The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-08-15
CONSUMPTION.
Successful Treatment Of tn. Disease.

ouceessful neafnnenf OF the Disease
Almost every one can name in the
circle Of his acquaintance one or two
instances where persons have been cured
of consumption, and most doctors can
plume themselves on few such cases as
illustrating their own successful practice
of the healing art. But all are willing to
admit that recoveries are rare, when the
disease is thoroughly developed. In the
last number of the Medical Record, how
ever. a physician Of New York city gives
details of his method of treatment of
this disease in extreme cases, with the
happy result of curing from go to rs per
cent. The methodsaDd the theory of the
cure are in some respects quite new; they
are published as is the noble custom of
the medical profession so that other
doctors cansfy and test them and the
benefit, whatever it may be, il open to
all. Six cases are de-cribed all had
been treated by good physicians accord
ing to customary methods. At least hal
Of the patients had vainly tried residence
at the west and south. Their lungs were
deeply diseased. They were steadily
growing worse, and seem to have been
advised that their malady had become
serious. Under the new treatment, four
of these patients recovered, and are again
actively engaged in their business pur.
suits. Oae, whose case was greatly com
plicated by other diseases, after making
good progress toward recovery, suffered
fresh misfortune from pleuritic abscess,
breaking into thelungs, but has since be.
gun to regain health. One, that had been
supposed to present the most
favorable case of the ak when
first presented for treatment, failed af.
terward to gain strength, and died gem
tly while asleep. The tims taken for res
coyery, under the new treatment, seems
to vary from six months to year, but
relief from the more distressing symp>
toms was obtained in all cases ia much
shorter period The theory OF cure is
to clear the lungs bys mechanical treat
ment, Chiefly Of manipulating the mus
cles OF the throat, so as to cause more
forcible breathing second, to establish
perfect digestion third, to promote a
process of healing the tubercles, 40 that
they shall become chalky or calcifed
masses; fourth, to compel the patients
to take plenty of fresh air, sunlight and
exercise. To secure perfect di.
gestion, special diet is ordered in each
case, and the fool is changed as the
power of assimilating 1t improves; that
part of the treatment was fully success.
full in each of the six instances described.
To promote the ealcifying of the tuber-
cles, the salts of lime, which are found |
in most valuable and animal food, must
be supplied In soluble condition the |
theory is that too much heat, In ordinary
destroys the natural combina, !
ton of these salts with albumen, and
renders them insoluble to a weak diges-.
ton. In regard to outdoor exercise,
this is regarded so important that the
patients must go out in rain, snow,
or even night air or dew; and
In the twenty years Of the doctors prac
tiee, he knows Of no instance Of catching |
cold from such exposure. Only strong
head winds and extreme hot weather
need TO be guarded against. The patient,
sleep with the windows open, summer
and winter.