The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-04-01
tDS~I CAUSE AND PRE-.
VENTION


In the January, February and March num-
bets of the Atlantic Monthly, Prof. II. l. Bow
l..h of Boston, gives some excellent artices
r his most important ubject-"Consump-
.au in America which all should read but
.. all will not, we will give it such wider pub
Hfiy as our limited space permits.
Ur. Bowditch states from reliable statistics,
Vaat truly may he affirmed of Maine, especial
3t this part of it, that this scourge cat pres
eui Kills about one quarter of all who die an
1ualy in Massachusetts, :" and that it is much
more frequent than formerly.
Among the various causes of consumption,
he assigns damp soil" as the greatest; fact
which our own experience well corroborates.
Whole families residing in undrained, wet To-
rllites, have, we know been swept off from
this cause, one after another, as with the be-
-on of destruction. Both in this country and
ia Europe, public bodies have sent out COM
nttees To investigate the causes of this dis
eASe, who report ''soil moisture" the chief
How important, then, as value health and
ltc that in Sc lecting the place for our hapita-
ton we should select one free as possible from
,lagnAut water, and use ali the means that
Ience and art can devise to effect good drain
asc. even in favorable localities. For elevated
sizes are hot always dry ones; some of the
wettest cellars and adjacent grounds are often
und on them where the ground is springy
md uudrained.
Is consumption contagious? Can one per-
-}u communicate 1t to another? as measles or
~aHl poX is done, This is a highly important
4Iesti0n, and one on which the medical profess
-ou is not well agreed. DR.. b. has reviewed
arguments and authorities on both sides OF
and fnds that the balance of their teaching,
Niii As that Of his own professional expert
.uec, go in favor OF the idea that this fell dis
lA>e, in Il restricted sense, is contagious an
Ipiuiun in which a third of Il century's eXpe-
usuce has made TO fully believe. Very
many eases have We known where Well per-
NJ and not particularly predisposed to it,
>leeping with, OF too closely attendant upon,
coasumptlve patient, having soon, in the
-4ne way followed the first victim. And so
Ae always warn against this danger; Il warn
~ which, if needed, would save, we doubt
.li, many valuable life.
The influence of the different trades and pro-
N>2lohs as causes of consumption, is well
~4own by Dr.. b. All those which cause vari-
ols kinds of dust to be inhaled into the lungs;
dose which cramp and contract the chest, as
WNh shoemakers, seamsiresses, students,
Jerks, &C. those which expose to cold and
lamp; those which fail 10 supply good air free
lyj-lhese are anon. it's fruitful causes
Want OF Sunlight, OF Pure Air, of Good Food
atIlI Ard
agencies in the production of this disease.
Ills remarks on sunlight, as preventive
and curer Of disease, should be read and treat
ed A. il thus saith the Lord" by every house
he'd in HE land. For who does not see, right
before their eyes, every flower and vegetable
s.eheh aDd Gle when not exposed, more or less,
10 direct sunlight: Yet in most homes, with
Wlal care are its life giving beams shut out
rom The human being--of more value than
many vegetables, and needing those beams still
more than they ,SaUe y0Ur carpets md furniture
nut lose your Ate this is the terrible price you
pay And not less essential are pure air, and
plain, substantial food such as the open fire.
place, and "the homely fare Of the last gen
Grafton afforded Note, the effort is to have
4lf-tisht houses; ana if, by chance, breath OF
pure air steals in, 10 have il instantly poisoned
by noXious gases from close stoves and fur
naces- Is it strange, under such circum-
stances, if consumption is both on tie increase,
aud Is ncurable?
consumption literally means want of
proper nutrition" Whatever, therefore, Wheth-
er want or fashion, withholds proper food from
lhe system is among its great causes. Bad
bread and worse butter; two or three kinds of
rich cakes and pies at the same meal-all eaten
on the run, without proper mastication,-
these indigestion producing agencies, Dr. B.
places high among the causes of this destroy
tr. A not less one is
insufficient or imperfect clothing" The
tight lacing and thin shoes Of few years ago
We're fearful Influences and to- day, the INSULT
Gent clothing of young ladies returning the
blood all agow, from the excitement of the
ballroom, sends how many to the consump-
tiyes grave. And, we will add, the reckless
way in which older women, in putting out
clothes, expose themselves, all reeking with
HE heat and steam of TIE waShroom, sends
countless numbers to the same end
Our bad system Of education; school houses
,
means for securing that highest and best idea
"a all educaton-a sound mind in sound body
this, and Mental Emotions and Depressing Pas
siOns among the last but not least, causes
which Prof. B. assigns for consumption. While
hc thinks, under certain conditions the tenn
perate use OF ardent spirits may sometimes be
beneficial, ,-''the abuse of liquor-the good run
Ma3"-Oyer stimulating and otherwise derang-
ing Che internal organs, is d frequent cause OF
consumption, are all the passions both OF
body and mind, when unduly aroused and in
dulged.
SO, for eradcatng, or even lessening con-
sumption, DIR. Bowdtch insists the true means
are avoiding these causes of it. Select dry
sites for towns and dwellings, and make these
drier by good drainage. Erect the tenements
with good open chimneys and fire. places, and
All the means for perfect ventilation; free sun
shlhe to be let in, and so not too much dark
and damp shrubbery near; frequent bathing
suitable clothing; proper exercise, avodina
both over and under action; for the BODY ane
the mind, according to their age and condition