Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-03
INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS

"A great many lives are unnecessarily
given up in the fight between life and
death in this we'll known trouble, called
by many inflammation of the lungs.
1t should not terminate in death, and
will not if the proper care and treat
ment are given. To be perfectly
truthful, it is dangerous condition of
the lungs, but with the knowledge of
the right kind of treatment to be
given, can be overcome. 1t is gen
orally supposed that if one has deep,
strong voice, and has the apparent ca
pacity of taking full, deep breaths by
bullying out his chest, that his lung
capacity must be great also AS a mat
ter of fact, this is not always the case.
1t is the muscles of the chest and the
diaphragm that are the controlling ele-
ment, and if these are strong and sup
pie the breathing may be deep and the
voice full, and yet the lungs will be
puny and in poor condition.
Sometimes those who have the
largest chest expansion will be the
most susceptible to lung troubles, and
even while lying helpless in bed one
would think from the vibrations of the
chest that breathing is perfectly nor
NAL. Such is not the case, however.
Much of the air does not enter the
lungs at all. but is simply circulating
around them and the patient is, in all
probability suffering the most ex-
quisite pains in his lungs. They feel
compressed and closed up so that little
air is allowed to pass into or out of
them. If the lungs were in good con-
dition this trouble would not arise and
it is caused by the lungs allowing an
Over-abudance Of blood to flow into
them and remain there, filing them
to their greatest capacity This should
not be the case, as the lungs should re-
ceive and expel the fresh air and blood
with every upward movement of the
diaphragm, and inward movement of
the muscles of the chest. In this move
ment the lungs expand and allow the
pure, fresh air and clean, clear blood
to enter and meet. These, in turn, pro-
mote the continuance of life by their
exchange Of the elements needed to as
sist each.
Briefly stated, the best thing to do
for such a condition when the person
is strong and fieshy is to use cold CON-
presses on the chest. Keep changing
these until the distress is relieved In
most cases, and especially when thin
in flesh, the patient will need fomenta-
ton also as described in recent lee
ture, if the body is cooled too much,
Hot bran mash poultices are also good
;; to use on the lower part of the neck
and between the shoulders, but you
must be careful and not have them hot
enough to burn the patient. The poul-
tice to the shoulders should not be ap-
piled until after the terrible fever Of
the lungs is cooled down quite thor
oughly.
A case of which I have heard, was
that Of woman who suffered from a
very bad attack of congestion of the
1ungs-that is the lungs become too
full of blood. A doctor was called and
| could do nothing, in fact what he did
made the patient worse, and she pre-
pared to die. The idea of a hot fomen-
tation to the feet and legs and cold
congresses to the lungs was suggested
by a student of my system. This idea
was firmly declined by the physician
and hooted at by some of the friends
of the sick woman. Finally, without
the knowledge of the doctor, the treat
ment was begun, and in ten minutes
the patient felt better, and continued
to improve, while the doctor, of course,
took the honor of the cure upon him.
self.