The National tribune., 1882-11-30
THE RAVAGES OF CONSUMPTION.

it is steadily on the increase. The number OF
deaths from this cause, as shown by our bills
Of mortality, IS simply appalling. Not long
since, in referring to this fact, HGrpsTs BasGr
said:
Pulmonary diseases have been gradually
increasing in this country during the past few
years. especially during the winter months,
which ere particularly periious to those who
have delicate lungs. The figures are startling.
According to the records Of the Board of Health
in this city New York, The loss Of life By con-
sumption alone during the fac gears ending Decea-
ber 3lSt, 1879 Wgs 209i0. Pneumonis and
bronchitis are also very fatal diseases, the for
NOR causing more tn an one-half rs many deaths
as consumption. and the latter nearly one
fourth the number"
Taking the population OF New York City ct
one million, aud the whole number of deaths
from consumption, pneumonia and bronchitis
at 36,750 in every five years, this would give
for the United States dsath-rou from those
three kindred diseases of 147o,OCO; or one
fifth Of that number (29t000) in every single
year!
The Philadelphia Ledger, in alluding to the
fact that forty-nine deaths by consumption had
occurred in that city in a single week, makes
this comment:
"The havoc Of lung disease goes on with
heavy count all the year round. Yet the doc
tors in their corentioeS hare almost ceased to talk
about pdttsis, 'cih any degree Of enthusiastic
search, while they give US no end of brilliant
light upon sewerage rud the deaths by bad
drainage Il is discredH to medical science that
such ,reH-defuea diseases Gs american lungs pre-
ssni should get be so little under control, and the
skill Of our experts should still be bof1led."
Another paper, in speaking of the subject,
says;
"If any other disease prevailed TO guch an
extent, we should have immediate and rigid
investigation "a 70 cause and remedy. That
this is not the case in regard TO lung diseases
can only be attributed to the fact that medical
sc'ancs appears 10 hare erhags'ed itself IN that
direction.
"And yet it seems marvellous that, with all
the new light which has been thrown upon
human ailments within the past half century,
nothing that serves to clearly point out either
the direct cause of the wide prevalence of a
disease so almost universally fatal. or anything
that can rjqhtfutly clai to be remedy for It, has
been receqlsd.'
Here we have presented, in a form which
cannot fail to startlc the community, two most
serious and alarming facts connected with the
ravages Of pulmonary diseases in this country.
/ That they have been steadily increasing for
years. 3 That with all its advancement in
skill, and in the knowledge of curative forces,
the medical profession does not kno1D h9,7 to deal
successfully Nth Consumption, AND CANNOT CURE
IT,
That Consumption of the Lungs cannot be
cured by any Of the remedial agents known to
either of the great schools Of medicine, or by
Tho eclacticism which includes the best cura-
tive appliances of both, is too well aud sorrow
fully known to the hundreds OF thousands of
wasting and s'owly-dving invalids, whose pale
faces, surlleu eyes, and feeble steps meet US in
every city, town and neighborhood. However
hopefully these stricken ones may cling to life,
and deceive themselves IS to their real c0ndi-
sion, their nearest and dearest friends know
but too well that they are steadily falling and
wasting and that premature death is as certain
as if an arrow had been lodged il some vital
organ.
1t IS well understood, that the only hope for
eases lies in their attaining through some
means, a higher degree of vitality, and an in
creased power of nutrition. The tendency to
q too rapid waste Of tissue must be met aud
overcome by new and larger ability to take
and utilize the substances ont Of which the
tissues are composed, and the vital organs kent
in healthy equilibrium. To gain this, the in
teiIigent and conscientious physician, fully
aware that but little dependence can be placed
in medicine advises aud encourages his patients
10 use every possible hvgienic sxpedient for
keeping up the vital forcss-exercise in the
open air, nutritious food, carafulness in regard
to any diet that may tax or enfeeble the diges-
tive organs. avoidance of exposure, crowded
rooms, excitement, etc. IN few instances,
this care and regimen are successful in holding
in check the enemy which has gained lodg-
meut, but rarely ii casting him out. He has
jntreugbed himself, and, ever on the alert and
wstcbfuI, stands ready to assault weak ex-
posed or half guarded point; and, sooner or later
almost surely succeeds in his deadly work.
1t is 10 taul5 of the Profession that it cannot
cure this disease. Not because Il IS inclUab,e bat
because III It's .Lateria 1Icdica no substance is
found in use Of which the diseased system can
be furnished with an antidote or an effective
resistant. But this 5 no proof that such a sub
stance does not exist and that Consumption
must still go ON destroying its hundreds of
thousands every year. The search for an agent
that woold give the vitality which is needed to
arrest this disease and restore the patient to
health, has been Al earnest pursuit with some
Of the ablest physicians in the past and present
century; and some form Of xygen-adminis-
tratiou has been with many regarded as the
means by which the ardcntly desired end
would be gained. Experiments in this direc-
tion have been made from tine to time but
not until within the past few years have they
been carried to 3 successful result Satisfied
shat if a new combination of Oxygen and
Nitrogen could be made in which the former
substance would he in excess of what is found
in common air, physician who had been
forced 70 abandon his practice in consequence
of an attack Of Pneumonia Was led to make
persistent experiments which finally resulted
in the discovery OF new substance now known
Is Compound Oxygen and by the use of which
ne WAS himself restored to permanent good
health.
II is over twelve years since this great result
was reachsd-a result which has inaugurated
a new era in the healing art. Consumption Of
he Lungs STANDS longer in the list Of inc,ra5,s
diseases.
The action of "ComPoUND OXYGEN" in ar
F