Consumption : how to prevent it, and how to cure it / By James C. Jackson.

  • Jackson, James C., 1811-1895.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Consumption : how to prevent it, and how to cure it / By James C. Jackson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    under bad habits and methods of living, to have become actually consumptive: under the view taken above, the person in care of such case has, to encourage him, the fact that Nature will do all that she possibly can for the preservation of the life of the subject and his restoration to health. His duty is, therefore, easily seen. It is nothing more, nor any thing less, than to surround the patient with the very best possible combination of hygienic means and influences, and bring them to bear in the most persistent manner. Seasoning thus, it has been my good fortune to know hundreds on hundreds of persons, in such advanced stages of consumption as clearly to show abscess formations, to recover from their disease and to enjoy good health ; being as free from the disease and its symptoms as the healthiest man in their neighborhoods. As an illustration, I give the^following case. There is nothing very extraordinary in it, as compared with other cases of restoration under hygienic treatment to which I might refer; but a single instance will suffice to corroborate the view I have here offered. I give the case in the lady's own words, omitting her name, which is at the service of any one who may wish it: — Well do I remember what people said to me. I was so far gone with consumption, it was said, that I must die at any rate, in the fall, when the leaves dropped: but I consented to make trial of hygienic treatment; and glad and thankful have I been that I did so. In one year from the time I commenced it, I pronounced myself in salvable conditions. During this time, however, I lived in the absence of all gross and greasy foods ; ate no salt, 3pices, meat, or pastry ; and drank neither tea nor coffee. [This letter was written in the year 1857 ; and the lady, at the'opening of 1862, is still alive, and well.] I want to tell you what work I, a woman cured of consump- tion by hygienic methods, have done in a single season. We have built a large, nice house. Whilst building it, we had twelve in family, and kept ten cows. I had a girl to help me to do housework: so I took to painting for additional employ- ment. I painted the blinds for fifteen windows, six by three feet; also several small blinds. I painted all the window-sashes