Trying the plan upon himself when a student, the author has, during his twenty-eight years of practice, recom- mended it to an immense number of persons, and in the great majority of cases with complete success. He has attained the power of procuring a daily stool at any convenient time between four o’clock a. m. and mid-day, the average time required being a quarter of an hour. Only on one occasion during thirty years has he failed in his object. The plan is not so suitable for the aged ; and is inapplicable to women during advanced pregnancy, or in or- ganic disease or prolapsus of the uteras. When from insufficient perseverance the means does not succeed, cold water clysters form the best supplement ; and, exceptionally, salt and oil, with camo- mile tea, etc., may be thrown up. The author never gives purgatives by the mouth in chronic constipation, believing it to be the most impolitic to irritate the stomach and small intestine, disturbing chylopcesis, and introducing into the blood materials that are always more or less injurious. CONSUMPTION.— The word is derived from the Latin verb consumo, to consume or to waste away. It is also called phthisis, from the Greek verb phthio, to waste away. Consump- tion is the most frequent and most fatal of all pulmonary diseases. It often begins with a slight dry cough, so slight and painless as not to attract notice. By and by the cough increases, and expectoration gradually becomes copious, thick, yellow, and tinged with blood. Sometimes the appetite re- CON 136 CON mains tolerable, bat the breathing Is more difficult, especially during and after bodily exertion, and the pulsation Is become accelerated. There is a gradual emaciation of the body, de- bility, night sweats, interrupted rest, the hectic flush, or a bright scarlet spot on the cheek, especially after eating, tightness of the chest, and acute pains under the breast-bone. In the last stage emaciation rapidly increases, and the patient has alternations of hope and fear as to recovery. Hope, however, the most prevails. As to the Treatment of Con- sumption, Dr. Beach says, “ If the pathology of phthisis consists in a dis- eased state of the blood, all former treat- ment is wrong, or very inefficient. We prescribe for the symptoms instead of the cause. If the elements of this dis- ease circulate in the blood, as in scro- fula, syphilis, and other complaints, and are thrown by the efforts of the system to the lungs, and these develope tubercles then is it not obvious that we must prescribe alteratives, or such medicines as will eradicate its morbid condition?” It is evident from these rational remarks, that the nature of this disease, and that of others, de- pends upon a morbid and diseased condition of the blood. Hence then there must be an attempt to alter the quality of the blood, Remove all the causes which have produced itas u, ease, as obstructed perspiration, evacu ations, and secretions, a cold and damj. residence, insufficient warmth and clothing, intemperance, venery, and self-pollution ; the last habit is the most prolific cause of consumption.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Trying the plan upon himself when a student, the author has, during his twenty-eight years of practice, recommended it to an immense number of persons, and in the great majority of cases with complete success. He has attained the power of procuring a daily stool at any convenient time between four o’clock a. m. and mid-day, the average time required being a quarter of an hour. Only on one occasion during thirty years has he failed in his object. The plan is not so suitable for the aged ; and is inapplicable to women during advanced pregnancy, or in organic disease or prolapsus of the uteras. When from insufficient perseverance the means does not succeed, cold water clysters form the best supplement ; and, exceptionally, salt and oil, with camomile tea, etc., may be thrown up. The author never gives purgatives by the mouth in chronic constipation, believing it to be the most impolitic to irritate the stomach and small intestine, disturbing chylopcesis, and introducing into the blood materials that are always more or less injurious. CONSUMPTION.— The word is derived from the Latin verb consumo, to consume or to waste away. It is also called phthisis, from the Greek verb phthio, to waste away. Consumption is the most frequent and most fatal of all pulmonary diseases. It often begins with a slight dry cough, so slight and painless as not to attract notice. By and by the cough increases, and expectoration gradually becomes copious, thick, yellow, and tinged with blood. Sometimes the appetite re- CON CON mains tolerable, but the breathing is more difficult, especially during and after bodily exertion, and the pulsation has become accelerated. There is a gradual emaciation of the body, debility, night sweats, interrupted rest, the hectic flush, or a bright scarlet spot on the cheek, especially after eating, tightness of the chest, and acute pains under the breast-bone. In the last stage emaciation rapidly increases, and the patient has alternations of hope and fear as to recovery. Hope, however, the most prevails. As to the Treatment of Consumption, Dr. Beach says, “ If the pathology of phthisis consists in a diseased state of the blood, all former treatment is wrong, or very inefficient. We prescribe for the symptoms instead of the cause. If the elements of this disease circulate in the blood, as in scrofula, syphilis, and other complaints, and are thrown by the efforts of the system to the lungs, and these develope tubercles then is it not obvious that we must prescribe alteratives, or such medicines as will eradicate its morbid condition?” It is evident from these rational remarks, that the nature of this disease, and that of others, depends upon a morbid and diseased condition of the blood. Hence then there must be an attempt to alter the quality of the blood, Remove all the causes which have produced this disease, as obstructed perspiration, evacuations, and secretions, a cold and damp residence, insufficient warmth and clothing, intemperance, venery, and self-pollution; the last habit is the most prolific cause of consumption.

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