The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-25
How to Treat Consumption. Z

How to Treat Consumption.
DR.. Felix Oswald begins in the May
number of the Popular Science Monthly
series of papers on THE Remedies of
Nature for the Principal Disorders of
the Human Organism" The first paper
treats of Consumption" and the writer
says much of Importance on the subject
of this dreadful disease. He defines
consumption as essentially house dis
ease, and says:
Irrespective OF race differences and
special dietetic habits, the hnbitual
breathing of vitiated air leads to the de-
velopment of pulmonary scrofula. And
science has furnished the rationale of
that result Physiology has demonstra-
ted that air is gaseous food, and respira-
ton process OF digestion. The atmos-
pierre furnishes the raw mater rial Of the
pulmonary pabulum; at each inspiration
the organism of the lungs imhibes the
oxygeneous or nutritive principal of the
air draught. and excretes the indi-
gestible elements. BY breathing the
same air over and over again, the Atmos-
pheric element becomes azotized; ie,,
depleted of its life sustaining principle,
and therefore unfit to supply the wants
inb 9 of such Inflated ne air js tba
respiratory organs with indigestible e!e-
ments. which gradually accumulate. be-
yond the dislodging ability of the vital
forces, and at last corrupt the tissue of
the congested organ and favor the de-
velopment of parasites. Consumption is
one of the diseases that seem to confirm
the tenets OF the germ theory. A tuber-
cular diathesis is favored by stagnant
impurities oil the circulatory system, by
a warm and humid climate, and counter
acted by cold air and other antiseptics.
Six years ago German physician de-
monstlated that the progress of pumon-
airy scrofula. can be arrested by a pee
toral injection of carbolic acid; and
that the tubercle veins are alive with
microscopic parasites that multiply like
! the spores of prolific mushroom. The
first development of these lung de-
vourers would seem to amount to sem
tence of speedy death; yet their fecun-
dity hardly exceeds that of certain in
festival parasites and the Wis vitn has
methods of her own for dealing with
such foes, is ever to begin the battle for
life on the sole condition that we do not
complicate the difficulties Of the UNDER
taking by counter acting her efforts or by
rerpetuating the influence of the origi-
nal cause. Cease to feed the lungs with
azotlc gases and DR.. Rocks animalculn
will starve and disappear as surely as
man worms will starve and disappear if
VIC change pork and sour kraut diet
for bread and water.
In all ATTITUDES the disease known as
pulmonary consumption is caused by
the breathing of vltiated air and can be
eubdued by outdoor exercise, says DR..
Oswald, and while he does not say cured,
yet in all stages the progress of the
disease can be arrested by outdoor ex-
ercise alone. The writer believes that
out. oor life will cure the human organ
ism of any disease not to deep rooted.
An hours walking each day viking will
Keep the lungs catarrh proof. The night
air superstition is to be abandoned and
all bedrooms should be kept we'll aired
night and day. A rain shutter should be
at hand SO that in stormy weather the air
can be admitted. After the prejudice
against open windows has been cured,
the repugnance to outdoor exercise in
winter must be overcome. Tie best
lung food is good air, and after that fresh,
sweet cream. Salt pork is the worst,
and salt meat, pickles, puneent
spices, cheese and all kinds of intoxica-
ting liquors are to be avoided. The diet
recommended for those troubled with
pulmonary disease is composed of gra-
ham bread, honey, beans baked with.
butter instead of pork, and liberal des-
sert OF sweet fruit, as sweet grapes,
pears, strawberries and stewed prunes.
Dr.. Oswald says it is fallacy to suppose
that the night is an unfavorable time Tor
the assimilation of hearty meal. Ami
mails rest after repletion, and some of
them never sleep until they have good
meal to digest. He prescrIbes glass or
two of sweet red cream just before going
to bed, not as food, but as medicine.
It is an established fact, he adds, that
fat counteracts tuberculous diathesis.
Consumptives should sleep much in pure
air, avoid exciting emotions and stay out
OF crowded assemblages. If the danger
is recognized in time the virus can be
worked off nv outdoor aYarciaa