Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-05-11
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How Consumption May
be Cured.

be Cured.
A medical correspondent, who
is contributing a series of val
liable papers to the Hearth and
Home, in one of the latest num-
bers of that journal has the fol-
lowing:
The first announcement to a
patient that he or she has con-
sumption, is often like a death
knell. The vacant stare, the
pale cheek, and the convulsive
sigh indicate a shock of the
most profound character. In
deed, | have known persons to
swoon away, and require the
most active exertions to restore
them. And yet it is not true
that consumption is necessarily
a fatal disease. In point of fact,
it is not as fatal as many dis
eases which prevail in every
community, and yet excite no
remark. Consumption results
from a perverted nutrition
Instead of that perfect assimi-
lation ESSENTIAL to sound health,
there is an imperfect elabora-
ton of the nutritive fluids,
which leads, by infammatory
action or other processes, to the
deposition in the lungs and 9TH
er tissues, of crude material
known as tubercle. Persons
predisposed to consumption, or
living under circumstances that
lower the vital energies,a land pre-
vent the nutritiye processes,
are those in whom this affection
most frequently appears. 1t
follows that there is no specific
for consumption. It is not Gu
rable by medicines ; on the con-
trary, its fatal issue is more of
ten hastened by medication.
For the encouragement Of pa
tients, and to illustrate the
course of life most likely to re-
store vigorous health, a condi-
ton incompatible with con-
sumption, l usually relate ca
ses that have come under my
observation. The following is
one example among many:
"Ayoung medical friend, hav-
ing hereditary tendency to
consumption, began to realize
its first well-marked symptoms.
1t progressed rapidly toward a
fatal termination. The cough,
emaciation, and hectic betrayed
his condition to the most super
fetal observer. Alarmed at his
condition, but dreading to yield
to the conviction of his friends
that he was a victim of this dis
case, he refused to be examined,
or even talk on the subject. At
length he became so weak and
FRUSTRATED that he consented to
have his lungs examined, and
on the announcement of the
physician that they contained
large cavities, he tainted, and
was rallied with great difficulty.
Aroused to a pitch Of despera-
ton, he determined that he
would not lie down and die, but
would betake himself to out
door life. He accordingly spent
his entire day. in horseback OK
ercise, saving wood, boat-row-
ing, etc. At night he slept on
a hard bed in an clubhouse,
through which the wind had full
play. His diet was plain and
but little cooked; his clothing
coarse and scant. That physi-
clan is to-day practicing his
profession in a New England
town; he is upwards of forty
five years of age, and weighs
about two hundred pounds. A
finer specimen of health is not
seen in New England. +"
Recovery from the latest stage
of consumption is therefore pos
sible. The following outline of
the course of life to pursue is
given:
Live in open air and sunshine;
avoid dampness and darkness in
your dwelling; if possible
choose a dry mountain region;
develop by vigorous exercise
every muscle in the body to its
fullest capacity; select nourish-
ing and easily-digested food,
and be sure that it is not over
dress in coarse wooden
clothing; battle for cleanliness
and comfort; never forcibly dis