Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Von Ziemssen's Handbook of general therapeutics. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
412/442 (page 386)
![tho eure. Tlie mean gain of -weight among the wliole twenty-five was 5 kilos. They were all well-marlied cases of phthisis, witli solidißcation and Lreaking down of the apices, moisl crepitant rales, fever, and night sweats. The wi-iter then gives the history of persona still living who, in their youth, had had lifemoptysis, fever, emaciation, and night sweats, witli solidiö'cation of the apices. All were cured by koumiss, and three of them (Professors ]\janassein, Lesgaft, and Owsjarmikoff) are now lectiiring without the least inconvenience. He quotes also several cases of eure of consumption on the authority of other observers, some of whom the writer had recently seen in good health. From tbe observations of tbis writer koumiss wonld appear to be contra-indicated in pletbora, hyperjEtnia of the brain, liver, and spieen; in overfiUing of the pulmonary circulation, in aneurisms and degeneration of the arteries, and in acute and chronic rbeumatism. On the occurrence of hsemoptysis it should be prohibited, and after its Cassation should be resumed only in the weaker form and in small doses. Koumiss sbould be drunk warm, about the temperature of the room, and in the largest doses possible without overfilling the stomaeh. It is especially important in phthisis, when emaciation is considerable, to administer as much as can be assimilated. That of medium strength is most used, bat replaced on the appearance of diarrhcea by the strong, or in constipation by the weak or by unfermented mare's milk. Altbough Karrik acknowledges tlie value of koumiss made elsewhere, he gives the preference to that of the Steppes, since the curative influence of the aromatie, clear, dry aii' of the summer at Ssamara is not inconsiderable. He says that the treatment of consumptives on the Steppes should be under- taken during the summer, and should extend over at least two months. The climate presents the advantage of enabling the paiient to driuk such quanti- tiesas he could elsewhere only on veryhot days. Ansemic subjects and those with diseases of the stomaeh may employ the koumiss eure with benefit in other places and at all seasons of the year. Karrik further advises consumptives to ride regularly on the Steppes, since their strength is greatly improved thereby, although the weight gained may be somewhat less. Among the advantages of the Steppes he reckons also the metbodical course of life and the fi-eedom from anxiety aud work. The diet, raeanwhile, should be a varied one; only such foods aud drinks as quench the thirst should be avoided, so that tbe more koumi.?s may be drunk. One ought never to send cases of acute tuberculosis to the Steppes, since success is very doubtful in rapid extension of the process. Nevertheless he reports two cases of successful treatment of this disease. A young girl of nineteeu years, whose brother and sister had died of galloping consumption, had one autumn a severe attack of htemoptysis; in winter she emaciated fearfully and sufferedfrom night sweats, cough, and dyspncea, and the hremoptysis recurred. In the spriug her condition seemed hopeless; sbe was unable to walle, aud](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21995473_0001_0412.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
