Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-05-11
..a1- iFor ths Dsnocr.sis Eorsh~sst.i
DIR. W0LFE'S :
ON mon Sense.
LETTER XI.

aAfD VI In EAhlzn bl
TONS OF CoEsUMPIoN.-sAD MISTAKES
IN TREATING EFFECTS OF TUBERCULOSIS
AND NEGLECTED cAUsEs.-EARLY TREAT
MENT RECOMMENDED.
have described symptoms peculiar TO
several forms of disease of the respirato-
ry structure, such as nasal and chronic
laryngitis, bronchitis. and the early
stages Of consumption. Upon this latter
disease have something more to say.
/ have stated elsewhere that when the
membrane lining of the air-tubes is In.
famed, it swells or puffs out until the
cavity OF the smaller branches of the
bronchia become almost or entirely
closed. The mucus secreted at such
times is hard to expel, and frequently
forms obstructions WHICH prevents air
passing into or out of the air-cells of the
lungs. When the supply OF air to the
lungs is thus cut off entirely, the cells
collapse and soon perish. They disor-
ganize and resolve into dead matter--
pusi The points of dissolution may be
diffused over every part of the lung
structure, being at first gray and no lar
ger than pin-heads or grains of sand, in
form of watery pimples. which turn to
yellow matter as they develop in size.
While in this rudimental condition
these minute pustules are called
''miliary tubercles," from their resem-
blance to millett seed. As they grow
larger they coalesce and form masses of
cheesy matter. which soon becomes lio-
uid and spreads by infiltration through
the surrounding tissue. In this manner
matter-sacs or assesses are formed, va.
rying in size from that of a marrowfat
pea to the dimension of goose-egg.
I have seen lungs so full of tubercular
assesses that sections of them looked
more like honey combs than vital struct-
ure.
When tubercles are yet in the gray or
cheesy stage. judicious treatment by in
halation Will promote their absorption,
and thus save the lungs from further
destruction. 1t is important therefore.
to have the lungs carefully examined
when there is cause for the slightest sus-
picion that they are diseased. If found
to be 30, no time should be lost before
proper remedies ere employed. The old
adage of "a stitch in time" is as appli.
cable to matter of health as to mending
a coat.
Such damage to the vial structure can
not occur without the general system be-
coming deranged, often to such degree
as to draw off the physicians attention
from the real point of danger. Under
the head of Latent Consumption it has
been stated that the compliant may pro-
ceed to the utmost disorganization of the
lungs without cough or expectoration
being present. In such cases the prom
inent symptoms are arrangement of
the abdominal organs. Dyspepsia is the
most common, and, in Ignorance of the
true state Of things, the efforts of the ply
SLAMS are too often directed to removing
the effect instead of the cause of this
disorder.
Many person are treated for disease of
the liver when large cavities exist in the
lungs and hectic fever and night sweats
are present. I was called to person who
stated he had been treated for liver COM
plant. His emaciation, cough, exces-
sive expectoration and sweating indica-
ted too surely consumption as the enemy.
On removing his clothing was horri-
/ fled to see the unhealed sores of tartar
emetic ointment, and scarifcation of
cupping, still recent over the region of
the liver, showing that frightful and
inexcusable mistake had been made as
to the nature of the disease. AS it was
important to him to know his condition,
we were obliged to tell him the melan.
choly truth, that he was in the last stage
of consumption, and that his life could
not be prolonged beyond few weeks.
In discussing the most favorable
period at which consumption can be
treated, I have pointed out that. the
earlier the case is taken in hand. the
greater the certainty; the chances of this
favorable result diminish as the disor
ganization of the lungs is allowed to pro
gress before applying for remedies. I'm
fortunately "a large number of the patients
who have come under my care have been
in the last.stage of'confrmed consumption
when they applied for relief. Many oi
themI had one or both lungs broker
down, with cavities formed, and ther
constitution exhausted of strength by
the progress of the disease and the differ.
ent kinds of treatment they had received
I need hardly say, that. such cases are moi
treatment. Humanity, with the desire
to relieve, is the only ihfluen ce that car
induce q physician to receive such pa.
tients at all-since many seek for treat.
ment in an utterly hopeless state, and
can only be made Comfortable BY the
highest skill within the physicians pow,
er.
have been obliged to refuse many ap.
plicants for treatment who were so fal
gone that I had not even the poor com
fort of affording them temporary relief.
Yet, Notwithstanding all these disadvan
tages and discouragements, larger por
tion of recoveries has taken place among
this class, through the instrumentalitJ
of Inhalation than has been attained
from all other means of treatment by the
old stomach4dosf practice.Saa
This, then, should be firmly impressed
on the mind, that the earlier the pres
ence of pulmonary disease can be de-
tected, and the sooner the patient re-
resorts to treatment the better chance hi
has to get well. Treatment by inhala
tion, of course, is ment, for swallowing
medicine into the stomrch produces nj
beneficent effects upon the lungs.
1t will be recollectedi that the com
mencement of consumption is the depos
it of gray tubercles in the lungs and that
little hacking cough and short-winded'
ness on exertion are usually the first
symptoms remarked by patients or, ,theil
friends. In the second stage, these tub
circles undergo change of structure, ,and
become yellow and cheesy. Now the
hacks becomes decided cough, and /
sticky, clear, or grayish mucus is expec
torated chiefly in the morning The third
consists in the yellow tubercles becom
ing filled with matter breaking into ths