Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-02-12
5isCgllangQM9.
SUNSHINE FOR THE CoNsUMP-
TIVE,

SUNSHINE FOR THE CoNsUMP-
TIVE.
We have been told by some consumptives
that one Of the best prescriptions we have
made has been their removal from a north
room to the sunny south chamber. As we
write, two cases come to mind suikingly H.
Illustrative of the suns benign influence. We
had been attending, at an orphan asylum,
girl about twelve years old, whohad been long
i'll Of severe typhoid fever. She was wholly
prostrated in mind and body, and emaciated
to tie last degree 1t was plain that she
was falling into that depressed condition OF
all the powers of life, that so often precedes
consumption. Day after day we visited
her, but all recuperative power seemed lost.
Half dead aad alive, the little creature
neither spoke nor moved, and ate only on
compulsion. One day on our way to visit
her. we felt that elastic thrill which the
warm rays of the sun imparts in the early
cool weather Of spring. We involuutarilly
leaped along, and we're instantly struck with
when we left behind US the sun light and
warmth Of the street and entered that
northern chamber, the dormitory of The poor
orphan, The inspiring influence the inva-
lid had never experienced in the slightest
degree during the whole OF her sickness, as
owing to its peculiar situation, not rag of
direct sunlight had ever entered the cham
ber We were shocked, ana for the first
time considered the depth Of her loss, and
our own remissness in regard to her. The
air of the room had been pure, the ceilings
Of the iD6rmary were lofty, the attendants
bad been faithful and sacacious. No.hing
seemed lacking, in fact, to restore health
Yet it did not come o. the contrary,
there seemed a constant downward tenden-
cy. A sunbath in the warm rays Of this
delicious spring day Is what the Eirl needs, -
we instantly said to the sister superior This
lady gladly consented to the change, and
placed the little patient in another room
| having a southern aspect, and consequently
filed with sunlight The invalid immedi
ately recognized the change, and asked, IN
her weak way to have the curtain raised,
so as to let in the full blaze of the light.
Soon she wanted to sit up, and directed that
the easy chair, in which she was propped,
should be placed so as to allow her whole
body below her face to be exposed to the direct
! rays Of the sun. Ii was the natural tenden
cy of disease seeking for all life renovating
influences. Aud we have never met With so
marked or so rapid improvement as imme-
diately began in the body and mind of the
girl. Appetite and strength increased daily,
and with them bar>t forth again all the joy
business Of the child 5 heart
Another analogous case, which, although
we do not demonstrate By It the influence of
the sun alone, we cannot forbear 10 name
because BY such examples we impress per
haps on the minds Of our readers the real
principles underlying the Ehole question.
A lady, aged about thirty resident in the
northern part of New England, consulted
us for undoubted tubercular disease Of the
| lungs Her house was well situated. and
on the side toward the south was small
piazza resting on stone steps, which was
raised two or three feet above the ground.
The winter was approaching aud rules were
70 be given. Having full faith in the d.
vine influences Of pure air and sunlight we
directed that she should sit out on this piaz-
"a every day during he winter, unless it
were too stormy. II was 50 arranged as to
shut out the cool air on three sides, and to
admit the full blaze of sunlight in front.
Here, according to cur directions, she used
10 sit, wrapped in furs, reading or writing,
for several hours each day during the follow
ing winter. aud with the most excel 'eut re
suits. She was directed frequently TO make
deep inspirations, in order to 81 the lungs
with pure air She was never chilled, be-
cause the suns rays and her wa,m clothing
prevented it, she never took cold there.
On The contrary, the balny influences ex,r
ted upon Der by her daily sun and air bath
were so grateful; her breathing became so