A friendly letter of counsel and advice to consumptives and other invalids : also, prescriptions, with special directions for the cure of chills and fever / by S.S. Fitch.

  • Fitch, Samuel Sheldon, 1801-1876
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A friendly letter of counsel and advice to consumptives and other invalids : also, prescriptions, with special directions for the cure of chills and fever / by S.S. Fitch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    2. TUBERCLES MAY BE DISSOLVED, AND DISCHARGED BY EXPECTORATION'. The substance of the lungs will, it is true, be likely to suffer to a greater ol less extent by this process: but it is by no means certain that life will be de- stroyed by it. The extent of the injury will depend upon the extent of the tuber- culous deposit that is thus to be discharged. Each tubercle, as it softens, may cause some ulceration of the tissue of the lung lying immediately in contact with it: but this ulceration may be confined to the immediate region of the tubercle ; and as soon as the tubercle dissolves and is expelled, nature may set up a healing process, and the wounded lung be restored to soundness. Scars, and even cavities, may be left; some of the air-cells and tubes may be obliterated ; but the wounds made, the ulcers and the cavities may heal; for nature can heal a wounded lung as well as a wounded finger, and in thousands of instances does so, as we all know. All portions not invaded by tubercles will, of course, remain sound; and will even increase in size and capacity so as to compensate for the loss of that de- stroyed. Fair health and strength may thus be recovered. Thus we see, that when the formation of tuberculous matter, and the continued deposit of it in the lungs, are arrested, as I have shown they may be, there is a natural tendency to health. But appropriate treatment and remedies may do very much to promote this tendency, and aid in a cure. Indeed, usually, they are all but indispensable for this purpose, as they are in arresting tuberculation ; for the lungs may have become so much injured—there may be so much tuber- culous matter to be removed—the vital energies of the system may have become so much prostrated, and so many other disorders may have set in, that nature cannot, unaided, overcome the terrible combination of her enemies. Then as to Bronchitis, the disease in the lining membrane of the lungs, which I have described, all admit that it is curable. It is often obstinate, and requires skillful treatment; but when the right remedies are used, it will yield. You see then, that, from the nature of the case, consumption is not incu- rable. Now, you will find in the letters I append, positive proof that it actually is cured by the treatment I employ. [See Appendix.] HOW CONSUMPTION MAY BE CURED—THE AUTHOR'S TREATMENT. MECHANICAL REMEDIES. The first step is to enlarge the lungs and improve the breathing. This I aid the patient by mechanical means to accomplish. The shoulders must be held back from the chest, and the chest thrown out, so as to give room for the lungs to be inflated. This is done by well-adjusted Shoulder-Braces. Then I have the patient use an Inhaling Tube. This is a convenient little silver instrument [see the above figure], so constructed that the air is inhaled or breathed