The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-05-18
For The Bulletin
DIR. WoLFE's COMMON SENSE.
LITTER NO. XIII.
OLD METHODS OF TREATING CONSUMPTION,
FALLACrEs, ETC.

lug 'he hrst ana second stages of consump-
tlon' shall do the same in regard to the
third. In this stage masses of yellow
tubercle break down and are expectorated,
carrying with them lung tissue leaving
cavities sccreting matter, accompanied by
severe constitutional disturbance, such as
hectic fever, drenching nightsweats,
diarrRea, etc.
We now employ vapors that will stimu.
late the liberated surface to secrete gran
ulated matter instead of pus. The sides
OF the cavity now become either glued to-
gether lined with pseudo-mucus mem
brane. This is the way inhalation per-
forms cure in tho third stage of consump.
ton IN every stage was invariably fatel;
and 1t does seem the very height of infat-
uatlon tor a consumptive to put himself in
the hands of physician who confesses
before he begins TO prescribe that he can
not cure the disease. Is it not more in
accordance with common sense that the
patient should shun such a Jack Ketcb.
and place himself under the care of one
who employs treatment that cures the
malady1 The old treatment promises moth
ing but death. Inhalation is daily work
ing its cures, which under the old treat
ment could not have been made. Of the
truth Of this give ample proof in the
second part of this work. 1t is sad to see
the young, the lovely, and the gifted hur-
ried to the grave by consumption, when so
many might be saved by a timely resort to
treatment by inhalation. The other modes
of treatment fail; no wonder the public
mind entertains deep rooted belief that
consumption is incurable. Let US in con-
trast briefly consider some of tae old
methods of treating consumption with
the new.
Bleeding was a popular practice forty
years ago, on the hypothesis that "con-
sumption was an inflammation of the lung
structure" Upon this erroneous suppose.
ton, crowds of victims have been hurried
to the grave, secundum artem, by bleeding,
leeching, and cuppihg; but no reputable
physician bleeds, now. Consumption being
essentially disease Of debility that so far
from lowering the powers of the system by
abstracting blood, we should build up its
strength by all the means at our com.
mand
What shall say Of the cruel practice of
giving eneticsl This mode of treatment
is only calculated to exhaust the strength
Of patients, and destroy the tone of the
stomach, while it exercises no curative
power over the lungs. Happily for the
sufferers, it is now becoming almost obso-
lete.
Mercury was at one time greatly in
fashion, but this treatment has changed,
not only because it did no good, bur posi-.
tive harm. 1t is the opinion of many that
salvation by calomel brings on consump.
ton in those who never would have been
attacked if this destructive poison had not
been used. Happily the conviction has be-
come impressed on the minds of the pro-
fession that it is injurious, and few physi-
clans now prescribe it, except stealthily as
an experiment, not from any faith they
have in its efficacy. After killing its thou
sands, let US hope its use has been aban.
Goned forever.
Ionics.-ln opposition to those who en-
ploy bleeding, we have physicians who
regard consumption as disease of debil-
ity, and rely on tonlcs. But views are
orthodox, but which is righ,l 1t is an
axiom in practice, that tonics are useless
in organic diseases, and aggravate the dis
order. TONES have no power to cause
absorption or remove tubercles from the
lungs, and consequently the tonic doctors
have not been able to sustain their posi-.
ton any better than the Others.
Digitalis and Iodine have had their DAYS,
and very Furnishing days they we're, but
now, alas they are consigned with iSnom-
my to the tomb of the Capulets by the
most learned Of the profession.
Characterization means sores on the
surface of the body, with the thought of
removing the disease from the lungs. With
this view poor consumptiyes have had
their chests scared with hot irons, covered
with tartar ometic pustules, tortured with
fly blisters, mustard drafts, and other
modes Of eifectng the coveted object.
Sensible physicians now allow that coun-
ter irritation has no effect in causing the
absorption Or removal Of tubercles; there
fore, it does no good. But it does posi-.
tive harm. We know it produces fever
and nightsweats. Now, il ulcers in the
lungs cause Initiative fever, it is only in