The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02

Two Remarkable Cures where Only Fresh
Air ana Nourishmcut were AppIied.

great interest taken in the late discovery
by the scientists. that consumption Is cura-
BILE by the pure air process, has suggested
10 me thatI might possibly bring hope and
encouragement TO those suffering from that
much dreaded disease, by giving tho out
lines Of a layman's discoveries and ex-
periences In that direction.
Forty odd years ago-in 1857 to be ex-
act-i was employed In a railroad office In
Kalamazoo, Mich. With me was a boy OF
10, who had previously been with me Tor
three years In an Office In Jersey City.
He was naturally exceptionally gifted
and very devoted to his Office duties. l
was ten years his senior and had become
greatly attached to him. In the year men,
TONED he caught a severe cold, that rapidly
developed into quick consumption. his
mother was not living and he remained
with me; he had the best doctors we could
find, the disease seemed slightly checked
at times, but the terrible coughing and
blood raising continued, his strength
dwindled away, until one day the doctor
an Iounced he could not possibly live over
I 80 weeks. From that time / devoted
myself principally to him; l had ideas OF my
own and l felt justified In using them when
the doctors gave him up. / believed In
fresh air, nourishing food, and counter
irritation. bathed hin every night and
morning. with each bath I ~rubbed-with a
towel-his breast and back, covering the
lungs, until tiny blood drops oozed through
the skin; my rule was to rub until these
drops followed the sweep Of the towel In
minute streaks of blood.
In his sleep he would get on his left side,
that wntnld tart him ron0hinn and irri-
tated his lungs without waking him. l
slept with him. waking at the first cough,
several times each night. and turned him
over without disturbing his sleep. The
doctor-a man Of the highest reputation
kept up an interest IN the case; no continu-
ally warned me to not sleep with the patient,
eaid ! could not possibly escape death
from the same disease: he finally ordered
me TO stop It. Az the boy would surely
die if some one didn't turn him over, and
as l had practically taken charge. and he
was slowly gaining, / took the chances,
and continued acting according 10 my
own judgment. The doctor gave good
advice as to diet, which we followed. A
little after the time the doctor had set for
the patient to die. ! had him helped into an
easy carriage with me, and with a slow
walking horse. kept him out OF doors as
long as he seemed to enjoy It. We over
did II a few times at first, but soon learned
when to turn back. From the carriage, we
graduated TO the backs Of two gentle, easy
cantering horses. and later, from those, TO
two of the hardest kind Of trotters. | rode
with him whenever | could leave my bust
ness; his rule was, two hours on horseback
every day in the year, no matter what the
weather might be. We thought nothing
Of being drenched in a sudden downpour
of rain miles from town, but rode rapidly
10 our rooms, where quick undressing.
thorough rubbing down, and dry clothing
prevented our ever catching cold. He
rode in midsummer heat, and when the
thermometer was IL below zero, with equal
certainty OF receiving no harm. He kept
a record Of the miles ridden until they ex-
ceeded ten thousand. There were many
minor details of exercise, diet, &C, but the
two great objects l kept In view, were out
door air and counter irritation.
In the spring Of 1851. we separated. he
was practically cured, but there was a deep
saucer shaped depression where the left
lung had been. The doctor told us. the
patient owed his life to me. and need not
give him any Of the credit. Twas afterward
told he had n report Of the case In some
medical journal.
To-day that boy resides in New York
city, a millionaire railroad president.
On my return from the Civil War, I be-
came connected with the Western Union
Telegraph Company in New York city.
where a young kinsman rs years old was
employed. In the fall Of 1895, no caught a
severe old which ran at once into quick
consumption. SO rapid was it's progress
and saw 20 little Of him for two or three
months. that / was a~stounded, when his
physician told me he hadn't over six weeks
TO live; said the salt air was too strong for
him, that II he was In tho dry air OF the
Western plains. he might possibly live
a while longer. said would take him out
Of the salt air at once. He said any attempt
at moving him would kill him before I
could get him out OF II. j wen to the
patient, told him what the doctor said, and
proposed, that instead of giving up to die.
we would have a hand-to-hand fight with
death, and that / was sure he would win.
He was thin and weak from bleeding at the
lungs. and the same terrific night sweats
as the first patient had, and could only get
out Of bed by being helpsd; he said he had
given up soma time before, but didn't tell
me. because i was 30 busy, and he didn't
want to worry me; that I might do as !
pleased, ms he would as soon die being
moved as 70 die six weeks later. re-
turned 10 the doctor, told him the patient
had consented to he moved, and / was going
10 move him. He forbade my doing it;
when he found / was infiexible, he urged
me to postpone il a week, and he would try
and get a little strength in him for the or
deal. refused any delay, he then declined
any further responsibility or connection
with the case, to which i gladly assented.
The time came when he gave me full credit
for having saved the patient.
felt ! had four weeks more leeway than
In the former case but lost no time; in two
hours I had everything ready to break
camp. Next morning the patient was
dressed, lifted into my arms In a carriage,
driven to the Hudson River Railroad sta
ton, there carried into a coach, and left
lying on a pillow In my lap. He lay 50 quiet
that at times I had 20 look close 10 be sure
he was breathing. My idea was. to get him
above the Hudson River Highlands, as the
nearest point nearly free from salt air, and
there wait strength to go further. Near
Peekskill, he opened his eyes and asked for
moro air, / had the window slightly raised,
I feared asking for air meant difficulty in
breathing; presently, he asked to be lifted
into an upright position in the scat and
leaned his head upon my shoulder, then he
asked for more air and ] had the window
fully opened. Ii was the latter part Of
March, the air was mild, and presently a
touch OF color stole into his checks; he
--l.l A,,,nr onA aaEisr pnppEA his