Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-01
How to Treat CONSUMPTION,

LII. FellA OSWALD DeglnS III 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 In bitual
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-
phere furnishes the raw material of the
pulmonary pabulum; at each inspiration
the organism of the lungs imbibes 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
of the animal economy. The continued
inhalation of such vltiated air fills the
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 OF the circulatory system, by
q warm and humid climate, and counter
acted by cold air and other antiseptics.
Six years ago German physician de-
monstIated that the progress of puimon-
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
testinal 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 countelacting her efforts or by
rerpetuating the influence of the origi-
nal cause. Cease to feed the lungs with
azotic gases and DR.. Rocks animalcula
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 latitudes the disease known as
pulmonary consumption is caused bv
the breathing of vltiated air and can be
subdued 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
OUTDOOR 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. The best
lung food is good air, and after that fresh,
sweet cream. Salt pork is the worst,
>'NN o'.Ao AASA'S P-SHiSSj PhAiEOAt
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 deg
sert OF sweet fruit, as sweet grapes,
pears, Strawberries and stewed prunes.
Or. Oswald says it is tallacy to suppose
that the night is an unfavornble time Tor
the assimilation of a hearty meal. Ami
mails rest after repletion, and some OF
meal to digest. He prescrlbes a glass or
two of sweet red cream just before going
to bed, not as food, but as medicine.
1t 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 by outdoor exercise.