The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-09-06

herculosis and Pneumonia In Article
In Medical Journal--Man Alive and
Well With Halt Lung.
Declaring that so far rs he had been
able to ascertain there has not been
any reference in literature for the last
thirty years OF phosphorus being adj.
ministered In the pure state as thera'
peutic measure In the treatment or
diseases of the lungs, DR.. Ferguson
Lemon OF Melbourne. Australia. de
tails some Of his experiences with tue
use Of phosphorus for tuberculous SUE
fercrs and acute pneumonia In the
New York Medical Journal
During the last eleven years"
writes DR. Lemon, -"this drug has been
exhibited by me In all classes OF cases
in lung disease, acute. subacute and
chronic, and the result leads me to the
belief that In pure phosphorus a most
potent agent exists for the restoration
OF patients suffering from these dis
eases.
ION entering the profession | be-
came partner in large suburban
practice. and during the hrst six
months. owing TO my partners abb
sence in Europe, | personally conduct
ed the practice. Before bis departure
we had an incidental talk over treat
ment OF different kinds. and he gave
to me. among others. hint that In all
cases OF acute lobar pneumonia the ad-
minIstration OF pure phosphorus In
small doses-that Is, from one one
thousnndth 10 one twelve hundredth
OF grain. at fairly close inter
yals-would bring about an almost
marvellous shortening OF the crisis.
He was specially referring, while on
this subject, TO a particular patient
very far advanced In pulmonary tuber-
culosis who had n special symptom OF
recurrent hemorrhages at three month
intervals.
Responds Quickly TO Treatment.
These hemorrhages gave rise TO an
acute form OF pneumonia, and he had
found In his experiences that phos-
phorus I'm one hve-hundredth grain
doses had n wonderful effect In bring.
Ing the patient back 10 his normal
condition. Ii was not many weeks be-
fore the patient referred to had one
OF his recurrent hemorrhages. After
the initial dose OF morphine had been
injected phosphorus In one fye-hnn.
dredth grain doses was administered
every alternate hour. and Il was rather
remarkable TO see how rapidly the pa.
tlent recovered from the posthemor-
rhagic condition
"For some years he had been treated
In the orthodox fashion for phthisis-
that is, by nourishment. principally In
the form OF large quantities OF milk,
creosote. etc. He was little more than
skin and bone, and TO the casual OBJ
server be was past all possible hope
o. Improvement. He had always reso.
lutely refused o. sleep In the open air.
Seeing the wonderful effect that phos.
phorus had on his condition, the ques-
ton arose. Would the prolonged ex-
hibitlon OF this drug give rise 10 any
further Improvement? lie was asked
II as an experiment he was prepared
10 carry on course OF treatment. say,
for three months. He eventually con.
scented.
Nothing was changed as regards the
ordinary way OF living. but he was ad.
vised for the flrst month at least to
give himself up to the treatment and
rest Instead OF going back to work.
This he did. taking notes OF his case
and keeping a chart"
Marked Improvement Shown.
DR.. Lemon says that nt the end Of
the third month the patients condition
was greatly improved and he appeared
TO have gained at least fourteen pounds.
lie looked well, II Is said, and very
different from bis dying appearance OF
three months before. The patient re-
turned to his work. the physician
writes. taking one dose OF one 6ve-hun-
dredth grain OF phosphorus daily for
the next three months. and only very
rarely In the next three years, after
which Dr. Lemon ceased 10 attend him.
was the patient attended for hemor-
rhages. Several years nfterward the
physician met the patient, who was
looking very we'll He told the physi.
clan that he had not had 20 see physi
clan since his treatment
"Ile is now sixty years old" says DE
Lemon, "and though probably he has
not more than half a sound lung he IL
comparatively healthy and still able TO
carry on his work.