New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-12
DIR. Il. HUNTER
on DISEASES OF THE LUNGS.

Poets and Dovsists hsvs described Consumption
As a disease of little sutfering-one in which the
victim fades slowly away without pain OF body, and
around him, like the whitening Hover, an atrnos-
phere of sweetness But alas is but fiction,
and, in this instance, not trus to nature. The mis-
cradle sensations produced by the chis during tho
day, and the deathEk prostratien which follows
perspiratop at night; the haFrassing cough and diff
fcu!t expectoratlon tine torturing pains the
chest and ever-present sense of oppressed breath
ing; the exhaustion produced by diarrhes: the dis
appointed hopes, and melancholy conviction that
their disease generally regarded as hopeiess-these
agony which is not surpassed by any other disease
n The sad catalogue to which our tlesh Is heir.
Then too, must still add the otfcious interior
encs of misau ded friends who ever ringing in
th cir the kuel their doom, 10 rob them,
were. oteven the con5olatton OF nope
Such is consumption, stripped OF all fancy, when
it has reached on1rmed stage, and in this pitt
able way one fifth OF he human race perish Surely
il is the duty OF every conscientious physician do
all that lays in mis- power to guard the p1bc from
this sc5urge by warning them of its earliest syrnp
too late 1t was with this pa pose that began the
publication of this series of letters and now wish
showing that they are those of the most learned and
experienced physicians throughout the world.
Ignorant and inexperienced practitioners in
the habit OF treating with levity symptoms. which
should excite the gravest apDrehensions for the
health ofthe e., lungs Take: for example. splitting
from the throat Morning cough and Short mess OF
breath are produced ~ little fresh cold. Loss
of itssh is caused BY dyspepsia Pain in the chest
is merely pleur;sy, Oh neuralgia of the walls. and
80 on. Every hing Is proposed. until deception 10
70 longer possible and he truth stares them in
face. When they have robbed the patient, through
their ignorance, of proper treatment, and the dis
ease is too firmly established TO be arrested by
human skill. they awaken to the TACT:
Let me. by Few brief quotations from the
most eminent teachers of medicine, sgsln warn the
afiicted OF the utter fasity OF all these opinions
Sir Thomas Watson says:
IT, wi hort any apparent cause, a person grows
thin and his pulse is quicker than natural and his
breath at all short, these intimations which
dom prove unfsthtul that consumption IS at work
the lungs"
Lsennec the great French authority. says:
1T has frequently appeared quite clear to me,
from carefully comparing the history OF my patients,
that the greater number OF The first attack
is mistaken for cold while others are quite latent
Prot Sweet, of the University OF New York,
says: =. .,oos a:..-,
the true nature of the case. Whenever L am called
to patient no has had splitting of blood, always
mark him as probaby tubercusr case"
If. then patient takes cold which settles on the
breath, on ordinary exertion, these are sgos that
the lungs are in danger. Ii he spits blood in addl
and consumpton began ITS fatal work IL IS I'M pos
sibe hat these facts can be too widely known, for
probably the NE OF the patent 10 de2enas on the
The affections which tend most directly TO under
mine the health OF the lungs, and produce con
sum otio on are catarrh of the nose granular sore
throat, elongated revula and bronchitis
Professor 'lross says:
ULCERS of the of strenuous nature are
sufficiently common. and Of a source OF great an:
noyance both to the patient and physician. Seated
originally on the mucous membrane, they eradu
ally extend. Thickenlng of the mucous membrane
is chiefly observed in persons of a weakly sCrotu.
ious Constitution The more frequent eff cts of
elongated eyuls are obstinate, protracted coughs,
with a frequent desire to clear the throat W Den
those affections continue long. tuburcules some
times form In the lungs and the patient ultimately
dies with all the symptoms OF confirmed con-
SUMPTION
:.The lining Of tt nose is extremely irritable and
liable to copious, thin and acrid secretlops. Many
cases OF ozena take their origin N tubercular de-
posts. Chronic inflammation OF the mucous lining
of the q frequent affection and have found
it loaded with tuberculer matter
DR.. Edward Smith. of the Brompton Hospital,
aThe chief sources of secretion in tn. early stage
of consumption are the nose and throat.
There is usually some eongation of the urula with
enlarged vessels and graDu atoms on the sides ADD
back of the fauces throatl"
Sir James CLARK says:
Liberation OF the lsrynx is frequent forerunner
of tuberCular disease OF the lungs. Louis found dis
OF the arynx one fourth Of MS cases Of con-
sumption.
DR.. Ancell says:
Bronchitis is regarded as cause Of CONSUMPTION
by Hueland, Tissott, Baumes. BronsaIs and a
host of practitioners in this country, tEr gland
DR.. Williams, speaking Of Bronchitis says: In
veloped from local Inflammation of the bronchia!
disorder Chronic Broncnitis either By its owu
local effects, or its depressing Influence or both
combined, becomes sufficient cause OF pulmonary
And Professor Hughes Bennett, of Edinbrrch,
says: s. He has pointed out the Importance or az
aiming ann treating diseases of the nasal passa-
geS.% He has seen numerous cases which resGyersd
after discovering that the disease originated IN the
nose and directing treatment to it .
Such, then. are the highest professional opinions
the dangerous tendency of cataTrh. granular
throat and bronchitis, as fcre-unners of consump-
ton. In urging those afflicted with them to lose
not moment in placing themselves under proper
treatmenU, am but giving them the benefit OF my
knowledge and experience on a subject which have
carefully studied in all its bearings.
Now, the only remaining question IS as 70 the
durability of consumption. 1t is, my opinion
perfectly durable when properly treated. In the
early stage regard 1t as very carabie disease. II
is only when it is neglected and has become firmly
seated that it is difficult and dangerous. Every
thing depends on the manner in which it Is treated
and the stage at which that treatment is begun.
Professor SWEET says:
II have known nmbsrs of patients who had the
evidences OF consumption, and sometimes n an al
vanced stage, who finally recovered. and are no" II
the enjoyment of good health"
Sir james Clark observes:
"What censum otion admits of cure is no loD ger
N after of doubt; IL has been clearly demoIstratec
by the researches of Lasnnec and other pathoi
ogists."
Professor CassWsll. of the London Universal re
marks:
conclusive evidence of the durability OF disease
than it has in that OF tubercular consurn ptlon
Then is it not time tn At ideas which begun IN ar
properly understood should be given up and more
enlightened ones take their place? 1t is humiliatng
to have to listen to the cant of hafeducated DOC
| tors and Old women who have grown wise on their
Those who never yet cured q case may doubt theli
own skill. but they have no right to misrepresent
of those who have made these diseases spscia
study. ROBERT HUNTER. n. w.,
NUTE.Epr. r. Hunter will close his visit TO New
! Orleans the first of May. after which date Dr.
81 Hunter will take charge of the practice. These
DESTROYS OF consulting him in person should 90 SO