The National tribune., 1897-12-02
Consumption and Bronchitis

We commence to-day a series of extracts
from the Lectures of Dr. Robert Hunter-tne
distinguished lung specialist-on the Progress;
| of Medical Science in the Treatment OF Lung
Complaints. They will be continued from
week to week, and ought to prove oil great
interest and value to the public.
The lungs are the great vital center OF the
body on which the health and proper action
of all other organs depend If we cease to
breathe but for five minutes we are dead
at the end of that time. In rare and ex-
ccptional cases the flame of life can be re-
kindled by artificial respiration, but, as a
rule. people sound and well when suftocated
are dead beyond restoration at the end of five
minutes Have you ever thought why this
| is? 1t is because the function of every vital
| organ stops the moment we stop breathing.
| Breathing makes the heart to beat, the blood
to circulate, and the brain to send forth SEN
sation and motion to the entire body.
The lungs, the brain, and the heart con-
stitute the tripod of life and while they act
we cannot die The heart depends on the
lungs for its power to circulate the blood. and
the blood depends on the lungs for its puriti-
cation. Poisonous carbOnic acid is formed in
the blood by the healthy and natural action
of the organism, and must be expelled by the
act of breathing This is Gods appointed
way of keeping our blood pure. If we stop
breathing we retain this carbOnic acid in the
system, and five minutes accumulates enough
to poison our blood and stop the whole ma
chinerv Of life.
Hence all affections of the lungs are serious
because they diminish the purity of our blood
and in the same proportion injure our general
health. Take, for example, cold which
inilames the air passages and tubes of the
lungs swels their mucous lining, contracts
the size ofthe tubes through which we breathe
and obstructs them by viscid secretons of
mucus. As we cannot breathe through tubes
that are narrowed or INSTRUCTED by mucus rs
well as through those that are open and free,
so every cold while it lasts lessons our breath
ing according TO its severity, and in the same
degree dimnishes the purity of our blood,
hurts our circulation, clogs the action of the
heart, and irritates the brain and nervous
system.
Every disease which iniuriously affects our
lungs begins first in the mucous lining OF the
air passages nose, throat, and bronchial
tubes. This membrane is exposed to every
change in the temperature of the air, and 10
smoke gas, dust and all irritating and
xious matters floating in it, which all act
directly on the breathing organs.
0ft-repeated and long continued irritation
OF the mucous membrane gradually develops
into a chronic bronchiis-a condition Of the
lungs full Of interest because SO often mis-
taken and 50 liable to he mistaken for con-
sumption, the most dreaded of lung diseases
iSigacd) ROBERT HUNTER, NJ. D.,
Specialist of Throat and Lung Diseases, III
West 10Th street, New York.
Nov. Is, 1897.
NOTE. Readers of THE NATIONAL TRrB-
UNE who desire to know more about the
treatment of lung complaints will receive
DR.. Hunters books, giving all particulars
free, by applying to him at III West 45th
street, New York