The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-02
Three Square Meals.

"Three square meals, each followed by
a glass of good bourbon" was the advice
given by one of our physicians to poor
fellow far gone in consumption. When
the sufferer told me of this, counted his
pulse and found it ninety-eight, while the
burning spots on his cheeks added their
testimony to the existence of flame
within. Nothing 80 dishesrtens thought
full physician as the power of fashion in
the treatment of the sick. Diseases them
selves go by fashion; fashion dictates
their treatment. When first began to
practice medicine, every patient had
spinal irritation. As the doctor was seen
approaching, the lady began at once to
prepare her dress tn at he might examine
her spine. This fashion of spinal irrita-
tion continued for several years, and the
doctor always contrived to find sore spot
somewhere in the spinal column. There
are probably more such sore spots in
women's backs to-day, than there were
thirty or forty years ago, but the fashion
of spinal irritation has disappeared. Then
we had "a long spell" of torpid liver.
Like certain becoming fashions in wom-
ems dress, the torpid.liver fashion often
returns. But for the last ten or fifteen
years it has been out of fashion, and
"my liver is very well, thank you"
Women furnish doctors most of their
business, and with women fashion is all
potent. Doctors have found bonanza in
the treatment of certain displacements.
This fashion has fairly ragged, and has
furnished the medical profession with
more than half its income. But even this
fashion shows signs of giving way, and
we are now entering upon run of malaria.
| wish to say a word about the three
square meals, each followed by glass of
bourbon" in consumption. Doctors used
to bleed consumptives. 1t then seemed
sensible treatment, as the pulse often ran
up to one hundred and twenty, and the
cheeks showed inflammation. Now, the
fashion is stuffing and stimulating. Then,
now and ever, the only effective treatment
in consumption is a nutritious, abstemious
diet, avoidance of alcohol, cleanliness,
with vigorous skin friction, much sleep,
fresh air day and night, and much exer-
else in the open air. The saddle is the
best possible exercise for consumptives,
because it is the only vigorous one which
the consumptive's lungs permit him to
take. Within forty years | have seen
several hundred consumptives cured by
such treatment. Let me give case which
came under my observation during our
camp life in California. In the southern
part of the state we visited a famous
resort for invalids, and found about thirty
consumptives loungirg about hotel, feed
ing we'll, and sitting in the shade waiting
for death. Among these invalids was a
young lady of rare intelligence and lovli-
ness. An examination of her lungs dis
covered not only tubercular deposits, but
a considerable abscess. She begged me
to give her an honest opinion. She told
me that on her arrival she was better for
a few weeks, but was now losing weight
and strength. told her frankly that she
was doomed unless roughing it in the
saddle might save her. She was willing
and eager to do anything to escape her
mothers unhappy fate. At length, after
much opposition from her friends, she put
on pantaloons, and joined our ladies. We
used no side-saddles. The first night in
the open air kept her awake and fright
ened her. She was afraid bears and
things might swallow her. But that did
not last long. 1t never does in camp life.
A curious indifference, if not courage,
soon comes to the most timid. In week
her cough and expectoration we're better,
and on the sixty-seventh day she rode
thirty.eight miles without fatigue. Her
cough and expectoration were gone.
During the next summer she spent nearly
four months in the saddle, and is now, or
was few months ago, healthy woman.
If any medicine could perform such a
miracle, its fame would fill the world. If
dozen consumptives would join for a
summer in the saddle, camping out, they
would find it not only a delightful ex.
perience, but the pulse which on leaving
home is one hundred would in few weeks
fall below eighty, and the flame would be
extinguished. have seen such miracles
on horseback, in the cure of consumptives
that can conscientiously encourage many
who are thought on the brink of the
grave.-Dio Lewis's Monthly.