Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-13
Consumption aud lsroncnitis.

We commence today a series of ex-
tracts from the lectures of DIR. Robert
Hunter-the distinguished lung spe-
eialist-on the Progress of Medical
Science in the Treatment of Lung
Complaints. These will be continued
from week to week, and ought to
prove of great interest and value to
the public.
The lungs are the great vital centers
of the body on which the health and
proper action of all other organs de-
pend. If we cease TO breathe for five
minutes, we are dead at the end of
that time. In rare and exceptional
cases the flame of life can be rekindled
by artificial respiration, but, as a rule,
people sound and well when suffo-
Gated are dead beyond restoration at
the end of five minutes. Have you
ever thought why this is! 1t is be-
cause the functions of every vital or
gan stop the moment VIC stop BREATH
ing. Breathing makes the heart to
beat, the blood to circulate and the
brain to send forth sensation aud mo-
ton to the entire body.
The lungs, the brain and the heart
constitute the tripod of life, and while
they act we cannot die. The heart
depends on the lungs for its power to
cir .ulate the blood, and the blood de-
ponds on the lungs for its publication.
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. II we stop breathing
we retain this carbonic acid in the
system and five IN nutes accumulates
enough to poison our blood aid stop
the whole machinery of life.
Hence all affections OF the lungs are
serious because they diminish the pu-
rity of our blood and in the same pro-
portion injure our general health.
Take for example a cold which in
flames the air passages and tubes of
the lungs, swells their mucous lining,
contracts the size of the tubes through
which we breathe and obstructs them
by viscid secretions of mucus. AS
we cannot breathe through tubes that
are narrowed or INSTRUCTED by mucus
as well as through those that are open
and free, SO every cold while il lasts
lessons our breathing according to its
severity, and in the same degree di-
minishes the purity of our blood,
hurts our circulation, clogs the action
of the heart and i~rritates the brain
and nervous system.
Every disease which injuriously af-
fects our lungs begins first in the mu-
cous lining of the air passages-nose,
throat and bronchial tubes. This
is exposed to every change
in the temperature Of the air and to
smoke, gas, dust and all irritating and
noxious matters floating in it, which
all act directly on the bre thing Or
gans.
O~ft-repeated and long-continued ir-
ritation of the mucous membrane
gradually develops into a chronic
bronchitis-a condition of the lungs
full of interest because so often mis-
and so liable to be mistaken for
consumption, the most dreaded of
lung diseases.
(5igned) ROBERT HUNTER, NJ. D.,
Specialist of throat and lung diseases,
liz West Forty-f fifth street, New York.
NOTE.-Readeis who desire to
know more about treatment of lung
complaints will receive DIR. Hunters
giving all particulars, free, by
applying to him at III West Forty
fifth trect, New York.