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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    foiling. Boon a cough, at first slight, increased steadily until October 1st, when I laid aside my av<><ati<m (colportage) for a time, hoping that it would give way soon under the influence of cod-liver oil, which was thought to have been of some benefit in a case where the person ultimately died of consumption. I used it freely, but found, week succeeding week, my cough steadily increasing, and my strength as steadily declining. After several weeks I abandoned the use of the oil, and resorted to other rem- edies highly recommended, but with no better effect; so that my friends, I believe, generally considered me as beyond recovery. Although in any other disease I should have resorted to a physician, I had seen so many cases of this disease baffle the most skilful physicians, that I had no hope of receiving sub- stantial benefit from them, although the friendly suggestions of one in our vicin- ity afforded me relief in some respects. In February I was so reduced as to be obliged to spend most of the day in a reclining position, whilst I expectorated large quantities of thick, corrupt matter, tinged considerably with blood, and had two or three slight attacks of spitting blood. Coddiver oil and phosphate of lime at this period checked the disease, but soon lost their effect; and my expe- rience in the use of cod-liver oil accords fully with your views as given in youi Lectures. The reading of this work was highly beneficial to me. After linger- ing during the summer of 1852 with the changeable and often flattering symp- toms frequently experienced by others, I procured a bottle of pulmonary bal- sam, and one of heart corrector, in Medina, and derived much benefit from their use, and during the winter I entertained brighter hope. But I could obtain no more of your remedies, and spring did not confirm my hopes. Early in June an attack of bleeding so reduced me that there appeared scarcely any ground of encouragement left. In August I concluded to apply to you by letter, as my last earthly refuge ; and in October received a box of your medicines and inhaling-tube, shoulder- braces and supporter, and soon found myself steadily recovering ; and during the winter my health improved so much, that last spring I offered my services to the Publication Board, for which I had labored before, hoping that riding in the open air would be conducive to my further recovery. This hope I have realized in a good degree, and have labored, with short intervals, the entire summer. Your inhaling-tube, and supporter, and shoulder-braces I found essential, and continue their use, having but little hope of seeing consumption cured without their invaluable aid. With gratitude and respect, I ever remain Yours, truly, Jno. Pattox. [The foregoing are merely specimens of letters received from my patients, in the course of a regular correspondence with them, while conducting their treat ment. I cannot present a greater number without swelling this pamphlet to an inconvenient size. And if I could, it would, I think, be useless to do so ; for if the plain, simple, clear, convincing facts so truthfully set forth in the above let- ters, do not arrest the attention and awaken the interest of the invalid reader, a volume of like testimony would probably be equally lost upon him. I cannot forbear once again most earnestly to urge the invalid to give the sys- tem of treatment, and the foregoing testimony in relation to it, an impartial and careful examination. Let him put to himself the inquiries, Does not the method of cure here explained commend itself to my judgment and common sense? and if the facts stated in the above letters are really true, do they not demonstrate that in this treatment I may find relief for disease which has been incurable by all the remedies I have hitherto employed? Recollect that it is your own health, not mine nor your physician's, which is at stake ; and act ac- cordingly. S. S. FITCH.]