Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-10-05

Probably
effects and De
understood than
Consumption ann
mans ailme its, it b.
Indeed, ii has almost ben
the best writers 10 be an Inc
sease. There are two varieties
sumption, one vulgarly called the
Looping" CASUALLY iatal) andt the other
slow ''decline; !" butsas itis not our -
tentlon, in this article at least, to so in
to details, I'VE shaLl-znaA.k OF thc COM
plant as unit.
We cannot agree with Nthe idea id
vanced by some eminent meRNhat con
sumption is always incurable ION IN
contrary, we know it can be lured
treated properly in its early sts =, "
not by those of whom unfort1nately,
the world is full, empirical men land
women)who, for the sake Of pecuniary
success, flood the land with what they
term positive cures !" and into the
arms, as it were, of these bad, unscru-
pulous people consumptive sufferers
usually fling themselves, cheerfully pay
ing high fees and taking harmless, il not
actually injurious nostrums in quant-
ties sufficient to injure the constitution
of horse.
We did not intend, when we COM
menccd this article, to say a word as to
how hundreds of thousands of peo-
pie are thus duped out of their money,
and numberlcss instances Of their lives,
but, like all others who desire to help
instead of injuring the suffering our du-
ty impels us to indite caution and at
the same time condemn the vile busi-
ness of fleeing poor and hel pless peo-
pie by promising them Condition Of
health not in the power Of man to be-
stow.
But to our text: Consumption of the
lungs is disease which, in majority
of cases, develops itself slowly, almost
;mperceptibly. The first SYMPTOM is
slight dry cough, in short time, how
ever, becoming more marked and nc
companied with some eXpectofatIon of
purulent mucus secretion. Some
times there is splitting of blood prior
TO the dry cough spoken of and time
when there is apparently condition Of
perfect health. This early splitting of
blood is not always, as supposed, an ev-
idence that the horrible disease is mak-
ing Roadway; on the contrary, expert
| ence has shown IL IL a sure prognostic
.Ls s1IA- ISL 81 i;ssosenissale1 az
experienced by consumptive patient,
except when there Is pleuritlc inaama-
ton. When this il the case the pain Is
short and stitch-like, and Is felt in the
upper part OF the chest or behind the
shoulder-blade. A shortness Of breath,
on taking exercise, is a sure Indication
that the disease Is making its steady adj
vance as is also the rise Of q hectic fe-
yer daily: generally.in the afternoon.A--
As the affection goes on there is pro-
gressive lcssening Of strength and body,
wasting Of the flesh, in the end
amounting to complete emaciation.---
What are known as might sweats" aid
largely in bringing about this heart
grieying, wearing away Of life.
There are many other symptoms---
enough, If recapitulated, to fill a small
volume---but those noted---and we have
given them free from technicalites-are
sufficient.
II has been estimated 5000, 900 Of the
worlds people die every yearirom cons
sumption, some Of them carried of in q
few weeks after being attacked and
others lasting from one to forty years.
There are no known specific renee
dies for the cure OF consumption, but
there are medicines, when properly
prepared and administered, which will
either check, or much mitigate the dis
ease and prolong life. Cod-liver oil,
$50 called has been used with some
benefit, but this Is rather food than a
medicine: so, also, has been given
with good results the various vegetable
and mineral tonics, bypophosphites,
&c.; but the gyeat and only cure. where
cure Is possible, will be found 10 sup
plying the wasted body with as much
or more carbon than the exbausting
disease demands. This is to be done by
dieting the patient, giving the most
nounshing food, with as much fatty
Living IN the open air - fnucn az pos
sible aids IN recovery, as does occa-
sionally a change Of climate; but, in
trnEbiF.A.a change Of climate, various
uls..als n,,sf--iaamaaasidered, such as
W. snso,,rces for occVj Nor ofnica s .,.1
| from friends, &c. Going % 2 place
| Where consumptives congregate y un-
Favorable, hence we do net recon-
4 mend Florida, the graveyard Of north
II erh consumptyes, beautiful country
\ though ii be. The use Of fresh meat
4 chopped fine and chemically cooked, i
| highly beneficial, and has done more
| to save life than all otherremedies com
4 bined; and, when saturated with alcoholic
spirits, in proper proportion, far exceli
everything else. In Europe i ls tb'
only medicine now prescribed for thu
disease. A proper use Of this alone
with attention TO the wants Of the sys
tenn in other ways, exercise, bathing
! SC, will not only save the lives Q
many consumptives but prolong the ex
, istence for years Of many others.
As inaiity 10 this brief notice Of
disease which II wonld take columns :
fulIy discuss, we recommend the attic
/ ted TO live in hope and 70 ayoid becom
) ing the victims Of shafk-like quacks an
j empires, who but fattenppon The spoil
Q cruelty drawn ii too many instance
4 from poor and needy people who ~
but a step from their grascs.