Wichita eagle., 1886-08-28
1ai1S gayle
KING CONSUMPTION
ON THE DECLINE IN THE CITY OF
NEW YORK.

ON THE DECLINE IN THE CITY OF
NEW YORK.
PROGRESS OF tho Disease Moro Rapid, but
the Number OF Victims Steadily Dimin-
ishi.g- Numerous Nostruns- Preven-
ton. Exercise and Climate.
aKing Consumption" said a physician OF
reputation lately, "who has put SO many IN a
decline, is at last on decline himself in this
city. He has not lightened his hold uron
those upon whom he has once fastened, but
the number of his victims is steadily din;n-
ishing The progress of the disease, after it is
once seated is pronounced by physicians to
be more rapid than ii was when this genera
tior was Young, and there is much more rapid
transit from it's inception to its elimination. A
score of wears ago cases of persons suffering
from hacking, wasting coughs for many years
were common, but now the disease generally
does its work in a briefer period, usually in
two or three years. Consumption has done
more to enrich quack medicine manufactur-
ers than ell other diseases combined.
THE VARIOUS so-CALLED CURE-ALLS
GThe number of nostrums that have been
put before the public as infaliihle is simply
immense and as varied, and their work as
evanescent in its effect as tho shifting group
ings of kaleidoscope Each in its turn has
beguiled the sufferer for a period and then
left him no better, but rather worse, from the
reaction following the temporary indulgence
in fallscious hopes. No compound OF drugs
has STAYED the disease, although the hypo-
phosphites, lime, soda, and manganese help
arrest it before it has real foothold. Cod
liver oil is food, supplying the fatty sub
stances that most readily yield to the destroy
er, but it merely feeds until the appetite Of
the disease becomes Unsuitable.
"Regular physicians look mainly to preven-
ton, having little or no hope Of curing con-
sumption after it is once seated; but outside
of their ranks all kinds OF experiments are
being made Inhalation in various styles is
practiced with oxygen, nitrous oxide gas, and
air impregnatcd with drugs. The milk cure
is one of the latest, the patients being sent to
the mountains, where they ere fed entirely
on milk and breathe the pure air of the high
or attitudes. But, although post mortem ex-
aminations have revealed completely clca-
tried cavities in lungs, showing that forces
and processes of nature had brought about n
cure of consumption, the physicians have not
vet penetrated the secret. The injection Of
antiseptic preparations has been proposed
Some eminent authorities hope for good re-
suits, but the value of the suggestion is yet to
be demonstrated and faith is reposed only in
such means rs may strengthen and harden
the tissues sufficiently to turn the edge OF the
sharp teeth of the consuming disease.
"Thc decrease in the number Of deaths from
CONSUMPTION il this city is the result Of pre-
vention and not OF cure. More care is being
exercised in observing the laws of health.
Physicians are steadily intoxicating deeper
breathing and chest expansion by walking,
riding, rowing and other exercise. More visits
to the mountains are made, and the lighter
air induces deeper and longer inspirations.
Houses in the city are built with greater re-
gard to ventilation and comfort. and the style
of dress conforms moro closely to the require
ments of health. This is especially the case
with women in the matter of shoes. Thin
soles were once the rule. Now they are the
exception"
HYGIENE AND HEALTH.
DIR. j. T. Nagle. OF the bureau OF vital Stats
tics. ascribes the decrease in the number of
deaths from. consumption partly to climatic
changes There are also, he says, better IA
ciiities, for the care of patients, more care
taken in preventing the disease, and more
care is eIercized as TO breathing by those
who have the slightest tendency .oward pull
monary trouble, and indeed by people gener-
ally, deeper respiration being more generally
the rule than il was years ago. The duty Of
bringing all parts of the lungs into use by
means of deep and long respirations has been
steadily nculcated by physicians and hygienic
writers. and the instructions is bearing fruit;
more light exercise is taken than in former
wears, and there has been substantial develop
ment of the chest and muscles by the use OF
gymnastics. Tho air is pure, and its being
rarefed naturally leads to longer and deeper
inspirations in breathing, bringing into active
exercise portions of the lungs that have been
unused DR.. Maggie has much faith in the
heroic treatment by injection of antiseptics.
Where the disease is making steady progress
it affords hope. Surgeons have succeeded in
antiseptic treatment of injured intestines.
DIR. J. r. Leaning, a specialist in chest
diseases, and one of the visiting physicians at
st. Luke's hospital, said the improvement is
due to the fact that people are paying more
regard 10 the laws of health, are eating bet
ter food, and are dressing more sensibly.
Houses are better built, and the facilities for
living well have been greatly increased
Women especially arc dressing with more re-
gard to health than formerly, wearing heavier
shoes and allowing moro breathing space in
their dresses Physicians have strongly III
culcetsd the necessity of deep, strong breath
ing. and people are taking the lesson to heart
Consumption is disease of depression. PEG
pie in depressed conditions, suffering from
Intellectual struggles for livelihood, are pc
culiarly susceptible to the disease. The ship
fever year, lS49, depressed the people, ord j:
was followed by larger number Of cases OF
consumption. Everything that depresscs Tho
spirits fav0rs consumption. Poor people are
moro subject to dependency, and hence they
supply the greater number OF cases of con
sumption. While no was physician in dis
pensary, DIR. Leaning found the Irish special
ly liable to consumption particularly after
the ship fever year. A cheerful disposition i
a great preventive Heredity, he thinks i.
merely tendency. 1t does not transmit thu
disease ltsef, and children can by proper
treatment be brought out from its influence =
New York Sun.
When Business WAS Rather Slack.
Meanwhile the cabman, having finished hi
first pennyworth of coffee, began upon
second remerking to me as he did SO: "1hi
is quantity agin quality, this is. When Tn
flush o money drinks no.hin' less than beer
but when I'm down on my luck l sometime
fails as low as coffee" 1T seems, them sug
Cested l. that business is rather slack a
present" Slack" echoed the man of whip
cord with an intensity Of feeling to which II,
words can do Justice We'll ! should raythe,