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Analysis Of A Correspondence On Some Of The Causes Or Antecedents Of Consumption

From: Fourth Annual Report Of The State Board Of Health Of Massachusetts
Creator: Henry I. Bowditch (author)
Date: January 1873
Publisher: Wright & Potter, Boston
Source: State Library of Massachusetts

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136  

Hartwell. -- The especial means to be used for the prevention of consumption in children hereditarily disposed, besides a strict observation of all hygienic laws, are, if the mother is affected, the employment of a healthy nurse who shall have the whole care of the child, or, if one cannot be obtained, a healthy woman, who shall feed the child with cow's milk, properly diluted. When milk, drawn from one cow, well-known to the family, is not to be had, Comstock's Food, (Liebig's formula) has been used by me, in two cases, and both thrived remarkably well. If the father is affected, the mother may nurse the child, but ought not to have the father under her charge or care, at the same time. Second, and as important, I think, is the separation of parent and child. (I cannot say that I think we are warranted in making the separation forcible.) If proper ventilation could he enforced, occupying the same house would not he objectionable; but that is almost impossible. This applies to children also, and some of the difficulties are removed. Of course, the various tonic remedies are not to be omitted, of which the best is cod-liver oil, if any tendency to emaciation exists.

137  

Holmes. -- Warm flannel clothing; fresh meat, butter, milk and eggs, diet; out-of-door exercise in high and dry location; with pure air, erect position, with free and full expansion of the chest, are among the best means of prevention.

138  

Mills. -- A case of mine had Pott's Disease, and while under treatment pulmonary tuberculosis was developed. I do not think an abscess of the vertebra opened into the pulmonary tissue, although the child previously had an abscess which pointed a little anterior to the large trochanter. The child wasted quite rapidly, had severe cough, and profuse expectoration of thick grayish and yellowish sputa. The child took iodide of lime, and, some of the time, a sirup of the hypophosphites, but most of the time cod-liver oil and some expectorant. In the spring and early summer he began to improve, and by fall was quite fat and hearty; cough continued, but less severe. Improvement lasted, without relapse, until April, 1871, when the child was taken with diphtheritic croup, and died after two days' illness. In this case I think the tuberculous symptoms were evidently abated, and I was led to hope for complete recovery, had the patient not died of another disease. And here I will state that this child took exercise in the open air whenever the weather permitted it; also ate largely of sugar, and I think, drank milk freely. At the time of death it was four years seven and a half months old.

139  

A case came to my knowledge where the mother died of consumption soon after the birth of a daughter. I do not know that that child had any appearance of disease, but the father determined she should have a chance to be robust, so he had the child well and warmly clad, thoroughly protected from the vicissitudes of the weather, and then sent her forth, at all times, and in all kinds of weather. At the present time (unless recently indisposed), the young lady (of seventeen, I presume) is, to all appearance, in perfect health. I cannot answer whether consumption will assail her in later years, but it is my opinion that without the physical training she went through, she would now be suffering from incipient phthisis.

140  

Harlow. -- I desire to instance a family consisting of father, mother and four children, two males and two females, in which the parents both died of phthisis fifteen years since. The children were supposed to inherit the tendency to tuberculosis, were separated, placed in good families, locality changed, regular systematic hygienic rules were enforced in each case. All have arrived at mature age and are now in robust health, though one of the girls gave signs of incipient pulmonary trouble nearly three years since, which soon disappeared upon making a radical change in her mode of life, viz., removing her from school and keeping her much out of doors.

141  

Call. -- Change of climate and change of associations are among the best preventives of the disease in question.

142  

Aiken. -- The best hygienic conditions, such as in infancy, "plenty of milk, plenty of sleep, plenty of flannel!" Later, a country life, especially in the summer; plain, but nourishing food, brown bread or its equivalent at least once a day; regular habits generally.

143  

Haynes. -- Diet; exercise; location; judicious use of such articles of food and drink as will promote the development of bone and muscle.

144  

Spalding. -- No specifics, but such general treatment as will promote sound physical health.

145  

Carbee. -- First, attention to diet; second, avoid exposure, either riding or driving, in open air; third, administration of suitable tonics whenever indicated.

146  

Bullard. -- Removal from consumptive family; out-door employment and nourishing diet; also removal to another State, as going West.

147  

Carr. -- Temperance, air, exercise in open air, avoiding all manner of debilitating practices of body or mind, favorable location, etc.

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