Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-23
FEAR OF CONSUMPTION.
SOME OF THE ABSURD DELUsIoNs
ABOUT IT DlSPELLED.
The Condition Of susceptibility" and
How 1t Is Induced-Symptoms Which
Should and Others Which Should Not
Caus< ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rettta

Should and Others Which Should Not
Cause Apprehension-Appetit
1t is said that everything which appears to
affect the health of mankind has been alleged
to be cause of pulmonary consumption,
such as deficiency and poor quality Of food,
lack of pure air, light, warmth and exercise;
in fact, everything which impairs the nour-
ishment of the body, induces poverty of the
blood, or depresses the nervous system This
is true The waste of the vital power, no
matter how produced, leaves the system in
condition peculiarly susceptible to consump |
ton; it invites that disease. It is generally |
believed by people at large that consumption |
of the lungs is a disease which occurs pri |
marty in the lungs themselves. In other |
words, that such disease of those organs may
exist, at least in the early stages, in person
perfectly sound in every other part of his
system. There great mistake is made.
The lungs will never suffer from consump-
ton as long as the rest of the body is in a
good state of health.
1t is generally accepted by physicians that
the direct and exciting cause of this disease Is
a germ. Now, this germ, in order for it to
| thrive and do its destructive work, needs
| peculiar soil, as it were If introduced into
| the organism of a healthy person, it would not
| multiply, but would die IT, however, that
| same persons general health were impaired,
| either by overwork, disease, excessive indul-
| gences, or as a consequence of being denied
| good and sufficient food, pure air, ETC., then
| he would be in just such a condition as the
| germ of consumption needs for its growth
| and multiplication Heis as physicians term
| it, In a condition of susceptibility" This
peculiar condition may not only be acquired,
but it may also exist in person at his birth.
1t is generally the inheritance of children of
consumptive parents, but the parents need not
necessarily have had that disease TO transmit
a susceptibility to consumption. If either of
them are syphilitic or suffer from any malig-
nant disease, or have what is termed a scrof-
ulous constitution, their children are quite
likely to come into the world stamped with a
decided tendency to consumption.
Very many infammatory diseases of the
lung itself, especially those of a catarrhal
type and other affections, prominent among
which are measles and whooping cough,
create liability to pulmonary consumption.
The term catarrhal must not be misunder-
|
catarrh of the nasal passages 1t is a popular
deusion that nasal catarrh is liable TO run
into consumption There is absolutely no
truth in such theory. If person so suf-
fered from nasal trouble that he could breathe
only through his mouth and if that condi-
ton lasted for several years, he would be
likely to have set up bronchial trouble, but
that alone would never induce pulmonary
consumption.
People who have had pneumonia are quite
certain to fear for long time afterward lest
they become consumptive, That acute affec-
ton, when recovered from, does not leave the
lung in condition susceptible to the graver
disease. In fact, Pneumonia, running nat
ural course to recovery, never leaves behind
it any special weakness; in other words, if
one RECEIVERS he RECEIVERS completely Con-
sumption is often attributed to catching cold
If we take severe cold and neglect it, and
consequently are ailing for some time, during
which we suffer from cough, then we are in a
condition in which pulmonary consumption
is possible If exposure to the germs of the dis
ease occurs. When one has a severe attack
OF acute bronchitis he is likely, if improve
ment is not rapid. TO grow uneasy and fear
consumption. But very few cases however,
terminate in that grave disease, ana none, we
may say, unless the general health becomes
much impaired or there is present the pecu-
liar susceptibility to it.
! While acute affections of the lungs create
a liability to consumption, the number of
cases which 80 terminate are comparatively
small That disease, as a rule comes on in
sidiously, and usually exists for q time be-
fore its presence is suspected. 1t is curious
fact that among all the persons who consult
physicians, believing themselves to have con
sumption, in only very small per cent, ars
the lungs found to be affected This shows
how common 1t is as an imaginary affection
A reason is, because people generally at
!, tribute to it symptoms which do not belong
TO r. As, for instance, if impresSing the
ribs one feels a sore spot which fingers fol-
few days, then straight away he is uneasy
) about himself and fears consumption. Now
q really, the tenderness described is not 6
symptom of that disease. 1t is simply in tht
:, walls Of the chest and has nothing TO do with
= the lungs. In fact, pain is not a symptom Of
. consumption; the lungs may DO very badly
= diseased before any pain is ever felt in them
. Again, one coughs and finds his sputs
4 slightly streaked with blood, he is as rule
at once alarmed, and imagines he has con
: sumption. That streaked appearance occur
;. far oftener in bronchial troubles than in tn
, graver affection. " hen blood is raised from
= the lungs, it is generally nearly clear; tn
y other symptom, alone, has but little, if any
20 significance. Sometimes what appears to b
hemorrhage from the lungs proves to b
y simply bleeding from the nose the bloot
: running back and down into the throat, in
= stead of coming out of the uostrils And yet
in all cases where clear blood is raised,
= physician should be consulted and all doubt
as to its origin set at rest.
, One of the earliest symptoms OF consumE
= ton is a short, hacking cough. That rarel
y excites uneasiness until it has existed for
~ long time. In certain throat affections W
., have cough resembling it somewhat, ye
IL there is quite decided difference, which
u evident to a physician A hacking cough,
\, persistent, although it only occurs occasonall
III during the day, should lead one to seek tt
advice of physician. Sweating at nigh
lo people generally believe, points to disease
10 the lungs. 1t does not by any means alway
~ signify that We expect might sweat
lu only in consumption when the patient
n' strength has measurably failed. They al
an evidence Of general weakness, and ms
~ occur In any form Of debility
vi A persistent loss in weight is one of Il
81 characteristic symptoms of pulmonary col
VI sumption, for the nutritive processes suff
III early impairment. In all cases, whatev
q appears to be the probable cause of the SIC
"a ing of flesh" if it is continuous, even if vel
~ gradual, a physician should be consulte
- for that symptom is really serious In t
I've same connection we may say that II a co
~. sumptive gains in weight, 1t is one of t
'u' most positive signs of Improvement Amol
D. the most pronounced symptoms of this
70. ease, and which are the least appreciated
~. .o non-professionals, are those referable to t
a digestive organs. Loss of appetite is oft
'oi one of the first, and there is more or less d,
~, 70 pspsia- We may say with truth that VIII
AL the appetite of a person remains good and
digestion sound, he has little to fear FRI
consumption Boston Herald
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