Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-08-14
Letter No I

y
its Symptoms acd Prerention. B,
DR.. Morse,
To the Editor Of the Ellsworth American
Dear Sir The quiver OF death has no ar.
row 60 fatal as Consumption, In all the
history Of the past it has been the great cst
foe Of human life.
Tubercular Phthisis--or az it is more
commonly called consumption has, from
time immemorial, been regarded as one oil
the most fatal maildics which the practi-
TONER Of medicine has been called upon tc
encounter.
1t is therefore subject of infinite i'm
portance. not only to tho medical man, tu
an individual, but whole cities. countries
and nations are more or less deeply con-
cerned.
Much has been said of the cases which
prcdispose to tubercular disease. By many,
this disease has been regarded solely OF
hereditary origin deposition ef tubercular
matter in the lungs has been attributed to
a morbid or faulty condition Of the blood
This is certainly an important considera-
ton, our most serious attention. That
predisposition can be trans
mitted from parent to offspring. no one at
all familiar with the history of tubercular
disease will attempt to deny. But I am full
ly persuaded that too much Importance has
been attached to an improper or vitiated
state of the blood. while the causes which
have produced it have almost, if not entire
ly. been lost sigh: of,
Now it is we'll known to all who have
given this subject much reflection, that
whenever there exists any obstruction in
the pipes or air cells of the lungs, so as
not to admta due supply Of oxygen into
them, the blood becomes cha nged il,
Iuality. The carbon,instead of being ex
PEELED by uniting with the oxygen taken
into the lungs. flows on, carrying its poi
'onous aud deadly influences to every par,
Of the system. the consequences are tha,
the blood loses its life giving principal; the
-ed globulcs are diminished; while the
amount of albumen and fibrinc in the bloot
are found to be increased. It may be oh
served that It'll, a we'll established prin
ciple in the human economy. that so long
as the oxygen We breathe is in due pro por-
ton to excess Of carbon in our system, til,
blood must remain pure and nourishing
and neither scrofula nor consumption Car
originate in such a condition.
But when this equilibrium is dissurhe i
by diminishing the supply ofpurc air int'
the lungs, the vitality and energy OF the
whole system is soou impaired, and tbs
peculiar state of the vital functi ons cliar
actcrized by the name Of scrofnla. or tub
ercultOus cacheXa. is the invariable result
The weakened vital p over being now nj
longer able to preserve the living solids
against the destructive agency Of tn
oxygen. rapid wasting Of the muscles an'
various tissues of the body takes place
We are tod that tu'sercuiar disease ia
secondary affection, aud we have showl
that one of the principal causes which su
pcrinduce this state of the system is a de-
ficicnt supply of pure air. causing an in
perfectly oxydized state OF the blood.
In nearly every case where tubercles cx
ist in the lungs. we find that Catarrl
Sore Throat or Bronchitis preceded then
These are generally caused by colds. A
catarrhal affections. whether of the nost
throat or lungs, produce Mickening Of til
mucous membrane and more or less secrt
ton of mucous. These tend to diminis
the size of the air tubes through which til
air passes to the lungs. and az conse
quence. diminish the quantity of air rece,,
ed at each breath. The quantity of al
being diminished from the lungs. the hloo
becomes vitiated or carbonaoeous. VIZ ic
induces formation Of tuberclcs
Cases come under nry observation al
most daily. where the consumptive ha
been under the kind care of the fan,i
physician for some time, who has dol
every thing in his power to restore hi
by the old method Of putting medicine i:
to the stomc ch.
Let me here caution those who ha,
consumption or any Of its SYMPTOMS, f'
their own benefit. safety. and comfort.
never make a drug shop Of the stomach,
tha less medicine you swallow the bette
Our treatment by inhalation is at a
times safe, and unattended with the lea
unplcasantncss, or Inconvenience n,
while We convey our remedies into d
lungs in the most direct manner, we avo
all the unnecessary and disastrous cons,
quences so frequently resulting from L
unnecessary action of drugs upon tt
stomach. The whole tendency Of ii,
method Of treatment, instead Of wcake,
ing aud facilitating. as under the ordin
ry modes. is to invigorate. give tone. a'
impart new life and energy to every pa
Of the system.
What can he more ational. more sir
pie and efiicacious. than tho treatment
consumption hy Mhatation? since. in Il
manner We breathe common air, we c,
inhale or brea the medicated vaw