The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-20
OPEN-AIR TREATMENT,
The Influence OF Country Trips on Con-
sumptive Tendencies.

HhO 1uuu6uce OF country TrtpS Con
sumptive Tendencies.
There is strong conviction that lif,
IN the open air serves an excellent pur
pose in warding off threatened attack.
OF phthisis or in curing it. Generally
however, it is believed that to obtair
the benefits of air locality distan
from the patients home is imperative
on the mountains, by the sea, at tn,
South or in the North, etc. AS matter
OF fact, most patients are unable t,
Leave their homes. If treated at all
they must be treated in the State il
which they reside.
Many years ago physician who hat
spent nearly eighty years in Vermont
over fifty of which he was in active
practice, told the writer that shortly
after he began the practice of medicine
he broke down, and was told by hi.
medical advisers that he was attacked
by consumption. He took his horse an6
wagon, and for three months spent his
time in riding about New England and
New York. He would travel far and
near, daily, according to his inclination
At the end of the period he returned tc
his home and professional work, and
continued it almost without Interrupt.
ton till nearly eighty years of age. He
died at last, not from any disease, but az
the 'deacon's one-horse shay vanished,
all at once without any apparent cause.
In minor forms this observation OF
the effects of open-air travel has many
times been confirmed by the reports OF
careful observers. DR.. II. /. BOwditcE
(Med. News gives valuable contribu.
ton in support of the value of open-ail
travel TO consumptives. In 1908 his
father had all the indications of con.
sumption. With friend he took tou1
OF New England in one-horse chaise.
The first day he travelled twenty-five
miles, but his exhaustion and haemop-
sysis was so great that he was urged to
return home to die. But he pushed on.
and every day brought him improved
health. After his return home he took
regular open-air exercise, and died OF
carcinoma of the stomach thirty years
later, at the age of sixty-five. One lung
presented evidence of an ancient cicatri1
At its apex, but both were otherwise
healthy.
He says that his father married hi.
cousin, who died of chronic phthisis two
years before his father. OF eight chill
dren, one died at birth, and one a,
eleven. All the others arrived at adult
age and married, several being still
living. Of the ninety-three direct de
scendants of his father. not one was
phthisical This result was attributed
to the journey, supplemented by the
following outdoor exercise, and careful
regulation of the health of his children
DR.. Bowditch thinks that many pa
nents die from want of open-air treat
ment. He directs each of his phthisica
patients to walk daily from three to siz
miles; never to stay at home all day
unless a violent storm be raging. i
the weather be very cold he direct,
them to wear respirators. He forbidl
standing still on the street to talk tx
friends. He thinks that by following
this plan patients may be ured a.
home, and while still conducting their
business; this seems sound sense. Bet
Ger use the air at our doors and near ou1
homes, before we fly to other air hun
dreds or thousands of miles away.
To those unable to walk sufficiently
fer to reach the best air near home
without excessive fatigue, it is advisa.
bic to use horse and buggy, or team
driven by the patient, which is far bet.
Der. The therapeutic value of a spirited
span of thoroughbreds, to one able to
manage them, is very great, and these
700, can be added to the effects of the
open air proper. Consumptives are only
one of many classes of people who would
be thus benefited. DE troit Lancet.