The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-11-11
How Consumption MAY be
Cured.

A medical correspondent, who is
contributing q series of valuable
papers to the Hearth and Home, has
in one of the latest numbers Of that
journal the following:
The first announcement to pa
tient that be or she has consumption,
is often like a death-knoll. The va
cant stare, the pale cheek, and the
convulsive sigh, indicate shock of
most profound character. Indeed, /
have known persons to swoon away,
and require tho most active exertions
to restore them. And yet it is not
true that consumption is necessarily
a fatal disease. In point of fact, it is
not as fatal as many diseases which
prevail in every community, and yet
excite no remark. Consumption re-
suits from a perverted nutrition. In
stead of that perfect assimilation es-
sential to sound health, there is an
imperfect elaboration of the nutritive
fluids, which leads, by infammatOry ac-
ton or other processes, to the deposi-
ton in the lungs and other tissues of
crude material known as tubercle.-
Persons predisposed to consumption,
living under circumstances which
lower the vital energies, and prevent
the nutritive processes. are tthi00ss5 in
whom this affection most frequently
appears. It follows that there is no
specific for consumption. 1t is not
durable by medicines; on the contra
ry, its fatal issue is more often has
tened by medication.
For the encouragement of patients,
and to illustrate the course of life most
likely to restore vigorous health, n
condition incompatible with con
sumption, l usually relate cases that
have come under my observation
The following is one example among
many:
ga young medical friend, having
a hereditary tendency to consump-
ton, began to realize the first we'll
marked symptoms. 1t progressed
rapidly toward a fatal termination
The cough, emaclation, ,and hectic flush
betrayed his condition to the most
superficial observer. Alarmed at bis
condition, hut dreading to yield to
the conviction of his friends that he
was a victim of this disease, he refus-
ed to be examined, or even to talk on
the subject. At length he became so
weak and prostrated that he consent
ed to have his lungs examined, and
on the announcement of the physi-
clan that they contained large cavi-
ties, he tainted, and rallied with great
difficulty. Aroused to a pitch Of des-
peration, he determined that he
would not lie down and die, but wonld
betake himself to outdoor life. He
accordingly spent his entire day in
horseback riding, saving wood, boat
rowing, etc. At night he slept on a
| hard bed in an clubhouse through
which the wind had full play. His
diet was plain, and but little cooked;
his clothing coarse and scant. That
physician is to-day practising his pro
fession in a New England town; be
is upward of forty-fvo years of age,
and weighs about two hundred
pounds. A finer specimen of health
is not seen in New England"
Recovery from the latest stage of
consumption is therefore possible
The following outline of the course Of
life to pursue is given:
Live in the open air and sunshine
avoid dampness and darkness in your
dwellings; if possible, choose a dry
mountain region; develop by vigorous
exercise every muscle in the body tc
its fullest capacity; select nourishing
and easily digested food, and be sure
that it is not over-cooked; dress in
coarse woolen clothing; batho fol
cleanliness and comfort; never forci
bly distend the lungs, but increase
their capacity by exercise; and finally
take no medicines except as aids OIL
additions to the course Of life recon-
i mended.