill that fearful blank in medical practice |
with which, like an interminable gulf, my |
riads have sunk before the eyes of their |
friends, The profession and the world.
Invariably find that my best patients are
those who are best informed, particularly |
on the nature and causes of their disease. L |
am greatly aided in the treatment of any
case, by intelligence on the part Of my pa
tient. As all my directions and treatment |
are rational and logical, desire to see them
attended to in rational manner, using
adequate means for the attainment of de- |
sirable results.
My next letter will be on CATARRH, in
which l shall show that this disease is not
only more prevalent than is generally be-
lieved, but one of the most fruitful causes
of consumption.
JAMES A. HUNTER, M. D.,
Oct. s, 1867. st. Cloud Hotel.
NoTE.-Dr. Hunter can be consulted at |
his reception rooms, &c" st. Cloud Hotel,
on all diseases of the Nose, Throat, Lungs
and Heart embracing Catarrh, Sore Throat,
Bronchitis, Asthmas, Consumption and
III part factions