Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-25
PNEUMONIA.


In early life when reading medicine as
a branch Of science and as variation
aud recuperation of M ma from studies of
a widely different kind, heard the ia
nous clinical Prof Aud~al say, in sub
stance, that medicine was an experiment
tai science, and knowing from its history
how much more it depended upon the in
dividual powers Of the physician than on
its theory, l based upon a superficial
knowledge OF anatomy ard physiologic
data, series Of experiments upon N.Y.
self ard others who could not consult a
physician, by which l was enabled TO
adopt theory, the principles Of which
have apparently saved many lives, my
own included. Seeing in every paper the
deaths OF valuable citizens from pneumO-
MIA, | have more than once published my
treatment of it. and as it is simple and adj
vocated ON a theory that has been pro-
nounced 'beautiful and apparently tena-
bic" by those qualified to judge, will
give it here.
The congestion in pneumonia cases
after death Is the result of the disease
and not its cause. TO remove this the
first step is 10 operate on The skin so as TO
oluce preparation by any of the means
known TO most people, and at once to rub
the chest, from arm-pit TO arm-pit and from
chin to false ribs, or lower, copiOusly
with hogs lard, followed by spirits
Of turpenJne. The lard must be
rubbed IN, and the tuTpentine
applied in the hollow of the hand,
with friction. Then let the hand be held
over a vessel Of steaming water contain
ing pine tops or few drops of turpentine,
aud covered with a shawl or blanket to
keep IL the steam. have put the patient,
as general rule, bodily over Il tub for a
steam bath, but in my own case, when
once given up by two excellent ply
sicians as beyond help, three or
four limitations over a basin let
the air to the very bottom Of the lungs,
with the effect ever since Of an improved
respiration. The pain in the chest, like
that Of a bar OF red-hot iron, was reduced
very slowly, it is true, and ceased only
after five or six hours, but, although did
not get about generally for quite a month.
my recovery was complete. In every case
where this method has been tried within
my observation recovery has been Sc
cured, and as some Of several appeared
desperate think that the publication of
this method of treatment may be the
means Of saving some valuable lives.
Very much such treatment, with the
duultIOH VI rev drops OF JuTDeHb ne
taken inwaTdly and it's fumes cOpiously
inhaled through the nostrils, vomiting
produced by cOpiOus draughts ofsea water,
and fever reduced by shower baths
(shower baths, obserYe), with the after
stimulus Of English pOrter-then con-
sidered by the physicians as most heroic
treatment-l honestly believe saved my
life and that of at least one other in the
great yellow fever year 1854.
l am aware that the medical profession
pays little attention to any suggestions
from outsiders but as ''masters OF
thought in the faculty have treated this
whole theory of the ''cause and cure of
disease" with respect, | will run the risk
of being charged with stalking in a
field where angels fear to tread" in the
hope Of arresting a few valuable
lives on their premature passage
to ''that bourne from which no
traveller returns,' but which most
of US like 10 approach as slowly as posi-
be however willing we may be to help
others on their way thither. In this mat
ter the advice ''festina lente" will doubt
less be listened to respectfully, especially
by those conscious OF not being on the
narrow way, however they may object to
the suggestion that they are on the broad
one. X. W. III.