The herald., 1895-12-25
CONSUMPTION
Can that Dreaded Enemy of All
Mankind Be Cured?
An Eminent Specialists Answer TO
a Question OF Life and
Death.

party OF travelling men ana tourists were
gathe ed in Il hotel corridor n few evening
ago. when the presence OF two gentleman
who had been continually coughing, led the
converse lion to the annual influx of consump-
tives to Los Angeles, whose gen al climate
seemed TO offera panacea for their suffering
Gradually the conversation turned upon con-
sumption itself, and was delegated to inter-
view some spe. ialst upon this dread dis sase
The question of where to go and whom to
seek information from was settled by seeing
in daily paper the announcement that there
wasa firm OF specialists here in Los Angeles,
one of whom was an expert on consumption
and lung diseases Going to the address given
found myself seated, the other after noon, in
the offices OF the English and German Special
/ + in the Byrne building and in response to
my desire to learn something about consump.
ton, the doctor who makes this disease his
specially kindly assented TO my desire and
sGid
"Consum1tion is disease about which
every one knows some' hing, but which very
few physic ians thoroughly understand. Its
principal Outward symptoms are persistent
cough. continual wasting OF the body. expec-
torations of mucus. occasional bleeding from
the lungs hectic levers and gradual decline
OF all the physical powers.
at takes its name. consumption. because
its destructive process consists principally in
a wasting or consuming OF the lungs as a
result OF their occupation by tubercuiar mat
ter; but while the seat of the disease is in
the lungs. its rt al foundation and origin lie
far deeper, involving general and, to un-
/ skilled observers, very obscure constitu-
tonal disorder; and in the general disorder
which precedes and gives rise to destruction
Of the lungs: almost every vital function OF
doctor, what are the first symptoms OF con-
sumption; l mean those which most people
would not notice?'
"T.e first symptoms of consumption are
shortness OF breath; pain in the chest, sleep
lessness. a feeling of lassitude, loss Of appe-
tite and headache, and it Is because the an.
of these is notirpd
by the casual observer that one of the great
dangers of consumption lies In consum ption
the nutritive process. the secretive and ex-
cretive operations, the circulation and the
nervous fore $ are all seriously impaired, and
this arrangement SO depresses the vital
lone OF the body that, unaided, the most
vigorous constitution cannot successfully re-
sist it when once tablished, and the m
evitable result is the formation OF tLbercles in
some vital organ and consequently lingering
DEATH"
consumption originates"
consumption, viii h has been aptly termed
the "Shadow OF Life first plants its seed in the
lungs in the form OF tubercles. which are mi
crobes so small that powerful microscope in
the hands OF an expert is necessary to detect
their presence. Clhe doctor here referred to
powerful binocular microscope standing on
his desk, which magnlfies objects to 800 times
their sile.) Ii these tiny coiisu III ption germs
be inhale by person thoroughly well and
strong, they RAJ ely find lodgment, but If taken
into the lungs of person overworkcd or
weakened BY a heavy cold. or some other dis
ease they find congenial soil in which to
propagate. and once fastened in The lungs
their growth is so rapid as TO pass c0mputa.
ton"
as their growth so rapid as thst?"
'Ies, sir. 1t has been demonstrated that
dozen microbes or bacilli OF consumption will
in twenty-four hours commence to multiply
unoer favorable conditions, and in another
twenty-four hours, SO rapid is their propaga-
ton, that they will number more than a
million and in this astonishing proportion
they continue increasing until death releases
their Wet m"
'Doctor how do tubercles act on the lungs?'
GAS to their first appearance, tubefeies are
about the size OF milet seed, by adci-
tional accumuations and suppurations OF the
size as we'll as numbers. Like thorn or silver
in the body these tubercles in the lungs pro-
duce irritation of the surrounding tissue. Civ
ing rise to Inflammation and are finally dis
charged through the bronchialtub by cough
ing, ard whatever lung tissue is involved in
the tubercles is thrown off in coughing. and
thus cavities are formed. II, Al this stage. the
system can be thoroughly purified and rein
vigorated, and the nervous nutritive and Sc
ditions the tubercles will s0on be removed by
suppur@tion and the cavities will heal"
Doctor. what condition OF the system is
most favorable for the seeds of con .umption?"
perhaps the most dangerous of all condi-
tons is that following cold, because cold,
when not properly checked, acts upon the
bronchial tubes and the lungs exactly as a
pillow does on the field to be cult ated; it pre-
pares the ground for the seeds OF consumption:
aud loa ing about in the air are millions of
these minute germs, only awaiting congenial
soil to settle in. If neglected. Il cold Will by
preparing the way in many cases lead to con-
sumption, and scientific investigation shows
that in most eases OF consumption the unfor-
tunate one first had severe cold, thu a
cough, and the n Incl pient consumption"
NOW, doctor. want 10 know If consump-
ton can be cured?'
"rhere is, unfortunately. certain class Of
doctors who say consumption cannot be cured,
but 10 contradict them there are many IN.
stances where consumption has heen cured. l
will give you an instance which is well known
to the doctors OF Europe In Fe rlary, 1885,
an old man died in France from kidney dis
ease. and post mor1em examination showed
ali the orgaEs, particularly the lungs, to oe in
healthy condition, but the lungs showed a
large number OF cica'rces and sears. indca;-
ing where numerous tuberc es had once ex-
listed, and furnishing evidence that at one
time this man had been in a dangeIo condi-
ton from genuine case OF consumption. In
quiry into the mans history showed that at
the age OF % years. fifty years before his death,
he had been to Paris to be treated Tor con-
tumption, and had been pronounced ncura-
bic That he was not incurabe was proven
when the post-mortem examination disclosed
t, healthy condition of his lungs
There are, OF course, cases OF consumption
no Specialist can cure. but there are also hun
dreds of cases OF this dread disease which in
experienced physicians pronounce incurable
which the expert specialist cal cure and is
curing all the time "
At this time the doc or was interrupted, and.
excnsing himself, promised to talk with me
urtner NJ rome future uate lounu upon
looking about the oil es OF these ecialists
that they have speci al SITS for eseh class of
chronic diseases aud that their stat is COM
posed of hysicians who have made life
study of their specially, and who are meeting
with great success in the treatment OF catarrh
and lung troubles, consumption, blood dis.
eases. diseases of the kidney, liver, heart and
stomach. as well as private and nervous dis.
eases OF men and women.
AS passed out WAS handed a copy OF their
New Guide to Health which they send free
on application to the ENGLISH and &c
Specialists, Byrne bldg, Los Angeles.