The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-02-05
a CHAPTER ON DISEASE.

n CHAP J6H ON DJSeeoE.
The Advancement Of Medical Science--
Consumption and Other Diseases.
New York Mail and Expressl
There are pcssimistic and optimistic
doctors. One class who believe in the
advancement of medical science, and
the former, who seem rather to stick to
theories and practice long since deemed
inadequate and useless. In an inter-
view with one of the optimistic class he
said that within the last thirty years
the improvements made in medical
science were truly wonderful.
what are the tendencies Of disease
now, doctor, at this high stage Of civil
EatiOn?"
Sudden climatic changes in 1enscly
populated cities produce acute pulmon-
ary diseases, perhaps, more than any
other. Our climate within the last few
years seems to be more variable and the
changes from freezing to fever heat in
twenty four hours are not healthy for
persons prcdisposcd to have weak lungs.
The young can stand it, but tho aged
are apt to die before tho disease runs its
course. Consumption increases as the
density of population increases. But
then to offset this fact q better knowl-
edge of hygiene and more careful living
acts as a preventive. The treatment Of
this most insidious disease has been the
study of the scientific men of the profess
sion and the means Of enriching great
many charlatans and quacks who
invent q remedy for all the ills
that flesh is heir to and find pa
irons among the hopeless and credulous
unfortunates. In the treatment of
consumption electricity has mol been
found cilicacious. The tendency in the
treatment Of all diseases is to give less
medicine; to trust more to nursing and
proper hygicnic measures. Vigorous
dcpletiye plans of treatment are much
less resortcd 10 now than formerly. The
human system contains SO much VI
tally, SO much blood, and to increase it
by taking from it, is not common sense
philosophy. Then what shall consump-
tiycs do. what medicines shall they take.
That is the question. Go to country
that has pure atmosphere, where tho
pores. Of the soil are free from contami-
nation by Overcrowding. ANY country
that has pure atmosphere and is not
densely populated is as good as another.
! cannot say that consumption, how
ever, is greatly on the increase, not as
much SO as acute pulmonary diseases.
what other diseases increase with
progress
NERVOUS diseases are increased by the
| more luxurious living now indulged in.
| have no doubt but that electricity il
Of great benefit in nervous diseases. In
time to come it may create revolution
| and prove panacea to the human race.
| There are establishments where elec.
tricity is continually being experimental
| with on nearly all diseases. With the
class of diseases l principally deal with
| heart, lung and acute pulmonary
have found no use as yet for electricity.
| It seems to be out of my domain alto
gether, or else we have never discovered
how to use it,
"What about hydropathy!'
/ ''Hydropathic establishments had Z
hold upon the public some ten year
ago. The theory Of Preissnitz and hi
disciples was that water caused ;
crisis as indicated by the eruptionl
consequent upon its use, and thu,
wrought cure of nearly all human
maladies. The theory proved for q tim,
satisfactory to tho people, and watcl
privileges for the establishment Of bath,
were in great demand. Man was no
such an aquatic animal as it was sup
posed, and to-day the hydropathist,
are not SO numerous nor SO enthusiastic
Bathing, though, is always healthy, ant
cleanliness is next to gOdlineSS, and us
ually far from doctors bill. Bright,
disease seems to be increasing. All in
fectious diseases are being treated from ;
new standpoint. A different variety Ol
bacteria entering into the causation give,
great latitude for scientists and empiri
cists. Now DIR. koch's microbes ar
found in all that G. ass Of diseases known
as acute Infectious diseases. Yet this
fact settles nothing definitely. Tho sal
yation of large cities is the strict sani
tary rules which prevail =
Where have the greatest strides bcel
made in your profession
In the diagnosis Of cases tho facilities
have increased thousand fold
Mechanical aids for diagnosis and prac
tical knowledge have largely advanced
methods of examination. Diagnosis i.
now tho chief thing. 1t is the cure al
most. Some timo back, physician
waited until the disease progressed for ,
few days in order to see what it woult
resolve itself into, or what shape it IS
sumed. The consequence was, tn
patien generally died. Now the aim j,
to tell 1t the beginning what the patien
is suffering from and treat accordingly
The country doctor who always treated
his patient so as to throw him into fits il
order to lie able then to diagnose hi
case and cure it, frequently, no doubt
killed him during the process. The bat
tie, you might say, is Won when cor
rect diagnosis is made. Science has as
sisted greatly towards this, and thu
contributed more than in discovering
now treatments.
''lIow are the schools Of homeopathy
clairvoyancc, mesmerism, the laying Of
of hands, etc, interfering with the reg
nlar physicians
Not at all. Tho homnpathists hay,
still great many adherents. They ar
the result of ignorance. HomIpath,
) had in its organic construction certain
elements of success which did not be
long to either Of the others. The con
ccption OF disease as dynamic, or as
spiritual force, and Of resisting its pro
gress ly medicine exalted BY diffusion
to Il spiritual force, at one timo wa
much moro in accord with the trans
ccndental and aesthetic spirit of the age
than the simple theories Of other schools
Persons often get well without the al,
of medicine, il only the nursing ant
hygcnic conditions are properly at
tended to- Many people believe in tn
, doctrine Of similia siinilibus cnrantur
who have no faith in homeopathy"
Sanitary Items.
, Texas Siftngs.l
Tommy" said San Antonio mothe
to her lit,lo boy. "Your uncle will b
hero to dinner today, and you mus
have your face washed