Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-20
PNEUMONIA OR LUNG FEVER.
Its Definition.


terms, and mean an Inflammation of the lungs.
This disease is not only very common, but rapid
and exceedingly dangerous 1t is of the utmost
importance to have it recognized as early and
promptly as possible, In order to institute that
care which will insure correct and rational
treatment Oft. An idea of what the lungs are
can be readily attained by an examination of
the lights Of the hog or calf They present an
exact resemblance to the human lungs The
outside OF the lights presents shining, smooth
aud glistening appearance. This outside ap-
pearance is the p5e,vd, meaning the skin or
membrane covering the lungs, and an inflamma-
ton OF this covering constitutes pleursy. If
the lights are cut across their length, and look
Is taken at the cut surface, what Is called the
substance OF the lungs will be plainly seen. An
Inflammation of this inside or substance Of the
lungs is what is called pneumonia or lung fever.
When the outside coat and the substance of the
lungs are infamed at the same time, ple,ro-
pneumonia is caused, and is an Inflammation of
the p.eura and lungs going On at one time.
DISEASES MISTAKEN FOR PNEUMONIA.
How mistake can be made in not recogniz-
ing pneumonia seems almost impossible; but it
is a lamentable fact that other diseases are fire.
quently mistaken for 1t, and treated in man.
ner that none of its symptoms either warrant or
indicate. The diseases most often mistaken for
1t are bilious, typhoid and typhus fevers; and it
is an astonishing fact, not commonly known,
That pneumonia is often taken for an ordinary
case of bilious fever, and in the most fatal man.
ner pronounced and treated as an attack of ma
larla lt always begins with chilly feelings or
a decided chill; and the occurrence of these
chilly sensations. or severe signs. explain why
IL Is liable to be taken for and treated as mala-
rial lever. 1t Is common in winter or cold
weather; but may and does frequently, occur at
any season of the year. Its cause is catching
cold, or suddenly checked perspiratiOn and IN
summer 1T is often produced by sitting or sleeping
III cool draught while the clothing is wet with
persplratl0n. 1t is essentially an nflammatOry
disease. and is as much so as an iniamed eve.
hand or limb, and ful1lls all the nature and char
actefistics OF an Inflammation in any other part
OF the body. 1t may be either bold or insidious
IN its invasion. It's beginning is often sudden:
but now and then it follows in the progress of
an ordinary cold, and does not PROSTATE
until fresh cold has been taken.
.he Inflammation is sometimes deeply seated,
or situated in the center of the lung; and then,
Tor days, it often remains masked. or disguised,
giving no other evidence of its existence than
slight occasional hacking cough, accompanied
by chilly sensations, general feverishness, cold
leet and 1mpOssbility to keep the body warm.
sometimes partial sweats occur; and when this
Is the case they are usually cold and the slight
est Change Of temperature causes the body to
shiver and shake This condition is apt to be
taken for the effect of maarial poison. and quiz
nine makes it worse; and it does not yield until
the proper treatment for inflammation of the
lungs has been instituted.
ITS SYMPTOMS
Pneumonia. like all other inflammatory dis
orders, may be sudden or slow. severe OF slight;
and may continue for six or seven weeks, or de-
stroy life in twelve twenty -four hours but for
tunately, its mortal suddenness is by far the ex-
ceptiOn, and not the rule of it's conduct It has
definite symptoms sufficient to render its recog-
milton and detection easy, and a well-marked
case cannot be readily mistaken for any other
disease, for it generates its tell-tale signs not
only without, but within the body. It's begin
ming is denoted by a chill, or severe shivering.
This chill or shiverng usually comes on after
going to bed not feeling as well as customary
In few hours after this chill or rigor fever.
headache, pain in the side and limbs, with
short cough and difficult breathing loss of ap-
petite and sick stomach make their appearance
The breathing becomes rapidly increased and at
the end OF the first twelve hours long breath
cannot be made without severe pain in the side.
The pain Is generally felt Just below the nipple
IN the side over the lung infamed, and Is
sometimes so acute that questions cannot be
answered without frequent efforts to hold the
breath II an effort Is made to take long
BREATH an expression of pain is manifested and
feeling as though the air did not go more than
half way down the chest is experienced The
pulse is full, frequent and hard. and the skin
hot and dry. These are symptoms of the first
twelve hours; and at the expiration Of this time
they assume more positive and Characteristic
expression. The individual new lies upon his
back. He cannot lie upon his side without
greatly increased discomfort. His face is
anxious and flushed tending to blueish tinge,
and the tongue is moist and covered with
cream-like coat. The breathing is short and
accompanied with increased activity of the nos
trils. 1t is usually performed with the mouth
open, and long breath cannot be taken
without the eXcitatiOn of stitch in the
side. The cough continues short and frequent;
and alter repeated painful efforts at cough
ing, a tough. round bit Of expectoration
is expelled. This expectoration is characteristic
of pneumonia. 1t is thick, tough and sticky of
red color varying from deep pink to the
color Of prune juice. 1t sticks closely to the
side of the cup in which it is spat runs together
when number of expectations have been
made in the same vessel. and looks exactly like
brick dust mixed intimately with muclage of
gum Arabic. When this rusty eXDectoration is
present, no other symptoms is necessary to tell
the existence of pneumonia. If the ear be
placed against the back over the intlamed lung.
cracking OF crepitatng sound will be heard
with each act of breathing, and the sound SO
heard is precisely like noise made when lock
OF hair is rubbed between the finger and thumb
near the ear. The mind is usulfy clear, but In
severe cases there Is wandering during the dav
and derium at night. This disturbance of the
mental powers is owing to the imperfect puriti-
cation of the blood by the infiamed lung Dur
ing the existence of these symptoms the pulse
continues quick. and the skin, hot. dry. and
pungent. feeling acrid to the touch and show
ing no healthy moisture until the Inflammation
begins to subside.
PROsrRATION OF STRENGTH
From the very beginning of pneumonia the
prostration of strength is apparently positive
The oppression about the chest is so great and
the interest in getting the breath so intense
that very little movement of the body can be
made without assistance; but this early and de-
cided prostration of muscular power does not
arise from the depressing. but from the oppres-
sive influence OF the disease. It is often mis-
taken for weakness. and leads to the disastrous
error Of giving wine, quinine and opium under
the deiu5ion OF relieving it by such means. The
prostraton is not like that which arises from
excessive loss of blood. or from the exhausting
discharges OF cholera, but is like the oppression
caused by an unbearable weight placed upon
the chest. The blood accumulates in the lung
just as 1t gathers in an infiamed eye, or in
felon, and the lung can no more be used with
freedom OF action than can an eye or finger be
exercised when infamed. That the prOstration
Is more apparent than real is fully confirmed by
the fact that much of it instantly passes off as