Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-05-09
mIseELLkRE REOUs.
CONSUMPTION.
AN ALLEGED SURE CURE.

MINNEoPoLIs, MINI, July 4, 1878.
To the Editor Chicago Tribune 1t is
Prevefbial that OF all the depressing end life
taking affections to which the humaH race ia
subject, there is none so distressingly painful
10 the mind, or 30 sure ia its Imaginary
fatal result, as what is known as consumption
OF the lungs. Indeed the mere mention of
the word consumption to patient with
cough, ne matter how slight, takes away from
him half his hopes of eure-ossts him, as it
were, into the abyss of hopeless dspair and
gloom. And yet facts show that with proper
attention to diet and exercise Cnental and
physicsi,) and the occasional administration
OF some simple medicine for tho general
health, there is always good prospect OF
cure-partial at leass, if not total.
Il is my purpose with your permission, to
give comfort and hope to the csRsur ptives of
the land, and genuine aid, if they will uccept
of it, BY advising the use of an exceedingiy
plain prescription. In doing this, trust l
may be spared tho charge Of acting from
sinister motives, as was the case when re-
commended the use of cinehoua in the cure
OF drunkenness, and through which advice,
am very glad to report, worry many homes
have been made happy. Tho world is full of
cough aud consumption specifies as all know,
and pages of almsnaos, magazines aud adTcr.
tiziag newspapers are filed with certificates
and afiduyits of so. called cures but let the
afflicted bear this important verify in mind
No cough mixture can reach the lungs
Lung tubercles let them be of either the
gray or yellow variety, can never bo removed
except by ABSORPTION, can mover be bealed
unless the carbon in the bleed is in sufficient
quantity to have it's proper chemical action
with the oxygen in the air inhaled with each
inspiration.
The majority, if not all, consumption spe>
cifics in market havo in them su fi cieut uuau>
tty OF opium or morphine 10 render them
soothing, or enough rum, whisky or alcohol
70 render them stinulative. In either case
parties using them feel, for a time at least.
that there is benefit from their use il is
fatal mistake to SO suppose. Nearly all such
preparations are injurious. 1 need not de-
scribe the synptoms of consumption, as they
nre so we'll known and go frequently boheld
that even the most unintclligent can diagnose
the disease FROM the hectic spots il the cheeks,
the terrible exhausting cough, rurulcnt ex,
pecteratioas and wasting body nor will l
here put down the thousand and one opinions
already printed as to its eausation. 1t will
be enough TO say that when it is once seated.
strenuous efforts to check it's progress must
be mado. Nature herself always tried to do
this, and with slight aid, she ususlly sue
cceds. Be hopeful then, ye afflicted ones.
Let US compare life to burning lamp. If
we supply oil as rapidly as the namo con-
sumes it, the wick remains unburat, aud the
lamp throws cut its given light; but if wo
fail to supply the oil needed to produce the
flame, it is a forogose conclusion the wick
becomes consumed, the light grows dim,
fickers and finally goes out altogether. In
other words the light dies because there is
toe much oxygen and not enough carbon
So it is with a consunptive's life. The dis,
ease he suffers frsn1 is = Hssting-sn iatsrn.l
fever which consumes the earbon in his blood
more rapidly than the food he eats can sup
ply it. If carbon wss furnished ss fast as
the disease exhausted it, the body would not
waste if it was put iato the blood in excess
of what the disease required there would bo
an Increase in tho strength and bulk of the
body, instead of . decrease. Like tho lamp
the supply of oil in the body nust be equiv>
nleBt to the dcmaad, or in excess of H. IF
this be not SO, the life, like the wick, will be
consumed.
Some months ago the little daughter Cagsd
fourtesn), of a trunkmaker of this city, one
McGorden-1 am permitted to use his name
was pronou1ced a hopeless eousunptiYe,
and to have seen Der at that time ono would
have supposed there was good ground for the
decision, ns she was q mere skeleton, had a
terrible cough, expectorated oyor half pint
a day of greeuish bIeod .stEeaked tubercuIeus
matter, and vas SO exceedingly nervous that
che could scarcely sleep at ali, night or day.
She had been doctorsd long while with
cough and consumptiys specifics, and one or
two physicians had tried their skill on her.
but without avnil-her life gradually draw
ing to close. Meeting her father who vas
almost heart-broken at the thought of soon
losing herr one day, gavO him this prescrip-
ton One half pound finely cut-up beef
stake Qrssh), one drschm pulverizsd char.
coal, four ounces pulverizsd sugar. four
ounces rye Whisksy, one pint boilisg water.
Mix all together, let it stand in osol place
over night, and give from one to two tea
spoonsful liquid and meat before eseh meal.
| This was tried, and in four or Eve weeks this