Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-27
Fer the Democratic Sorshvest.l
DIR. W0LFE'S
C ON mon Sense.
LETTER IX

II gives a startling importance 10 the
subject when we reflect that Of the men,
women. and children we daily see throng-
| ing our streets one-fifth will die with
some form of disease of the pulmonary
structure. Let us i'm caudor ask. what
hope have we to lessen this frightful
mortality by the old system of treatment?
Take up any practice of medicine-Wat-
son, Wood. Eberle, Hahnemann or
| Thompson-standard works in our medi-
cal schools, and all alike candidly avow
that no successful treatment of consump-
tion is known to them. Watch the prac-
tice of two physicians OF equal eminence.
and see how opposite their treatment is.
SO sure are they OF fatal results that
they deceive their patients at the begin
| ming by saying it Is "only a cold" or
"slight bronchitis;" and if the patient
spits blood, ''it comes from the throat. :"
Thus the precious opportunity when the
disease is most easily controlled is al
lowed to pass unimproved. The rem
edies they employed, while they soothe
the most distressing symptoms, mask the
disease, and in many instances hurry on
the catastrophe. When the disease has
so far advanced that the patient almost
despairs himself. he is advised to go to
Minnesota, Texas. Colorado, California,
or Florida, or take a sea voyage, to die
far from kindred and home. Why per-
sons suffering with decaying lungs will
trust themselves to physicians who open
ly proclaim in their books, and in their
conversation, that they can not cure con-
sumption. is most incomprehensible. If
the physician has no faith in his ability
to cure consumption, is itnot the height
of folly for the sick to employ him for
that purpose?
| will now consider symptoms which
herald consumption, and by making them
known apprise the patient in time to
avert danger.
Among the earliest symptoms of tuber-
cular consumption is slight morning
cough and ropy expectoration, with
specks Of yellow or greenish matter in
the mucus. The quantity is not always
a. criterion OF the extent of disease in the
lungs, though it generally is. It is of
utmost consequence that coughs should
be attended to early, for although
every cough is not the premonition of
consumption, still, - If neglected. 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 symtom of
consumption. 1t possesses fearful in
terest. from the fact it rarely happens,
except as a consequence of tubercular
disease in the lungs. 1t is by no means
unfrequent for physicians to assure their
patients that 1.-THE blood comes only from
the throat" Let me say the throat rare
ly bleeds. In nine hundred ninety nine
cases in thousand, when you coughstp
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 yoa nrize life, if
you have any object that re,l ,-s exist
ence desirable, begin at once to resist the
malady.
Many persons spit blood for years be-
fore any other symptom of consumption
is noticed, and by general observation
they would be pronounced healthy. Such
persons thump themselves on the breast
and say: ''There is nothing the matter
here. DOCTOR" and expect the good-na-
tured physician to confirm their wish.
In otaers, the first attack of hemorrhage
dates the commencement OF the disease;
and the cough, short breath, and expec-
toration are all properly referred to this
cause. Some again, do not raise blood
till late, and in many instances consump-
tion runs its entire course without even
tinge of blood in the expectoration.
But, when blood is spit, whether it is
only few streaks in the expectoration,
or mouthfuls, remember it rarely hap
pens except as serious disease of the
pulmonary structure. Splitting blood is
a sure indication of disease of some sort
within the lungs, from which will arise,
sooner or later, all those symptoms which
belong to consumption.
Professor Walsh, in his work on Dis
ease of the Lungs, says: In those cases of
bronchitis where blood is present in the
expectoration, tubercles may always be
suspected in the lungs"
The celebrated DIR. 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.
Professor Latham says: Splitting blood
alway gives fearful intimation of the
presence of tubercles, which are the eggs
of consumption"
In twelve hundred cases of bleeding
from the lungs, DR.. Louis did not meet
single instance where it was not pre-
ceded or followed by consumption. And
thus it is that splitting blood" is consid-
cred so sure precursor of that disease.
that life insurance companies refuse to
grant policies to any man that has been
so affected.
Hemorrhage from the lungs seldom
proves fatal in its immediate consequent
ces. Years may elapse before its fatal
effects are produced. Indeed, we hear
persons who have had bleeding from the
lungs remark afterwards that they feel
decidedly better; but this is only a tenn
porary relief, and it is fatal mistake to
regard it as the removal of the difficulty,
for the causes that produced the bleed
ing remain, and, if not removed, will end
in death.
Short breath is an early symptom. 1t
is felt most when ascending hill or 60
ing up stairs 1t is mark of such i'm
portance, that when it exists an immedi-
ate examination of the lungs should be
made by competent stethoscopist. If
along with short breath, there is wasting
of the body and quick pulse. it amounts
to a certainly there is disease in the lungs.
When the pulse gets above a hundred
beats in minute. the case is bad. In
some the pulse is slow, but yet they end
fatally. The pulse of an adult in health
is from seventy to seventy-five in mni-
ute, the respiration fifteen to eighteen.
Above this announces disease. Losing
flesh is always q suspicious symptom, un-