Wichita eagle., 1888-10-31
FEAR OF CONSUMPTION.
SOME OF THE ABSURD DElUSlONS
ABOUT IT DlsPELLED.

The Condition OF susceptibility" and
How It Is Induoed-Sy1nptoms Which
Should and Others Which Should Noe
Cause Apprehension-Appetit
It is said that everything which appears 70
affect the health of mankind has been alleged
to be a cause Of pulmonary consumption,
such as deficiency and poor quality of food,
lack of pure air. hight, 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 a
condition peculiarly susceptible to consump-
ton; it invites that disease. 1t is generally
believed by people at large that consumption
of the lungs is a disease which occurs pri-
marily 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 bis
system. There a great mistake is made
The lungs will never suffer from consump-
ton as long as the rest of the body is in q
good state Of health.
1t is generally accepted by physicians that
the direct asd exciting cause of this disease is
germ. Now, this germ, in order for it to
thrive and do its destructive work, needs q
peculiar SOIL as it were. II introduced into
the organism of healthy person, it would not
multiply, but would die. If, however, that
Same PERSONS general health were impaired,
either by overwork, disease, excessive indul
gences, or as consequence of being denied
good and sufficient food, pure air, etc., then
he would be in Just such 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 a person at his birth.
1t is generally the Inheritance of children Of
consuEiptive parents, but tho parents need not
necess arily have had that disease to transmit
a susceptibility to consumption. II either Of
them are syphihtic or suffer from any maGg-
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 inhamuatory diseases of the
lung Itself, especially those Of catarrhal
type and ether affections, prominent among
which are measles and whooping cough,
create a liability to pulmonary consumption.
The term Catarrhal must not be unisunder-
stood in this connection. We do not refer to
cat2rrh of the nasal passages. 1t is popular
detusion that nasal catarrh is liable TO run
into consumption. There is absolutely no
truth in such q theory. If person so suf
fered from nasal trouble that he could breathe
only through bis mouth, and II that oondi-
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
oertain to fear for a long time afterward Lest
they become consumpdve- That acute affec-
ton. when recovered from, does not leave the
lung in a condition susceptible to the graver
disease. In fact, Pneumonia, running pat
ural course to recovery, never leaves behind
1t any special weakness; ia other words, if
one rec0vers he RECEIVERS completely. Con-
sumption is often attributed to catching cold.
If we take a severe cold and neglect it, and
consequently are ailing for some time, during
which we suffer from cough, then VIC are in
condition ~ which pulmonary consumption
is possible if exposure to the germs Of the dis
ease occurs When one has 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, and none, We
may say, unless the general health becomes
much impaired Or there is present the pecu-
liar susceptibility 70 it.
While acute affections of the lungs create
a liability to consumption, the number Of
w nsch tarrp raf fxrr1v
small That disease, a q Tula, comes on tn
sidiousty, and usually exists for time be-
fore its presence Is suspected Il = q curious
fact that among al the persons who consult
physicians, believing Themselves 20 have con-
Sumption, in only vay small per cent are
the lungs found to b Affected This sbo1s
how common it is IS an imaginary affection
A reason is, because people generally at
tribute to it symptoms which do not belong
to il Az, for instance, II impressinS the
ribs oue ''feels q acre spot which fingers for
q few days, then straight away be is uneasy
about hi1nseN and team consumption Now,
really, the tendsru1s described y not .
symptom of that disease. II is simply In the
walls of the ohsst and BIS nothing 70 DO VITA
tbs lunsA In ssce, ps1a y not symptom 4
the lungs may be very badly
diseased before any pain is ever faat IN them
Again, II one coughs and fnds his sputA
slightly sereakei Win blood, be n, - q rule,
ct once s1arsaed, ana mAgipss Ae has coo-
sumption That ssrsaisd Appaars1us ocoDs
far ottener In bpoaoaiai tsoUtlss than In ths
gra<er sfectvr Wheu hood b rstsod from
the lungs, il is generally .a.rly a3aar; De
osh~ symponQ, aio1e b. bnt heAae. q arJ,
SoeDsezma what appears 70 Be
= hemorrhaep from the la0N proves = bs
simply bleeding tram The nose, tae blood
running hsek and down into tie aTos< IN
EAsd Il coming out If the uostTik And Jet,
b all oases where clear blood . raised, .
phyxician shooid Be Consulted arA I'll doubts
Is 60 it origin set - ReA
One Of the earliest symptoms q eonsa1p-
ton l. q shGr:, backing cough That r1rcsT
e1csts unca&ons aSnl il has existed Tor
long uEe. IN certain throat a6Eoocs Ne |
have . cough rsasrsh.tng il soos~enA, -
ts<re b quite dscsdsd di60eoca which = i
evident to- ehJx1ciAa A hsc&snS eoAgh, II !
rerxizsspa. asAough il mly oocz. oosssnr.J |
during she dAJ. Ah0aid isAd cae % ss<x tss |
advice Il = yAJnezan Sw&sng q u,Eo&,
people guo~>2iy eshevs, points 70 dssas a |
Tia lrngx n &sR nOs b suJ Eeacs Gwas |
Egaty thsx ~ sxpsra snaghs sueaV
only n coEsnpk1on w1.1 tbs pa:.E4s /
strength has neaezahay fassed- Thcy are /
an evidscca Of general veAkn0A- Aoa cay /
oocE II &Gy SUQ ef dsaHJ.