Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-07-21
How Consumption May be Cured.

The first announcement to a patient that
he or she has consumption, is often like
q death knell. The vacant stare, the pale
cheek, and the convulsive sigh, indicate q
shock of the most profound character.
Indeed, I have known persons to swoon,
away and require the most active exer-
tons to restore them. And yet it is not
true that consumption is necessarily a IA
tai disease. In point of fact it is not so
fatal as many cases which prevail in every
community, and yet excite no remark.
Consumption results from a perverted
nutrition. Instead of that perfect assim-
1lation essential to sound health; there is
an elaboration Of the nntritive fluids,
which. leads by finflammatory action or
other processes, to the disposition in the
lungs, and other tissues of crude material
known as tubercle. Persons pr~edisposed
to consumption, or living under icircum-
l stances which lower the vital energies and
prevent the nutritive processes, are those
in whom this affection most frequently
appears. 1T followsthstfthere is mo spe-
cific for consumption. 1t is not durable
by medicines on the contrary, its fatal
issue is more often fastened by medical
ton. &! YffEErF q 10 ti.-5
For the encouragement of patients, and
/ to illustrate the course of life most1ikely
to restore vigorous health, a condition in
compatible with consumption, I usually
relate cases that have come under my OBJ
servstion. The following is one example
among many: b''1 piia -tJIEf 10
"a young medical friend, having q
hereditary tendency.to consumption, be-
gan to realize at first its well-marked
symptoms It progressed rapidly tOvardi
a fatal termination. The cough, emacia7
ton, and hectic betrayed his condition to
the most superficial observer. Alarmed
at this condition, but dreading to yield to
4 the conviction of; his friends that he was a
victim of this disease, he refused to be ex-
/ amined or ever to talk on the subject. At
length-he became 80 weak and Frustrated
/ that he consented to have his lungs, tex7
amined, and on the snnouncementAof the
! physician that they contained large cavi-
4 Gesyhe tainted, and was rallied with great
difficulty. Aroused to q pitch of ,despera-
ton he determined, that he would not lie
down and die, but would Hbetake himself
to outdoor life, Die accordingly spent his
entire day on horseback exercise, saving
wood, boat rowing, etc. At night he
slept on a hard bed In an out house
through which the winds had fuA7play,
EHfs-diet was plain, and but little; cooked
hs-elothing was coarse and scant. That
physician is to-day practicing his profess
sion in a New England town; he is up.
wards of forty-fiye years of age, and
weighs about 200 pounds. r A fnerA speci
men of health is not seen inNeW Eng
land"
K Recovering from the last stage of con-
sumption is therefore possible. The,fol
lowing outline of the course of ifft0pAr.
sue Is given: "a
II Live in the open air and srnshine
avoid dampness and darkness d YOU
dwelling if possible c~hoosesaldfy mouth
tain region; develoPby YigorousSezeTeis.
every muscle in tAezbodEf to it's fu1lestsca
pacity ; select Hoprishing and easilyedf
gested food, and be-sure thatsit & no
ing; battle for 2cfeRnliness andlcomfort
never forcibIY disteqdo heslungs, but iG
4 crease their ScapacftyN by exercise and
finally, takeno medicines except as aid 8
additional TO the course otEifel reSem
mended.-Eminen$ Physician, IN HeaFzl