Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-03-03
The Cure ofConsumptiOn.

proposition lately presented to the
Academy of Medicine of New York is of in.
terest outside of ths medical profession, for
it is based on the theory that under ra.
tional treatment pulmonary consumption is
curab!e.
The scheme proposes the establi shmeDt in
the neighborhood of New York Of an iusti-
luion for the treatment Of consumptives
modelled after saEatorum now in success.
full operation in Germany, near frankfort.
At present our homes for coneumptives are
simply charitable institutions, to which pa
tents go to find comparatively comforta'
BILE place in which to die, but the German
hospital is something very different 1t was
founded in 1874 by joint stock company
and its purpose is not merely alleviatlon,
bat actual and permanent cure of the dis
ease.
The head OF the FalkeDstein sanatorium
is DIR. P Dettweiler, who was himself 81
sufferer from pulmonary consumption. The
climate Of Falkenstein is not believed to
have any specific influence On the diseased
organ. the favorable results secured being
due rather to the method of treatment.
This method, in brief, is to keep the pa.
tient either lying or walking in open air,
almost day and night, and to give him
rich, LIBERAL and peculiarly adapted
diet, in which milk is freely used,
and also wine and brandy under care
ful regulations. Each case is treated sepa.
rately, according to its Individual necessities
and compressed or dilated air, massage,
and the douche are employed as their sd-
vantage may be indicated. The patients
life is controlled down to the smallest de-
tails, nothing being left to his own Judg-
meot. After being acclimated, h must
spend many hours daily, lying, properly
covered, or q lounge placed upon one OF the
verandas, or on one of the rotating paylllons,
permanent cir and rest treatment being the
specially Of the institution. Even IN the
colGess weather the patients are subjected
to this treatment, unless their cases are oil
the severest, or they are suffering from in"
tercurrent diseases Six hours is the aver
age time spent on the lodnke. while many
remain from nine to eleven hours, passing
tho time reading or writing, playing domi-
hoes or chess, the verandas and paviiions
being we'll lighted after dark" The sys.
tematic use of massage, The daily rubbing
down of patients, and the cold douche are
also features of tbs treatment. The diet is
very carefully regulated to tempt the appe
tite and with reference to the condition OF
the digestion, the meals consisting OF
breakfast from to $50, second breakfast
at TO- dinner at i, fresh milk at 4, and
warm supper at I. The food is we'll pre-
pared and "cooked rather rich," and it is 80
appetitizing that Sc per cent. of all the pa
tients gain an average Of 0 $40 pounds each
ia three months, "the administration OF such
liberal and rich diet amounting almost to
oyerfeedipg."
DR.. Dettweiler has an especially high
opinion OF the value of alcohol as remedial
agent in cases Of pulmonary consumption,
the ordinary patient drinking from three
fourths to full bottle of good clares, Rnlne
or Hungarian wine daily, aud others ior
longer or shorter period receiving two tea
spoonfuIs of pure brandy every hour or two
from morning to night, besides glass OF
brandy milk punch at retiring. After nu-
merous trials and experiments with large
variety of remedies" writes DR.. Dettweiier,
''I will say freely that would rather dis
pense with the use of salicyl, qulnine, or an .
tipyrine than with good wine or brandy"
Finally the patients sleep with their WIZ
dows open all night, and the greatest care is
taken to preserve cleanliness.
The average number 10 the sanatorlum IS
I6O in the summer and l20 in winter, and
the entire cost to patient is not over So o
day. The institution is financially SUCCESS.
full but the stock holders are limited to B per
cent, the surplus being expended on i'm
provements or held as fund for the estao.
iishment of similar sanatorium for the
treatment of poorer patients. AS to the re-
suits of the method, DR.. Dettweiler says that
'sif the disease has not made too much prog.
ress. and if the treatment is continued sui.
ficien. length of time, more than one.half of
all cases of bacillary phthisis should be
cured, apd they will remain SO if the patient
will live accordingly afterward."-N Y. Sun.