The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-04-23

W VIC Hoin hlnufeu anu nome. why per-
sons suffering with decaying lungs will
trust themselves to physicians who openly
proclaim in their books, and in their con-
versation, that they cannot cure consump-
ton, is most inoomprehensible. If the
physician has no faith in his ability to cure
consumption, is it not the height of folly
for the sick to employ him for that pur-
poseY
Twill now consider symptoms which her.
aid consumption, and by making them
known, apprise the patient in time to avert
danger,
Among the earliest symptoms of tubercu-
lar consumption is slight morning cough
and ropy expectoration, with speck of yell
low or greenish matter in the mucus. The
quantity is not always criterion of the
extent of disease in the lungs, though it
generally is. 1t is OF the utmost conse-
quence that coughs should be attended to
early, for although every cough is not the
premonition of consumption, still, if neg
lected, it may lead to that result. have
known persons die from tubercle who
neither coughed nor spit during the whole
period of their sickness.
Splitting blood is serious symptom of
consumption. 1t possesses a fearful inter
est, from the fact that it rarely happens,
except as consequence of tubercular dis
ease in the lungs. 1t is by no means unfre-
quent for physicians to assure their pa
tients that "the blood comes only from the
throat" Let me say that the throat rarely
bleeds. In nine hundred and ninety-ni
cases in thousand, when you cough up
blood, however small the quantity, that
blood comes from the lungs. Bleeding
does not always accompany consumption,
but when the lungs bleed, it does and,
if you value health, if you prize life, if
you have any object that renders existence
desirable, begin at once to resist the NAL
ady.
Many persons spit blood for years before
any other symptom of consumption is no.
ticcd, and by general observation they
would be pronounced healthy. Such per-
sons thump themselves on the breast and
say, "rhere is nothing the matter here,
| doctor" and expect the good-naturea ply
stefan to confirm their wish. In others,
the first attack of hemorrhage dates the
commencement OF the disease; and the
cough, short breath, and expectoraton are
all properly referred to this cause. Some,
again, do not raise blood till late, and in
many instances consumption runs its en-
tire course without even tinge of blood in
the expectoration. But, when blood is spit,
whether it is only few streaks in the ex-
pectoration, or mouthfuls, remember it
rarely happens except as serious disease
of the pulmonary structure. Splitting
blood is sure indication of disease Of
some sort within the lungs, from which will
arise, sooner or later, all those symptoms
which belong to consumption.
Prof. Walsh, in his work on Diseases of
the Lungs, says, "In those cases of bron-
chitis where blood is present in the expec-
toration, tubercles may always be suspected
ia tho lungs"
The celebrated DR.. Sweet, in his work
on Diseases of the Chest, says; Though
bleeding from the lungs does not always
occur in consumption, yet when it does,
it surely indicates the presence of tuber-
cles."
Prof. Latham says, "Spitting blood al
ways gives fearful intimation of the pres
ence of tubercles, which are the eggs of
consumption"
In twelve hundred cases of bleeding
from the lungs DR.. Louis did not meet o
single instance where it was not preceded
or followed by consumption. And thus it
is that Splitting blood" is considered so
sure precursor of that disease, that life in-
surance companies refuse to grant policies
to any man who has been so affected.
Hemorrhage from the lungs seldom
proves fatal in its immediate consequences.
Years may elapse before its fatal effects are
produced. Indeed, we hear persons who
have had bleeding from the lungs after
ward remark that they feel decidedly bet
ter; but this is only temporary relief,
and it is a fatal mistake to regard 1t as the
removal of the difficulty, for the causes
that produced the bleeding still remain,
and, If not removed, will end in death.
Short breath ia an early symptom. II is