Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-09

puckered, attested the healthy clos
ing of two, and even three, large
tuborcular cavities. Few are aware
how much the prevention, and even
the cure Of this dread disease de-
peuds upon their own efforts. An emf
nent American physician has recently
declared that, with proper precautions,
! by any one now in health, consumption
will be well nigh on impossibiliiy, even
though hereditary influences may pre-
dispose him TO it, and that even those who
are already under its grasp may have
hope OF arresting its ravages. The plain
and simple principle, which in this case
is the essence OF all-wiee treatment, is to
raise the physical system to the highest
possible vigor. In company with this
one of the best curatives aud preven-
,ives is to expand and strengthen the
lungs themselves by deep inspirations or
breathing in of pure air. These inspira.
tiops should be made as slowly as pos
sibIe through a small tube, or with the
mouth nearly closed, and with
| shoulders thrown back and dawn
ward. When the lungs or chest
, are filled, the air should be as
slowly and gradually breathed out BY
continual practice it will be found easy to
take long and deep inspirations, and the
, chest itself will become permanently ex'
{ panded, so as to give the lungs fuller
/ play. Where strength has begun to de-
cline, of course the efforts must be pro-
portionably milder. AS the air at first
enters the lower part of the lungs it only
! ills the apex after long and sustained
| effort, and hence the necessity OF making
the inspiration as slow as possible. Six
times day in the open air is not too
much for this exercise. Indeed, the
great advantage of mild or dry climates
to consumptives is the possibility OF
passing so much of the time out of doers:
Much is justly said of the pure and
bracing air of Minnesota, but those who
90 there for lung diseases should remem-
ber that only as they breathe the pure
outside air habituslly can it prove benefi-
cial A lady with tubercular deposits and
severe cough went there some time since,
and month spent in the ordinary way
brought her no improvement. She then
Joined q camping party of ladies and
gentlemen, who started in an open wagon
and slept in tents at night. After three
days' exposure to this open air she man
ifestly improved, and, though frequently
exposed in the evening, took no cold.
| The continuance of this mode of life re-
stored her health and 80 strengthened
her constitution that in two months she
! could sleep with impunity while the air
was blowing freely across her. Many
similar, aud even more remarkable in
stances took place among the young men
/ of our army in the late war, many of
whom enlisted against the advice of their
/ friends, and returned with greatly i'm
proved physical constitutions The ex-
ercise thus induced is most essential to
, the desired end.
Abundance of nutritious and whole
some food, including fatty articles, is es-
sential in the arrest of consumption.
Most of those who have such tendencies
reject fat meat, but its place may be sup
piled with butter milk or cream. Re-
striction in diet in these cases is highly
Injurious. The dress is also a matter
bearing strongly on the health Of the
lungs. Wooden fabrics worn next the
skin, and warm covering for the extremi-
ties are all important. So also is the
shape of the garment, which should al
low full play to the muscles. Relief from
care and anxiety, as far as it can be Sc
cured, is important. but even where this
is impossible, attention to the other requi-
sites, so simple as to be within the power
of every intelligent person, will iu many
cases prevent and in most incipient cases
arrest the progress of this most distress
ing of all malades.-Phila Ledger.