The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-23
Nests of Consumption.
BY DR.. HENRY 1. BOwDITCH.

BY DR.. HENRY I. B0WDITCH.
We know of two families in Massa-
chusetts of whom the following story
may be told. Two healthy brothers mar
ried two healthy sisters. Both had large
families of children. One lived on the
old homestead, on the southern slope of
one of the numerous beautiful and we'll
drained hills in that vicinity. The whole
house was bathed all day long in sun
light, and consumption did not touch any
of the young lives under its roof. The
other brother placed his house at very
short distance off, but upon grassy
plain, covered all summer with the rank
est verdure. In its front was large
open "common. In the centre of this,
water oozed up from between the split
hoofs of the cows, as they came lowing
homeward at evening, and the barefooted
boy who was driving them used to shrink
from the place, and preferred to make
the circuit Of its edge rather than to fol-
low the lead of his more quiet comrades.
Back of the house was large level
meadow, reaching to the very founda-
tions of the building. Through this
meadow sluggishly crept the millstream
Ct the adjacent village. Still further,
all three surroundings were enclosed by
lofty hills. The life-giving sun rose later
and set earlier upon this than upon the
other fair homestead. Till late in the
forenoon. and long before sunset left the
hillside home. damp and chilling emana.
tons arose from the meadow, and day
after day enveloped the tender forms of the
children that were trying IN yain to grOw
up healthily within them. But all effort
was useless. Large families were born
under both roofs. Not one of the chill,
dren born in the latter homestead es-
capped. whereas the other family remained
healthy and when, at the suggestion of
a medical friend who knew all the facts
we have told, we visited the place for the
purpose of thoroughly investigating them,
we thought that these two houses were
a terrible significant illustration Of the
existence of this all-powerful law. Yet
these two homes had nothing peculiarly
noticeable by the passing stranger
They were situated in the same township
and within very short distance one
from the other, and scarcely any one in
the village with whom we spoke on the
subject agreed with us in our opinion
that it was location alone, or chiefly that,
which gave life or death to the inmates
of the two.
We might speak of other homesteads
which seem to US now to be the very nests
of consumption in consequence of this
law, and YET not one parent in hundred
acknowledges even theoretically his be-
lief in the truth of our assertion. Pa
rents themselves, during long residence,
may escape from the dire influences of
location; and therefore they imagine, if
their children are falling, that some other
evil agency is at work, rather than this
law.
Illustrative of this error on the part
of parents, we cannot forbear relating
the following fact. We know of house
situated about foot above and just on
the edge of a small lake. The cellar, if
there be ore, must be below the level of
the water The house, built with taste,
nestles amid over-hanging thickly leaved