A contribution to the climatological study of phthisis in Pennsylvania.
- William Pepper
- Date:
- 1887
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A contribution to the climatological study of phthisis in Pennsylvania. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![people are engaged in agriculture and lumbering; they are of American descent chiefly. There are some Irish and Germans. Consumption pro- nounced by one observer to be rare and chronic, and by the other to be prevalent and acute. Both acknowledge heredity. The cases are largely among Americans, except in stone-cutters’ consumption, where race does not protect. Dr. Hartswick believes that consumption is infectious, hav- ing met with a number of instances where the husband, wife, sister, or nurse has apparently contracted the disease after long and constant watch- ing at the bedside. No malaria ; rheumatism, pneumonia, and Bright’s disease prevail. No. 3. Houtzdale; ])opulation, 2,500; elevation, 1,800 feet. The town is exposed and cold, situated on a hill-side. North and west winds prevail. The air is cool and dry ; there are occasional fogs. There is not much shade. The soil is a loam and clay, of medium quality. North and east winds are troublesome to consumptives. There are great changes of temperature. The people are engaged in mining and in lumbering. They are Americans, German, and Irish. Phthisis is said to be comparatively frequent, and is both acute and chronic. Patients have been cured by going South. Dr. Todd furnishes the following hkstory of a case of tuber- culosis of left lung: “ In 1880 I went to southern Texas and gained twenty- five pounds in weight. One year since, after an attack of typhoid fever and pneumonia, I weighed but one hundred and forty-five pounds, a loss of fifty pounds. I now weigh two hundred pounds, and am free from cough, night-sweats, and other indications of phthisis. Relief due, I am confident, to change of climate, use of cod-liver oil with hypophosphites^ and whisky. Last winter I spent several weeks in St. Augustine, Fla.” The majority of cases are hereditary. There is some malaria, but it does not appear to have any relation to consumption. Rheumatism and pneu- monia prevail. Bright’s disease does not, although there are some cases. No. 4. Curwinsville; population, 1,300; elevation, 1,141 feet. The town is very much sheltered by hills. The prevailing winds are north- west and east. Atmosphere cool, often damp; not much fog. There are woods near the town and abundant shade in the streets. The soil is poor, sandy, gravelly, and slaty ; there is a clay subsoil. Drainage excellent. There are no ponds, bogs, or meadows. Very little marsh land. Hills. East winds trouble consumptives. Changes of from 40° to 50° occur in twenty-four hours, and a marked fall at night. The people are of American descent, engaged in farming and in lumbering. There are some coal-mines and a few factories. Consumption is said to be very preva- lent and hereditary. A family is instanced, living ten miles from Cur- winsville, dwelling near the river in a very sheltered spot, where the sun shines but a few hours each day. The atmosphere is very damp and foggy. Four or five members of the family have died there, and more are likely to die, of phthisis. The disease is as frequently acute as chronic. There is little success in preventing consumption. No malaria. Very little Bright’s disease ; some pneumonia; more rheumatism. 4](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28270538_0065.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
