The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-19

causes. If pulmonary tuberculosis was the
offspring of pneumonitis then cold might
be regarded its primary cause; for this dis
order is more frequently produced by cold
than any other cause. Tubercle is not the
product of inflammation: it is q degenerated
material eliminated from the blood, having
physical and microscopical elements speci6.
caily its own. We are willing, however, to
admit, that when tubercles have been exuded
into the pulmonary tissues, they may be de-
veloped more speedily by undue exposure to
cold, and the inflammation which often super
venes. Indeed it is still an open question,
whether persons who have suffered from
pneumonitis, are more subject to pulmonary
tuberculosis than others. From my own
observation would say that they were not.
That cold is not primary cause OF tuber-
culosis may also be inferred from the fact,
that it is not so common in cold countries as
warm. Thus at Stockholm, the capital OF
Sweden, sixty persons out of a thousand die
with phthisis. At st. Peterburg, sixty-six
in the same number These cities are in the
northern cline where the winters are ex-
tremely cold At London and Paris about
two hundred and thirty-six die in thousand
The climate of these two cities Is temperate.
In the city of New York and Philadelphia
the mortality from the disease is o fraction
less than two hundred in q thousand. The
climate Of these cities is changeable, but
for the most part cold. In nearly all the
southern cities Of this country, particularly
those situated on the Atlantic coast, phthsis
causes about one fifth of the mortality. In
the West Indies, where the climate is very
warm, tuberculosis is very common, constitu-
ting large mortality, especially among the
| hale ~ ,ha,, 20 iii
with this disorder. In the East Indies con-
siderable numbers fall victims to this wasting
malady. AT the extreme north, ac4 4ording
to DIR. K Kane phthisis Is almost unknown.
IT, then. this disease originated from cold,
we would naturally expect to find it more
frequent in northern than southern climeS -
More frequent at Stockholm and ST. Peters.
burg, than 10 Paris, London or New York.
More common in the latter places than in
many of our southern cities; but such is not
the case Locality has more to do with the
production of this disease than temperature.
This has been clearly demonstrated by the
researches of DR.. Henry l Bowdich Of
Boston In his address delivered before the
Massachusetts Medical Society, May 28,
1862, on Consumption iu New England, or,
Locality one of its Chief Causes, he main
taius the following proposition:
list. A residence on or near damp soil,
whether that dampuess be inherent in the
soil itself or caused by presolation from ad-
iacent ponds, rivers meadows or springs, is
one of the principle causes of consumption
il. Massachusetts, probably in New England,
aud possibly in other portions of the globe.
"2d. Consumption can be checked in its
career, and possibly, nag probably, prevent
ed in some instances by attending to this
law"
DR.. Bowdich has produced large mass Of
evidence to prove these propositions. 1t is
testimony gathered from his own experience
aud large number of physicians, in the
State of Massachusetts, engaged in the active
duties Of their vocation. With few excep-
tions, they all bear testimony to the fact,
that in certain localities the inhabitants are
more obnoxious to phthisis than in others,
and that those places are commonly very
damp. Indeed it has been proved years ago
by the mortuary statistics of the United
.tates army, that the deaths from pbthisis
at maritime statious are more than double
what they are further inland, ard all places
surrounded by water, orvalleys made verdant
by flowing streams, are more roductve OF
this scourge Of Humanity than dry mountain
GUS regions.
But must confess, from my own observa-
ton, that change OF climate or locality has
very little influence iC mitigating or retar-
ding confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis; and
that those individuals who are seeking a
remedy from these sources alone, are pursu-
| ing phantom. am we'll satisfied, that we
freqenty make great mistake, in ordering
our phthisical patients from all the comforts
Of home, and kind friends, to a new and un-
tried locality and climate. have met with
many Instances where it had a very unfavOr-
able influence upon the successful treatment
of the malady In most cases the invalid
expects to derive some specific virtues from
the locality or climate. He, therefore,
quietly seats himself down, discards or
neglects other efficient therapeutcal meas
ures, and waits for the coveted blessing -
But it never comes, and cannot. without the
diligent employment OF such medical agen
cies as are known to have an influence IN
correcting the tubercular diathesis, and the
arresting the local lesion No matter how
favorable the local and climatic advantages,
the latter must not be neglected, if the
disease is in any way mitigated or success
| fully treated