Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04
EVERY DAY SCIENCE.
With Patience and Energy Consump.
tiVes Can Cure Themselves.
A MATTER OF AIR AND EXERCISE.
Recent Orders for Cars as an index to
Railroad Development.
LETTERS By WIRE AND TYPEWRITER
PREPARED FOR THE DrsPArcH. !

AEhEE AhhD FOh 1Ah DIsBATCH
The durability of consumption has been
30 thoroughly established that rules for the
suppression Of the disease have been drawn
up by medical experts, and these have been
found to be of the utmost value. If possible,
the residence Of the patient should be situa-
ted in the country, in a healthy suburb, or
in a wide, open street. The rooms, and
especially that used as the sleeping apart
ment should be lofty, capacious, we'll
lighted by windows that open, aud ventila-
ted by direct and continuous free commu-
nication with the external air, summer and
winter, night and day. Gradually lower
the temperature of the room until there
is not nearly so much differ
ence between it and that of
the external air as that to which we are now
accustomed. Great care should be taken
about the clothing of the body. 1t is essen
tial that the clothes should be made so loose
that they offer no impediment to the full and
free movement of the chest. When order
ing clothes be sure the measurement is taken
at full inspiration. and see that they are
quite easy even then. Don't use braces,
corsets or respirators; they tend to impede
the respiratory movement Wool manutac-
tured in such way that it is elastic and
permits free ventilation should be worn
next the skin, and the under linen should
be frequently changed, so that no impedi-
ment is offered to its emanations.
A sponge bath should be taken every day.
Low-heeled boots, with wide, broad toes,
should be worn, so that walking exercise
may be taken in comfort. Spend as much
time as possible, and that daily in some
form or other of active exercise in the open
air. Carefully avoid the habit of STOPPING;
throw the shoulders back, the chest forward
and get into the habit of holding the body
erect at all times. Breathe through the |
nose, and take half dozen deep inspira- |
tions, followed by full expiration, several |
times daily. Go in for gymnastics, giving |
special attention to the development of the |
muscles ofthe chest, swimming, singing and |
athletics, and get gradually acclimatized to |
the external air, wind and rain. Don't |
overload the body with clothes, and main-
tain the temperature in the natural way by
Increased muscular exertion.
Get the chest girth and vital capacity
taken at Regular periods, and record them,
so that you may know what progress YOU
sre making; and do not relax these efforts
for day until the chest girth at the nipple
line has come up to the standard prescribed
by your physician. The members OF con-
sumptive families and those who bear the
marks OF threatened disease narrow chest
and faulty carriage of the body, associated
with some indication or other OF deranged
heath-should make it the first business of
their lives to carry out the above directions.
1t is not everyone who is in a position to
carry out the whole of them, but by making
1t rule OF life to observe such as lie within
the power of the patient, the difference be-
tween sickness and health can in the
majority Of cases be effected. Those who
are engaged in sedentary, chest-constricting
or dust-lnhaling occupations should most
scrupulously devote specified time daily
to the development OF the lungs on the fore
going lines
Among special methods of curin con
sumption may be mentioned that of physi-
clan who depended almost entirely on exer-
else in the open air. He ordered his pa
uents TO continuously ride on horseback
till they got we'll. This exercise was to be
taken in the country where the air was
good; the riding was to be increased from
to $50 miles day; and the patients were
to stop only for food for themselves and ,
their horses, and not to remain more than
one night In a place The result of this
treatment was almost invariably successful.