Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-20
opEN-AlR TREATMENT.
xb. influence of Country Trips on Con
sumptive Tendencies.

~h. Influence of Country Trips on Con
sumptive Tendencies.
There is a strong conviction that life
In the omen air serves an excellent pur
nose in warding off threatened attacks
of phthisis or in curing 1T. Generally
however, it is believed that TO obtalr
the benefits of air locality distant
from the patients home is imperative
on the mountains, by the sea, at the
South or in the North, etc. As matter
of fact most patients are unable tt
leave their homes. II treated at ali
thew must be treated in the State In
which they reside.
Many years ago a physician who had
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 his
medical advisers that he was attacked
by consumption. He took his horse and
wagon, and for three months spent his
time in riding about New England and
New York. He would travel FAR anc
near, daily, according to his inclination.
At the end of the period he returned &c
his home and professional work, and
ton till nearly eighty years Of age. He
died at last not from any disease, but as
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. |. Bowditch
Med. News gives valuable contrlbu
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 tour
| of New England in one-horse chalse'
| The first day he travelled twenty-five
| miles, but his exhaustion and haemop
tysis was so great that he was urged te
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
ct its apex, but both were otherwise
healthy.
He says that his father married his
cousin, who died of chronic phthisis two
years before his father. OF eight chill
dren, one died at birth, and one al
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
10 the journey, supplemented by the
following outdoor exercise, and careful
regulation of the health of his children
DR.. Bowditch thinks that many pa
kients die from want of open-air treat
ment He directs each of his phthisica
patients to walk daily from three to si2
miles; never to stay at homo all da1
unless a violent storm be raging L
the weather be very cold he directs
them to wear respirators. He forbid
standing still on the street to talk t.
friends He thinks that by following
shis plan patients may be ured a
home, and while still conducting thei
business; this seems sound sense. Bet
ter use the air at our doors and near on
Aomes, before We lily to other air hun
ireds or thousands Of miles away.
To those unable to walk sufficient,
far to reach the best air near hom
without excessive fatigue, it is adyisa
BILE to use a horse and buggy, or team
driven by the patient, which is far bet
her. The therapeutic value OF spirite
span OF thoroughbreds, to one able t
manage them, is very great, and these
TOO, can lie added to the effects of III
open air proper. Consumptives are onl
one of many classes Of people who woul'
be thus benefited. Detroit Lancet.