■v-\yo\.^: Cornell University Library arV1386 Six lectures on the uses of the lungs 3 1924 031 257 730 olin,anx Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031257730 'fei^^v" HENRY JENKINS, Ecr» '.a EnglaEJ in tbo year lii)l, died in 1670, a^e j 189 yca». SIX LECTURES ON THE USES OF THE LTJIGS; AND CAUSES, PREVENTION, AND CUKE OF PULMONARY CONSUMPTION, ASTHMA, AND DISEASES OF THE HEART ; OlSr THE LAWS OF LONGEVITY; AND ON THE MODE OF PRESERVING MALE AND FEMALE HEALTH TO AN HUNDRED YEARS. NEW EDITION, With 28 Illustrations, and much additional matter. BY SAMUEL SHELDON FITCH, A.M., M.D. " I yet may walk, as it appears to me, the rosy paths of life ; and the energy and action that were once in these limbs, may again be mine, If so, I shall give * honor to whom honor is doc ;' and if contrary to this, the earlh should soon close over me, to the last moment of my life should I be satisfied that this is the way, and the only true way, to cure consumption."— £fjr/racf/rom Renry Peck's letter to Dr. S. S. Pitch. NEW-YORK: CALVIN M. FITCH, 707 BKOADWAT. 1852. Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1852, b^ CALVIN M. FITCH, In the Clerk's Oflice uftho District Court for tlie Southern District of New- York. . Preside- 1 White Library LECTURE FIRST. On tlie Uses of the Lungs, and Causes of Consumption. LECTURE SECOND. On the Prevention and Cure of Consumption. LECTURE THIRD. 'On the Proofs of the Cure of Consumption. LECTURE FOURTH.— TO ladies only. On the mode of forming a fine Chest, a fine erect Carriage, and Walk.— r On the Manner if procuring a clear and beautiful Com- pleadon, ■without art. — On the causes of Lung, Lieer, and Stomach Diseases, in Ladies, and on the Cause of Female Diseases, with their prevention and cure ; and finally, on the best mode of obtain- ing perfect Symmetry of Figure, and of forming and fortifying the Female Constitution, so as to preserve Health and Beauty to the latest attainable periods of life. LECTURE FIFTH.— TO ladies only. On Symmetry of the Internal Organs of the Body, and on Symmetry of Mind, as preventing Pulmonary Consumption, and ensuring Long Life. LECTURE SIXTH.— TO- GENTLEMEN ONLY. On the mode of forming a noble, manly Chest, and fine erect Car- riage. — On the best manner of preoenting Decline of Animal Stf^mgth and of invigorating the Male Constitution, so as to pre- serve Health und Life to an hundred years. TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Head of Henry Jenkins, (fronts title page.) A — Three views of the haman skeleton p. 21 B — View of the skeleton of the trunk of the body 22 C — View of the windpipe, lungs, heart, midriff, stomach, liver, gall bladder, large bowels, small bowels 23 D — View of the windpipe, lungs, air-pipes, and air-cells, heart, and midriff 24 E — View of windpipe, gullet, and natural belts that form the walls of the abdomen 26 P — Consumptive and non-consumptive figures 37 G — Inhaling tube 90 H — ^Asthmatic chest 67 I — Consumptive chest ib. Flora Thompson, at 150 years 191 K — Stooping female figure 205 L — Front view of the abdominal supporter 264 M — Back view of do. do ib. N— View of the figure and inside of the stomach 212 O— Side view of the midriff, stomach, large and small bowels, bladder, and womb 043 P — Same parts fallen down ib a— View of the liver and gall bladder 216 R — Palling bowels 33g S— View of the midriff, kidneys, ureters or water-pipes, large bowel, bladder, and womb 251 Figure of Henry Francisco, at 134 years 288 T— Injurious position of the chest 294 U— Posterior view of the brain, spinal marrow, and large nerves that go between the ribs and so to the arms and lower limbs 325 V— Heart and blood-vessels 3^3 CONTENTS. Introduction p. xv Letter from Dr. Latter Brigham to Amos Binney, Esq xvii " from Dr. Benj. H. West to Dr. Gardner ib. " from R. R. Hinman, Esq., lale Secretary of State of Connecticut, to Professor Kingsley, of Yale College ib. " from R. G. Belt, M. D., to the Hon. Upton S. Heath, U. S. District Judge, Baltimore, MJ xviii " from J. Hubbard Graves, M. D.; to Dr. Wm. D. Buck, of Con- cord, N. H ib. " from E. Halley JM'Coy , Esq. to Dr. S. S. Fitch xix " from John W. Collins, M. D., to Wm. Haslam, Esq ib. QpUestions for Invalids, writing for advice xxi LECTURE FIRST. Uses of the lungs, and causes of consumption p. 19 Four great chambers in the human frame 22 Skull ib. Chest : 23 Left 1 ung smaller than the right 25 Impossible to contract consumption when the air passes in and out of . each air-cell ib. Consumpiion is caused by general or partial closing of the air-cells ib. Consumption a most curable disease ib. Grand uses of the lungs 2G Uses illustrated 29 Pure air food of the lungs 32 No books teach the true uses of the lungs 34 American Indians in native state do not have consumption 36 Consumption a child of civilization ib. Causes of consumption 37 Mechanical causes 38 Falling of the bowels 40 Vll) CONTENTS. Effeminacy and debility cause consumption p. 43 Hope antagonises the spread of consumption 45 Typhus fever — fever sores, scrofula, &c 46 Inhaling dust, metals, &c 48 Irregularities in diet — dj'spepsia ib. Liver complaint — chronic diarrhoea — costjveness ib. Diseases of the tliroat 49 Too much clothing to be avoided 50 Influence of climate on consumption 53 Catarrh — influenza 56 Hc;reditary consumption 57 Spinal diseases 58 Pain in thetide, kidney aflections ib. Gravel 59 Injurious medicines — mercury, opium, emetics, blisters, and emetic tar- tar sores 60-1 LECTURE SECOND Prevention and cure of consumption 69 Diseases that cure consumption ib. Diseases of the heart ib. Asthma cures consumption 66 Swelled tonsils prevent consumption 69 Common cold cures consumption 71 Hysteria 72 Prevention of hereditary consumption 73 Plain bringing up of children 75 Effects rf cheerfulness and exercise to prevent consumption 78 Dancitis: 80 Beds, and lying in beds 81 Climate and light prevent consumption 81-2 Sea voyages, diet, regular sleep, employments 84 Never neglect a cold -. 85 Cold bathing, inhaling tube, braces, supporter 86 Cure of pulmonary consumption 88 Inhaling tube, how it acts 90-1 Inhaling tube alone will not cure consumption 94 How we know one has consumption jb. Treatment to cure consumption 96 Bleeding, rarely advised ^ 97 Counter-irritation, often injurious 93 COifTEjrrs. is Diet f). 99 Air, and changes of air 100 Effjcts of journeys 101 Sea voyages 102 Warm climate 103 Respirators — bad effects, when may be used ib. Under what condition of the lungs may we hope for a cure of consumption . ib. First and second groups of curables 104 Third group curable 105 Fourth group ib. Fifth group 106 Asthma, causes and care 109 Heart diseases, causes and cure 110 Mineral, iron and sulphur waters 115-l(i Red Sulphur Springs in Virginia ib. Hot mineral waters 117 Throat affections ib. Cure of throat diseases, &c 118 Consumption in children 120 Hooping cough, measles, &c , ib. LECTURE THIRD. Truth, but one offspring 124 Asthma, Case I. Thomas Fengar 137 Spasmo.lic asthma, Case II. Miss Little 1 "8 Cass III. Mrs. Pernald 139 Case IV. John H. McGiffin 140 Consumption — Case I. Miss Hawley 141 U. Mrs. H.Gardner 143 III. Rev. L. D. Barrow 145 IV. Mrs. Harlburt 147 V. Master Geo. W. Roberts 148 VI. Mr. Thaddeus Barnes 150 VII. Miss Angell... , 151 ' VIII. Miss Nickerson 152 IX. Rev. John Morris Pease 1 .54 X. Mi.ss Redmond 1 55 XI. Grovner Noyes 15^ Xll. Mr. Moses Ely 1.57 'XIU. Mrs. Doicas T. Moore 159 COKTENTS. Case XIV. Rev. Rodolphus Bard .' p.lGO XV. Mrs. Sarah Louisa Burrett 162 XVI. Mrs. T. T. Dean 164 XVII. Rev. R. Whitwell ib. XVIII. Mrs. Chas. M. Brockway ib. XIX. Rev. W. H. Tiffany 165 XX. Mr. William Wigram 166 XXI. O.Thayer, Esq 167 XXII. Ann D. Birdsall 171 XXIII. Mr. Stephens. DoJge 172 XXIV. Mrs. C. B. Collins ib. XXV. Miss Elizabeth B. Lum 173 XXVI. C. D. Petrie, Esq. 175 XXVII. Mrs. M.H.Valentine 176 XXVIII. C. M. Murray i.l78 XXIX. Jamas iM. Evarts 1 79 XXX. Mary Ann Brooks ib. XXXI. Rev. William Livesey 180 XXXII. Miss C. A. B " 182 XXXIII, Catherine Ann Smith 186 Conclusion 188 LECTURE FOURTH— TO ladies only. Instances of longevity 190 Female life should average 1 00 years, instead of 30 191 Influence of female b?auty on man 192 Health and beauty intimately connected 1U3 3\'mm?try of person, the foundation of all health and beauty 195 Shoulder supporters 198 To form a fine beautiful cheft 201 Habitual stooping to be avoided 204 Sitting posture 205 Position of the chest in walking 207 " " in bed 208 Standing on one foot 209 Tiaiht lacing ib. How to form a clear and beautiful complexion 210 The teeth ib. Dig3stion 211 Dyspepsia 213 Articles of diet that injure the complexion 215 CONTENTS. Jd Gall-stones in the gall-bladder p. 217 Bad breath ,.218 Costiveness, its effacts, how to correct 218-13 Klduey evacuations 220 Periods suppressed— painful — termination of 221-2 Evacuations from the lungs 223 The skin ib. Clothing, its effects, &c. — rules for 225 Effects of washing all over with cold water 227 To keep the feet in perfect health 230 Air and exercise 231 Grand arts of ike toilet among the princely and noble families of Europe.235 LECTURE FIFTH— TO ladies only. Basket of the hips 240 Symmetry of the internal organs of the liody 243 Pall ins: of the bowels — EITects on the lungs 244 Effects on the voice 246 Effects on the heart, palpitation of ib. Faintingfits 247 Sinking, all gone at the stomach ib. Chronic diarrhoea — costiveness 248 Liver complaint ib. Pain in side, and breast, back, and spine 249 Gravel 250 Piles 253 Pains in the limbs 254 Swelling of the limbs and veins 254-5 Incontinence of urine 255 Stone in the bladder 25G Worms 257 Falling of the womb ib. Effects of dislocation of the womb , 258-9-60-1 Fluor albus 261 Barrenness ib. Miscarriages 262 Floodings 263 Abdominal supporters .'. 264 What a supporter should do 266 When abdominal support should be used 368 j^ COKTESTS. Symmetry of mind essential to health ^' am Case of Mrs. Kingsley ^ Mrs. Rowland ^^ Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner '^ '^ 273 Miss Beedom 274 Letter from Mrs. Gibbs •"' From Mr. Payerweather '"■ From Mrs. Jenney and Mrs. French "J^ From Mrs. Taber '''• From Mrs. Smith ^™ From Miss Mary Nutter '''• From Miss Waldron * ' ' From Mrs. Vanness 2^° From Helen M. Lay 273 From Harriet Cleaver '''• Prom "W. V. S. Word worth 280 LECTURE SIXTH— TO gentlemen only. Gases of long-lived men 287 Grand divisions of the human frame 289 Manner of forming a fine chest 290 Proper carriage and position of the chest 293 Bad eff<:cts of vicious position of the chest 295 Position of the shoulders 296 Remedy for round shoulders 298 Shoulder-braces ib. How shoulder-braces should be made, and by whom worn 300 Man is intended to stand perfectly straight 303 Fine figures of savages lb. Premature old age 303 Position in bed 304 Self-reparation of the body 30.5 The stomach 30G Progress of food after leaving the stomach 308 Small and large bowels 308-9 Costiveness 309 Bad effjcts of costiveness 310 Depression of spirits ..313 Jaundice. — Piles ib. A bad breath 313 Sea-sickness ib. CONTENTS. riii Manner of curing costiveness p. 314 Oftice of ihe kidneys and bladder 316 Skin and its offices 318 Bathing 319 Sponge bath, sea water 321 Effects of water upon weak eyes 323 Upon sore throat ib. Upon weak and painful spine 324 Bad effects of artificial irritation over the spine 325 Rheumatism 327 Water care ib. Treatment of the feet 328 Diet, not change too suddenly 329 Exercise 332 Animal gratifications 333 Symmetry of the internal organs of the body ib. Efiect of a rupture. 334 Of weakness of the abdominal belts 335 Of bleeding at the lungs 337 Loss of voice, wheezing, palpitation 337-8 Breaking of the liver, and of the bowels 339-40 Piles 341 Gravel , 342 Pain in the^back, limbs, &c ib. Swelling of the limbs and veins 344 Abdominal supporter ...» ib. Sleep, and beds 345 Frame destroyed by seeking to do too much at a time 347 The effect of vice upon longevity 348 Case of a cure of piles 352 Management of scrofula, &c ib. Letter from Kelita B. Townley to Dr. S. S. Fitch 353 Instance of obstacles to the cure of consumption 355 Interesting case of heart .disease 357 Asthma.— Case bf Peter Stanior, Esq 358 Reascms why the annual deaths in New- York city are 1 to 30 and to Philadelphia 1 to 45 360 1* INTRODUCTION. It is now about four and a half years since I published ray " Six Lectures on the Prevention and Cure of Consumption," &c. About 85,000 copies have passed through the press. As the stereot3'p6 plates are somewhat worn, and having much new and interesting mat- ter to introduce, I have prepared a new edition. I beg of the sick and the well to read these Lectures. The Author, besides lecturing in England, has had an opportuni- ty of addressing about fifty thousand persons in the United States, and thus of personally presenting and -enforcing his views by direct examples and prompt practical results and demonstrations. In 1827, whilst a student of Medicine-in Philadelphia, he discovered the grand uses of the Lungs, and thereby laid the foundation of a scientific, ra- tional, and certain method of elucidating and treating their diseases. For twenty years, with some interruptions, diseases of the Chest have been his study. To notice the effects of climate as a curative or pre- ventive agent, he has visited twenty-three States of the American Union,; also England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, the northern shores of the Mediterranean, Switzerland, Sar- dinia, and Savoy ; several watering-places of Germany, Prussia, the West India Islands, the Canadas, &c. &c — seeking everywhere for knowledge and light on the diseases of the Lungs, making himself everywhere as fully acquainted as possible with the pecuUarities of each locality, both in the nature and prevalence of consumption, and XVi INTBODUCTION. the peculiar methods adopted for its prevention and cure by the highest professors and teachers of Europe and this country ; as also by the untutored savages of this continent, who are well known to treat many diseases, and especially those of the Lungs, with great success. To facilitate his researches, he has lectured at many differ- ent points on the borders of the Ocean, on the shores of the Great Lakes, in many of the great Valleys, and on the Highlands of this country, as well north as south ; everywhere collecting most valua- ble and interesting materials for a very extensive work upon the dis- eases of the Chest and Lungs. He hopes ere long to finish his re- searches, and then complete his great work upon diseases of the Lungs, which he flatters himself wiU become for Fhysieians a guide to a successful treatment of Pulmonary disea-ses. These Lectures are intended as a Director to all classes in the prevention and cure of Consumption. Those who follow the directions will not, he thinks, be disappointed, but will each day realize their truth by the most gratifying personal benefits. The writer's experience is derived from an observation of more than twenty-five thousand cases within the last eight years, besides all his previous practice. To render the Lectures effective upon the reader, it is necessary that perfect confidence should be placed in the statements and con- clusions. Great truths are taught, which, if fully und^erstood, im- plicitly believed, and judiciously followed, would lead ta an almost total annihilation of Pulmonary Consnmption. To obtsdn a share of this oon4detioS) & few letters are Eubjoiired from men of undoubted respectability and integrity ; some of whom have known the writer for many years, even from childhood ; oth- ers who have had a thorough opportunity of noticing his practice and its gratifying results. LETTERS, ETC. Fram Dr. iMiker Brigham to Amos Binmy, Efq., of Boston. Lowell, January 4, 1814. Atfos BiKKF.T, E'sa : Respected Sir, — Allow me to introduce to your friendly notice, Dr. S. S. Fitch, of Philadelphia. I have known Dr. Fitch from his chilihood. His grandfather, Dr. Ebenez.=r Fitch, of Gonneciiout, and his father. Dr. Chauncy Fitch, were celebrated Physicians. Dr. Ebenezer Fitch, so long President of Williams College, was his uncle. Dr. S. S. Fitch, the bearer of this, is justly celebrated for his researches upon the uses of the Lungs, and the nature and treatment of Pulmonary Con- sumption. I think hjs dpinion and advice on those subjects of great value. His patieJits in this place speak of him in the highest terms. Any favors you can rendfer Dr. Fitch will be highly appreciated by his numerous friends, Snd by none more highly than by your did friend and humble servant, LuTUEB Brigwam. Extract of a letter from Dr. Benj. West, M. D., to Dr. Gardner, of Providence, Rhode island. Nantucket, May 18, 1845. My dear Friend : Permit me the pleasure to introduce to you Dr. S. S. Fitch, (rf Philadelphia, a gentleman who has been lecturing here on Con- sumption ; one who is acquainted to a sv/rprising extent with the subject in its most important bearings ; and who, by his disinterested actions, has shown himself entitled to the respect and coofidence of all with whom-he may be brought into contact. I bespeak for the Dr. yotir Hospitalities and friendship. Your Friend, Bbw. H. West. Copy if a Idler from, Ji: R. ISinman, Esq., late Secretary of Sla'e of the State of Connecticut, to Professor Kingsly, of Yale College, Hartford, October 17lh, J 844. Professor Kingsly : My dear Sir,-^As Doct. Samuel S. Fitch, of -Philadelphia, is about to visit xriii LETTERS, etc. New Haven, upon the duties of his profession, I take the liberty of saying, that I have had a personal acquaintance with him more than twenty years ; that he sustains an estimable moral character, that he is not only a regularly educated physician, but that he has been eminently successful in that branch of his profession which he has particularly pursued for many years past. His travels in Europe at different periods of his life, and particularly his residence in London, has afforded him a, fine opportunity to examine the many cases of consumption with which he has met in all climates and in every quarter of the globe. You can rely upon him as a gentleman of strict honor, skilful in his profession, and every way worthy of the patronage of the public. Yours, R. R. Hinmak. Copy of a Utter to the Hnn. Upton S. Heath, Esq., United States District Judge in BaUimore, Maryland, from Richard G. Belt, M. D. Fall River, Mass., Aug. 2, 1845. Dear Sir, — Allow me to introduce my friend Dr. Filch, of Philadelphia, to your acquaintance. The Doctor has spent several weeks in this place, and delivered a most interesting course of lectures, which I had the pleasure of hearing, upon the origiu and cure of Consumption, and all the diseases of the chest. The Doctor has effected many extraordinary cures in this section of the country, and in the city of Boston, 6f Consumption, after all other means had totally failed ; of which he can produce the most satisfactory testimony. The Dr. has been laboring for eighteen years upon this most fatal disease ; about five years of which were spent in Europe visiting the largest and most prominent Medical Institutions. I take pleasure in recom- mending the Doctor to any of my Baltimore friends, and believe he may be the instrument of restoring many to health who are now without hope. Any attentions to him will be gracefully acknowledged by Yours truly, Richard G. Belt. Copy of a letter from J. Hubbard Graves, M. D., to Dr. Wm. D. Buck, M. D., of Concord, Nsw Hampshire. Nashville, N. H., Oct. 20, 1843. My dear Sir,— Allow me the pleasure of introducing to you my friend Dr. Fitch, of Philadelphia, who has recently delivered some lectures on Consumption, its causes and cure, in this place. On my announcing this subject, the idea of quackery may possibly strike you, but there you will be most agreeably disappointed. Dr. Pitch regularly studied his profession, both in this country and in Europe , and you will find him a man of strictly philosophical mind, who has thoroughly examined the theory which he advances. His ideas are not crude and confused, as those of quack lectur- LETTERS, ETC. SIX ers Invariably are. You will find that they are clearly arranged, and that all his conclusions have been logically deduced. In fact, from what 1 have seen of Dr. Fitch, I am satisfied you will deem his acquaintance in the highest sense agreeable. I am, dear sir, yours with much esteem, J. Hubbard Gbavks. Copif of a Utter from E. B. MCoy, M. D., to Dr. S. S. FiUh. Harrisville, Harrison County, Ohio, July 1st, 1850. Dr. S. S. Fitch: Dear Sir, — I received your favor of June the 12lh, and repaired to the city of Wheeling, to your Agent, Mr. Mellon, from whom I obtained your Six Lectures on the Lungs, breathing tube, &c. I found your Lectures of such absorbing interest that I did not leave my office until I had " devoured" the Book. I have reperused it several times wilh increased interest. In- deed, J have teamed more from this small volume on those subjects, than from all my twenty years reading besides. I regard your book as shedding a flood of new light on this department of inquiry. I have been much interested wilh what you call the mechanical treatment of chest diseases. Your medical treatment I wish very much to learn. You refer in your Lectures to a work you were preparing for the use of the pro- fession, that work I want immediately. I couU not hear of it in Wheeling. If it is out I wish you to inform me, and where I can get it. If its weight does not exceed three pounds, I would be much obliged if you would forward me a copy by mail, and I would remit the money immediately. If you can- not send it by mail, please forward me one to your Agent, Mr. Mellon, of Wheeling. Please let me hear from you again, in connection with this deeply interesting subject, and accept assurances of high e-steem, &c., &c. E. Halley M'Coy. Copy of a letter from John W. Collins, M. D., to Wm. Haslam, Esq. Hopkinton, R. I., January 23, 1851. Wm. Haslam, Esd: Dear Sir, — I have been personally acquainted for some years with Dr. S. S. Fitch, author of Six Lectures on the Uses of the Lungs, &c. I have had a fair opportunity of witnessing the results of Dr. Fitch's practice in Pul- monary and other diseases, and must say, I have great confidence in the Doctor as a very useful physician, and honest man. John W. Co:.lins, M. D. [Doctor Collins is a very experienced, respectable, regular practitioner of medicine.] QUESTIOJfS PQfi INVALIDS. As-it hiMs been my happiaess often to cure invalids 1 have neverseen, bot lesmed liieiT case from friends, or by lettefs, I give scFme questions, which may be carefully answered, Such as may concern yoar case. It will be pre- sumed the others do not trouble you. A prompt answer will be returned, stating remedies required, and cost. No notice of a first letter not post-paid. No charge for advice by letter. Address Da. Samuel S. Fitch, No. 707 Broadway, New-York. TO INVALID LADIES. What is your name, age, occupation, residence, so a letter may reach youl Where bom and brought up? Delicate or good constiimion I Height ? Slender or broad figure 1 Fleshy or lean "i Erect or stooping ? Chest full and straight, or coBtfadlfed, flat, and stooping'? What is your measure around the waist, just above the hipsi What is the color of your hair, eyes, and complexion ? To what diseases are your family subject 1 Any died of asthma, scrofula, heart disease, dropsy, cancer, or consumption 1 Are you subject lo asthma or short breathing % — any humor, salt rheum, or slcin disSeases 1 — any bead-ach«, or pain in the chest, neck, spine, shoulders, back, stomach, bowels, sides, or limbs 1 — any sore throat, swelled tonsils, heat or dryness in the throat, weak voice, loss of voice, hoarseness, catarrh in head, nose, or throat 1 Any coughs— how long had it 1 Do you cough up any thing 1 — how much'!— -W^hat kind, &c. 1 When cough most '! — and Avhen raise most t Ever raise blood 1 — how many times 1 — how much 1 On which side lay best, if either % On full breathing, do your ribs rise equally all over your chest, or do the ribs rise better on one side or part than ano- ther 1 Have you daily chills, or fever, or night-sweats 1 Are you confined to your bed, or room, or the house, or do you go outdaily ] Any palpitation, or distress at the heart, or stoppage of circulation ? Are you nervous, or paralytic, or have fits 1 Any bad dreams, and their efiects 1 Any dyspepsia, sour stomach, or distress, or pressure at the stomach '? After eating, does food rise 1 Ever sick stomach to vomit 1 Ever any sinking, exhausted, all- gone feeling at top of chest, pit of stomach, or sides, or bowels, or across you 1 Appetite good, bad, or capricious 1 Bowels regular, costive, or di- arrbosal Any external, or bleeding, or blind piles, or fistula, weak back, heat in your back, or any part, hot flashes 1 Have a rupture 1 Suspect having worms? What kind? Any gravel or kidofiycoifliplaiiiits? Water stoppage, or free, or too much, scanty or scajdjuffj or-settlings 1 Cold or burning feet? Bloating anywhiere? Muci wind in stomach or bowels? Rheumatism or neuralgia ? Any deformity ? Ever aay wounds ? Long fevers ? Took much medicine, or mercury ? Fever sores ? Bilious hab- itually? Married or single, or widow? Had any children? Suflered miscarriages, or floodings ? Ever rise from bed feeling quite smart, but, on exercising, soon obliged to sit or lay down, all exhausted, or hea«ln, without immediate (^esee, hut the heart will not. CAUSES OP CONSUMPTION. S5 A vast many cases of heart disease are produced by a con traction of ihe chest ; so that the heart has not room to play. I have often cured seeining-ly fatal diseases of the heart, by enlarg- ing the size of the chest ; of which 1 shall speak in another place. The left lung is smaller than the right. It is divided into two lobes, wh.lst the right ha? three lobes. The lung ; are formed in cells, or leaves, if you please, like the honey-comb, or a sponge. Each cell has walls ; and on the thick- ness or thinners of these walls depends the health or disease of the lungs ; as all changes in the lungs commence by rendering their walls thick, or rather by external pressure, or internal engorgement of the walls of the air cells, these cells are made smaller, or entirely closed. Each air cell is in communication with the air pipes, from which it is filled with air at each inspiration, and Empties itself at each expiration. The air cells may be compared to grapes, and the air pipes to the stems on which those grapes hang. Now it is utterly impossible to have pulmonary consumption so long as the air passes freely in and out of each air cell, and thus keeps all the walls of the air cells thin, and free from engorgement or deposition of foreign matter ; and they will be kept perfectly free from such engorgement, or deposition of matter, if the air fully inflates each air cell at e»ch inspiration. Allow me to repea*, pulmonary consumption is caused by a gen- eral or partial cl(^ing of the air cells, either from external compres- sion, internal engorgement of the walls of the air cells, or a deposi- tion of f»'eign matter in the air cells, as chalk, bony matter, &c. ; which last is very rare. It is utterly impossible to have pulmonary consumjition, unl:ss the air cells are more or less obliterated. The disease progresses as ihs air cells are progressively obliterated. A portion of healthy lung will float on water ; a portion pulmon- arily diseased, will sink in water. From vast observation and experience, I unhesitatingly assert that consumption is one of our most curable diseases ; and is easier prevented and warded oflE than any hereditary disease to which we are inclined. sae USKS OF THE LUNGS, AND PLATE E. 1, windpipe. 2, the Gullet, or pipe that conveya the food from the mouth to the stomach. 3 —3, the belts coveting the front of the abdomen. USES OF THE Lt^GS. On a correct knowledge of the uses of th^ lungs depends all correct views of tteir diseases, and of their maba^ement. It is well known in all great pieces of machinery, both">aatural and artificial, that we very often find one gi-eat leading purpcwe, and then comes a valuable but subordinate purpose. In nature, the sun : its first grand purpose is to keep the planets in their places ; its subordinate purpose is to furnish light and heat to those planets. In art, notice a watch : its first grand object is, by the move- ments of a pendulum, to mark the progress of the sun across the heavens. It might be a perfect time-keeper, with only this move- ment ; but in order to make it tiaefiil to us, that we may be in- formed of the progress of tlje sun, another subordinate movement CAUSES OP CONSUMPTION. 27 is added, by ■which hands are moved along a dial plate; thus counting to us the lapse of h«urs and minutes. Again : Lead two savages into a flouring mill ; on leaving that mill, one may be supposed to ask the other its grand use. At once he repliesj it is to separate the coarse and fine parts of that powder from each other. No, says the other, that is not the principal use of the mill ; it is to crush the kernels of wheat into powder. The former, by only noticing a subordinate function, an-ives at a very fiilse estimate of the importance of the mill, or the magnitude of its operations. So with the lungs. It is one of the most singular facts con- nected with the history of the human mind, and the progress of knowledge, that from all time it has been known that the human frame is a machine, exhibiting everywhere most perfect mechanism ; yet no human being has ever asked, " What is the power that moves this machinery,'' or whence does it derive its ability to con- tinue the movements of that machinery. One would suppose, that in the earliest dawning of knowledge this question would have been asked and ans^ei-ed. Why has not some one, long ago, stumbled upon it ; so nu- merous are the facts that, like a finger-post, have ever pointed to it ? Nearly all Writers upon the uses of the lungs make the chief use of those vast organs to purify the blood. Others allow, that they introduce a large quantity of oxygen into the blood. The blood, on arriving at the lungs, is of a dark color ; and on leaving, is of a light vermilion red. This is owing to a loss of carbon, (coal,) thrown out of the blood in the lungs. Yet this loss is not moTe than could be separated by two glands half th(^ size of the kidneys ; and does not at all account for the vast size of the lungs, so disproportionate to this object. To purify the blood »f this carbon, is only a subordinate function :— by dwell- ing so long on this, and making it nearly final, much of the darkness on this subject has arisen, with all its deplorable effects. What are the grand uses of the Lungs ? In 1827, whilst pursuing some investigations in Philadelphia, upon Nervous Influence, preparatory to my graduation thesis, I 28 USES OP THE LUNGS, AND discovered, what I conceive to be, the grand uses of the lungs, and their first great purpose. In those researches, I was led to ask, what it was that gave support and power to the nervous system. I traced this support to the lungs ; and at once, and forever, to my mind, all darkness upon the uses of the lungs dis- appeared. If any one of my readers can tell me why we breathe harder in running up stairs, than in running down, he can tell me what a:e the principal uses of the lungs. I have often asked this ques- tion. I never met but one person who made even an approximate answer. But what are the uses of the lungs ! I reply : They give to the human machine its power of action. This power exists in the atmospheric air ; and the lungs are the medium by which, and through which, that principle which gives the human machine its hving power is conveyed to it. The lungs have the same relation to the human machine that the water-wheel has to the mill it moves. The air is the same to the lungs that the water is to the wheel : shut off the water from the water-wheel, and it soon stops ; shut the air from the lungs, and they as soon stop, and all the system with them. Where there is no air, there is no action^; and the consumption of air in any living machine, is in the exact ratio of its size and action. It is most likely that, in all animals, the same momentum of action requires exactly the same quantity of air. We see, in running up stairs, the lungs, before quiet and easy in their movements, at once double and quadruple their action, and, if the exertion is long continued, are lashed into most active and even violent pantings ; whilst not the least increase of action is observed in running down stairs — because there is no increase in the consumption of power, for no increase of power is required. Exactly in the ratio of the consumption of power, will be the action of the lungs and consumption of air. To illustrate this subject, allow me to present a few examples, familiar to you all. It is of vital consequence that we perfectly CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 29 iinderstiind the uses of the lungs ; do this, and they will become as jjlaythings to us. USES ILLUSTRATKl). The first examj.le 1 will give you is that of the race-horse. Ask any stable groom ujon what depends the value of the race- horse, and he will tell you, not the swiftness of his heels, but upon his bottom, his wind, his lungs. Many horses could outrun Eclipse, at one mile, that would be dead on the course long before they could accom[]lish sixteen miles. This truth was known long before the da3's of Homer. If any man does not know it, get a broken-winded horse, and endeavor to urge him into speed, and he will soon know. The next example I will mention to j'ou, is the difference in the strength of men and women. We all know that women are weaker than men, but why so I am not aware has ever been explained, nor can it be, except by reference to the uses of the lungs. The lungs of women are one- third smaller than those of men, as an examination of their chests will instantly prove. In those two beautiful remains of (Jrecian sculpture, the Apollo of Belvidei'e in Rome, and the Venus of Medicis at Florence, to which pilgrimages ai-e made annually by thousands of admiring observers, this rule holds : the breast of the Apollo measures three, the Venus two. Those statues owe their value to their truth and fidelity to beautiful nature. It is written on the frame of woman, that she can never surpass man in jihysical sti'ength ; she conquers by her charms ; her lungs are a third sn)aller than his, consequently her ph3'sical strength is always less. Again : observe the difference in the strength of different men. Were you required to select the strongest man of your acquamt- ance, would 3'ou select a man with a flat thin chest, long neck, and narrow round stooping shoulders, or would you select a man with a wide, deep, round chest, and broad heavy shoulders. There can be but one answer. You would choose the man with large lunafs, and you would not be disappointed. You would find his strengtu 30 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND in the exact ratio of his pulmonary developement, other things being equal. The difference in the strength of different men is immense, and the difference in the size of the chest forms a very striking charac- teristic in such cases. So of Northern nations : we find them always conquering South- era nations, because of their superior physical strength, derived from larger lungs, from breathing purer, denser, and more nourish- ing air. Again : notice a man about to lift a heavy weight : as he, stoops to raise it, his last act is to fill his lungs to its utmost expansion, and if a great effort, he does not suffer the air to leave his lungs until the feat of strength is accomplished. Another striking instance is in the use of the right arm. It is seen with all the inhabitants of this globe, that the right arm is preferred in its use over the left ; in other words, that all men arc right-handed, as a general rule. Some very unsatisfactory reasons are given for this. The true reason is found in the fact, that the lungs give us the power of action, and that the right lung is larger than the left ; hence it gives more power to the right arm. I have often seen the right arm hang quite powerless at the side by exten- sive disease of the right lung. Very rarely we find persons left-handed. I believe in all cases where they are left-lianded, the left lung will be found to be the largest. I have often had an opportunity of verifying this fact ; so that being left-handed is not a matter of capricious or accidental choice in the infant, but is owing to the left arm being the strongest, because the left lung is the largest. This explains why it is difficult to make a left-handed child prefer to use the right hand, and thus become right-handed, when nature in its formation has ordained it otherwise, by making the left lung the largest — and thus the left arm the strongest. Take two brothers, one brought up in sedentary pursuits in the city, the other brought up and leading an active and laborious life in the country : after the lapse of a few years the brother in the country will be fouad to possess in a vast many cases double the CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 31 physical strength of the brother in the city, and not half as inclined to pulmonary consumption. We talk of the power of the steam engine, and are struck at its wonderful performances : but there is a power that laughs at the steam engine, and that is the power that is developed in the eagle. In him we see an animal that poises himself high in the heavens, and, almost with the rapidity of lightning, sweeps to the earth, and seizing a Hving animal of nearly or quite his ovra weight, flies away with him to the top of Mont Blanc. This is power acting upon mechanism. We know of nothing in man's art that will compare with it. Now what is peculiar in the eagle ? Fii-st, his lungs are as lai-ge as can be stowed in his body ; secondly, the au' is made to fill all his bones and quiUs, and finally is poured thi'ough the cellular tissue, and spread upon the living muscles, so that they may feed upon the air without the inter%'ention of the lungs. In the case of the eagle, science says this universal diflfusion of air in his quills and bones, f consumptive parents, is very liable to bring on consump- tion. I think in many oases of consumption in children, it is produced by calomel. OPIUM. Opium in all its preparations, as far as my observations go, is very injurious to consviitiptive lungs, and should be avoided. . It may still tlie cough a little, but it soon returns with gi-eater violence. No cure will go on under the influence of opium. It prevents a cure, causes night sweats, closes all the secretions save of the skin, constipates the bowels, destroys the appetite, confuses the mihdv and wholly breaks down the nervous system. Now, in consttmptioh, it is of the last impoi-tance that the nervous system should be kept in the greatest strength and composure. EMETICS. Emetics often do great injury to the consumptive, especially those of a debilitating class, as emetic tartar. Ipecac, lobelia, eT, 1844, Miss Mary Dibble called on me in New Haven, Connecticut. She had heard me lecture, and was so struck with tha parallel of my lectures and her experience, that though in good health,. CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 65 she called to tell me ter case. She said that two or thi-ee times she had been raised from a seemingly hopeless state, but the reason of it she had never underatood, until she heard my lectui'e. She was tall, and of a shght figure. Her father died of consumption, and she had lost nine cousins of consumption. Now 45 years old. Mother and brother died of hmg fever. At eighteen, had a fever, and was salt- voted with meroury ; soon had a bad cough and raised blood. She rapidly became very bad, not able to sit up for weeks. In eight months she recovered ; knows not how, but had great palpitation of the heart. In one year confined again with a bad cough. Dr. pro- posed the use of opium, and stimulants ; these she refused to take ; had an enonnous appetite, and relaxation of the bowels ; could get no relief except by great abstemiousness, hving on a half pint of milk a day, and a little fruit; cough diy and hacking, raising only blood. She gained her health, subject to fevers and lungs aifected. After some yeare, went to reside in Norfolk, Virginia ; had a fit of sickness there, and the doctor thought her case a heart disease. Eight yeare ago, returned to New Haven, and took a typhoid fever that lasted sixty days, terminating in hectic fever, ulcerated lungs, very bad cough, en- tire prostration, and life entirely despaired of by physicians, and every bjdy else. Sick thii'teen months; constant palpitation of the he^; but again recovered ; raised a good deal of thick, yeUow, creani-hke matter. Five yeare ago, sick again, raised blood three times, and lost her voice from November to April ; cough and thick expectoration, and her heart so bad as almost daily to threaten suifocation ; this had always been the case whenever her lungs had been bad. The heart affection usually seeming the most immediately dangerous. She has been benefitted by short sea voyages. Spent one winter in Savannah, Georgia. Disposed to be bilious, and at times dy^eptic. Throucrh Ufe, bowels in good order usually. On examining the chest and lungs, I found the top of the right lung all gone, down to about the fourth rib, causmg a loss of nearly one-third of the right lung ; the rest of the .right lung was good. The left lung was unusually large, and the ribs over the left chest bulging out. The heart was enlarged consider- ably beyond usual health. In this : remarkable case, for twenty-seven years, the heart had re- 66 ON THE PREVENTION AND sisted lihe progress of consumption, and three times raised the peraon from apparently hopeless consimiption, and curing the diseased lungs after one-third of the right lung was lost by tuberculous ulceration, i could introduce numerous cases of this kind, but the limits of a lec- ture will not admit of it. Allow me to say, no greater skill is required or knowledge, than to know when to intei-fere with, or let alone, a heart disease in persons who are predisposed to consumption, or in whom the heart is acting, or being diseased, on account of the lungs, or to save the lungs. It is a singular fact, that a disease of the heart, when it is in sympathy with the lungs, is rarely fatal ; but is apt in a vast many cases to continue until late in life, and finally cease altoge- ther. I have often noticed in a family of brothers and sisters, one or more being consumptive, one or more heart troubled, and no consump- tion, whilst othere perhaps will have asthma. There is another curious fact : a parent saved from consumption by a heart disease ; his children are as liable to consumption as if he had had consumption. I have often known families of children going off in consumption, and no declai-ed signs of consumption or asthma in either parents ; but I would very soon detect lieart^trouble in one of them. The diffei-ence between heart disease and consumption is, one usually hurries you away in early life, the other usually allows you to die in old age. Of couree, if the heart disease is very violent, it must be corrected and controlled by suitable remedies. At all times it is perfectly curable by curing the weak state of the lungs. I should remark that there are original diseases of the heait, which do not arise fi-om sympathy with the lungs, and are entirely independent of the lungs ; but in all such cases the lungs are rarely diseased, and never become diseased, unless asthmatic. The diseased or enlarged heart saves them. Moderate disease of the heart, properly managed, is a tolerable passport to old age. ASTHMA. The next disease I will speak of, as curing consumption, and always preventing it, is asthma : the phthisic, as it is often called in common language. A diseased heart enlarges the chest and lungs ; but asth- ma vastly more, and is a disease of the lungs themselvee. It is a CURE OF CONSUMPTION. PLATE H. PLATE L 61- Asthmatic Chest. Consumptive Chest. disease caused by consumption, or consumptive tendency in the lungs, and always an-ests the progress of consumption. It is a vastly lesser disease given in place of a greater, and instead of heing a curse, is usually a great blessing. In consumption, the lun^ are too small ; in asthma they are too large. (See Plates H and I.) A disease like asthma may be prodxiced by ossification of the blood vessels of the •heart ; but in nearly aU eases, it is produced by consumptive irritation of the lungs. It often takes place suddenly, in earhest childhood, continues until between 12 and 20, then goes off and is never seen again ; but the person falls a victim to consumption ; or asthma may reappear and secure the patient from consumption. If properly treat- ed, it is a passport to old age ; but when badly treated, it may termi- nate in dropsy of the chest. In cases of dropsy superseding it, it mU usually be foimd that ossification of the blood vessels of the heart is present, and not simple asthma. Asthma all but always cures con- suniption ; never produces it. In some exceedingly rare cases, by excessively effeminating and debflitating the system, a person may sink 68 ON THE PREVENTION AND under the effects, of asthma into apparent consumption, or what is made consumption by veiy bad treatment. The asthma leaves the pei-son, and he rapidly is overcome by the consumption that had always been on him whilst he had the asthma, and resumes its rapid and fatal course, on asthma leaving him. If asthma is cured without perfectly expanding the lungs, and keeping them so, the pereon is extremely hable to consumption. In October, 1844, at Eas^Haven, in Connecticut, I was consulted by Mr. S. Hotchkiss, aged 43, who was in the last stages of consumption, wishing to go to the West Indies. My opinion was asked. For many yeai-s he was a subject of asthma. Ten years before, that is, 1834, he went to St. Croix, in the West Indies ; the warm climate entirely cured him ; he returned home dehghted with his rehef ; took no steps to keep his lungs well, as he had no fear of consumption. The conse- quence was, after seven years time, consumption disclosed itself of which be died ten days after I saw him. Mr. Daniel Russel, at Providence, Rhode Island, consulted me in March, 1845, for diseased lungs. I found him near his end in hope- less consumption. He told me, that at twenty he was attacked by asthma, and had it every night, more or less, for thirty years, when without any known cause it left him. In eighteen months after, he began to have a cough, with the early symjjtoms of a fatal and tnie tubercular consumption. MiB. Faxon, of Boston, consulted me in March, 1844, for distress- ing asthma. She had been for forty-two nights unable to he down in bed at all ; but sat up all night. No medicine was of any avail.. A short time after I saw her, an abscess broke in her lungs and dis- diarged freely, which gave her immediate reUe^ and all the asthmatic symptoms left her. She has had repeated attacks in this way, but was relieved by the breaking of an abscess each attack. During the time while the abscess was forming, asthma would attack her violently; when it broke it would leave her. This had often been the case. Four or six weeks would elapse whilst the abscess was forming, and during this period, most disti-essing asthma would be present, and all leave when the abscess broke, and the irritation of the lungs was over. She would then recover her usual health. Asthma, in tMs case, con- CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 69 sequently curing consumption. I saw this lady in July, 1845, id very good health. As in heart diseases, so in asthma, woe to the person who is cured of asthma, without a free, and perfect, and continued expansion of the chest ; as he will, in nearly all cases, sooner or later fall into consump- tion. The remarks about asthma curihg consumption, and preventing it, I have verified in a multitude of cases. It is also true that children, bom of asdunatic parents, and delicately brought up, are equally apt to have consumption, as those bom of parents who have died of true consumption ; but if rightly brought up, and well exposed to out-door occupations and exercise, with rather hard living, they will rather incline to asthma, not consumption. By treating astbma nearly as I do consumption, I find it pei-frctly and readily cm-able ; much more so than consumption. Its longer or shorter continuance, before I see the patient, is of veiy little conse- quence in its cure. March, 1851. — I have to this time treated many thousand cases of asthma. I do not know of five cases that have failed of recovery. I have seen asthma affect one lung and consumption the other. SWELLED TONSILS PREVENT CONSUMPTION, Swelhng and continued inflammation, more or less, of the tonsils, derive from the lungs, and often and usually prevent consumption. Of this I have seen a gi-eat many cases. Dr. Ramadge, in London, had a cast of the chest of a man who died of consumption of the left lung, while tbe right lung was well, or nearly so. The right tonsil was always enlarged and inflamed, and he considered the escape of the right hm^ from disease was owing to the swelling and inflamma- tion of the right tonsil. The left tonsil had never been inflamed. After a lecture I delivered at Saratoga, in 1 843, a distinguished gentleman of that town, Cook, Esq., spoke to me of his expe- rience in this matter. He said that for a number of years, his son had been subject in winter to attacks of quinsy, which is an acute inflammation of the tonsils. His life would at times seem in dan- ger. Mr. Cook told me that he had consulted a great many physi- cians and surgeons, who could give no account of_ the uses of. the To ON THE PREVENTION AND tonsils. One old surgeon of great celebrity, said they were the only part of the human frame that had no use, and were made entirely in vain. The tonsils act as a sort of sentinels to the lungs, and attacks which would affect the lungs in a vast many cases, attack the tonsils. The tonsils enlarge and partially close the throat, so that the passage of the airout of the lungs is partially and often much obstructed ; the effect is to enlarge the lungs, and prevent the progress of consumption. It is said that whenever the tonsils are enlarged, tubercles at that time exist on the lungs. To continue the case of Mr. Cook. After much anxious consultation, by the unanimous consent of all the consulting physicians, the tonsils of his sou were cut out. But the next winter, said Mr. Cook, to my horror the disease attacked my son's lungs, and it was with the greatest difficulty -we could keep him alive until warm weather, when his dis- eased lungs grew better; and now, said Mr. Cook, I propose to send him to the West Indies early in the fall, to cure his lungs, and save his life by a residence in a wann climate. It was remarked in Ms case, that one tonril was cut out and a part of the other. The in- flammation attacked his lungs ; the lung on the side where the ton- sil was all cut out, was much more affected than the other side, for the piece of the tonsil left in was inflamed, and so relieved the lung on the same side in some measure. A case was mentioned to me at Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. A child of Captain Philip Cumer, of that town, had swelled tonsils, and its mother had them cut out. The disease that was upon the tonsils soon settled upon the lungs, and the child, to its mother's inexpressible grief, soon died of consumption. In cases of persons who are inclined to any humor in the system, and th'at have the ton- sils inflamed, if you cut them out, the lungs are almost certain to become affected. The inflammation and swelling of the tonsils are easily remedied and reHeved; so that cutting them out is usually unnecessary, besides often endangering the hfe of the pereon who has his tonsils cut out. Parents who have the health of their child- ren m their keeping, should be cautious how they allow their tonsils to be out out. If veiy greatly enlarged, they may be out out after put- tmg the lungs m a healtiv stat«<. CURK OF CONSUMPTION. 71 COMMON COLD CURES CONSUMPTION. I have tefore hinted that a common cold will occasionally cure consumption. It may seem paradoxical that a cold will cause con- sumption, and will also at other times cure it. I vnil endeavor to make you imderstand how this can be. Suppose I stick a nail in my hand, and suppose inflammation follows, should this in- flammation run over the skin of my hand and be superficial, my hand would swell very much, but I should not lose it ; but if the in- flammation should attack the bones and deep seated parts of my hand, I might lose the hand. It is the same with a cold ; at one time it wiE attack the deep seated pai-ts of the lungs, and cause consumption ; at other times it will only run over the skin, lining the air-pipes and air cells of the lungs ; in this way enlarg- ing the lungs very much, and prevent and even cure consump- tion, as I have witnessed in many oases. The case of Mr. McNeil, of HiUsboro,' mentioned in heart cases, at page 64, is an illustration of consumption retarded, and its fatal termination prevented by a cold on the lungs ; or, as it is called, pulmonary catarrh. General McNeil had a cough and seeming consumption for thirty-five years before his heart became affected ; when for five years the heart af- fection and cold acted together, and both cured the consumption upon the lungs ; when, the exciting cause being removed, all got well ; both the heart disease and the lung complaint, &c. In Liverpool, England, I met a lady whose mother died of con- sumption, and, as her only child was veiy delicate as she grew up, all thought she would, at an early period, fall a prey to consump- tion. At nineteen years of age, she took a bad cold, as it was thought, and as it actually was ; soon her health became good. Wlien I knew her, she had had a cough and daily expectoration for twenty- seven yeare ; saving its inconvenience, sho enjoyed excellent health, with a full, well expanded chest, without any symptoms of a decline. In November, 1842, 1 lectured at Burlington, Vt., upon consump- tion ; after the lecture, a respectable lawyer of that town, Gris- wold, Esq., came to see me. He told me that if he could have thotightl had previously laiown him, he would have believed that I had kctured upoa Mm ; as my various rpmarks so strikingly correspitmdetl 73 ON THE PREVENTION AND with his experience. He had suffered from a cough fot more than thirty years, and raised a great.deal from his lungs. At one time he had a bad influenza^ and joined to his old cough, presented strong symptoms of rapid consumption. It was in March, a veiy cold, windy month. He was attended by two extremely well educated physicians, both professors, teachers and practitioners of medicine. They adopted the usual practice, a very warm room ; as if cold were a mortal enemy to the lungs, and emetic tartar, confinement to his bed, and all accessible remedies, to reduce the strength of the pa- tient, and thus drive oflF his disease. Under this treatment his strength rapidly declined j cough and expectoration became profuse, and every symptom of rapid consumption appeared. In this state his two physicians, knowing the extent of his business, felt it to be their duty to make known to him that he was near his end. On this announcement, he said at once, " If that is the case, why have you kept me so long in bed ? I should have much prefen'ed to havfl been up." He immediately had an arm chair brought to him, that had wheels on its- feet, and caused himself to be dressed, and was wheeled into his parlor — a large, well aired room. This was on Thursday ; on Saturday after, his physicians called ; he told them that 'the next Monday morning he should start for Montreal, capital of Canada, about eighty miles north from JBurlington — " For," said he, " as you say, I have a great deal to do, and but a short time to do it in." They remonstrated against this unheard of temerity, as a species of suicide ; that his death must be the result in a very short time. Their entreaties and positive advice had no effect upon his resolution. He went to Montreal, and returned neai'ly well I saw him eighteen yeara after this transaction, in vigorous health, al- though still subject to his old cough and expectoration. As a very strong intimation of his consumptive habits, I well mention he has lost two sons by consumption. HYSTERIA. Hysteria often arrests and cures consumption. In many cases the spasms of hysteric fits stop the breathing for a short time, and prevent the air leaving the lungs ; and in this way consumption is often re- CURE OF COjrStTMPTION. 73 ta-d;-d and at timss entirely cured. The effect of heart diseases, asthma and swelled tonsils, hysteria, a cold, -THfi PftEVBN-HON AND The inhaliDg tube is a roost valuable assistant in;CuriBg4y8pepda, and many diseases of great debility oflly. Ladies after confinement, who have the least disposition to lung diseases, should make a free use of the inhaling tube, so as to give immediate activity and expansion, to the lungs, and thiis save an attack of consumption, and meet all weakness of the lungs. Per- sons whose lungs readily stuff up, and fill up with mucus, or from, any cause, will find that the use of the inhaling tube will entirely prevent this filling up of the lungs, or greatly reUeve it. It should be understood, that the only object in using an inhaling tube is to procure a full and perfect expansion of the chest, and the inhaling tube is used to facilitate this, object. Taking long full breaths, draw- ing in all the air we can , so as to fill the chest to its utmost capacity^ and holding the air in as long as possible, is in mo?t cases equally valuable with the inhaling tube ; it is often better, and may be done a thousand limes a day and night, in all places and positions. The weakly and delicate will often prefer the inhaling tube. Persons not accustomed to taking long full breaths, should begin their use with the same care and precaution as in using the inhaling tube. For most invalids I think the inhaling tube too useful to be neglected. CURE OF PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. Having spoken of the prevention of pulmonary consumption, and ha\ing endeavored to convince you that, first, consumption is in some me-asure a mechanical disease, and may in most cases be pre- vented by. counteracting mechanical remedies, Pcome now to speak to. you of the cure of eonsumf tion after it ha&actually taken place, after the lungs have become tuberoulated — aft^r cough has become seated— after the lung^ hav* become ulcerated — after night sweats and hectic fever are of daily oceurrencerr^after all tbese^are present, I have shown to y»u that heart disease, asthma, and pulmonary ca- tarrh will cure it. I ako will endeavor to expUun a couise of me- chanical and medical treatment, that will in most cases, if seasonably applied, cure seated consumption. I have shown to you that heart disease, asthma, . CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 89 your notice a mode of expaijding the chest, even when the hings are ulcerated, lliat is far better and more certain than to have con ump- tion cured by other diseases, and has the advantage, that it m;iy always be used in every case of pei-sons old enough to u^e them. The discovery of this mode of expanding the chest, like most gre^t dis- coveries in medicine, was made by accident, and its fortunate discov- erer was an eminent phys'ician of London, Dr. Francis Hopkins Ram- adge. Lacnnec, a celebrated French physician, wrote a work move than 30 yeare ago, upon the diseases of the lungs and chest. In that work, he announced to the world the fact that consumption was cured by nature or accident, but how this was done he could not tell. Nor could he even hint at a possible mode by which it was effected. He had seen persons in consumption, who had recovered, contrary, to all o'.'dinary expectation, or experience, and who, yeare aftor, had, died of other diseases ; he had opened their lungs and seen traces of dis- ease, and cavities where ulcere had onoe existed in the, lung-s, but had healed;. Dr. Ramadge was a pupil cif Lapnnep, and establi-hed a lung hospital in London, many year? ago. At this time, Dr. Ramadge enjoys. a very exteniive and lucrative practice in London, chitfl}'- con- fined to diseases of the chest. The discovery w£i? as follows,: Among his, numerous psitients was one, who, ^liiH in an advanced stage of consumption, was attack"d with a tumor or swelling at the bottom of the neck in front, and above the breastbone. The swelling became so large as to threaten suffocation. It required all the skill qf the doctor .to save Ms patient from being suffocatrd by the pressure of the tumor on the wind-pipe. In about fix weeks the swelling began tp subside, but before this the consumptive complaint rapidly yielded, !^nd when the tumor on the throat subsided, the consumption was well. After a Uttle time, tke doctor received a call from a person who was the last of his family, all the rest ha^ing died of consump- tion, and he was in confirmed consumption. The doctor relat' d to him the case of the man who was cured by a tumor corning on the fi-Qut of his throat. At Dr. Ram a4ge's. suggestion, this last patient jnade a silver, band to go around his n^ck, apd on the front of it he fastened an ivory ball, and bound it firijjly down on the wind-pipe in ^^. Xb^ operated nearly as the <^^^'SUMPTION. 97 .leave any of these before-mentioned diseases u]'on the patient. A cure cannot be easily realised, whilst other diseases are upon you. For all these different complaints, I administer what I think to be proper remedies, so as in general to remove them perfectly. I next put upon my patient, a proper abdominal suppoi-ter, well- adjusted, of the right size, strength of pres-ure, &c. ; next, I put on him a pair of shoulder-braces, and give him an inhaling tube, with careful directions. I take care that the tube is prepared for his or her case, as the inhallng*tube differs in many pei-sons ; what suits one per- son wiU ,not suit everybody, or every patient ; if the inhaling tube is not perfectly ad.ipted, to the case, its efficacy is much impaired. I next direct him or her to be bathed freely every morning in cold water, or cold salt and water ;, apy kind of spirits may be u=ied in the water. The efficacy of the water arises somewhat from the tonic power of the cold that is, in the water ; hence, the colder the water the better for the patient ; if not accustomed to cold bathing, the water may be a little warmed at first. (For directions for bathing, see Lectures IV. and VI) Befoie washing all over, the chest should be rubbed well ; if cold and chilly, use flannel, — if not, u.L\ ii.!!i rium ai.\i> chUdren, and some of the same femily of brothere and sisters may have asthma, and others have consumption. Asthma is a troe skin disease, and its paroxysms increase and decrease ; it is governed by the same laws that govern skin diseases. It is a most curable disease. I have had over 2,000 cases of asthma in five years past. I have no knowledge of ten cases but what have perfectly recovered in those ^yho have faithfully followed my directions and used my remedies, such as I have already pointed out for con- sumption. No disease presents such striking and marked benefits hy a radical change of air as asthma. English and European asthmatica are usually vastly benefitted by residing in this countiy, and American asthmatics derive vast benefits from a residence in Europe, all by a change of location — first in one place and then another, until they find a place that suits them. Residents of the country often are benefitted by residing in a city, and citizens by residing in the country. But without any change of climate or location whatever, in nearly .all cases it may be cured. It is cured with more difficulty in old people. If a change of location Ls made to a colder chmate, it should be made in warm weather. Changeable weather much aflfects asthmatics. I again repeat, it is most curable, and in nearly all cases, no matter of how long standing or how apparently hopeless. For directions re- specting diet for the asthmatic and consumptive, see remarks on the stomach and food in Lecture VI. HEART DISEASE. I have before referred to the fact, that consumption is often cured by irregular action of the heart, and by disease of the heart. The heart often has diseases of its own, independently of association or sympathy with any other organs ; yet there is no organ o/,the whple body that is more influenced by the condition of other organs, than the heart. The condition of the stomach powerfully influences the heart, and so doss falling of the bowels, before r^erred to, and falling of the womb, and so does the condition of the lungs. The lungs, the stomach, the bowels, and the brain, may produce what seems to he heart disease when the heart is not at all diseased. The heart j||,often greatly affected by the condition of the walls of thp phept jteelf. It ia CURE OF CONSUMPTION. Ul very ^t^n noticed that by stooping and leaning the shoijjdei'a heavily upon the chest, it is contracted at jts base in front, and tlie breast-bone thrown flat down upon the heart, in this way injuring the heart, and kading to the opinion that there is disease of the heart, when there is no disease of. it; but the walls of the chest have closed around it, and the heart cannot act. After forty yeare of age, and in a vast many cases at an earher period, the heart begins to enlarge in multitudes of pei-sons, and if the chest enlarges also, all is well ; but if the chest does not enlarge, then the heart is compressed, and p^lpitaition, suffo- cation of the heart, and apoplexy, may take place. From this fact is explained the reason why we hawe httle heart disease until after the middle periods of hfe.. That heart diseases often arise from consumptive influences, I have verified in a vast many cases. Knowing this, I have often ascertained the presence of heart diseases in one or both parents, when I have found the children highly consumptive ; yet nothing of consumption in any respect had shown itself in the parents. Hie ti-eatraent of heart disease, in a vast many cases, is required to be the same as we find necessary in consumption ; in fact, with a httle modification, I treat many cases of heart disease the same as I do consumption, and often have the pleasure of entirely curing it, when all hope of life had fled. Of course, cough medicines are not requii-ed if no cough exists. I esilarge the chest; I restore as soon as possible the chest and all parts of the body to perfect health ; if necessary, use the inhaling tube, shoulder-braces, and supporter for the abdomen ; in fact, treat the heart disease, with a little modification, as I do consumption ; in some cases, but they are not one in fifty, such changes have taken place inform and structure of the heart itself, as to render a cure im- possible. J will remark, that the .heai-t ;is placed under the breast-bone, and to the left of it Mostly about one-third of the heart lias to tlie right and two-thirds of it to the left of the centre of the breast-hone; so the heart has the breast-bone, and the flexible ends of the ribs, chiefly in front of it, the spine behind it, and the lungs on its sid^. (See Plate fi,\ Yqu wjU see by its cpmiawding and pe- 112 ON THE PREVENTION AND cuHav position, how the enlargement of the heart must enlarge the chest at its base, and throw back the top of the fiarae, and make the pei-son full chested, and straight. Now, if a heavy pair of shoulders, with the dependent arms, are thrown forward upon the chest, the heart cannot enlarge, and must be more or less suffocated, producing palpitation and disease of the heart. The heart is supported at its sides by the lungs. Sometimes one lung, from some rea.=on or other, will waste away, or it will become bad and shrink up, so that no air will pass through it. The heart, in such a case, losing its support, will beat very irregularly, and seem to be greatly diseased, when in fact it is not diseased at all. The condition of the heart can only be fully detected by an examination by a pereon who is skilled in the art of examining the chest, and thus ascertaining the actual condition of the heart and lungs, and great blood vessels. A vast many mistakes, and those the most unhappy, arise from the examinations of medical men who've knowledge and experience are not sufficient to determine, with ceitainty, the condition of the lungs and heart. I once heard a medical man, of oousider;ible eminence, lecture against the idea of curing consumption by exjrmding the chest, and instanced the case of a man whom he, the lecturer, had doctored for some time for heart disease, who died ; and after death, his chest was opened, and it was found that the left lung had disappeared, or entirely wasted away ; the heart was well. " Now," says the lecturer, " no person could have told that the lung had disap[)earcd, until the chest was examined after death !" In September, 1844, I was consulted at New-Britain, Con- necticut, by a man who wa=i subject to fits. He usually had about five fits in the day lime, and three at ni^ht. He would lose his con- sciousness at the time, yet not fall down, but would seize hold of any- thing in his reach, and endeavor to break it, even to grasp the blade of a scythe. His appearance was that of an idiot. The fits had great- ly impaired his mind, and all the powers both of mind and body. He was a shoemaker, and stooped very much ; his shouldere lay more upon the chest than any ca?e I had ever seen. I found on examining his chest, that the breast-bone lay upon his heart, and pressed hard down upon it more than I had ever seen before ; and that the pres^ sure of the breast-bone upon the heart was so great that the blood CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 113 could not pass well llirough the heart. About three times every day, the blo^tl wonld so accumiiLite a^ to stop the action of the heart, and prevent the blood retu n!ng from the brain, and this would cause a lo^s of on ciou-nes^, and a fearful sense of impending dissolution, lis would usually have two fits every night; any excitement would niaka the numb r of fiti greater. I considered the disease to be en- ti.'dy inchanical, proceeding fi-om the breast- bone pressing upon the lieait. I at onc3 put on him a pair of stout shoulder braces, to bring the shouldei's oS'the chest, directed him to stand up straight, and not to stoop, and if he folt a fit coming on, to throw himself back, and to throw his shoulders as much as possible oif the chest, and to avoid stooping. 1 also gave him a little m?dicine to assist and take away any iriitabJity of the heart, ifcc. In seven days he came back ; he had h ;d but one fit in the diy time, and two at night, three for the whole week. The idiotic expression of his face wa> gone ; he had not pas='ed such n week for many yeare ; he experienced that, on feeling the least ti-oubb at his lieart, or distress at the pit of his stomach, that always preceded . a fit, by throwng himself backwards and throwing his siiouldoi's brck, and throwing open his chest so as to lift up the brea-t- bo'.i'j a little, the circulation of blood went on through the heart, and no fit would take place. I will give one more case out of a great many. In October, 1 843, I was consulted at Nashua, in the State of New-Hampshire, by a young gentleman, seventeen yeare of age, who had a mo^^t distress- ing aif: ction of the heart ; his face wore a blue corpse-hke ap- pearance, and he was entirely unable to do any business, could only w.slk with the greatest difficulty, and had been obliged to leave off all occupation. He had consulted the firet medical men in Boston, who give him but little hope of recovery; he had much palpitation of the heart, which was greatly aggravated on the least exercise. On ex- amining his chest, I found the breast-bone pressed heavily lipon the heart, so as to prevent a free circulation of blood through it, from which resulted all hh illness ; he was also very scrofulous. I put on him a pair of shoulder-braces and gave him an inhahng.tube, to fully expand his chest, and also suitable medicines to cure the initability of the heart, and directed all the reiaedies as I would for consumption, 114 ON THE PREVENTION AND save cough medicines. Tlie young man improved vdih the greatest rapidity. Four weeks after, I met him at a ball. He did not take much part in the dance, but was vastly better, and I believe has per- fectly recovered. Jt is of great consequence that the heart ruk tlie chest and govern the lungs. A regular, symmetrical enlargement of the heai't and great vessels rarely does any hui't, provided the chest enlarges with it. But if the chest does not enlarge, or the heart en- larges irregularly, then the case Ls full of danger. Sometimes one side of the heart vAW 'enlarge more than the other side, titution is worth a thousand fortunes. 6 ON THE PROOFS OP THE LECTURE THIRD. ON THE PROOFS OF THE CURE OF PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. Mt fii-st lecture was on the uses of the lungs and the causes of pul- monary consumption. The second was upon the preiicntion and cure of pulmonary consumption. My object being to enlighten your minds in the clearest manner upon these subjects, and in this way to obtain your fullest confidence, for without confidence in what I say, my words are of no more consequence to you than the sound of a " tinkling cymbal." There is no class of persons who are more apt to be indolent, and more readily despond and give up, than consumptive patients ; and particularly those who believe that they have an hereditary predispo- sition to consumption, because some relation has died of it. To pre- vent or cure consumption, requires a great deal of effort from the patient, the price of his or her health being constant vigilance. The consumptive must never forget the attention due to his health. Un- der some circumstances, a few months, or even weeks, of neglect, will bring on the disease, or render his case hopeless, if he already have it. Unless I can obtain the confidence of the consumptive and his friend?, he cannot be induced to persevere in the use of his remedies. Sometimes I obtain the confidence of the patient, but not of his friends. Often I have witnessed, from the influence of skeptical advisers, the patient lay aside his remedies, and sink into hopeless disease, at the very moment improvement had commenced in his health, and a few weeks of pei-severance would have, placed- him out of danger. No opinion is more widely spread, and no prejudice more deeply rooted, than that consumption is an incurable disease. I have heard one in- stance of a highly respectable clergyman pronouncing it b!a.sph?mon3 to say that consumption was curable, because God himself Lad made CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 123 it incurable. In this feeling no persons participate more than vast numbei-s of physicians, forming a very large portion of the medical feculty. Willi many of these, nothing can subdue their preju(Uces, nothing can cause them to seek new light upon the subject. If a person that they pronounce to be in full consumption, and a ciise hopelessly incuraWe, yet, when they see such a per on get well, they declare that he never had consumption. 1 recollect one case, of a patient who called in an old and \ ery distingui hed physician, to ex- amine his chest, and give his opinion of his case. After a careful examination of the case, he rebuked the attending physician for calling him in, adding that he " never saw a more hopeless case of consump- tion ; that it was true eonsumptiun, and that the patient would die very soon." About nine months after this, the patient ha\-ing re- co\eied, went to this same physician, and reported hii recovery to him, and requested the physician to examine his chest and see if he were not entirely well. The physician expressed much surpiise at the ajjparent recovery, and on the patient's assuring him that he was perfectly well, he refused to examine his chest, and said, " If your lungs are now well, you never have had consumption ; for 1 hold it to be an eternal truth, that no person ever yet got well of diseased lungs." So that you will remai'k that the patient has not only, some- times, to war against his own despondency and fears, but also against his skeptical friends and advisers, and also against the vehement as- severations of, perhaps, his family physioian, that his case is entirely hopeless, and that no remedy whatever can be of the least permanent benefit to him. You will see, then, how all-important it is that I have the perfect confidence of the patient and of his friends, and, if possible, of his medical advisei-s, so that the patient shall faithfully and perseveringly employ his remedies. If I can obtain the confidence of the patient and his immediate friends, I am satisfied, and patiently wait until his physician can witness the effect of remedies. There are many physicians who, under any circumstances, utterly refuse to believe, if I may use the expression, their own senses, and after pronouncing a patient in hopeless con- sumption, and afterwards, seeing the patient get well, will then black- en their own reputation by declaring ^e patient never had coosump- 124 ON THE PROOFS OF THE tion, and also denounce the idea of its curability as a dangerous and even criminiil notion. lias interest anything to do with this ? It is not to be wondBred at, as I have said in a former lecture, that maiiy phjviciani should oppose the curability of consumption, for, in ninety- nine cases out of a hundred, nearly every remedy laid down; in the books, and adopted in practice, is calculated to mnke the disease, and not to cure it. So that to adopt correct treatment of consumption, nea ly all previous icuthority and experience on the subject must be laid aside, and entirely new ideas and a new course of practice be adopted. However, it always takes more or less time for the spread of truth. All jw me to make a remark to you, that in all' nature and in all thing, known to us, there are very few original principfe or orijpnal roots or causes of things. For example: gravitation is probably an original principle in nature. Truth is also an original principle in nature. The mind travelling back on this id a, carries itself to the throne of God, and is then forced to beheve and instantly adopts the idea that God is truth. Now it is a most interesting fact, and eminently deserring of our notice, that truth has bat oae offspring, which is usefulness. This is an everlasting and never- failing test of the presence or abience of truth ; so that whatever is true is useful. The converse is also true, that whatever is useless is false, and whatever is false is useless. To prove this, I conld cite to you numberless examples, but Heave it for you to do. Follow the idea youi-seh-e=, and you will find it a perfect guide in the pursuit of truth. By this test, aided by reasonable time, you will very soon be able to know what is true or wliat is false, and to detect where there is a mixture of truth and falsehood. I know what I have taught to you, on the uses of the lungs arid causes of consumption, and upon the prevention and cure of consump- tion, to be eminently true, because I have witnessed, in a great num- ber of cases of diseased lungs, that it was decidedly useful. You may now ask me, if I cure every case of consumption that is pre- sented to my notice, and solicits my aid? / answer most wihesita- tingly, I do not ; and because I do not, some persons reject the idea of any being benefitted ; but I deliberately assert, that I cure eight ■cases^out-ofoevery -ten, when -the., pati^iats • are presented- to me Mm CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 125 they are reduced to that hopeless condition that would destroy life in this or any other disease ; provided always, that the patient em- ploys my remedies as long as necessary, in a faithful, judicious, and pei'severing manner. The causes that lead to a want of success, I have before hinted at. I w.U now repeat, that they are those cases where there has been such an imnien e destruction of the lungs, and the powers of the system so utterly broken down, that nothing is left to build upon. The next is a want of confidence on the pa:t of the patient, so that he does not fiiithfuUy pui-sue the use of his remedies. And lastly, not using the remedies as much and as long as he ought. I have had very few cases of consumption in females, whose constitutions were so good as regularly and fully to preserve the course of nature, that d.d not get will, &c. &c However finely wrought and plausible the theories may be for the cu:e of consumption, and yet, in their application, fail of usefulness, you m ly at once set them down as false, or not timely or properly applied ; and here 1 leave them, resting simply on Ihe question of success, knowing, as I do, that they are eminently useful, and in a large majority of cases perfectly successful, where the patient is not too far gon", and employs the remedies feithfully, judiciously, and perseveringly. Allow rne here to remarlc, that many pereons by dire experience learn to avoid medicines, that is, such medicines as they are acquaint- ed with. They have seen their pernicious and injurious eff.cts. If wrong medicines, the fewer taken the better. There never was a cause that a counteracting cause could not be found, except in the word of the Almighty himself; There never was a disease yet: but what h'ld a beginning, and from a cause, and this cause ha'? a counteracting cau'^e, and may always in the beginning be removed, and the disease cured. Fifty yeare ago it was the almost univereal custom for every physician to prepare his own medicines, and to see to their adminis- tration. Each physician was his own apothecary and chemist, pre- pared and manufactured his own medicines with the greatest care, and some of the most perfect medicines ever pi-epared were originated by physicians who prepared their own medicines. Since then, chemistry 126 ON THE PROOFS OF THE has developed many new forms of medicines, but not many identi- c;illy new medicines. Surgery has vastly advanced in operations and the knowlody;o of external agencies that imjjair heahh has much advanced and developed many new and useful hcU, and all the sciences have greatly expanded, a-i well as the mechanio:d arts. Much ciillateral aid has been extended to medical men to advance their suc- cess. lUitunfoitunately for medical usofulness, medical men have left the beaten track of their fathere, and have declined jireparing their own uii.'dicines, but prefer writing piescripticms and sending to an apothe- cary or chemist, by whom the medicines are coiiipound'd, and tln-ngiven to tlioir patient-i. Thr- modern ])hysician in tlli^ country scorns to h^ivo fjrgo'-ton that medicine separates itself into two great divisions — the science of medicine and the art of healing. Now the great pride is the Fcience of medicine, and quite a contempt at least in jiractice of the art of healing. The true t(^st of a great jihysician is success in the art of healing. No matter what may be his aoquiroments as a scientiix ]jhy,-ician, he may fail utterly or mostly in the art of healing. I onco knew the great Sir Astley Cooper completely floored in 'i miitter of surgery by a common travelling lione-setter. I'eisons e\on the most ignorant may be found who have a knowledge of some reme- dy and skill in its use, that makes them for some one disease or trouble equal to any physician, however scientific. No physician who ever practised medicine for much length of time, but what can testify to the truth of this. A person truly ignorant of science may by practi- cal experience and observation become ]irofoundly learned in some branches of the healing art. The great scientific jihysician, v\ho doos not apply himself most sedulously to the art of healing in all its de- tails may find himself in some or many respects entirely excelled in usefulness by ignorant pereon'", who do apply all their energies to the art of healing. It requires but little reflection to determine who the invalid will prefer : the scientific physician who cannot cure him, or the ignorant person who can and dof^s cure him. The scientific physician may strengthen his social position as much as he pleases, and all may ex- claim " Quackery" as long and loud as they choose, but the intelligent public will prefer life to death, health to sickness. Now the scientific CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 127 physician hns a vast advantage over the ignorant in his position and acquirements as far as he goes, but it is equally necessary for him, and infinitely more his duty, to apply himself most humbly and most se- dulously to getting a complete knowledge of the art of healing in all its completeness and all its resource* ; keep your eyes and ears open ; get successful experience from any one that can give it/ Never deny that a person has got well when he says he has and all his fi-iends say so, but if there is a cure, acknowledge it, and honor the instrument and the agent by which it was accomplished, and immediately learn to do so yourself. Yon will soon find that the resources of the healing art are complete, quite sufficient. None ever need die unless by accident or old age, if the resources of the healing art are completely, judiciou'ly and timelv applied. It is ignorance of the art of healing, and the true and proper remedies which do abundantly exist, that causes such a cry against regular physicians, and such a terrible loss of confidence in their skill or prescriptions. From an experience exceeded by few hving men. either in its ex- tent, its comprehensiveness, or its success, I am forced to say that, in my opinion, no man, however intelligent he may be, can become a true adept in the art of healing, unless he passes a full apprenticeship to preparing his own medicines, administering them himself, and noticing their efiects until he is thoroughly prepared to treat any dis- ease successfully. A grateful and intelhgent public will find you out and reward you in the fullest manner. In the treatment of consump- tion, the scientific physician who does not prepare his own medicine in usefulness h thrown usually behind all competition. Not one in fifty can prepare a good cough medicine, or in fact lend any useful aid to the consumptive ; because not preparing thf ir own medicines, they are ignorant of the proper remedies. Exceptions may be found, but this is usually ti-ue. This is the true cause of irregular practice of medicine. The scientific physician will not stoop to preparing medi- cine for the sick, therefore their n.'icessities, however imperfectly, are attempted to be supplied by irregular physicians. If the regular scientific physician did justice to the art of healing, there would be neither quacks nor quack medicines, nor quack practices. This singu- lar and disastrous state of things in tihe condition of the medical pro- 123 ON THE PREVENTION AND fessiou, and their want of perfection in the art of healing, has produced a most curious effect. Its effect has been to produce /oA-Aicm in medi- cine, and what is curious, the fashion is only in the regular profession. These have prevailed within a comparatively few year-s. The first I will mention was the practice of stimulating in all diseases. The fa- culty were divided upon its merits, yet a vast many adopted it, and bavk and brandy were given in the most acute inflammations. My mother's father was murdered by Peruvian bark and brandy, given for inflammation of his lungs, until the blood flowed freely from his mouth and nose. The next I will speak of, and longest in existence, and not now entirely laid aside, was the use of immense qnantities of mer- cui-y. For nearly every disease the unfortunate patient would be sahvated, and in a vast many cases, ten times the injury was done by the calomel, more' than the disease could or would have done. Few intelligent physicians do so novv. The next fashion was to bleed for nearly every thing, and to an enormous extent. I knew one man who was bled twenty times in nineteen days for the cure of consumption. He soon died. Comparatively a few yeare ago a French physician pro- pounded the doctrine that nearly all diseases were produced by inflam- mation of the lining membrane of the stomach, then came the days of leeching, dieting, and mucilaginous drinks. This fashion so utterly failed in all its pretensions that it had but a short run. Then came the reign of iodine, and foxglove, and prussic acid, down to wood naptha and cod liver oil, not to speak of the excessive blistering of the chest, and awful tartar emetic sores. Each one either impelling or amusing thousands to their doom, and each having some valuable merit when appropriat^ely employed. Medical fa.«hion and medical fiction go hand in hand, and the more univereal the fashion the more accumulated the fiction. In numerous cases I have witnessed the high minded, high souled physician, proud of his scientific acquire- ments, and prouder still of his high social position, attempting to ti'eat consumption, bronchitis, heart diseases, dyspepsia, and female diseases, and utterly unsuccessful. His patients having- such regard for his moral worth, and respect for his social position, continuing to receive his visits, and requesting his prescriptions, when at the same time they secretly call in some ii-regular or ignoraat pereon, celebrated for sue- CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 133 cessful treatment for their affections, one or all, and who prepares the remedies himself. These are taken by the patient until he or she is well. The attending physician, proud and dehghted with the results, proclaims to his friends his great success, or if he is a teacher of medi- cine, hastens to his class and vaunts of his great success to his admiring, confiding and almost awe-stricken students, when at the same time not one of his prescriptions have been used. The evil does not stop here. The students prescribe the same medicines, and experience a total defeat until the hves of the sick are sacrificed, or their confidence wholly lost, so that the regular physician is no longer called to treat such diseases much. In some cases the patients, being certain of their cure, reveal to the proud professor that his prescriptions, after having utterly failed, were laid aside, and irregular men or irregular remedies have been employed, to whom the patient owes his ciire, and gives all the credit of it. Now the proud professor chews the hit, and smoth- eredly curaes the patient, but openly and with a will denounces quacks and quackery. It is of httle use to address old physicians, but I would urge upon the young ones, that the whole wrong hes at the door of the regular physician, and arises from his ignorance of the art of healing, and the complete resources of medical remedies which must ever be if the physician does not prepare his own medicines. Science teaches you what the disease is, but it is the art of healing that pro- duces a cure. Where now would have been the fame or reputation of Michael Angelo, Raphael, Vandyke, Reubens, Reynolds, West, Lawrence, Healy, llothemiel, if these men had held it beneath their dignity to select and mix their own paints. Where would their trae and glowing colors have been, if they had relied upon a color-grinder to have prepared them; and yet it is infinitely more important to success, that the physician select and prepare his own medicine, than for the painter to compound his own colors. The physician or phy- sicians: who do not prepare their own remedies, cannot be acquainted with the complete resources of the healing art, and consequently must fa'l, to a tennble extent, in their success. Fifty years ago there were few isms in medicine. Physicians pre- pared and compounded their own medicines, and a vast amount of what was-the jBgttlai; uniyersal practice hasnow, by the contempt of 130 ON THE PREVENTION AND science, been driven into domestic and family practice, where it is still most useful. The different sects and isms in medicine have arisen, (hi -fly bf cause physicians have so signsilly failed in curative success, Mud hence the numerous spasmodic efforts to make scientific igno- rance a substituts for the true knowledge of the art of selecting and '■om]-ounding perfect medicines, and then suceesfully and judiciously tidmnisttring them. There are no isms in surgery, because ench successful surgeon does the work himself, not by a substitute. If tie do^s attempt it by a substitute, as physicians mostly now do, the fiiilure is equally as sign il. A most remarkable example of this took place in France, a few years ago. Louis Philippe, King of France, had noticed the great morta'ity among those who had been surgically oyierated upon in the hospitals of Paris ; to remedy this he ordered every death to be publi hed in the newspapers, and with it the name of the surgeon. With the surgeon it was at once success or dis- grace, lie no longer confided to apothecaries or assistants. The consequence was, in an almost incredibly short space of time the deaths diminished one half. After what I have now said, my hearers will be prepared to learn that I always ]?re] are my own medicines, — never trust to any apoth- ecary, to any druggist or an}* assistant, except under ray own eye. I would say to the young j>hysician in all places, but especially in the country, prepare your own medicines if you would be succes ful, meritorious or renowned. Your position founded on success would bo impregnable. You would have no fear of competition, and yon would soon destroy all quackery. It is a great mistake to suppose that the heahng ait is not as unchangeable as any other science. It is only medical foppeiy, and medical ignorance, that causes such fluc- tuations in medical practice. Diseases remain the same ; small pox, mea.sles, scarlet fever, are exactly now as 2,000 years ago, and their medicines act as well now as then; what would cure them then will cure them now, and what will cure a disease once will cure it again, und°r the same circumstances. Let the physician know what is known, and if timely consulted, he will have ample resources for the cure of his patients. The man of a large mind and cultivated liberal views, thoroughly CURE OF consumption: 131 informed of all that is old and known, receives every novelty in med- icine with respect, examines it carefully, and if he finds it aseful, he adopts it into his practice, and thus is continually enlarging his own resources and usefulness and fame in the art of healing. But the narrow-minded, ignorant physician, whose mind is bounded by an ism or sect, and governed by a name, is continually discarding valu- able remedies as soon as he learns that they are announced as a nov- elty, or are made to be a foundation for a new sect, so that discover- ies do not increase his resources, but diminish them daily. The feuds among this last class of minds would be amusing, if they were not tragical. A lady or nurse says to such a doctor, " Shall we not lay a wet cloth on his burning breast — shall we not sponge him all over — he is all burning up with fever?" "Not a bit of it," says the Doctor ; " I am no hydropath. I do not believe in it at all. Put on a large blister." And so doubles the heat and fever. Another says, "Doctor, the patient has had no movement of his bowels for one week : do you not think he requires a little physic ?" " Do you not know," he replies, " that I am a homoeopath, and we never give any ]ihysic." So his patient dies, or calls in some other physician of an- other system. A youngish man, of full habit, red face, short neck, falls down in a fit of apoplexy. A physician is instantly called, and begged to bleed him. " No," says the physician, " I am a hydropath, and we never bleed." Another says, " Doctor, my stomach is exceed- ingly delicate, and your medicines overcome me very much. Shall I not take very slight doses f " No, I do not believe in slight doses ; I wish to see some effects, even if they are disagreeable. I am no homoeopath, I assure you. I am an allopath ; we ^ve full doses, or none ; no child's play with us." An efE?ct is thus produced. The universal people lose respect and confidence in physicians, and especially systems of medicine ; and mrdicines of almost infinite value for some diseases, or states of dis- ease, are thrown out of use by whole classes of physicians. I have already dwelt long on these subjects, as I consider them vital to medical success. The only resource for medical usefulness is in the increasing knowledge and good sense of an enlightened public. I will give two instances to illustrate what I have before saidj remark-. 138 ON THE PREVENTION AND ing, that what a physician knows he knows as well as other men ; and what he does not know, he is as ignorant of as any one, whethei it be on medicine or any other subject. In 1849, during the prevalence of cholera in this city, a youngj wealthy, and very respectable wholesale draggist became indisposed in the early part of the day with symptom? of cholera. A physician was called to his ofBe«, and prescribed for him. In the couree of two hours, as he did not improve, he went to his room in one of our first Broadway hotels, and his physician again called and brought another physician with him. At 2 p. m. the business partner of the sick man went to his chamber, and found he was fast sinking. The two physicians were sent for, and the partner also called in a neighboring apothecaiy, an English gentleman, who was familiar with the cholera and well understood its treatment, having treated and seen much of it in India, also very successfully in this city. He informed the phy- sicians that everything now depended on getting the patient into a free perspiration, and remarked there was a hot bath on the same floor, within ten feet of the patient, and observed that as he was young, of good habits, and full strength, there was good reason to hope for his recovery, and volunteered his services to aid them. The two physi- cians consulted together, and informed the apothecaiy that, as he was not a regular physician, they could not consult with him or ac- cept his services, whereupon he retired. The two physicians adopted the idea of getting him warm, but would not follow the apothecaiy's suggestion as to the mode. As it was a chemical Ikct, that quick- hrae sprinkled with water will generate heat, they sent for a quan- tity of that article, and caused it to be thickly spread between two blankets and sprinkled with water. They now had the gentleman closely wrapped up in this lime-ba.th. He died that evening,, On removing his lime blankets,, immediately after death, it was four.d that the lime had eaten large holes through the wallsof the abdomen, BO that his bowels proti-uded in several places ! ! ! Persons wishing to know the name of the deceased man, &c., can have it by calling on me. The next example I will mention occurred at Hartford, Connecticut, and under my own p^sgnal otaen-ation. Ihappened.at the house of CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 133, a relative there, and liis little grandson, a beautiful child of three and a half years old, about half past 5 o'clock in the af,.ernoon, ate a green unripe apple. He was much subject to spasms and fits on eating in- digestible food. His mother at once sent for their physician, a homoeo- pathic doctor. He came, and expressed great pleasure at being called in good season, said all would be- right with the child, adding he could give hira medicines that would pi-event any spasms. During three hoiu-s he visited him twice, each time giving him homoeopathic powdei-s. At 9 o'clock in the evening the child was taken with a terrible spasm ; as soon as possible he was placed in a warm bath, and the doctor sent for. He came, and commenced giving his sugar-pills, &c. He would give nearly a tea-spoonful at a time. At 1 1 o'clock the fits as terrible as at fii-st. I expressed my astonishment that he should expect to dis- lodge such a substance as hard um-ipe apple from the stomach with such remedies, and, suggested the propriety and necessity of giving the child an emetic. To this he made no reply, but continued, giving his homoeopathic, powders. At three o'clock the next morning the unfor- tunate child dieclj, a\Hctim;toamedical ism, murdered by a wretch who chose rather to have him die by his medicines than live by old known remedies. I will not pursue this distressing subject any farther. No man can feel a deeper interest than myself in the honor, usefulness and reputation of the medical profession. I would say to all invahds, en- lighten yourselves as much as possible, and never give away your private judgment. Never ask counsel of a physician as to the merits of a,ny system of practice, or of medical aid that can conflict with his sect or his interests, for, however worthy and honest he may be in private life, his pride, his pi-ejudices and his interests are so committed against any other than his rdgning system, that he will conceal or deny what he knows to be curatives, rather than Mfow his patients to be cured by any other systetii, dr any other man. Of CoM-se, rai^ exceptions may be fofUfid. I know of no System of medical practice or ism but what has some excelletit merit. The physician who utterly discards any one of them will iheasurably lessen his useful resources in the art of healing. It is possible that some persons would suspect that in urging upon young physicians the absolute necessity of preparing their own inedi- 134 ON THE PREVENTION AND cines, &c., if they would be greatly useful in the healing art, that I ossibly I intend injustice to the apothecaries. I most emphatically deny this ; the apothecaries in our cities are, as far as I am acquaint- ed, a most respectable, intelligent body of men, and put up prescrip- tions accurately, aitliough within the last 12 months three deaths have taken place, one in Boston, one in Philadelphia, and one in this city, by mistakes of apothecaries putting up wrong medicines. Nearly every year furnishes examples of this kind, and we can veiy easily believe that many mistakes may occur, not immediately fatal; but the great evil is, that the physician who does not select and prepare his own medicines, and administer them himself, and carefully note their efiects, is not so apt to become as fully an adept in the choice of medi- cines, and the art of healing, as he should be, as the capabilities of medical remedies allow, as the reputation of the medical profession demand, and, above all, as the healths, hves, and comfoits of mankind most imperatively deserve. I will here subjoin an extract from a letter of a respectable physi- cian, an invalid himself, and you will see how emphatically he en- dorees all I have said of remedies and tiue curatives, what disappoint- mouts he finds in medical books, and with vrhat anxiety he seeks for help. How vain are medical theories to him that do not bring a cure ! " Lafayette, Miss., Feb. 10th, 1851. " Dr. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — I have been practising medicine here three years, besides four in North Carolina, where I was raised, and eveiy day's experience teaches me more the importance of the right remedy. We may know or think at all times what is the obstruction that hinders the operation of nature ; but unless we can introduce a remedy, it is of no use ; and as to all our text-books, elementary writers, pond. Use your remedies faithfully, and, by God's blessing, you will recover your health. KecoUect, the veiy essence of my teaching is, to make you your own doctors, and your own nurses. Be faithful to yourselves, and success will crown your efforts. If circum'^tances or season of the year allow, as soon as well able, travel, change the air and yOur location. If in a city or town, go to the countiy ; visit watering-plaees ; go quite away, for a time, from your business, or usujil place of residence, and stay some months^ if possi- ble. I now present to you names and letters from well known and respectable individuals, who would be very happy at all times to an- swer inquiries, and assist and encourage the sick by all means in their power. CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 137 CASE I. — Case of Thomas Fengar. ASTHMA. I have mentioned to you that asthma was one of the disea-ses thnt eurt-d i;ulinunai'y consumption, and that Nature in this way saved the l.ves of thousands who would otherwise have died of consump- tion. I think a disposition to consumption is the cau-e of asthma in nearly all cases. I find the Same remedies, with some modifica- tions, that cure consumption will cure asthma; in o.her words, I en. deavor to cure the consumption in the lungs, or the seeds of it, and the neces ity of asthma ceases and it disappears. In January, 1845, I spent some days at New London, Conn. ; and among many others that called upon me was a man named Thomas Fengar. lie was sexton to one of, the churches, had a large family, and was a very indu^^trious, worthy citizen. For eight yeare he had been a sub- jet of asthma, which had at last entirely broken hhn do^vn, and prevented his doing any work. The weather was exceedingly incle- ment. It was with great ditficulty that he could wal'c asross the street. I give him his remedies, and in three weeks from the time I first saw him he gave me the following letter: " New London, Feb. 6th, 1845. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear sir, — As aslight return for the assistance I have dsrived from your prescriptions, inhiling tub-i and medicines I will inform you that I was taken with that distressing disea-e, the asthma, about eight years ago. and have e.xperienced much of its distressing ravages- upon my hi^alth. For two months before I saw you I was unable to do a diy's work, and was forced to sit up. For twenty-one nights I was unable to o-o to bed at all, beino; forced to sit up all n-ght. On. the 13th of -January, 1845. I b^gan the use of your r?medies. In a short tim? I found relief, and n 1 'ss than three weeks was able to return to ray work and do a full day's work in the open air, and in the most inclempnt weather. I have no pain, veiy little shortness of breath; and can lay d jwn and sleep *'i ihe soundest manner. It I can always have, as good health as I now cn^oy, I shall, feeV sfttiafied, and most 138 ON THE PROOFS OP THE happy and -grateful. Myself, my wife and children join rac in thanks for the assistance, under God, derived from your advice and medical treatment. " Respectfully yours, " Thomas Fenoar." CASE II. — Miss Mariame H. Little. SPASMODIC ASTHMA. At Po:tland, in November, 1845, I was consulted by Miss Maname H. Little for a terrible asthma. She was twenty years of age. Her father ha? been a respectable merchant of Portland; she had had the asthma fifteen yeare ; it begin after having measles. At the time I saw her she was a great sufferer, unable to do any thing; had to sit up in bed nearly the whole of every night, and dreadfully oppressed for breath. For three years past was subject to dreadful spasms in the base of the chest. Almost her only relief was to take sulphuric ether, in gi-eat quantities, by inhaling it. In this way she had used a pint of ether in twelve houre. She regularly used a hot- lb of ether each week. Her case seemed most hopeless. Her shoul- ders were drawn up, &c. The 12th of November I gave her reme- dies as if for consumption, as I have before mentioned, as the proper mode of treating asthma. In three weeks she was much better, could lie down and sleep very well at night, and do a good deal of hght wok about the hou'e. She did not take more than one-fourth as much ethef as at first. I subjoin the following letter, by wh'ch you will learn she is now in pretty good health. She had received the ad\ice of thiiteen different physicians. ' " Pearl street, Portland, Nov. 4th, 1846^ "Dr. Fitch : "Dear Sir, — Your lettef of October 23d was duly received, and it gratifies me much to inform you that it' is owing to your invaluable cough expectorant and nervine that I owe my present state of health. When I fii-st applied to you, in November, 1 845, I was in a most dis- tressed state, requiring two pounds and a half of ether in a week, and the constant and unremittlDg care of my friends in the night season, of- CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 139 ten having to be held in an upright position, being too much exhausted to support myself. 1 had been under the oaro of thirteen physieisuis, and had nearly given up all hopes of ever enjoying even a tolerable degree of health, when you came to our city. Since that time, by following your prescriptions, and the use of your medicines, I have been gradually recovering, so much so, that I am enabled to substitute the inhaling of the smoke of bi'own paper, soaked in a solution of saltpetre, instead of the ether, thereby saving a great expense, and the unpleasant effluvia of that article. I have not, for four months, had any ether. My sleep is good, and I can assist about the house ■without any inconvenience ; and I write tliis to certify, that both my friends and myself have the utmost confidence in your superior skill ■ and knowledge of my case. " Youre, with respect, " Mariame H. Littj.b.'' CASE lU.—Mrs. Rarriet R. Fernald. In December, 1845, I was consulted at Port=!mouth, New-Hamp- shire, by Mrs. Harriet Fernald. Her f ither died of consumption : she was about thirty years of age ; had been sickly some time ; twelve months ago raised blood, succeeded by a cough, and, after some time, by attacks of asthma, nights and days. Seven weeks before I saw her, she had an attack of pleurisy on the left side. The top of the right lung had tubercles in it, and was much shrunk up. There was a large ulcer in the top of the left lung ; left foot was cold. The asthma had prevented the progress of the consumption, and thus saved her hfe. In October, 1846, I received the following letter : "Portsmouth, Oct. 16th, 1846. " Db. Fitch,— Sir : " By your request, I answer your letter. I have neglected writimr to you, as I understood you had heard of my health by the way of othei-s that had written. I gained my health slowly ; every cold I took I would have an attack of the asthma, until about July ; since which time I have had no asthmatic affection whatever. Some d;iys, when the wind, is East and damp, I am some troubled with shortness of bieath. 140 ON THE PROOFS OF THE But my complaints liave entirely clianged since the third night on commencing your remedies, which I commenced December 1 ist. 1 had not been able to lie down in bed for several months, until I took your medicines. I continue to wear the braces and supporter, and use the tube occasionally. Since the asthma has left me, I have been troubled with the catarrh in my head, very bad ; my nose would dis- charge clear water for several days at a time, and then leave me for a few days, and thsn again commence ; and quite a cough attended mo, which seemed to be no farther than ray throat. My lungs seem well since the tisthma hft. I tojk the mo*t of the cataiTh snuff you sent mo, but did not receive much benefit ; and have tried two other kirid-i, and still receive no cure : but my health, at present, is better than it ha^ been for several months. 1 think if I could get cured of ' the catarrh, I should find myself well. I have not applied to any physician, excepting Dr. Burnham, for snuflF. The cold bath I con- tinue acro's my throat and chest. But I thought I . took cold by bathing, after leaving my warm room, and did not bathe, only across my chest and throat, but sr-ldom. If you have mrd'cine, or can ad- vise me what coui'se- 1 can pursue, in o-d^r to be cured of the catarrh, I should be highly gratified in heaiing from you. " Respectfully youra, H. R. Fjsrnald." CASE lY.—Jolm a. McGiffin. " Hudson, New- York, June 3, 1850. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: Dear Sir, — In compliance with your request I take tiiis ear- liest opportunity to address you a few lines, expressive of the satis- f iction I experience in regard to your treatment of my case. As you may I'cmember. I first applied to you by letter, I think about the 7th December, 1 848. I had been previously afflicted with asthma from inf mcy ; the fits occurring at intervals of from three or four, till at that time often less than one a week. I had previously done but' littl-' for them, except using for a short time some medicines pre'crib-'d by Dr. of Philadelphia, together with his inhaling tube, from which latter I thought I ieceivied some,, though but partial- benefit. CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 141 On tlie vvholo, the attacks were more frequent, ami only prrvrntfcl by the smoking of saltpetre paper inhaled on going to bed. I cutn- uienced u^ing your remedies on the 23d of December, 1848, and continued ihcm pretty constantly till about Junp following. The win- tor of 18-t8 was a very unfavorable one, and I did not expeiience any change for the better till about the beginning of March ; it was how- ever, from that time, very rapid, iuid by the middle of April I f It per- fectly well. I used the tube till July, when I was obliged to div him aga'n on October 28.h, 1840, in good h'^allh. April, 1851, he still enjoys good health, and has never omitted daily bathing in cold water. C'opi/ of a letter from Mr. Thaddeus Barnes to Dr. S. 8. Fitch. New Haven, Oct. 8th, 1845. " Dr. 8. S. FiTOH : " Dear Sir, — I ch?erfully com] ly with your request for a concise accoimt of my situation, />rfw.'oa.» to my acquaintance with yourself, and your nin dic^. For some two years I had f it that ray health was gradually deelnlrig, and for somr^ eight or t<'n months prior to your visit to New Haven, my friends had bcome quite alarmed at my syni]it()ms. My hand-? and feet were always cold. A constinit Iincldng cough had jiroduced extreme soreness in tin; chest, together willi 1)1(1 (ling from tho lung-i at seven or eight different prriod^. My IIchIi was waging nwny, ami my strength so far gono that a-cend'ng H nielli ofHlairH will] more than ordinary haste would completely ex- IimiinI. inc. In line, my friends were bold to tell me I had the con- Kiiiiiption, Till* wn« and had been my situation at and before your \W, to unr clly. After ]il(u.'ing mys( If under your treatment, I very wiiiM lie;{aii to im])r()ve, In two months I had gained ten or twelve IiduikIm oI' lU'itli. My cough was silenced in about one week, and 1 eXJRE OF CONSUMPTION. 151 Lave never been ti-oubled with it since. Without detailing farther, I can say my health has been good most of the time since I commenced with your remedies. " Believing, sir, that you were the means of my restoration to health, I subscribe myself, yours, under lasting obligations, " Thaddeds Barnes." CASE YIL— Miss Mary D. Angdl. The subject of this case, a beautiful young lady, consulted me at Prondence, R. I., on the 5th of March, 1845. This young lady was the last of her family, her father having died of consumption. A young sister died some years- before of some sudden lung or throat disease, and another and only sister, her constant companion, being nearly of her age, had died of consuraption in July previous (1844.) She had constant cough, much fever, raised matter daily, and at times there was blood. She had also hectic fever and night sweats. I do not believe she had one friend or acquaintance who thought she could survive much beyond the period of her sister's death. Her interest- ing age, her beauty and her danger, made a powerful impression upon my feelings. I gave her her remedies, and strong hopes of recovery. Her mother privately said to me, " Tell me exactly what you think of my daughter, as I have given up every hope of her recovery, and do not wish you to give me the least encouragement, unless you feel certain she will live." Her king^ were highly congested, besides suf- fering fi-om tubercles and ulceration. In J uly following, in place of the habiliments of the grave, wedding dresses were prepared for her. She is at this time in excellent health. "Providence, R. I., June 16tb, 1845. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : "Sir, — I take the greatest pleasure in informing you, that after six months of cough and all indications of consumption, ray father's death, and a dear sister, who died of consumption, in July, 1844, had in- duced me to expect th r fate. All my friends and mother pretty much gave me up as soon to die. In March last, 15th, you saw me ; 153 ON THE PROOFS OP THE I took your remedies; I wa. then weak, lost flesh, constant cough, raised a good deal, and raided blood, with some pain in the sld^ In sixty days all vestige of disease left me ; not a bit of cough for five weeks past. I am now in most perfect health, flesh and looks. "I must recommend your practice, from my own happy experience of its delightful and happy eflects. "My mother and all my friends, with myself, give you our best thanks. "MissAngell." CASE YUl.—Miss Sarah G. NicTcerson. In April, 1845, 1 was consulted at New Bedford, Mass., by this j'oang lady, who resided at Fair Haven, opposite New Bedford. I relieved her entirely from the indisposition under which she had l.ibored for some years. I returned to New Bedford in June, and found a letter at the hotel, requesting, should I come to Nev Bedford, to call over and see this young lady. I will now remark, that every physician should be a master of medical remedies. His mind should be expanded to successfully meet every case, and learn judiciously to d.versify his treatment. Some physicians are so stupid as to use the same set of remedies perhaps an hundred successive times, and always without success, seeming not to know how to diversify their practice. I found Miss Nicker-on in a very deplorable state of health. She had had a veiy severe pleurisy upon the right side, and iuflamniation of the light lunw ; and this had continu3d for upwards of three weeks, until n >;ir- ly evciy hope of recovery had vanished. The day before I called she had, in the most ^fF:?cting manner, intimated to her friend s, that she thought she could live but a short time ; and in this they all concurred. She had constant burning fever, totii loss of appetite, incessant co1i;ih, dry and hot skin, cold feet, great prostration of strength, wretched sleepless nights, and much pain over the right side. She had taken a great deal of medicine, until it seemed as if she could take no more, so prostrated had she become, and so injured was the tone of her stomach. She had been blistered veiy much upon h?r side ; horrid tartar emetic sores had been made upon her side and breast, and fi- nally, to shut out all air i:o.n her chast, the whole chest was covered CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 153 ■with oil-silk ; but beneath the silk were plastere, salves, and an abun- dance of sores. On examining the chest, scarcely any air entered the right lung ; the lung seemed to be utterly closed up. Every remedy had seemed to have failed of conferring any bsnefit. All this, joined with complete piostration of strength, seemed to make the ca e almost hopeless. In addition, she had been delicately brought up, and was of rather effeminate habits. I, however, d.d not despair of her recovery, and told her so. It was a warm afternoon when I saw her. I told her at six o'clock to put her feet in very hot water, and keep them there until they were perfectly wann, and until the blood circulated freely through the lower extremities, and to raise the heat, if possible, to produce general perspiration. After this had been ac- complished, I requested her to remove every thing from the chesty oil-silk, plasters, salve, and every thing of the kiud, as much as pos- sible ; and after that was done, to dip a moderately sized linen table- cloth in cold water, and wrap up the chest, and indeed the whole per- son ; then to place herself in bed and be covered up warm. I di- rected her to keep on the wet cloth for three hours, then take it oft" and be sponged over with cold salt and water ; then be wiped and rubbed diy, and plac?d pleasantly in bed. I also gave her such med- icines as I thought suitable for her case. The use of the wet cloth, as firet directed, I recommended to be used in the same way every evening, until all pain and soreness should have left the chest, and all fever been dispelled from the system ; and after this, to wash her per- son all over, every day, with cold salt and water ; to go out as soon as possible, and to wear no more clothing about her chest than was comfortable ; to put no more oil-silk or plasters upon it; and finally, as soon as she found the side relieved of pain, and the fever sorne- wjjigit dispelled, to use her inhaling tube in the ■'freest manner, fo as to open and expand the collapsed lung. In one week I received a letter fom her, stating that she was much better ; in six, she visited me at Fall River, in company with a female friend, who required my assistance. Miss Nickerson was then in blooming health. I should have remarked in the proper place, that when I told them to wrap her up in a wet cloth, they were as much astounded as if I had told them to kill her, nor would it have been adopted had the not before 7* 154 ON THE PROOFS OF THE have tried nearly every other remedy without success, and had she not have previou^y experienced benefit from ray prescriptions. I saw her in the following October. She enjoyed the finest health. April, 1851, she is married, and enjoys excellent health. Copy of a letter from Miss Sarah G. Nicherson to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Fairhaven, Mass., July 18th, 1845. " l)i). Fitch : '■Respected friend,— In an -wer to your bind inquiry concerning my health, I am happy to inform you of its rapid improvement. You doubtless recollect the situation you found rae in when you so kindly and unexpectedly called. Suffering with a constant pain in my side and across the chest, and in my shoulders, a dry hard cough, shortness of breath, a burning fever, and entire debility, I felt my- self sinking fast, and the only encouraging words said to me by nvy physicians and friends were, \ The warm weather is in your favor.' You, sir, like some kind angel commissioned by Heaven, declared I might yet live. After following your prescriptions two orthree days, I could rest sweetly all night, which I had not done before for many weeks, and my appetite, which was entirely gone, was completely re- stored, my cough ceased, and the soreness of my lungs and chest dis- appeared. I am gaining in strength and weight; and I will add, the benefit I have received from your medicines, together with the shoul- der brace and inhahng tube, cannot be expressed. " I therefore most cheerfully recommend to all similarly afflicted with myself, your remedies, and would advise them not to give up to consumption's fatal grasp until they have given them a trial. " And now, kind sir, please accept my warmest thanks for your kindness ; and that Heaven?s richest blessings may rest on you aafel youra is the sincere wish of your friend, " Sarah G. Nickebson." CASE IX. — Rev. John Morris Pease. I add one letter, containing the experience of the Rev, John Mor- CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 155 ris Pease, who, for long c:)ntinued chest and lung disease, is now restored to perfect health, with a fine noble chest. "Dr. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — You will please send me five inhaling tubes. I would not go so far, and be so long away, without providing for accident, and to supply the suffering. On no account would I be without your inhaling tubs. It has been everything to me ; I use it daily; it is the best medicine I ever used. Indeed, I Could not hve without it. It saved me, by the blessing of God, from the jaws of death, and now preserves me in comfortable hf alth. In two years, by its uie, my chest, then measuring 32 inches, now measures 39, and my breathing, health and strength, have improved in proportion. " I am, dear sir, yours, respectfully, " John Morris Pease, " Seamen's Chaplain, Rio de Janeiro, S. A. "New-York, Dec. 1, 1849." CASE X. — Miss Hedmond. " Paterson, N. J., August 31, 1848. « Db S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — T wish to inform you of the effect of your medicines upon my daughter. She is 18 years of age, and deb'cate. She was taken in April last with a slight cough. The first Week in May she became unable to be about much. Violent cough, profuse expecto- ration, so as to raise one pint a day, and some daily fever, night sweats, and rapid debility, followed by a total loss of appetite, utter prostration of strength, and entire cessation of monthly sickness — very severe pain in her right side, which, after a time, changed to her left side ; she could not lie upon her right fside at all ; her feet and limbs swollen very much, so as to shine and appear almost trans- parent. Her physician gave her "p. Another physician, who chiefly attends to lung diseases, said ste could no^bS'-*ett^c!a-— he could do nothing for her. It was supposed she could'-feof HfWbnS "Ifeek. " On the 22d of June last, my husband e»llft(£9^3f«^,«Sti(ted'-the 156 ON THE PROOFS OF THE case, and took your remedies. After the remedies were received, our clergyman called on us, and said, as consumption never was cured, he considered it wrong to be giving her medicines ; but as we had no other hope, we used your remedies faithfully— inhaling tube, shoulder braces, supporter, and medicines. We called on you from time to time for advice and medicine, which were strictly employed. She is now perfectly well, but has not quite recovered her strength, and has not coughed once in three weeks. We thank a good God for t^js, and hope you may be always as successful. " Elizabeth Redmond." April, 1851, Miss R. is in excellent nealth. CASE XI. — Grovner Noyes. "Peekskill, N. Y. May 9, 1850. " Dear Sir, — It is with feelings of gratitude, I assure you, that I withdraw a moment from my business to communicate the astonish- ing effect your medicines had on me. Two years ago the 28tfa day of March, I was attacked with a severe turn of bleeding f.om the lungs, which continued ftfl- a day or two. For two of three months previous to this, I had a very distressing cough, insomuch that 1 could not rest day or night. I tried everything 1 could think of, but noth- ing seemed to do me good. After bleeding from the lungs I was very much reduced, and so weak that I could not be raised in bed without fainting. However, after a short time, I gained a little strength, so that I could walk about a little ; but this strength did not last long. I took a short walk one damp day, and took a very heavy cold ; my body was a wreck of pain. I was attend d by two skilful physicians, who did all in their power to relieve me, but the relief their medicine afforded was only momentary ; my left hand and foot became powerless almost. I was so sore across my chest and •stomach 1 could scarcely breathe. Whenever I coughed, my lungs became so irritated they Med. I was as helpless as an infant. Reduced to a mere skeleton, my hones had worn throvgh the skin. 1 was in as shocking a condition as any one could be, and live. N CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 157 one thought I could smvive but a short tim?. For thne months I was in this condition, whrn a kind neightor fdt interest! d enough to send me one of your books called " Dr. Fitch's Six Lectures on the Prevention and Cure of Consumption." I r^ad the book, and felt assured you could do something for me, and that to reman in the condiiion I was then in I must die. I stated my case to you, by let- lei, as near as I could, and you prescribed for me. I commenced with the remedies as directed, and in less than three weeks was ena- 1 led to get out of doors again, to the astonishment of ray physicians, friends and neighbore. It seemed as if your medicine braced me right up. My recovery was veiy rapid. I felt I gained strength every day. I am now in a comfortable state of health. I can go out in all weathei's, and not take cold. I can truly say that I hkve not had a bad cold or cough since I commenced using your remedies. I con- tinue bathing daily with cold water. The shoulder brace and sup- ]iorter I would not dispense with for any consideration. When I feel the least indisposition I apply to j'our remedies, which always give immediate rejief. I have now no pain or, soreness whatever ; can lay down and sleep soundly. If I can always enjoy as good health as I now do, I shall be contented and happy ; and I write this to cei-tify that boih my friends and myself have the utmost confidence in yom- superior skill and knowledge of my case. " Yours, with respect, (xkovnbr Noyes." April. 1851, is in excellent health. CASE Xa.—Mr. Moses Ehj. When I first saw Mr. Ely, his right hing was most extensively ulcerated, and neither myself nor any one supposed that he could possibly recover. This letter speaks for itself. April, 1 85 1 , he is still in excellent health ; now twenty-one yeare old. "New-York, N. E. cor. Gold and Fulton sts., Aug. 20, 1848. "DB.S.S. Fitch: "Dear Sii^ — In accordance with your desire, I will now attempt to 158 ON THE PROOFS OF THE give an account of the very critical situation in which you found me when you \nsited me on the 5th of May, 184V, together with the causes which led to it, and my present state of health, compared with that of tlie above time. Careless exposure during the winter previous had cau-ed me to take cold upon cold, wliich being neglected, paved the way for inflammation of the lungs, with which I was attacked on the 20th Februaiy, with such severity, that on account of the very sharp pain it occasioned in my right side, I was unable to take even the slightest breath without the greatest difficulty. Leeches and other ajiplications were made, with but temporary effect, and the disease gradually progressed, notwithstanding the effoits of the best medical ad\ iseis to check it. Soon the greater part of my right lung seemed entirely to cease acting ; and when I inhaled the air, only the front upper part of my light breast moved. My cough abated none, and the character of the expectoration became worse and worse. The di ;ease so far baffled the skill of my physicians, that they soon began to abandon all hope of my recovery, and on or about the first of May, they gave me up, and resigned me to the kind offices of ' time and nature^ Previous to this, I had accidentally overheard one of them tell some of my relatives, in an adjoining room, ' It is impossible for him to live,' and on the same day that they gave me up, he met my uncle in the street, and told him that I might possibly live till August, but not longer ; and it was then, when delibei'ating what coui-se next to pursue, that I heard of your manner of treating diseased lungs, and d?termined, if possible, to have the benefit of it. Accordingly, you called to see me on the 5th of May, when the symptoms which the disease had assumed were as follows : I had constant sharp pains in my right side, midway between tlie hip and the shoulder, running from the front through to tlie back part of the breast ; in my right shoulder, and running down my arm to my elbow, (which last prevented my raising my hand to my head,) and an almost incessant cough, with a copious expectoration of thick, yellow offensive matter, which sank in water. I was confined to my bed most of the time, and unable to he on my right side. My right lung was still inactive — my appelate, which before had been miserable, was now almost insatiable, and my bowels had been, since I was first attacked, very inactive. My right CfDRE OF OONSTIlVra»TION. 159 side had sunken in very mudi, and my shoulder being depiived of its proper support, sunk so far as to he much below a level with the other one. On the same day that I placed myself under your care, I went to Newburg, and soon began to discover a very favorable change in my feelings. The use of the braces and tube enlarged my breast very much, and caused the cavity to fill up. My apj^etite became reduced to its natural standard, the pains gradually subsided, and ray bovvels became regular. On the 4th July, I was so far recovered as to be able to be from home all the morning ; and on the 1st October follow- ing, returned to New- York, and have ever since attended to my busi- ness, ^^ith scarce any interruption in consequence of sickness. " I now feel quite well, but still have a slight cough, from which I hope soon to recover. Other than this, nothing remainvS of that dan- gerous illness, from which, through your timely aid, I was relieved. I have recommended your treatment to others, and watched its effict upon thsm, and have become acquainted with a great many who had been previously benefitted by it ; and the result is, that I can recom- mend your practice with the greatest confidence to all who are afflict- ed with diseased lungs, feeling assured that in doing so I can do them no injustice. " Hoping that many years of continued usefulness may be in store for you, I am, with great respect, yours, &c., " Moses Ely." CASE XllL— Mrs. Dorcas T. Moore. "Farmington, Maine,-Oct. 16, 1848. "De. Fitch:'' "Dear Sir, — I fear that you have thought that I have forgotten yon, my kind bene&ctor — but I have not, nor ever shall, while me- moiy lasts. Your medicines and machinery have met my most san- guine expectations. My health is better than it has ever been since my remembrance; and your tube, braces and supporter have done all for me that you recommended them to do. Please to accept my most sincere thanks and well wishes. " Yours, in haste, " Dorcas Ti Moorb." 160 ON THE PROOFS OF THE CASE XIV.— ^et;. Bodolphus Bard. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — In looking over the history of the last two years of my lite, I am filled with gratilude to God for his great goodness in so fai' re itoring my health and giving me back to my family, after all hope had fled, and tJiey could only look on me as already entering tlie grave. It ha-s ever been to me a self-evident truth that the all- wise Ci'eator always works by -iiieans, and it gives me great pleasure, my dear sir, to say that your remedies for the cure of consumption wore the means, the ' only means,' of my recovery, as will more fully appear by tlie following statement of my case. " Firat, my family nearly all consumptive — my mother, brother, and also a large number of other relatives, died of consumption. From my childhood my constitution was slender, and for the last 25 years, regarded by all my friends as inclining to consumption. " At the age of 25 years I commenced preaching the Gospel, with but little prospect of hving to the age of 30. Lungs weak, a con- stant hoareeness and hacking cough, some expectoration, often night sweats, and habitual co'-tivi'iiess, attended with fi-equent distressing nervois head-.Hches. A cbange of climate from New York to Ohio operated favorably, and for 12 yeara I was able to act as Pastor of the BaptivSt Church in Brimfisld. In the winter of 1844 I had a severe attack of erysipelas fever, which veiy much injured my consti- tution, and left me in a decline. In the winter of '46 I took the chai-ge of a protracted meeting in Mantua, laboring night and day for four weeks, at the close of which I found my whole system en- tirely prostrated — my lungs so we.ak it was with difficulty I could speak so as to be heard. My friend? and ministering brethren be- came alarmed, and earnestly advised me to stop preaching. But I dd not realize my danger, and continued to preach two or three times each Sabbath during the summer. In September, I took a violent cold, and at once found myself on a sick bed with a hard cough, large expectoration of hght frothy matter, driily chills, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, pain in the chest, shouldeis and limbs, palpitation of the heart, nervousness, &c. I tried the usual remedies, CURE OF COXSUMPTION. IGl such as blistering, &c., fo no benefit. I went down rapidly, with in- creasing alaiming symptoms, until the middle of November. All hope was gone, and the community considered me past recovery. " A copy of your Lectures fell into my handi, the reading of « hich rekindl d a spark of hope. I lost no time in applying to you, and on the fii-stday of D cemb^r, '47, 'of happy nT^mory,' received a full sup])ly of youi- remedies. I followed your directions to the letter, and to the a-tonihment and joy of all my friends my recovery was as rapid as had been my decline, so that on New- Year's day I was able to \-isit my friends. I soon felt myself compelled to labor for the suppo t of ray family. During the summer I performed my usual amoimt of labor. " In October, '48 I agvin found myself filling. I called on Dr. A. Jack on Squire. He d cid d I had a chill fever — gave me m' dicine which soon relieved. However, I imprud?ntly went out too soon, which brought on a relapse. The disease concentrated its whole force on my lungs — my right lung till then was sound — but now both lungs woi'e highly congested. Cough returned with great vio- lence — lunj^ soon became loaded with thick heavy matter without th"^ power to throw it off. I was out of your medicines, but fortu- nat"ly, I was able to borrow from one of your patients, 1 bottle of Expectorant, 1 do. of Pulmonaiy Balsam, and a bottle of Anti-Mu- cus Mixture. After taking the Expectorant a few diys, I raised la''ge quantities of matter that would sink in water almost as soon as lead. That bottle of Expectorant saved my life. I immediately appli'^d to j'ou aijain — there was necessarily considerable delay in getting the m^'dicines. My fi'iends and physician said there was no hope in ray case, and I too felt that my tim'? to die Ind come — mid? arrange- ments to leave my family — and how could I think otherwise ? I Ii.kI a hr:d cough rais'd la"ge quantities of solid mntter, distressing pains through my entire lungs, shouldei-s, bowels and Hinbs, dnily chiJIs an;! fevsi-, night sweats, lo\s of appetite, fle'h rapidly wasting away, and to crown th^ whol\ swelhd limb? and diarrhoea. " Vour l>-'(t°rs. d''ar sir, to m-" were full of kindni^ss and encou- rag'moiit. You siid you fully b lievrd I would y"t recover. You did not misjudge. My recovery was slow ' but certain.' 102 ON THE PROOFS OF THE " In May, 1 849, 1 fi It anxious to see you. My health still very poor, many of my frieiich thought me presumptuous in undertaking such a jou ney alone. On your examination of my lungs you pronounced the entire front of my left lung and the top of the right ulcerated. This was no news to me ; I had made the statement often- to my friends, which I fjund to agree with your decisi'in. You also said my lungs were in a healing state. I now acknowledge my doubts at that time, but have since found you were con'ect. " In October last I was elected to the office of Recorder of Portage County, Ohio. My political opponents said that wilting would kill me, and some of my friends even feared it might prove true. I have now been in the ofBc, writing from four to eight deeds per day, for four months, my hpalth improving all the while. The secret of all this is, you, sir, have learned me how to take care of my health. I ara often a- knd, ' Do you expect to be restored to perfect health ?' I answer all such, ' I never enjoyed perfect healti ; I have now almost gone through the winter without any serious attack of the lungs, and by care I hope yet to hve to the common age of man.' Dr. Earl, of Franklin, not long since said to me, ' Sir, you are almost a miracle in the history of disease.' Othera have expressed themselves in the same manner. In conclusion, I will say, no man feels a deeper inter- est in consumptives than myself. To all such 1 honestly and con- scientiously would say, ' Try Dr. Fitch's remedies — try them faith- fully, do not say you cannot follow his directions, but follow them perseveringly, and through the blessings of God you may yet live who would otherwise sink into an early grave.' " In publishing the above statement 1 believe I am doing my duty to an afflicted public, and to you, kind sir, as a benefactor ; and it shall ever be my prayer that peace, prosperity and long life may be yours. With sincere regard, I remain youre truly, "RoDOLPHUs Babd. "Ravenna, Ohio, October, 1850." CASE XV. — Consumption produced Jy a humor. I have often referred to the feet, that the two great principal causes CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 163 of consumption are loss of syranietrv, and a humor or poi=on in the blood. The following is a most marked ca^e illiHtrating what I have sEud. April, 1851, Mi-s. Burrett is very well. "Watevbury, Ct., August 28, 1850. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — You wished me to write a statement of my case. My exact case was written to you the fore part of Feb.uary, 1850. I will put them down as n"ar as I can remember. When I wrote you 1 had been confined to my bed three mon.hs, since my coufineraent. My symptoms were d.iily hectic fever, constant cough, I'aised thick yellow matter, sometimes it wa? frothy, a heat, dryness and constant tickling in my throat, pain through my chest and shouklei's, great pain in my back, constant diaiThoea, could not eat anything but soda crackere, . great coldness in my lower limbs. Physicians, f.iend;, and myself thought consumption would soon lay me in the tomb. Friend?, who came to see me from a d'stance, thought I coitld not live more than two weeks. I alone had faith that you might help me. I wrote yon. Your candid answer was that, under all the ciicumstances,- the proba- bility was medicine would not avail, but if I wi^hed, you would fend me some, which you did. I took them faithfully two months, when 1 found myself so much better I thought 1 might leave them off. As soon as I commenced taking the medicines, my appetite came, and I could eat anything. I continued to improve, and in July my gene- ral health was better than it had been for some yeare. I have had biles, or an ei-uption of some kind, on my face, most of the time. At present my health is good ; and what has passed off in biles, seems to have gone into my hands and ear, they are all innning sores. My hands are bound up, so please excuse the soiled paper and poor writ- ing. I will now close, hoping soon to cancel my pecuniary obliga- tions ; but the debt of gratitude I owe you for my restoration to health and my Tittle ones, will be lasting as life ; and I trust and pray, dear sir, that your valuable life will long be spared as a blessing to afficted humanity. You can make any use of ray case that you wish. " Very respectfully youre, " Sarah Louisa Burbbtt.'' 164 ON THE PROOFS OP THE CASE XVI.— Mrs. T. T. Dean. "Ballston Springs, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1848. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — Mv father died of a<;thmatic consumption — inoLhei died of tub -rciil.'r consumption. I have been unwell five years, pain in left chest and lungs, cough, raising matter and blo.d at times. In August, 1847, I called on you and got your remedies; in their use several ulcere broke on my left lung. The medicines and all the re- nr dies acted well, and before lung, I was restored to good health. I have now no cough, and teel as if 1 have a new lea-e of life for many yoai-s. I f'el obliged to you for this result by God's blessing. I think youre is the true practice in consumption. Chronic diarrhoea I have had for years ; I am much relieved of it, and am almost well. "Mrs. T.T. Dean. " At the house of Rev. N. Fox." CASE XVII. Letter from Riv. R. Whitwell, Episcopal Clergyman of St. Armani, C. E., who has had a good opportunity to judge of my remedies. "New-Haven, Ct., Aug. 28, 1848. " My dear sir, — I have but a moment to say that 1 am now free from cough and expfctoi'ation, and for a week back have been slowly recovering my appetite and strength. Week before last I bathed in the sea at Monis' Cove four moraings out of the five. Your medi- cines are truly what they profes? to be — 'no mistake.' Shall pursue the course as you directed, and hope still to benefit by your judicious treatment. With thinks for all your kindness, and the good service from your excellent practice, I remain, &c., yours faithfully, •'R. Whitwell." CASE XVIII.— il/rs. Charles M. Brockway. " Brockport, N. Y., August 21, 1848. "Dr. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — It is but right that I should acknowledge the benefit CURE OF CONSUMPTrON. 1G5 derived from 3-our treatment. When I fiist saw you in P'ebiiiaiy, 1847, I was thought by my fiiends and several eminent pbysician-i to be i^ast cure, unless your remedies could help me. 1 h iJ a veiy b;id cough, and every moruing raised a quantity of blojd — aho a very bad pain in ray left side and chest — almo t lost my voice at times — great weakness in the small of my back, palpitation of h'.'art, and bloated very much in my bowels. I purcha-sed one of your bjok^, and in a week from that time wa^ on my way to -eo you. My hus- band and friends did not expect to see me return alive, but in four weeks from that time I returned to my family, very much improved in health, to the astoni-hment of all; and in three mouths f om the time that I commenced using your remedies, 1 was entirely cured. " lie-pectfully yours, " Mrs. Chas. M. BROCKWAr." April, 1851, still in excellent health. CASE XIX.— Bev. W. H. Tiffany. "New- York, September 28, 1850. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Respected Sir, — For two yeai-s have I used your brace, supporter, and inhaling tube, and have derived great benefit from the same. I am naturally of slender make, predisposed to consumption. Before I used any of your remedies, physical prostration was the almost cer- tain result of the Sabbath day's labor ; but now T find preaching to be a delightful recreation. I might say much, and still not be saying too much, in recommendation of your system. I ad^^se all my min- isterial brethren, at least to purchase your ' Six Lectures,' brace, sup- porter, and tube, feeling perfectly satisfied that my advice will not be found by them to be wroug. " I remain, very respectfully and truly, your friend, " W. H. Tiffany, " Preacher in the Methodist E. Church. " My Po5t-Office addi-ess is Minaville, Montgomery Co. New- York." 166 ON THE PROOFS OP THE CASE XX.— Jlf;-. William Wlfffam. " Saugertics, Ulster Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1848. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir. — I am glad to inform j'ou that I believe I am d cicledly better, if not entirely well. I teel as well, nearly, if not quite, a^^ I ever did — have not the least pain !in\ w here — sleep well and oat well. I walked a mile lasit week, half of which was very much uphill, and walked fust, in coniiiauy willi anotlier pei'son, as fiat as I over walked on ordinary occasions, and did not fool more difficulty of broathinij, or was nioro exhiiustod, than 1 would have boon twenty yoai-s atjo ; but I cough, poi'haps once, or somotiuios during the niglit and before breakfast. Some dajrs I do not cough at idl ; « Inn I do cough, ex- pectorate hardly anything. It is luoroly asinji'U> cough at a time — no ■f^'/i, or continuation of ooui;liiiii;- — lionenilly ooutjli once, and shortly .afterward* again ; 1 then o.xpectorato ahttlo, and am sure not to cough again for hours, or during the day. When 1 take a oough pill, I giiierMlly do not cough ag.nin for hours, soinotinies a whole day. Not having seen Mr. Sol'n M. Myera anoe 4tli July, I yesterday called on him, and was rojoieed to hear him say that he believed be was citlirtUj well, not having eoiighed a single time (and of eoiu-se not exjtootora- ted at all) dunng the last two weeks, lie said ho had lately got n new supply of medieines, and believed he would ue them up, being well satisfied that your medieines, tuken according to directions, will hurt no one. lie has the fullest faith that it must be the vioivt of cases of consumption if you did not c>n-e it. I advised him by nil means to eontin\ie using the medicines, for fear of rel.ipse — that if I had the medicines, I would continue using them more or less for years. Yoiu's, truly, " William Wioram.'' M;-. WJLjram is a most resp"ctablo practising lawy(>r, and exten- sively known. His health was in a most critical and dangerous state when he first eallrd on me. His lungs were badly ulcerated and tli- berculut(d. Now, (April, 1851,) ho is very well. He is 00 yoare of CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 167 CASE XXI.— 0. Thayer, Esq. November 1, 18i8, 1 was consulted by Mr. O. Thayer, of New- ark, New Jersey. He is one of the proprietors of the Hudson River Cement Company, doing business at Jereey City, near this city ; a gentleman of wealth, piety, and education, well and favorably known. His rignt lung was extensively ulcerated, congested, and tuberculated. Nearly all the right lung was diseased, but mostly in the front lobes ; his left lung was catarrhal and hoarse ; bad cough, expectoration, pafn in both sides, great soreness across the chest, considerable palpitation of the heart, very dyspeptic, and had been so for years, great pros- tration of strength, very short breathing, and constitution much shat- tered by disease, fle?li, much wasted, frequent chills and daily fever I give a letter from him to me, and a letter of inquiiy to him, and his answer. All who have given letters in this boak are happy to an- swer letters of inquiry, provided the postage is paid. Mr. Thayer had previously used my mechanical remedies for support 18 months with much benefit, but he had not used any of my medicines. "Newark, N. J., August 14, 1850. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : ~ " Dear Sir, — Having apparently recovered from the pulmonary diseases from which I have so long suffered, I feel it my duty to com- municate the following brief particulars respecting my ca^e, for the encouragement of the suffering. My difficulties comraencpd in the spring of 1838, with a hemorrhage from the lungs, and expectoration, attended with severe pain in the left side and breast, which soon ex- tended to the right side, with slight cough, shortness of breath, night sweats, inflammation of tlu chest; emaciation and weakness en''U':'d, and bleeding from the lungs continued. By the advice of an eminent physician, I spent a year in Virginia, and r.etuvncd with improved health. During the following summer I raised blood again, which continued, more or less, until the 14th August, 1848, wh°n I rsis d about a pint. I then gave up business. On the evening of the 1 5th, I raised, as was judged, more than a qiiart of fresh blood from the lungs. It was not till thea that. I gave myself u^ to. th4,lian-pj's of 168 ON THE PROOFS OP THE my situation — night sweats wetting my bed tlivough and tljrough — and a di t: caging cough immediately commenced ; I h::d eo]iiom expectoration, mingled with blood— shortness of breath, rendering it necessary to communicate my wishes by wnting as, on attempting to speak, my breath seem 'd gone, and instant hemorrh ig9 endued ; my pulse, one hundred and twenty-five per minute, with sharp ]iains ihi-ough my lung* and chest. One physician said my heait was much diseased, as well as my lungi. Another, thnt the tops of both my hmgs were ulcerated and gone ; that he could give me no encou- ragement ; I might continue a short time, but probably should not. Auuth-r siiid all my \ital organs were diea-cd; h'^art and lungs very much ; thought he ought not to give me ani/ encour.igement ; said I might keep along a week or two, but was liable to die any minute ; ad.ised me to take simple remedies that would alleviate my pain-, which was all I could expect to be done for rae. An rminmt physician in New York next gave his opinion that the bottom of both my lungs was destroyed and gone, lungs full of ulceration, my heart much diseased, and so much inflammation in my chest that my case was utterly hopeless — my speedy dissolution certain ; said, remedies for fover and ague would be as gDol a^ any thing for mi, and re- commended arsenic! About two weeks after this last opinion, I saw you, and on examination you told me the C3ntre of ray right lung was badly di-eased ; and never shall I forget my feelings when vou said you thought I might be restored — I had considered my doom certain. When I commenced taking your remedies, and saw th' ir mmiber, my heart sank within me. I doubted the propriety of taking so much medicine. I longed to see one who had boon restond by th"m — to behold with ray own eyes the countenance where blushing health had gained the ascendency over pale consumption. As if to add to the horrors which surrounded me, one advised one thing, an- other recommended something else — some said 3"our remedies would certainly kill me — others, that I had better let all medicines alone, that I should suffer less — physicians all agreeing that consumption was incurable. I persevered with your remedies according to direc- tions, and found relief. The morning cold bath, with the cloth wet with cold salt water, laid upon my breast during the night, allayed CURE or CONSUMPTION. 169 tlm inf ammation. Tlie Cathartic and Cough Pills relit vcd me at Once ; the Heart Corrector and Pulmonary Balsam I found pricj-les-. remedies for d s: ases of the heart and lungs. M3' health has greatly improve.!. The n-ght s we its, pains in my ch^st, cough, and hemor- rhage, have all di aj pearcd. I have gained nearly my oiiginal weight ; can nm up-staii-s or walk up-hill without fatigue, and frequently walk m my miles in a day. I am strongly impressed that walking out and exponu'e to the open air has had much, very much, to do with my present improved heal.h, and expanding the chest by inhaling all the iiir possible is al^o of imm-'nse benefit, especially where there is pain in the chrst; and ki eping the cheft erect and thrown forward. Your Tube I could never use, but have expandc'd my chest by inhaling long breaths, veiy confide; ably. I feel as though a new life has com- mcnc d with mo, and I may yet see the opening buds and sunny skies of many springs. My acquaintances view me with amazement ; they supposed I should lOng ere this have been in my last repose. And h«re allow me to express my gratitude to you for your faithful- ness and kindness to me, and moreover, to the great l^hysician who blessed the means for my recovery ; also my entire confidence in the efficacy of your remrdies for the cure of pulmonary diseases. If this hasty epistle should afford aid or comfort to the suffering, my object in writing ■will have been attained. " Vely respectfully, your obedient servant, "O. THAVfR," "Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 8th, 1851. " Mr. O. Thayer, — The occasion for this communication will, I trust, be a sufficient apology for addressing a stranger in this way. " Dr. S. S. Fitch of New- York, in a pamphlet which he has pub- lished, gives a letter over your name, of date August 14th, 1850, stating that by the use of his remedies you vcere, at the date of the latter, nearly cured of the coasumption. Having a case of lung (iiseas^ in niy family. I have concluded to try Dr. Fitch's remedies, if I can first be assured by those said to be benefitted by them, that as mucl^ was accompli di^d in this case as it claimed. " You will do me and many others great kindness, by informing 8 no ON THE PROOFS OF THK me whether the said letter, as published, gives a correct statement of your case, and also whether you continue to improve, or have attained to peifect health. " By answering this immediately, you will very much oblige a stranger. " Youre, respectfully, (Signed,) " Charles H. Cbawford." "Newark, N. J., Feb. 15, 1851. "Charles H. Crawford, Esq., , " Daytou, Ohio : " Deal- Sir, — ^Your letter of 8th inst. is received, and in reply, I am happy to inform you that the letter, as published in Doctor S. 8. Fitjch's pamphlet, over my signature, is correct ; and I am better than I have been for many years. 1 have received priceless benefit by the use of his remedies, and cheerfully recommend them to all sufiering with pulmonary aflfections. 1 believe his remedies would alleviate all cases of consumption, and cure such as are not too far advanced. I have been brought low, and my case was apparentl3- hopeless. It must be remembered that his remedies do not consist in medicine only ; exercise, the outer air, bathing in cold (salt) water — (I will add, rubbing with the bare hand after bathing) — are indispensable ; diet must be carefully attended to. The patient must judge for himself what best can be eaten, &c., &c. The cold wet cloth is of very great importance, laid upon the chest in front, and kept on during the night ; commence bathing with tepid water in a warm room ; let the bath be taken upon rising in the moraing, (and not at night,) keeping the chest erect with the shoulders thrown back, and expanding the chest with a tube, or by inhaling long breaths. During the last year I have been engaged in active out-door business, part of the time travelling. I think great care should be taken to keep the feet not only dry, but warm ; never retire with cold feet. After putting the cold wet cloth on the chest at night, I invariably wrapped my cloak around me, and sat with my feet to the fire until I was warm, before retiring for the night. From great prostration I am restored to comfortable health, and find Wy strpRgth and fles^i increasing. I can now appreciate the blessing GURE OF CONSUMPTION. 171 of good health, as I never did before, and if I can render any assis- tance or advice to thg suffering, it will aflbrd me pleasure. " Respectfully yours, " 0. TnAYER." CASE XXIL— ^«n D. Birdsall. In January, 1849, I was consulted by Mi's. Ann D. Birdsall by let- ter. She received her medicines last of March, or beginning of April following. Besides her condition as related in her letter, her month- ly periods had wholly ceased eleven months, many of the Society of Friends had witnessed the good eifects of my remedies, and made a tiial of them. Although the case seemed so utterly hopekss, Mrs. Biidsall called on mo in October, 1849, in very good health. 1 ha\e received letters from her, and seen many of her friends 'and husband since ; all speak of her continued fair health. She is an intelligent, well educated woman, a much esteemed member of the Society of Friends, is well known in this region, and was from Utica; N. Y. April, 1851, up to this time Mrs. B. is well. "Albion, Calhoun Co., Michigan, Sept. 29, 1849. "Dr. S.S. Fitch: " Esteemed Friend, — I have long been in delicate health. My father, mother and six brothers and sisters died of consumption. I have suffered by miscarriages, and was so reduced by dreadful female diseases, and, at the same in'm, bad cough, bleeding at the lungs, soreness of the stomach, sour stomach, dyspepsifi, and burning at the stomach, palpitation of the heart, kidneys badly afeoted, falling of the womb, and female nveakness — ^my right arm always cold, and had to be swathed in cotton — for eight months I did not have my bed. My physicians and my friends gave me up ; my grave-clothes were made, so certain did the approach of death seem. When all hope had ceased, your medicines and remedies were obtained, and by God's good blessing and their use, I am now in good health, or nearly so. I can walk and ride well — no cough, very little palpitation, stomach Ja g894 W^h m^.M^»h 1 b?V4 f^pj^ all ypi^;^ remedies ,*nd dii-go- J 72 ON THE PROOFS OP THE tions moit salutary and useful. I have followed your directions care- fully. Aftsr thanking a good God, I must gratefully thank you for a'.l you have done for me. Thy fiiend, " Ans D. Birdsall." CASE XXIII.— J/ir. Stephen B. Dodge. " Yorktown, "Westchester Co., N. Y., Jan. 9th, 1851. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — I have been subject to a cough and expectoration as long as I can remember. I am forty-two years old. I gradually wore down so as the last year not able to work at ray trade, shoe- making ; left sido became so much affected as to lose the use of my left arm and shoulder pretty much, cough extremely bad, and raising vast quantiiies of corrupted matter, palpitation of the heai-t, constant dull head-ache, fever daily, and chills occasionally, never knew a good night's rest, unbroken by coughing, stomach out of order, sour, dis- tress after eating, sickness of stomach, &c., bloody phlegm, iolent palpitation of the heart, and so severely and singularly was I operated upon, that my physic-an afterward said that he thought at the time I must be dying. My breathing was convul-iive : my countenance at one moment dyed to a deep purple, the next the blood leading it white as death. I was troubled daring the wnter ^vith a dry hacking cough, night sweats, pain in the side, chest, and beneath the sliould-jr blad"s, iriy breathing continued painfully short, constantly attended with urinary difficulties, and a fever that threatened at times almost to coBsumg me^ CWR^ OP CONSUMPTION. 175 " In the May following, my mother determined to i-eturn to New- Jei-sey with me, in hope that travel and change of climate would prove beneficial to me, and most of my acquaintances prophesied that I would not live to return in the ensuing autumn. Soon afcer our arrival in New-Jei-sey, I was induced by the repi'esentations of a gentleman of ray acquaint^^, (who had been much benefitted by your ad^ice and medicines ) to consult you. I did so, and was pro\'i- ded with phoulder braces, supporter, inhaling tube, and medicine, and their concerted action operated like a charm. I soon began to breathe a different atmosphere, and a vigorous life, to which I had before been a stranger, pulsated through my system. The o'd painful, debilitated and precarious existence I had fo long su?tained, lost its identity in a new and d.^hghtful sense of being; and I sincerely believe, that had it not been for your kindly advice and remedies, I should long ago have passed that ' bourne from which no traveller returns.' In closing, permit me to say that my gratitude Ls inexpressibl ', that it is incorporated with my hfe, and will end only ' whan the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher at the fountain,' when ' the dust shall return unto dust, as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.' " May you long be spaired to retain the elevated position you have taken in that great cirele where intellect and humanity go hand in hand. Yours, mo^t gratefully, " Elizabeth B. Lum. " P. S. — A lady residing about six miles from this place has been sviffering through the winter with all the dread-d symptoms of con- sumption. Some time since I sent her a bottle of pulmonary balsam, one of liniment, with directions to bathe, (fee. She soon found relief, and is about to send to you for a package of med-cine in the confi- dent hope of a certain recovery. E. B. h" CASE XXVI.— C. B. Petrie, Esq. On the 18th day of December, 1849, 1 was called to see Mr. C. D. Petrie. lie was viery low, only able to go fl-om his bed to his chair. Bot& back lobes of W& lungs were McBy ulcerated, tlie left lung ex- 176 ON i His i'KOui<'is ujf X±1J£ tensively ; his general health greatly prostrated, &c. He is a very intelligent, well educated gentleman, and enjoys a very i-espcclable social ijosition. At this time, (April, 1851,) he is in good health. "New York, 630 Greenwich street, April 19, 1850. "Dk. 8. S. Fitch : 4 " Dear Sir, — In December, 1848, I was taken sick with a cough, expectoration, and pain in my chest, which soon increased vastly. In May, 1849, 1 bagan to raise bloody matter and great increase of ex- pectoration, and cough ; matter would sink in wa;er like shot. Night sweats, most profuse chills and fever, which prostrated me. My father is a physician of Naples, Illinois, who did all that he could for me. In June, 1849, he took me to St. Louis, Mo., where I con- sulted Doctors Professor Pope and Professor Linton, bolh of the St. Louis Medical College. They both pronounced me in confirmed con- sumption, and that I could not live but a short time, say until the next September. On the 18th day of December, 1849, 1 consulted Dr. S. S. Fitch, of 707 Broadway, New York. He gave me but lit.le encouragement, as 1 was so very low and no mitigation of my disease. My father had urged me to see you with very little hope. Your remedies have acted on me in the most happy manner. I am now ; in excellent health ; I have not coughed onoe in six weeks, no pain or any trouble whatever, and no expectoration. I am satisfied that consumption is a curable disease, so is my father. I would advise all consumptives to try Dr. Fitch's remedies. "C. D. Petkib." CASE XXVIL—ITeart Disease. This person did not expect to live three months. She is a most ac- complished and elegant lady. "South Brooklyn, July 16th, 1850. " Dear Dk. Fitch, — You to whom I owe so much of my health and haj piness, words can but feebly e.xpress my feeliugEi, yet I cannot CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 177 refrain from addressing you, to assure you what my gratitude must be in future. " About six months previous to the period at which I commence this letter, I was severely afflicted with what I supposed to be disease of the heart. I had tried everything I could hear of, together with the ad.\ice of one of the best physicians in the city, until I was fully satisfied I had done much to my injury to obtain a temporary relief. In this state of suffering I came to you for advice, which you gave me with such calm confidence, it encouraged me, and sustained me, or rather seemed to quiet me, for in my weak and highly excitable state, the barest possibility of relief acted as a stimulant, and seemed to arouse every nerve within me. I willingly submitted myself to your treatment, and soon experienced its magic effects. I can tiuly say I have not enjoyed such •uninterrupted health for many years. In skill and scjence, I am sure you have no equal. I have read your book of Lectures with peculiar pleasure, which I recommend most cordially, and particularly admire the Uberal and generous tone, so free from any thing like professional exclusiveiiess. I have endea\ored to be as biief as possible. Permit me therefore to hope you will have health and happiness, beyond the reach of want, for the rest of your life, to com- pensate you for your benevolence and energy so freely spent in the public service. Yours, truly and sincerely, " Mrs. M. H. Valentine." CASE XXYIII.— Throat Disease. The treatment I recommend . will usually cure a throat disease in from two to eight weeks as a general rule^ with veiy rare exceptions. " New- York, Dec. 6th, 1850. "De. S. S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — The very great benefit I have derived from your reme- dies, together with the sincere gratitude I owe you, induces me to lay my case before you, as in your practice I have no doubt you have simi- lar cases, to whom it might be a satisfaction to hear of the wonderful efficacy of your remedies in throat diseases. t78 ON THE PR06r*S OF -fiffE "From a child I was afflictod \vith scrofuteus sore throat, whidi was hereditary, as my sister w;is similarly afflicted. I wa^ under the care of some of the ba'it ]jh,,seiiins in Dubln and London, till I was fif- teen, withoui any pormanent beneiit. Sittall lumps would fonn in ray throat, b;eak and scatter, together with great soreness on the inside, and aitacks of inflammation. Six yeare ago I arrived in 15o-ton, Mass., and consulted two eminent physicians there, who infornii^d me I would be obliged to resort to the use of caustic, cutting my palate, &c., &c. These o])erations I shrunk from with horror, as my throat and voice I was wholly dependent on for a livelihood, singing being mystadyand profession. In the beginning of' February, 1850, I %-i^ited New- York, for the pui-pose of placing myself under the instruc- tion of some eminent mudcal professore. I was in New- York but a few weeks when I was taken with a violent attack of sore throatj so that 1 was confined entirely to the house, unable to sing or use luy voice. I became disheartened, when a friend of mine knowing you, wished me to call on you and consult with you. 1 did so ; you en- couraged me. I followed your directions faithfully. -Used your inval- uable liniment arid wet cloths on my throat at night. Your tonic wash for sore throat 1 found very benefici^U, as aho all your remedies. Your abdominal supporter I could not wear for any length at firat, but soon became accustomed to it. I now wear it constantly. In my joy for the recowry of ray threat, I had almost forgotten to say, I had always suSered the most excraciating pain, monthly, which debilitated me much ; this I am happy to say is entirely removed, from the use of your supporter, &c., &c. I now may say, thank God, through you I am a healthy woman. I now, use my voice constantly. Singing four and five houi-s a day wthout inconvenience, and consider that organ more pure, clear, and peifect than ever. You are at liberty to dispose iof this letter as you please. I can be communicated with, or seen, by making inquiry at 639 Hudson st, NewYoiik,! of Mi-s. So- jdaa -Levey. , Bear Sir, very gratefully yours, "C: M. Mdbbat." CURE OP COi^SUMPfiON. 179 CASE XXIX.— Jii/rees M. Evarta. "Westnlle, New Haven, Aug. 13fti, 1849. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — It is with feelings of gratitude that I give you a state- ment of ray health for a number of years previous to my acquain- tance with you. I had felt that my health was gradually failing, though, for most of the time, I was able to labor until the fall of 1847, when I was tak§ii. with a severe pain in my side, extreme soreness in the chest, together witli a very bad cough, raising a thick, yellow mat- ter which sank in water. My feet and legs were very cold ; I could not walk but a very short distance without being completely ex- hausted. My friends were quite alarmed at my symptoms ; they thought I had the consumption, and would live but a very shoi-t time. My father died of consumption, and I began to think there was no help for me, for I could get no relief, when a friend of mine brought me a copy of your Lectures, which I read, and resolved, if possible, to see you. I called on you in November, 1847 ; you gave me your remedies. I had used them but a short time before I could perceive a change for iJie better. I have enjoyed better health most of the time since, than any time previous to ray using your remedies, for some five yeare. Believing, sir, that you were the means of my restoration to health, I remain, with many thanks, yours, truly, " James M. Evabts." April, 1851, Mr. E. is weU. CASE XXX. "Newark, N. J., Oct. 9, 1848. «Db.S.S. Fitch: "Dear Sir,-^I am forced by fe^lingif of gratitude to infdrm yott of the effects of your medicines on me. My two sisters and a half sister died of consumption. The last week in March, 1548, I was takeii with cough and expectoration, which continued five months, with many other bad symptoms, all wai-iiii^ me t seemed awaiting me. I b lieve if you could have treated them during their sickness, they would now have been hving. I feel very grateful for your kindness and att?ntioa, and to the use of your reme- dies I owe my life, and wish to recommend them to all similarly affected. C. A. B." This case is known to hundreds. Any person who wishes to know the name of this lady, and her residence, and her highly respectable and extensive family connections in this city and Brooklyn, can do so t>v inquiring of Mis. Harriet Jiles, No. 224 Adams street, Brooklyn, New- York. As a specimen of feeling and experience, alas, too general ! and in corroboration of Dr. Borrow's letter, I give the following : "Brooklyn Centre, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, April 1, 1851. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — 1 am sorely afflicted with bronchitis, and have been for the last, five yeare. I ought to have visited you long ago, and should have done so, had I not hstened to the doctors in this country. 1 have cut loose from them all, after having my fine constitution ruined by taking their remedies. In God, my last and only hope is that I njay receive help from your administration. I dare not take so long a journey until about the 1st of May next. Shall you probably be at your place in New- York about that time ? Be so kind as to inform me soon. Truly youra, Nathaniel Chenev." CASE XXXIII. I have before spoken of the exc^ellent and almost miraculous effects of these remedies, in cases of children, often have I seen their com- rse ON THE PROOFS OF THE Jjlete restoration, wh^n it was thought by physicians, pai*entg, mothers, and ti-i.-nd-i, that they could not live five hours. This applie^f to whoop- ing cough, lung fever, asthma, long continued colds, and con umption. All thoug'it that the subject of the following caie could not live but a sho.'t tim-. I would say to parents, never de^-pair if you can get my remedies. I say to physicians, if your remedies are so well adapted and perfectly compounded as to help and agree well with children, anybody may safely use them and with benefit. " Ehzabethport, New-Jersey, April 8th, 1851 " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — You have requested mo to write you the results of your treatment of ray little daughter, Catharine Ann Smith. She is now eight yeare and a half old, always a most delicate child, much subject to croup, and frequent periods of dangerous illness. In September. 1847, she was attacked with symptoms of croup, a sore throat, and cough. Of this she improved a little, but the cough never left her, always pressed for breath, and very feeble, gradually failing, until in November, 1850, she began to raise blood, and continued raising it for three weeks. We consulted several physicians of respectability, but all with little or no benefit, and continually grew worse, with no pros- pect of ciire. December 2d, 1850, I consulted you with no hope of ejive. Doctors said she was too far gone — past cui'e. You did not give me great encouragement, stfll you gave me inhaling tube, medi- cines, and shoulder bratses. The medicine and bathing, and wet cloth 'to her chest, all liave worked well, apparently a perfect cure ; she lias not coughed at all in nine weeks past, and hsr breathing is peifect, flesh, strength, and all returned; she looked better in a few weeks than she ever did ; exposure even to wind or wet or cold does not give her any cold. If she takes 6old she does not cough. Of coui'se we cannot be too gratefijl, with maiiy thanks for such ro=y cheeks now. She could not have lived till this time if not helped. No one expected her to live for the last two springs. " Very respectfully yours, » Eliza Saira." CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 187 I will here answer a question often a ked — how lon^ d jea it take to cure a ca?e of conaumption ? The time of cure varies very much, some g'3t well in one month, othera take medicines two years before they are weU. You should always bathe daily, all your life. Shoul- der braces, inhaling tube and supporter, should always be used, unless all traces of disease have long di-appeared. Taking long full breaths many times, day and night, never should be ncglrcted by the con- sumptive, or any one with a weak chest, throat or lungs, or who have ever had consumption. After using the medicines a few month-i, they may be left oflF a little, to see the effect of leaving off. If no relapse, you need take no more medicine. In general, take the medicines, one, or as many, or all, as you find beneficial. Once better, you are apt to get well by judicious perseverance. You never need fear a second attack of consumption, if you pei-severe in a faithful use of remedies and preventives. The same remarks apply to asthma, and most other diseases. Keep the medicines by you that you know to be useful, and use them when you need them. Do not suffer for want of them. I have now presented as many and great a variety of cases of cure as the limits of this lecture will allow. I could fill many volumes with such cases and letters, but I have given enough for the fullest reference, and to convict and assure any impartial, honest, intelligent mind of the curability of consumption. I again most solemnly and emphatically repeat — / do not cure all cases. Of the unsuccessful cases, some do not use the remedies judi- ciously and pereeveringly, and continuou=ly ; others do not apply to them until all the recuperative powere of the system are destroyed ; othei-s, whilst using the remedies, continue all the causes that pro- duced the disease, so that the remedies do not triumph over the dis- ease, and all its originating and producing causes, acting together. Finally, there is a class of minds who do not seem to comprehend the scheme and reasons of the treatment, or from other causes are de- terred from confidence, and although they take the remedies, use them so hesitatingly, so partially, and so unskilfully, as to fail of suc- cess. This class of patients are often greatly endangered by receiving 188 PROOFS OP THE CURE OP CONSUMPTION. vi its or adice from ihy?ickns, who from interest or ignorance dcnv llie iihefuhiess of ihcir remedies. CONCLUSION. With these cases, ladies and gentlemen, I conclude my lecture upon the proofs of the cure of pulmonary consumption. That some of you may bflieve, and many disbelieve, 1 have no doubt. Were you to iusk for more cases, I could give you hundreds of others;* but 1 have not time to read them to you ; nor have you time to read them, wereltiure placed in your hands. The cases are marked, important, and were not done in a corner. Slijuld you feel any per-onal interest in their truth, it is the easiest thing in the world to verify or disprove the statements, by appealing to tho ])evsons themselves, or to their friends. With ihese remarks, I leave the subji'ct in your hands, hoping that, if you or any of your friends are attacked with pulmonary consump- tion, or are predisj;oscd to it, that you will'never despair either of its prevention or cure, but apply promptly to the means T have indica- ted, and thus save your own hves, or those of vour friends. *I have now ninety-two volumes of mannscript notes of cases of my pitUnts — all m^st minutsly stat3j anJ carefully recorded, with their pro- gress and result, and alphabeited so as to be referred to in one moment. N. ver do I prescribe for any patient without r.'coriing the remedy given, and the rea.«ons for doing so, whttber it is the first or the twentieth prescriplion. I have now on my books Iwenty-seven thousand cases. I think the largest record of respjctable private practice now existing. Oiher physicians see more hospital practice an.l the poor, but in respectable private practice, this I think, is the largest in Aoierica, recorded. LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. IPO LECTURE FOURTH. TO LADIES ONLY. On the mode of forming a fine Chest, a fiae erect Carriage, and Walk. — On the manner of procuring a clear and beautiful Com- plexion, without art. — On the causes of Lung, Liver, and Stomach Diseases, in Ladies, and on the Cause of Female Ziiseases, with their prevention and cure ; and finally, on the best mode of ob- taining perfect Symmetry of Figure, and of forming and fortify- ing the Female Constitution, so as to preserve Health and Beauty to tlie latest attainable periods of life. Ladies : It always gives me the greatest pleasure to address you on the important subject of health. It is a most painful fact, that, from a multiplicity of causes, some of which will be enumerated in this lec- ture, the length of female life is greatly abridged in this country. In fact, multitudes of ladies are cut off in the very beginning of adult life, and by a variety of agents, whose influences and injurious effects can be entirely obriated ; and some of the most prominent, instead of being instruments of destruction, as they now are, may, by a httle knowledge, be converted into instruments of the highest good. The duration of fcmale Ufe ought to equal that of men ; but, in many sections, it would seem to be less. In the southern States, a vast many men, who attain to 45 or 50 years of age, in that time lose two, and some four wives. The human frame is a machine, or the trunk of the body may be said to be a box, full of machinery. The operations and lifj of this machinery is capable of continuing a great many more years than it usually does. It ought to move always one hundred yeare, and may go on to one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty years, and probably more. To prove this to be true, I have only to present to 190 LECTUEE TO LADIES ONLY. you cases of pereons who have lived to that age. God is not unjust and partial ; he has not made one to Uve one hundred and sixty yeare, and another cannot live more than twenty or thirty. No, we are all made alijse ; and if pijt off prematurely, it is, prol>ahly in nearly all cases, our own fault. I believe that if any lady dies much short of one hundred yeare, it is the result pf , acd|iient, and not incidental to old age. The machine needs only to be kept in repair, and it will continue its operalions'and life to a vast many yeare, and with age, the full enjoyments of life. The Countess of Desmond died in England some years ago, at the age of one hundred and forty yeai-s. Her age is well authenticated by official papers. Margaret Forster died in Cumberland, England, in XT'? 1, aged one hundred and thirty-six yeare. Flora Thompson died at Nashua, in North Carolina, in 1808, at the age of 150 yeara. A great number of pei'sons attended her funeral. A woman died at Knoxville, Tennessee, in the year 1835, aged one hundred and fifty-four years. She was a Gei-man woman, that came to this countj-y, and was sold in North Carolina for Ijer passage from Germany. It wasi a custom in those days for poor emigi'ants in this way to pay their passage, by being articled, or indentured, or hired out, for a longer or shorter period, until their passage was paid. By these papeis, she was known to have been tlurty-five years old when she airived, and to, have lived one hundred and nineteen years after. Flora Forbes was living in the Highlands of Scotland, a short time ago, ajt the age of one hundred and twenty-five years, and I believe is stiU'living. She witnessed the battle of CuUoden in 1745, and was then twenty-seven years old. There is a woman now living iii Norfolk, Virginia, in good health) who is one hundred and twenty-two yeai-s old. There was living, six months ago, in the city of Moscow, in Russia^ a woman who was one hundred and fifty-seven years old. She had h^d five husbands. A German woman died in Moyamensing, a subiirb of Philadelphia, Penn., in August, 1850, at the age of 111 years. Molly Perry, residing in Maripn county, Ke.ituaky, is now in good health, at the age of 112 years. LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 191 FLORA THOMPSON, Died at Naslma, in North Carolina, in tiie year 1S08, aged 150 years. In the United Stetes, there are inany persons at present living who are over 100 yeare old. These cases, and a va.st many more I could adduce, show conclu- sively that the female frame is made to endure a vast many more years than it now lasts : that, in place of dj'ing, as multitudes do, at twenty-five to thirty, they may hve to one hundred years ; that the female life, in place of thirty years, ought to be and might be one hundred years. You that are frail and delicate may see, by the ages othei-s hg,ye attained, how much you may hope for. If you carefully pursue the means which are actually known to operate eflS- ciently in supporting your health and constitution, you may attain ^ very <^ld agg. 102 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLV. There is another reason why ladies should preserve their health, because with health you may always preserve your beauty. Health and beauty are almost synonymous terms ; you can hardly have one without the other. Good and perfect health, in many cases, confers beauty, or, at least, good looks and attractions. With very few and very rare exceptiuns, and those aiising from accident, God has always traced upon your frames the most exquisite lines of beauty. He has fjnned you to be the most beautiful of all his works. The angels, in their most resplendent b?auty, a^ fancy and poets and painters embody them, take your forms, and fully fill up all that the imagina- tion can create of angelic beauty. What do you suppose is the grand stimulus to man in all his fatigues, his exposures, his dangeis, his toils, and his privations,— rin the field, in the workshop, in the camp, — on the stormy octan, by night, by day, even facing the cannon's mouth ? What cheere the stud jnt in his long nights of study, and wasted by untiring toil ? What sustains the mariner in his long and perilous nights at sea ? In fine, what sustains man in all his innu- merable exposures and employments, sacrificing his ease, and ofien his life ? It is his love of you — your channs are his attraction and undying stimulus,— his love for his mother, his sisters, his wife, his d ii'gh^ers. There is a gulf fixed by the Creator between the male and female mind, which nothing can pass until both meet in their future angelic state. It is impossible for the female fully to compre- hend the male mind, and it is impossible for the male to comprehend the female mind ; both will remain distinct whiht in this state of ex- istence. Each sex can comprehend its own mind. All men know that woman is the centre of all that is charming and lovely ; no j lace is attractive to us that is not graced by the presence of woman ; you foiTTi the ornaments of our houses, our streets, our churclies, and all peaceful and pleasant assemblages. To adorn you, man traverses all the earth, bringing home diamonds and rubies, and pearls and costly gems — he seeks the plumage of the most rare birds — he devises stufts of the softest texture, and of the richest and rarest colore. lie lays all at your feet, and finds in your acceptance and your smile-!, and blandishments, his happiest rewards. A smile from you soothes the face of care, and wipes the perspiration from the brow of toil. In LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 193 fine, without you, the world would become a desert, and man a brute. Man ruL's by strength — woman eontr. 1- by her charm-. IIenc3, th^re is a higb, moral duty that the f male owes to her fam'.ly, to her country, and the world ; that is, to pre erve her charms — to keep Hie flowers of her own lovelin' ss from fading — to j:reservo to her late-t day.s hII Ji? sj leiidors and realities of her beauty, Care- le.ssneis on tlii< subject has blighted all the hopes of thousands of l.idies, and m ,do a wreck of happiness in many famijies of the best expecla'ions. This in to^ mny ca es, when the female is altogether unconscious thitit is to he: self that tlnse ill* are owing. In a m.iltitndo of cases, for want of attention to the iriost obvious principles of h\"il.h, a wif' may reJuce h r husband to despair, and her ho.i-e to want, — conveiting what should be ^ residence of plea- sure, to a hospital for the sick. A daughter may, in d- fault of a little knowledge, indue? h r own untimely dsath, and fill l;er father's hou e with nevei-end ng sor ow. For the-e reasons I add ew you on the subject of health, excusing mysdf for caUin >; you- togeiher, with the h3pe that I may give such directions to your views of it, and its b 'St m.di of preservation, as will clothe you to your latest days with the highest adornings of beauty, and continue youi- hves to at least one huudced years in an uninterrupted hoi day of glowing health. Health ai.d beauty I use as synonymous terms. When T use the ■word healthy I m'ght use the word b-'auti/. It 's impossible for a lady to have beauty without health, and next to impos;ibility to have health wi.hout beauty, or at least attractiveness. To ensure a continuance of health, and vyith it life and beauty, it is necessary to have health every day, — not to sutfer broken health a single day. Ro-collect, your frame is a machine, and made on the principle of mechanic-. As far as it has ever yet been exjilored, it is found to be mechanically formed, and to act everywhere on mechani- cal prineiples. To ensure its continuance in he.l.h, and its life, it is indispensable that each part .should have its own perfect bearing, and till its own proper place. No wear or tear should be allowed in one place more than another. You should see, an I be CTtai i ' at the duty or office of each part should be properly and certainly per- a* 194 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. fonned,— that no deficiency or excess exists in the doings or functions of any organs, or part of the machinery of your frames. Let no part suffer, or act too little, or too much. As a reward, perfect and long- continued, and uninterrupted health, will enure to you. By moderate practice, you will experimentally learn that all the organs of your body are your servants, — you may make them playthings, to do your bidding at your pleasure. By a httle precaution, and the application of a httle well-timed knowledge, you may prevent the anguish of disease, and cure it if it takes place. You may preserve your healths under nearly all circumstances of luxury, and affluence, and ease, or of exposure, privation, fatigue, or misfortune. To ensure the entire expression of health, and with it, and by it, the nearest approaches to perfect beauty, you should possess a fine figure, always at your com- mand, — a fine carriage of your head and person, and an elegant elas- tic step and walk, brilliant eyes, clear complexion, the rose and the lily in just proportion, and equally blended and perfect, — teeth of a pure shining white, — luxuriant aiTd glossy hair. Of these, you can be the possessore. If already in broken health, the use of such means as actually exist, and faithfully pursued for a longer or shorter period, will usually restore you to health and beauty. •The female frame is made, as I have before told you, to last in full strength a great number of years. In order to this, every part of it should have its perfect mechanical bearing. It is composed of a great many parts, each part must occupy its natural and appropriate situar tion. Each bone — each muscle, must be in its proper place. All the great organs, as the lungs, the heart, the stomach, the bowels, a«d wear upou-4be system, 4(X«^-teDs,trs to approach each other, forwards, and ] ress upon the chest, pressing the breast-bohe down upon the heart, and force the ribs upon the lungs, and make the chest much smaller. The shouldei'-blades then turn up behind like wing?, whilst the collar- bones are forced .forwards and downward=i, making the top of the chest, front and back, a mn s of almost naked, angular and repulsive wreck of scraggy, ragg'd bones. Everybody knows that the form of the bust, by which term T mean the u[>per half of the body, from the wai-t, is that of a triangle ; most ] articularly no'iced in the female but the b'-iso of the triangle is a lin" from the point of one shoulder to the other. The smaller ]-a:t of the wai-t is the point or apex end of the triangle. The greatest b auty of the bust d'^pends on having th'^ great'"st po s-ble width from one shoulder to the oth"r, on ahn'^ with the neck and shoulders, and both flat with the back, and p-rp'-ndioular behind. Many lad'e^, who have greatly rounded the shonld'^i's and bvouo-lu them forwa d and towards each olh'r, hope to corrct the f suit by tying or lacing up tli" wai":t, so that it shiiU be very small, and tlnis,i-e.-bone at its base, and contri- butes vastly to enlarge the chest, always in all cases preventing its contraction. A great many ladies, from debility or bad posture, contract a habit of stooping, and thus bring forward the weight of the shoulders and arms and hands across the chest, and contract it fearfully. If th^y cannot correct this by any other means, they sh uld tie the shoulders together behind. This leads me to mention SHOULDER-BRACES. Shoulder-Braces are instniments of very old date, having been used in England and France for hundreds of years. In all parts of Europe, with the noble and educated classes, the remarks I have made on the carriage of the head and neck are fully appreciated, and have been un- derstood for ages. Indeed, from observing these cla-sses, all my ideas on these subjects have been fully confirmed. In many boarding- schools of En:^l;md, it is a part of the education of young persons, to provide that the shouldere, and carriage of the head and neck, (fee, sh ill be peifectly erect and elegant. They know that stooping or rounded shoulders are ahke destructive of elegance and heal'.h. Round and stoojiing shouldere are set down in England as decidedly vulgar, marking ignoble descent, and denoting weakness and age. The tick- ets for admission to the ball-room at Alraacks', in London, cc^t $1.25 each, or five English shillings, yet at any time fi^e hundred dollars would be paid for one. But money cannot buy a ticket at this aris- tocratic ])lace of meeting. Admi sion for a lady is obtained through a committee of ladies of the highest rank, the object being to intro- duce the aristocratic youth and beauty of the empire to each other, — to show off the finest blood in the world, and the highest breeding and physical cultivation. The l"ast approach 1o d formity would be an insuimountable barrier to the admission of any one person, how- e\er exalted in rank. The Queen herself would hardly be admitted, LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 199 if she had d formod shoulders. At some boarding-scliook, if young ladies have high or stooping shouldei-s, strong shoulder-braces are put on them, and pass down the baclj behind, outside the dress, with a heavy weight attached thei'eto,and the child is placed on astool for some hou'.-s daily, until the shoulders are brought into the required symme- try. They are worn until the d'spo5ition to stoop is entirely overcome, and a perfect figure and ca)'riage are fully estabhshed. Shoulder- braces are univei'sally worn by all classes that desire fine figures, or the rewards of thera. The officei-s of the array cultivate in themselves, and in their men, the finest figures, and perfect position of the shoul- ders. They all wear shoulder- braces, more or less. The soldiere al o ■wear them until the form is perfect. From the nobUity and higher classes, and from the army, a taste for a fine figure and perfect posi- tion of the shoulders is diflFused throughout all classes, both as a mat- ter of taste and as the very key to health and beauty. The effect of manual labor, is, to a greater or less degree, to throw the shoulders and arms upon the chest ; and from this results one-half the fatigue of manual labor. With a vast many the habit of stooping at labor is extended to periods of walking and sitting ; and, finally, at all times, save in bed, the weight of the shouldera and arms is forced upon the chest ; and thus the individual always carries a pack upon his back, and exactly the same effrcts are produced as if a pereon were always to carry a burden equal in weight to the hands, arms, and shouldere, upon the back. Back-ache, pains between the shoulder-, pains in the neck and spine, heat between the shoulders, are the frequent efF;cts of bringing the shouldere forward. The occupation of many persons requires them to use one arm more than the other. This, long con tinned, is apt to make the shoulder of that arm weak, and to displace the shoulder-blade, causing it to grow out, and its inner edge to lift up like a wing, and in a vast many cases to change the spine to one side, and bulging out the chest, and shrinking it in, in some places, thu« producing great deformity and disease. Nearly every case of crooked sjwne between the shouldei-s arises from this cause ; that is, the weight of the shoulder most used drags the spine out of straight, or to one side. Now, to prevent all this, wear shoulder-braces. Tie 200 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. the shoulders together, and they will revolve around the chest, but cannot press on it, or crook the spine. Perfect symmetry of the figure requires that the points of the shoul- ders should be carried downwards and backwards as far as pes ibie, by which arrangsment their points recede f.om each other as far as possible, and the sho\ilder-blades lie flat upon the back, (See Plate A, fig. 1, and Plate K ) To produce this position of the shoulders, it is necessary that the whole leng.h of the spine should be perfect- ly supported, and therefore the small of the back is the first point to be supported. Having established my support there, I then carry the brace up the back, between and around the shouldere, by which I bring them downwards xind backwards at pleasure. The found-.tion pieces at the small of the back and between the shoulders, should be ela=;t'.c. Great care should be taken to cover the spine as li.tle as possible, a^ the spine may be kept too warm and weakened by it. Some braces are made so that rubber stuT cover? the whole spine. I made them in that way until fully convinced of their inju- rious elTeots. Tiie spine mu it not bs wh jlly covered with any thing that can prevent free evaporation and airing of the spine. The Ind'a rubber stuff on the whole spine will keep the spine wet with perepi- ration, and greatly weaken it. Such braces should never be worn. The pieces of the shoulder-braces betwean the should m-s should be elastic and allow full movements of the shouldei-s, and not cmfine the ball of the should t or arm, so that a free movement is permitted and, on re-ting, the shouldei-s will at once be brought back by th° rli-ti- city of the stuffs to th"ir places. The piece on the loins shu'ild ly; elastic, so a? to allow free motion of the whole per on, if desired. A irr^at many pereons, especially tho.se with light cheats, and whoso shouldere are very flexible, and move easily, cannot do much with their arms or hands, cannot sweep a carjiet, nor do any manuil 1 1- bor, nor work, mr write, nor stoop long, &c., without having piiti in t'l? chest or in the side, one or both. The'-e pa'ns of;en extend to both arras, to the ends of the fingers, and pain is felt down the who'e spine, and great weariness at the top of the ch''st and between the shouldere, and heat about the shoulders, pains under the shonlder- biados, &c Such persons wiU find the shoulder-braces, if adju.ited LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 201 and made as I have described, a vast benefit, and in most cases a per- fect cure. The use of perfectly adjusted shoulder-braces will enable them to do ten times the work they could perform without them. Every female employed in any manufactories, especially if slie has in the least a constrained position, should wear sliould?r-braces. Girls at school, and young ladies, as long as at school, should wear shoul- der-braces. In fine, every lady, who^e shouldere are not always per- fectly in symmetry, should wear shoulder-braces. If the least con- sumptive, or consumptively disposed, she should wear shoulder-braces ; they greatly assist in expanding the chest, prevent curvature of the spine, and assist much in curing it, and preventing its progress after it has commenced. They give symmetry to the back and shoulders, do much to prevent stooping, and almost double the strength of the shouldere, giving the wearer the ability to do twice as much with her arms and shoulders as she otherwise could. They perfectly prevent the straining of the shoulders or back, or chest. I never attempt to cure consumption without the use of shoulder-braces. Shoulder- braces should be sufficiently strong, and as light and elegant as possible. CHEST. Supposing the neck and shoulders to be all in symmetry, as before directed and d3scrib''d, our next step, in the formation of perfect svmm'^ti-y, is to develope a larg=i, round, erect, and perfect chest (see PI ite A, figure 1.) A perfect and noble chest is the grand basis of all good health. The lungs, to ensure good health in them, and everywhere, must be large, and perfectly expand -d in every part. Every air-cell nnnt be fully stretched open, if possible, at every breath, and, at any rate, daily. The lungs cannot be perfectly expand^d,^ when the chest is in any way contracted around them. In a perfect chest, the spin", from the root of the neck to the bottom of the waist, is pbcd stooping backwards ; rising from the bottom of the waist to the root of the neck, it inclines a little backwards of a perpendicular line, and do»s not, in a perfect chest, crook at all forward?. The chest, I have told you, is a basket of bones, open at the bottom (see Plate B.) It is of the utmost importance, in forming a fine chest, that the 202 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. bolti.m of iho thc>t shoiiKl be a«op(Ti and widea^ possible, and that lb,> brc';i>.t-bt,n >, ;.t the bjtloni, sho-.ld be Uf.ed outwards as much a i-ossible, iiud not dopiesscd inwa.ds or crowd d towards ihe back- bone at a:i. To toim a tine and perfect chest, af^er the shouldere are fully in their ] 1 cs, all that u required is to bi-i athe propeily, and- r.u ry the person well. Much has been said and written upon diet, ••ating and drinking ; but 1 do not recullcct ever noticing a remark in any write)' upon breytliing, or the manner of breathing. Multi- tude-!, and especially l.idies in ea-sy circumstances, contract a vicious and destructi\e mode of brea'.hing. Tiny snppress their brealiing, and cont)act the habit of short, quick breathing, not carrying the breath hi.lf-way down the chest, and scarcely' expanding the lower portions of the chest at all. Laci ng tlie bottom of the chest also greatly incvcases this e\il, and confirms a bad habit of breathing. Children that move about a great deal in the open air, and are in no way laocd, bieathe deep and full to the bottom of the chest, and every part of it ; so also wiih most out-door laborers, and persons who take a great deal of exercise in the open air, because, as I said before, the lungs give us the power of action ; and the more exercise we take, especially out of doors, or hard labor in the open air, the larger the lungs become, and the less liable to disease. But those in easy cir- cumstances, or who pursue sedentaiy employments within doors, grne- rally use their lungs but very little, — breathe very little air into the chest, and thus, independently of bad positions, contract a wrotchrdly narrow, small chest, and lay the foundation for the loss of all bealih and brauty. All this can be perfectly obviated by a little a'tention to the manner of breathing. Recollect, the lungs are like a bladder in their structure, and can be stretched open to double their ordinary size with perfect safety, giving a noble chest, and perfect jmmunity from consumption. The agent, and all the agent required to expand the chest, is the common air we breathe; supposing, . however, that no obstacles exist external to the chest, such as laang, or tying it around, with stays or tight dresses, or having the shoulders lay upon it, as I have before described. On rising from bed in the morning, place yourself in an erect posture, your chest thrown back, and shoul- ilers-entirelyoff thexhest ; now inhale or stick in.all the air you, can, LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 203 so as to fill the chest to the very bottom of it, so that no more air can be got in ; now hold your breath, and throw your arms and shoulders behind you, as if you would throw them off behind, hold- ing in your breath as long as you can ; again fill your chest, and walk about, holding in your breath as long as possible. Repeat these long breaths as many times as you please ; done in a cold room is much better, because the air is heavier and denser, and will act much more powerfully in expanding the chest. Always, when stretching open liie chest with air, throw the head back, so as to lift up the breast- bone, and bend the whole bust backwards from the waist. You may, in this manner, expand the chest a thousand times a day, if you please. On going out-dooi-s into cold air, inhale or suck in all the air you can, and hold it in as long as possible ; stand or sit perfectly erect, whilst walking or riding in the street, along the roads, in the fields, or gardens. Practi^se this mode of expanding the chest. Do not stoop forward at all, but suck in all the air you can, throwing the head and neck backwards, and hold in the air as long as possible. By this exercise, you will often at once check a cough, or disposition to cough. The chest may aho be fully expanded whilst lying in bed. By exercising the chest in this manner, it will soon become very flexi- ble and expansible, and will enlarge its capacity and the size of the lungs, so as, in a few weeks or months, to hold double its usual quan- tity of air, whilst, externally, it will measure from one to six inches larger in its circumference. Should you not have full strength to en- large the chest in this way, then use an inhaling tube, such as I have delinf ated in Plate G. The inhaling tube will greatly assist you in expanding the chest, if yuu are weak or not. The chest should be treated in this way during your whole lives. Should you become inval'd-i, from any cause, keep your chests expanded by long breaths and tho inhaling tul)e, and continue to breathe a Mttle cold fresh air daily, by La^Tiig it drawn from out of doors, -by leather or tin pipes, or in any Qther maimer you ple^e. BAD CONSEQUENCES FROM USING THE INHALING TUBE, AND EXPANDING THE CHEST. Some timid patients and advisers may suggest the idea of inju/7 204 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. from this exercise, but you need give yourself no uneasiness whatever on the subject. You cannot injure youi-selves. Only commence grad- ually until the lungs, air-pipe-s, and air-cells are well open and ex- panded, and, ever after, you need fear no bad coresequences from expanding your chests with all the air and strength in your power. The effect of these means will be to make the chest flat beliind, and in font, as full and round, and lifted up, as the breast of the swan. All the ravishing attractions of the chest, and an exquisitely lovely bust, will soon be fully yours ; the collar-bones will Foon entirely dis- appear, tlie chest will become round, and wide at the top ; the iVont of the che=it will rise up and be developed in its gi-eatest fulness. No art or padding will be required to perfect the figure, but free, match- less, and unrivalled beauty will adorn your chest, and at once give a noble grace and dignity to your pei'sons, and the exceeding gratifi- cation of a perfectly healthy chest and lungs. Your gratification will hardly be alloyed by one cough, or a twinge of pain, or unjdeasant feeling in the chest, for a long life. POSITION OF THE CHEST. "Whilst fonning a fine chest, and after it is formed, great care is reqni-'ite to establish perfectly correct positions, so that the chest shall not be contracted, and all your efforts counteracted by bad positions. If your positions are habitually bad, in spite of all you can otherwise do, the chest vn"ll be more or less contracted, (see Plate K.) The rule with you should be, and the rule of health is, to keep the bot- tom of the chest, the ends of the short ribs, and the lower end of the breastf^bone, as far out from the back-bone as pos-^ible. To effect this, the chest mu't be kept perfectly straight, and thrown a little back- wards from the waist, at all times. (See Plate A, figure 1.) HABITUAL STOOPING SHOULD BE AVOIDED. The small of the back is made flexible, but the hip joints are the points from which to stoop either backward or forward. These joints are ball-and-socket joints, like a swivel in some degree. The trunk of the body may bend forward as much as you please, for all useful purposes, and the chest, and whole spine, and neck, be kept perfectly LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. SOS PLATE K. straight. Herc^, no lady should ever make a table of her lap, either for sewing, read iig or writing, or any occupation whatever, (as you see in Plate K.) Let all these, and all work )'ou do, be arranged on a table before you, and that table be raised to the arm-pits, or as high as possible, so as to ' ecp the ch ^st straight. A little practice will make this infinitely more agreeable than to stoop, whilst little or no f .tigue will be experienced at your occupations, compare! to what is experioncrd whilst stooping, or fi'om habitually stooping. The weight of the should r-s will thus be kept off the chest, which is one of the grand causes of fatigue from manu'il labor. You will thus entirely prevent the mark of servitude being impressed upon your persons, in a pair of round stooping shouldere, and flat contracted chest SITTING POSITION. Nearly all the American ]ieople sit badly. Whilst sitting, and the pers n n repose, the chest should be k pt up, the shou'ders thrown back, and the per?on stra"ght. This position, by habit, will be found to give the greater relief from fatigue, and be far mrre agrerable than to stoop whilo setting. Mo«t pereons in this country, on placing themselves in a chair, bring the shouldere forward on tho (.best, and 806 LECTURE TO LADffiS ONLY. bend the whole spine, from the hei^d to its lower end, forward, ap- proaching, more or less, the figure of a hoop. (See Plate K.) Tiie etfect of this is to produce a truly vulgar figure, round shoulders, crooked per.-on ; even the bones of the lower end of the trunk of the body, by thii wretched po-ition, if long practised, lose their symme- try, and are bent forward, and contract the basket of the hips, or, as anatomists term it, the pelvis. I have no doubt that a vast many ladies have lo^t their lives by thus contracting the basket of the hips, and bending inwards the lower end of the spine, so that no space or httle is left for the greatest office the female can ever accomplish. No person will sit badly, unless from exti-eme indolence, or ignorance of its most injurious effects. Let me say to you, ladies, who have daughters or young girls under your care — ^follow them to school, and at any cost or sacrifice, insist upon it that the seats for your little giils shall be e^y, and that ihey shall sit at a table to study, write, i-s, w'd 11 them, and make the top of the chest wide, and the symmetry of the waist will be j erfect witho'.it contracting its dimen- sions b)' h'.L-inj;. It is inu -d r in a parent to lace tightly the waist of a f mile child. Allow m?>, ladifs, to exhort you to study symmetry of pei^son, as a gre it Fcience, and achi''ve it in each one of you, at any saciifice of temporary ease, iiidulgnnce, or long-fo med habit. Without perfe.'t symmetry, you cannot have perfect beauty and elegance, and rarely heal.h and long life. 10 210 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. TO PROCURE A CLEAR AND BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION. Suppo ing the symmetry of the head, neck, shoulders, spine, chest, wai-^t, and all your peraon, to be perfect and unexceptionable, it is ne- cessary to perfect beaufy, and a consctiuence of perfect healtli, that you have a clear, beautiful complexion, — that the lily and the rose God has painted upon you should be developed in their full perfection, and preserved untarnished and undimini-ihed. To enable you to un- deretimd the art of doing this, I must give you some account of our foi)d, and those procFSses of Nature by which parts of it become nourishing to us, and other 'parts of it useless, and are rejected from the system. THE TEETH. The iirst of that series of processes by which the food is made to nouiish and replenish the waste of the human machine, after the cook, or Nature, has prepared our food, is to ina-sticate it, — to chew it well. This cannot be djne without good teeth, which le;iJs me to speak of the teeth in connection with health and beauty. Beauty of the face depends on regular symmetrical features, and throe brilliants, — bril- liant eyes, brilli.ant comploxion, bi'illiant teeth. Each of these brilliants are reflections of the health, the taste, and the neatness of th^ir pos- sessoi-s. No 1 idy can be beautiful, or long healthy, with bad teeth. The food, in ordar to a healthy digestion, should be rather slowly eaten, and well chewed ; but if the teetli are decidedly d'^f'ctive, or d 'cayed, or both, mastication becomes imperfect and painful, and dys- pepsia follows, — more or less, a natural consequence. As a point of beauty, the mouth is a very striking feature. The teeth, in perfection, and beautiful and appropriate in thuir foi'm'«, and all in place, present two perfect rows, one on each jaw, of a brilliant and e.vijuisite pearly hl^itre. They become, when the countenance is animated in conver- sation, or enlivened by smiles, a constant source of d^^light to the be- holder. But should the teeth be discolo-ed, iirej;ulir, defi^ctive, or wanting, they bpconi? at once a source of averaion and great di>-gust to the ob ;erver. Wi li beautiful and perfect teeth, the smile of a 1 dy is irresistible ; should it bo otherwise, her laugh is a grotesque caricature, exciting pity and averaion.. You cannot possess attraction LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 211 with tarni hed and bad teeth. Such teeth djstroy the pudty of the breath, and shorten life. I am proud to say, no country can boast better or more intelligent dentists tlian our own. In all of our larger towns, and most smaller towns, good dentists are to be found. The care of your teeth, and those of your ch,khvn should engage your constant attention, aided by the advice and assistance of the best dentists. If the teeth are defective, they should be repaii-ed ; if not capable of repair, their pla- ces should be supplied by artificial ones. Irregularity should be sea- sonably corrected. A good dentifice should be usrd; at any rate, each day, a brush and pure cold water should be freely apphed to them. Acids tarnish their lustre, and should be carefully avoided. With beautiful, regular, perfect, and clean teeth, the countenance of no lady can be repulsive. In repose, should her features not be strikingly prepossessing, let her smile, and at once she receives atten- tion and admiration. DIGESTION. The food that is more or less solid we chew, and then swallow it. It passes through a kind of fleshy hose, or flexible pipe, which goes down the neck behind the wind-pipe, and is called the gullet. (Se Plate E, fig. 2.) It passes behind the wind-pipe, and behind the heart, through the chest, into the abdomen, and terminates in a bag, which holds from one pint to two quarts. (See Plates N and O.) This bag is the stomach. The food and drink remain in a healthy sto- mach from three minutes to four hours. During this period, by the action of the stomach and its juices, the food is softened to a consis- tency like cream, when it parses out of the stomach into the bowels. After it has entered the bowels a few inches, it is joined by the bile, which is a bitter soap, that unites with the food, assisting to complete its digestion, and facilitating its passage through the bowels. The fluid and digested food now pass rapidly along the small bowels. (See Plate C.) These small bowels are about 25 feet long, — that is, almost twelve times as long a? tlie uuial length of the trunk of the body. Whilst Ijhe food is in these bowels, it is rapidly drained of all those parts of it that axe fit for nourishment, or can enter th^ blood, 212 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. PLATE N. the coarse portions remain, and are hurried along to the termination of the small bovveh. Those bowels end at the right groin, in the large bjwel. Tliis large bowel (ee Plate C) commences in the right groin, and ad\ances upward to the right wgist, under the lower edge of the liver ; it then turns from the right to the left, under or against the lower edge of the stomach, across the person, from the right to the left waist, when it turns downward^, aljng the left groin. At the bottom of the groin it passes to the right, as far as the back-bone, to which it is tied. It now becomes straight, and keeping along the back- bone, it passes directly downwards out of the body, forming the b ick pa sage through the basket of the hips. The hrge bowel is almost tive foet long, so that the food, from its fii'st entrance into the mouth, to its final exit from the body, passes nearly 32 feet along a contin- uous canal, or pipe. The large bowel, as a common rule, and the stomach, in its general elF ct, in ful^ilmr-ut of their functions, exert a most important influence upon the complexion, and upon the general health. Tliis makes it necessary for me to say a few word;) ujion each of these ; and, first, upon THE STOMACH— (see Plate N.) It is the imjjortant office of the stomach to digest the food, and pre- pare it to entrr the blood, and g've nourishra'^nt to the body, and furnish materiils to repair the daily wa.ste of the system. "With the healthy action of the stomach, the health of every person is intimately LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 213 conn"ck'J. Wi ho-it god digestion, it is iraposiible to havp h alth in [)Oif ction. Th h ' .Ith is u;ty should not d 'pend on the art of ! he cook or cunfoctioner, but on the divei-sified vaiiety we selrct foni the markets. Meats long salt'^d should not be greatly indulg. d in. Acids, spices, f)ickles, &e., should be sparingly used. Watch your own experience, and what you find best agrees, use it, but let the variety f om which you may choose bo as lawe a* possible. Nf ver run after vagaries in diet. Never weigh your food, or think to bu Id up a constitution on one kind of food or diet. What you nwy find by experii nee disagi-ces with you, leave off. Do not dig your graves with your teeth. Yet do not be finical in your diet, eating moderately at times of any food, should it even be a little proscribed. / THE LIVER.— Plate Q. / Many persons impute most diseases to the liver. A genuine liver disease is rare. When it does take place, it rec^uires the aid of the LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 217 physician. Observe the rules of health laid down in this lecture, and you will rarely have any hver complaint or any derangement of any of its important functions. Gi^LL-STONES IN THE GALL BLADDER. This disease is often seen, and is producti\fe of great mischief. It often produces sudden attacks of dreadful pain at the pit of the sto- mach, inclining to the right side, and great tenderness is felt there on pressure ; at other times, a cruel pain is felt in the back, opposite the pit of the stomach, extending up and down the back in greater or less intensity and duration. In some cases it occasioDS distressing sick head-aches, and these periodically for a long life ; in other cases, and accompanying any or all of these, the sufierer vomits very freely a sour, bilious water, often clear bile. Appetite impaired, and very dyspeptic, rejecting many kinds of .food ; bowels costive, clay-colored stoolSy face more or less yellow, and at times the colpr of an orange, &c. ; kidneys do not act well, searcit}^ and scalduig of water. Dropsy may result from this, and life is often only a long struggle against dis- ease. I have known the gall-ducts finally to become entirely obliter- ated, and producing death. In some cases the gall-Uadder is enor- mously distended, and, if not relieved, will biu'st, as I have seen, — of course, suddenly fatal. The cure for this in its early stages, and in near- ly all cases, is to drink at the moment of getting into bed one table- spoonful to one gill of pure sweet oil (table oil.) It may be neces- sary to continue this for some weeks, until a gallon of oil is used.; but in many cases a much less quantity wiU effect a cure. It is a per- fectly safe remedy, and if the oil is pure, is not apt to disagree. If the oil does not move the bowels, next day, you may take a little senna tea, or if feverish and robust, senna and saltSj or castor oil. By this treatme'ut I bave known a pint of gall-stones brought away in a few days, and good health return. The oil must be piu-e. Much table oil sold as pure olive oil is adulterated with lard pil, and then is almost useless for dissolving gall-stones, and very niuch disagi'ees with the invailid. These same symptoms may occur withojit any gall-stones being in the gall-bladder, and then the oil will do little or no good, yet scarcely produce any bad effects. 10* 218 LECiuKE XO LADiii» Oxniji. BAD BREATH. The breath of some dyspeptics is exti-emely offensive, owing to un- digested food remaining a long time in the stomach and bowels. HOW LONG THE FOOD CONTINUES IN THE BODY. The human machine consumes, or, in other words, we eat and drink from five to twelve pounds every day — ^in extreme cases much less, or vastly more, but this is about its medium range. Now, all this leaves the body after it has accornplished its destined object. How do I know it all leaves the body ? I know from the veiy common fact, that many persons weigh more at twenty than they do at seventy — in fifty years not having gained one ounce. Some persons flesh up a little, but it does not alter the general rule, for should even a very small portion of our daily food be retained, or stick to our bodies, we should become monsters in size during a long life. Now, all this food and diink, with all its grossfless, leaves the machine, or pereon, through four avenues only, namely, the skin, the lungs, the kidneys, and the bowels ; and on the mutual harmony, in action and functions, of those four great avenues for evacuation and unloading the machine, its health and long continuance must inevitably depend. The gross portions of the food, or that which is unfit for nourish- ment, or is undigested, passes through the small bowels and is lodged in the large bowel. In a healthy condition of the large bowel, and when it acts natm-ally, it evacuates itself every twenty-four hours. If the contents of that bowel are retained longer than twenty-four hours, it becomes injurious to the machine, or system, and the injury is in proportion to the time it is retained .over its natural term. COSTIVENESS. "When this bowel is sluggish in its functions, the fluids that should pass by the bowels are thrown upon the skin, the kidneys, and the lungs, loading each of these organs, and deranging their ofiices. One of the very earliest effects is to render the skin of the face gross, iMck, sallow, and unhealthy. Its brilliancy is lost. The blood rushes more or less to the head, the eye becomes diin, and soon loses its clearness and brilliancy. The skin everywhere ceases to be transpa- LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 219 rent ; an unpleasant odour is exhaled from the body ; the breath becomes offensive ; the liver enlarges, and is loaded with blood and bUe ; the right side of the heart is often enlarged by it ; dyspepsia results, and bleeding at the lungs. I rarely ever knew a case of bleeding at the lungs that was not accompanied by costiveness. Piles, bearing down pains, monthly irregularity, disease of the womb, en- largement of the ovaries, falhng of the womb, dropsy, apoplexy, palsy, spine diseases, gravel, and disease of the kidneys, head-ache, and sick head-ache, flatulence, and coUc, are often produced by costiveness, and always aggravated by it. In the winter of 1842, I was requested to visit an old gentleman who was dying of an obscure disease, and to determine, if possible, what was the matter. A wealthy farmer took me to call on this pa- tient. We stopped at his house to change hoi-ses, and he requested me to see his sister-in-law, who was sick. I found she had a bad enlargement of the right side of the heart. On asking the state of her bowels, I found they moved but once a week. On going into the farmer's house, I found his wife sitting in an arm-chau, unable to walk. She had lost entirely the use of her lower extremities, from the small of her back down, caused entirely by costiveness. Here were two sisters ; one with a heart disease, the other palsy, caused by costiveness only. The large bowel, when its instincts are followed, never fails to solicit an evacuation daily. When neglected, the next day the call will be less urgent, and in a few weeks habitual costive- ness will be established. The calls of Nature become less and less in some cases, until the bowel will not act at all. In the eai-ly part of March, 1844, I was consulted by a member of the Massachusetts legislatm-e, on behalf of his sister, who had passed nine entire months without an evacuation from the bowels, the bowels having ceased to act altogether. I was consulted in Boston, last July, by a gentleman, proprietor of a large hotel, for his niece, a young lady, who had not had an evacuation from the bowels for four and a half months. Bloat- ing is a frequent companion of costiveness. CURE OF COSTIVENESS. The perfect preventive, and the almost infalhble remedy for cos- 230 MIGTURE ITG LAlDIES iONLY. tiTCHess, is habit. Never allow aiay to jmss w*tih almost to pieces, and that she had never recovered from the fatigue of the journey. Had her bowels been well supported, all tlipsf^ drpad- ful pff cts of her journey would have been entirely prevont-'d. She had never been ifr a fiwily-ws^. I tliiak nem-ly cue third of all-eon- 246 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. sumptions in females are induced by falling of the bowels, and thus leading to a dislocation and dragging down of the lungs. WEAKNESS AND LOSS OF VOICE FROM FALLING OF THE BOWELS, OR WEAKNESS OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS. Weakness of voice, and, at times, total loss of voice, arise from re- laxation of the abdominal belts and consequently falling of the bow- els. In this case, the lungs do not fill, the wind-pipe is dragged down, and weak voice and sore throat are the consequence. ITie pereon cannot sing or talk long, or read aloud, or speak in public, without excessive fatigue, and very soon cmnot speak at all, unless relieved. A great many females and female teachers, who stand long and talk much, from weakness across the abdomen, lose their voices, become hoai'se, take a sore throat, and if not relieved, are soon foiced to leave their occupation. In March, 184u, 1 was consulted in Providcnco, Rhode Island, hy a very accompH hed lady, who was a teacher in a large ,'chool, but for four m jnths past had been forced to leave her school, because of sore throat and great weakness of voice. She called on me, and asked me if I could rrlievo her in four days, because, if I could, she could return to her school at that time. I had the extreme j)leasare, by God's bles'iing, to restore this lady to her school in four days, and to good health in a short time. (See letter of Mre. Kingsley.) PALPITATION OF THE HEART. Several ciuses may produce palpitation of the heart. One of these is falling of the bowels, &c. On taking much exertion, or walking, or sitting long in church, or bping in a crowd, if weak across the bow- els, palpitation of the heart will come on in ladies of all ages. In July, 1844, I was consulted at Weathei'sfield, Connecticut, by two ladies, for palpitation of the heart, from which both suflFerod greatly. One was a married lady, mother of eleven children ; she was short and very fleshy. The other was a young single lady, about seventeen years old. tail and very thin. Both had palpitation from the same cause, and both were cured by abdominal support. LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 247 FAINTIXG FITS. Many ladies, more especially young ones, are liable, on taking much exertion, to be suddenly overcome and to fiiint ; also, to faint in church, or iti a crowd. This, in nearly all cases, is produced by abdominal weakness. The heai't is not well supported, and readily stops its ac- tion for a short time. This explains why a hidy faints on standing, walking, or sitting up, that never faints whilst laying down. SINKING, ALL GONE AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH, FROM FALLING OF THE BOWELS. Many ladies, and especially those who stand much, experience a most distressed and sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach — a feel- ing of bsing all gone there, a place that seems quite empty, and that nothing will fill. Eating a full meal will, for a short time, usually stop this feeling, but it soon returns, and the lady feels as if she had eaten nothing, and a faint, exhausted feeling takes away all her spirits or ambition to do any thing. She experiences a sense of great weak- ness at the pit of the stomach, and a disposition to stoop. Stooping, at firet, seems to relieve her a little, and she stoops more and more, until nearly bent double. I saw a tall lady, a few months ago, who began stooping, as I have said, and continued the habit until she was b'^nt nearly double, bending from her hips so as to carry her head and chest and abdomen as low as her hips, producing a most distressing deformity. In other cases the lady feels as if cut in two at the pit of the stomach. At other times this weakness or sinking feehng is ex- perienced in the side, either right or left, or both. If this weakness oc- cui-s on one side only, the lady will stoop more or less to that side. This gTeat weakness and sinking at the pit of the stomach and sides, is usually much aggravated on walking or lifting, or on taking any ac- tive exercise. The lady is soon obliged to lay down, to recover her breath and strength. At other times the weakness is felt in front, op- posite the hips, b?low the middle of the stomach, and at times it is felt in the chest, under the collar-bones or about the throat. All this is often relieved or perfectly cured by abdominal support. I have witnessed and cured a vast many cases of this kind. This weakness at the pit of the stomach often leads to dyspepsia or 248 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. indigestion of the food. The food often, after eating, lays very hea^■y ; feels a load ; at other times tlie stomach bloats, and the lady feels as if she could not breathe. At other times the food sours in the stomach sooner or later after eating, and many kinds of food cannot be eaten. In othei-s, in a longer or shorter time after eating, distressing pain is felt in the stomach. CHRONIC DIARRH(EA. In some cases, falling of the bowels from a relaxation of the abdomi- nal belts, will produce a constant diarrhoea or looseness of the bow- els, more or less urgent, which in many cases induces great debility. The stomach participates, more or less, in the weakness, and the food badly digested passes into the bowels and ferments there, causing flatulency and looseness. A vast many of these cases are helped or cured by abdominal support. OOSTIVENESS. In some cases, falling of the bowels causes them to be extremely sluggish, and acting very slowly indeed, so as to seem almost as if dead ; often haying no pa-ssage for days together, and frequently a rumbling and moving of wind in the bowels, a bloating of them, &c., &c. Costiveness is usually veiy much helped, and often entirely cured, by abdominal support. LIVER COMPLAINT, CAUSED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS— (see Plate Q.) The liver is very heavy and solid, and strongly inclines to drag down, and fall low in the abdomen, if the abdominal belts are not strong and firm. I have known one case of a person who had very weak bowels. By riding on horseback, without having proper ab- dominal support, the liver broke partly in two, and the person died in a few hours. This remarkable case I shall relate in ray lecture to gentlemen. Jarring, and drag^ng down of the liver, will always, more or less, disturb it, and often causes it to secrete a great deal of bile ; at other times, very little ; at other times, the natural position of tjie liver is changed; and the bile daeS not get out of the gaH-bMder LECTURE TO LADIES ONLV. 249 and liver as readily as it should do, and gall-stones are formed in the gall-bladder, thus producing jaundice, and ahnost every form of liver complaint. All these causes should receive our earliest attention ; and if any weakness of the abdominal belts is suspected, abdominal support should at once be employed. PAIN IN- THE SIDE AND BREAST, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. A vast many cases of pain in the side are caused by weakness and relaxation of the abdominal belts. Pain in the brea.st is also pro- duced by the same cause. I have witnessed such a vast number of cases of this kind, that I think two-thirds of the instances of pain in the side and breast in ladies arise from a falling of the bowels. When pain in the breast, or either, or both sides, is occasioned by weakness of the abdominal belts, and consequent falling of the bowels, it is rare- ly much helped by blistering, or aetons, or issues, or sores, but is con- stantly apt to retui-n in a short time after being stopped ' j any of these remedies. In those cases, the only permanent cure is derived from abdominal support. I have cured cases of pain in the side, of many years standing, after repeated bleeding, blistering, setons, emetic tartar sores, ifec, had entirely failed to remove the pain. In fine, where the abdominal muscles, or belts, are much relaxed, or dragged down, all their upper ends, or attachments, are more or less liable to pain, and at times all over them. WEAKNESS, PAIN AND HEAT IN THE BACK AND SPINE, PROr»UCED I?Y WEAKNESS OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS, AND DRAGGING DOWN OF THE BOWELS. By looking at Plates B and A, you will notice, that for a consider- able distance the small of the back has no ribs going from the spine, by which it is sti-engthened, but that it consists of one column of moveable bones, and the ends of a considerable portion of the ab- dominal belts are tied to it ; so that in this way the spine of the small of the back is obliged to bear up all the contents of the abdomen. In a straight pereon, who does not stoop much, this weight is but little ; but^ a person who stoops much, Mid wiose aMoaaiaal belts 919 -ne- 250 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. laxed, it is greatly felt, producing great pain in the small of the back, that may extend up the spine, to the neck, causing heat in the spine, and soreness, and every symptom of a true spinal disease, in its earher and m.ld^r form*. Abdominal support in all these cases is required. I would hej-e remark, , that the abdominal supporter should perfectly reliuve the spine, and not bear on it, or cover it, or heat it at all ; but the pads should go up on the ribs, and down on the hip boftes, so as to completely relieve the spine of any pressure or swaddling whatever. Some of the worst spine diseases I ever saw, were produced by pads of trusses, and supportei-s, resting in the small of the back, and jjress- iug on the spine. GRAVEL PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS, &c. By looking at Plate S, you will see the position of the kidneys ; each aide of the spine, just above the point of the hips, and behind all the other contents of the abdomen. You will notice, also, two pipes that go, one from each kidney, forwards and downwaids, behind the floating bowels, and down into the basket of the hips, to the back of each side of the bladder. These pipes, five to eight inches long, cany the water from the chamber of each kidney to the bladder. Now, then, when the floating bowels roll downwards, they often fall upon these pipes, and close them, more or less, so that the water is prevented from passing into the chambei-s of the bladder. This throws it back into the kidneys, and soon fills up the kidneys. The water usually has salts, and earths, and acids, &c., which it holds very hghily in solution. These salts, when the water stands for any length of time, soon separate f.om it, and fall down. This you can dai.y see in the chatnber-ves^eh. These earths, in a short time, vrill glue together, and form masses, more or less large, from the size of grains of fine sand, to lumps that weigh several ounces. At times, all the walls of the chambers of the kidneys, and the pipes that cany the water fi-om them to the bladder, are encrustfd over with this sand. When this earthy matter is in the form of fine sand, it is called gravel. If it cements into masses larger than small peas, it is called stone. TTie pipes that carry the water, from the kidneys to LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. PLATE S. 251 Kidneys, Ureters, Large Bowel, and Womb. 1, 1. the Midriff, or floor of the Lungs. 2, 2, the KiUpeys, 3. 3, the Urelere, or pipes that' carry the water from the Kiclueys to the BUdden 4t tlie upper end of the slraig:hl Large Bowel, or baclcfia&sage through the Basket of the Hips. 5, the Womb. 6, 6, the Ova ries (see page 242). 7, the Bladder. the bladder, are called the ureters ; they have no popular name, that I have ever heard of. When the ureters are obstructed, and the water thrown back into the kidneys, its earjiest effect is to cause great heat in the small of the back, and, at times, great soreness each side of the spine, just ahove the hip. Sometimes almost feeling as if in the hip, and even lameness in the hip will at times take place. If only one pipe is obstructed, one kidney only will be affected. Gravel is one of the most painful diseases to which we are liable. Some- times pieces of stone will pass from the kidneys along the water-pipes to the bladder, and, if large, usually causing the most distressing and insufferable pain of which we are susceptible. The sufferer then ia 652 CECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. said to have fits of gravel. More usually, the gravel passes iti the form of white and red sand, which in a short time falls down to the bottom of the chamber-di-h, or rests on its sides. Along with the sand, more or less, is often seen quantities of thick, soft, soapy-look- ing matter, or mucus, that also settles to the bottom of the dish. At times the water is very thick, and scanty ; at other times, for longer or shorter periods, the urine is nearly white, and very much of it, and its quantity causes great weakness in some ladies ; occasionally great heat and scalding are felt in passing water, and a frequent in- clination to do so, and sometimes, but rarely, the water cannot be retained but a short time, or passes off involuntarily. Sometimes the water is brown or dark colored, and has a bad smell, and stains the linen. Gravel occurs in all ages and conditions, from infancy to extreme age. Frequently sudden stoppages of the water occur, and tone passes for hours, and even days, causing horrible pain and great danger. Gravel, in some ladies, produces, if much aggravated, the most distressing weakness and fever in the small of the back, so as wholly to prevent walking, and to confine the lady to her bed for months, and even years. In July, 1845, I was consulted at Fall River, in Massachusetts, by Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner, (see her letter, Case III.) : she had been cohfined to her bed four months, unable to walk or stand, nor could she rise from bed without assistance; in fact, having to be lifted entirely ojjt on a sheet. She had fall- ing of the womb and bowels, and, with it^i veiy bad gravel. She had consulted several eminent physicians, without obtaining relief. I gave her her remedies, and saw he» twice. In three months, she was perfectly cured. Gravel is easily cured ; in some per- sons, it requires a pereeverance in the use of suitable remedies for several months. It is a dangerous disease for consumptive persons, as I have mentioned in another place. 1 do not recol- lect eVer to have met a case of ^avel, however ag^avated, that I did not cure, when my remedies were faithfully used, and per- severed in for a sufficient length of time. Havbg now referred to most of those diseases in the trmik of LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. S53 the body, that at times arise from fiilling of the bowels, induced by relaxation of the abdominal belts, I will proceed to notice some diseases of the organs or parts in the ba'sket of the hips. The firet of these I viiW notice is, PILES. The disease call d piles has its seat at or near the lower ex- tremity of the back passage. Rarely docs it extend up the pas- sage more than one or two inches. I am disposed to think that piles, in nearly all cases, arise from falling of the bowels. By referring to the plate S, you will see that the large bowel, just as it enters the basket of the hips, is tied to the back-bone, and all its couree through th§ b^ket of the hips is straight and smooth, and tied nearly its whole length to. the sohd bone : it is called the straight bowel, and forms the back passage through the basket of the hips. The bowels, when they fall down, in a great many cases, fall directly upon the large bowel, where it is tied to the back-bone, and by pressing upon it prevent the blood from re- turning up the large bowel. You will underatand in a moment how this can, and does take place, by tying a piece of thread tightly around the finger ; in a short time you will notice that the end of the finger swells, and is soon almost ready to burst. Shoiild you allow the string to remain long on the finger, blood would be seen oozing out from under the nail, and inflammation and a dread- ful sore would be the consequence. Exactly in this way piles are produced. Should a peraon have any humor in the blood, such as scrofula or salt rheum, it might settle on the part affected by the piles, and in such a case would greatly aggrav^ate the piles, and make them vastly woi-se than they otherwise would have been. Ladies in a family-way are bften cruelly aflSicted with piles, because the womb falls on the upper part of the back pas- sage, fitid prevents the return of the Mood, as I have before ex- plained. Piles are a very disagreeable disease, and often are so bad as to greatly injure health, and in this way predispose to con- sumption. At times, great quantites of blood will be poured out, so that the sufferer is threatened With death from this calise. Most dis- 254 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. agreeable itching is often produced. I have never yet seen a case of piles I could not cure. It may be cured temporarily, for months, or even years, by an ointment or by internal medicines ; but a perma- nent cure is perfectly insured, by perfect abdominal support. Piles should always be cured, and not allowed to break down tlie general health, and thus lead to other diseases. Very rarely is any operation required. Both inteiTial or blind piles, and external, arise from the same causes. FALLING OF THE LARGE BOWEL Falling of the large bowel,- or back passage, at times takes place, and is most unpleasant and frequently very dangerous. I have known one most distressing death from this cause, in a single lady of thirty- iive yeais old. The bowel will, at tiines, fall very much out of the body. A perfect cure is obtained by proper support. In severe ca?es, ointments are also required for a short time, to give strength to the bowel, so that it will stay up in its place, and also baths. PAINS IN THE LIMBS, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. The bowels falling down, will often press upon the great nerves that go out of the basket of the hips, and so down the lower limbs, &c. (See Plate V.) I wa? consulted^i two yeara ago, by a middle- aged lady in Connecticut, for most distressing pains in her limbs, oc- curring on walking or standing long, or sitting for any length of time. Occasionally these pains were all but insuppoi-table, obliging her to lay down, and have the limbs rubbed for hours together, before the circulation would return, and the pain leave the limbs. She was cured in less than one week by abdominal support. SWELLING OF THE LIMBS, AND, MORE OR LESS, DROPSY IN THE FEET, BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. By referring to Plate V, you will see the large veins that corae up from the lower extremities, and pa'ss through the walls of the abdo- men. Now, when the abdominal belts are relaxed, and the floating LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 255 bowels fall down, they occasionally fall upon the large veins that come up from the lower limbs. The effect of this obstruction, even when slight, in some peTsons, is to cause greater or less swelling of the feet and legs. This is partly the reason why the feet of a great many ladies swell, on standing or walking for any length of time. I was consulted in August, 1844, by a lady in Weathersfield, Connecticut, on account of great swelling of her feet and ancles, that occurred on standing or walking for any length of time. She was perfectly, and entirely, and permanently cured in a short time, by wearing an abdo- minal supporter. SWELLINGS OF THE VEINS, OR WHAT ARE CALLED VARICOSE VEINS. The same causes that produce swelhngs in the ancles and feet, &c., will, in some ladies, though more rarely, produce swellings, greater or less, of the veins of the legs and feet. The veins, in some pereons, in place of being the size of a knitting-needle, or a little larger, attain the size of a large goose-quill, and become hard, and run together in knots, feeling to the fingers like bunches of worms. These swellings are disagreeable, and at times dangerous. Instances have been known of these vessels bureting, and the persons bleeding to death. Abdo- minal support is useful in the early stages. BAD SORES ON THE LEGS, cfec. At times, very large, obstinate, running sores will occur on one or both ancles, or feet, or legs. These sores arise from the same cause, in a great many cases, — which is a stoppage of the blood ascending through the abdomen. These sores can always be cured by suitable remedies, joined with abdominal support. INCONTINENCE OF THE URINE, Or InahiUty to retain the Water for any length of time, from Falling of the Bowels, dtc. By referring, for one momant, to Plate S, you will see how easily, in some cases, the bowels may fall down, so as to press upon the bladder, and, in this way, make the bladder tender and irritable, and 25 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. so reduce its size that it can hold veiy little water, thira obKgi'Ag the sufferer to pass water every few rnoments, or causing it to pass off in drops, or suddenly, in an involuntary manner, (fee, &c. This un- pleasant state of things occurs, in some cases, with ladies who are quite young. Abdominal support, with suitable medical remedies, will cure this truly mortifying trouble in a very short time. STONE IN THE BLADDER. I have before explained to you h6w falling of the bowels will, at times, produce gravel, or cause it to form in the kidneys, water-pipes and bladder. Falling of the bowels, by stopping the water and mak- ing it thick, will often take a part in causing stone in the bladder, with all its distressing sytrtptoms, characterised by, at times, too much water, then too little, or again an entire stoppage of water, or it will begin to pass well and stop suddenly, with still the most urgent desire to pass it ; also, urgent desire to pass the water very often ; heat and scalding of the water and burning ; bloody discharges, — often pure blood ; mucous discharges ; discharges of matter ; thick, dark settlings in the watier on its standing a short; time ; very dif- ficult to ride on horsebabk or in a caiTiage ; pain and heat in the bladder, &c. The Cure. Most physicians have an idea that stone in the bladder cannot be removed without being cut out, — a most terrible and dangerous ope- ration, — or else it must be broken up in the bladder by instruments, so that it can be washed out. This last operation is dangerous, and very often impossible to be done. It is alvVays very painfiil. I know, from positive experience, and observation, that stone in tlie bladder can be dissolved by suitable inedicind% and so entirely washed out. It may require twelve to twenty-four months to do this in a gentle way, without giving pain or producing any bad cdtiSequences what- ever, aiid keeping the person in a StSle of the greatest cornfort. Until the stone is finally dissolved by little and little, and it all comes away. Should we find with this a falling of the bowels, after all tenderness is removed from the bladder, we may put on an abdominal supporter; LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 257 but whiht heat and tenderness are found in or about the bladder, an abdominal supporter will do hurt instead of good. WORMS IN THE BACK PASSAGE, Ofi LARGE BOWEL, WITHIN THE BASIiET OF THE HII'S. 1 have, in another place, spoken of worms, and their bad eifects upon the health. I only now speak of a Worm that chiefly stays and breeds in the larger bowel at its lower part. These worras are not much larger than a Irnitting-needle, and havdly longer than a grain of rye oi- barley. They occur in pereons of all ages, in children and in adults, and in old pereons, producing very great derangement of the general health, and often most intolerable itching in the lower bowel. The usual remedies employed, — namely, cathartic medicines, aloes, and strong physic, and injections, — will bi'ing away great numbere of them, but will rarely cure them, so that they will soon come again in great numbers, as before. I have had the pleasure of discovering within the last thi'ee years, a remedy that will expel tliese worms en- tirely without the use of physic, injections, or causing any pain or inconvenience to the patient. They should not be allowed to remain, but be removed. All woj-ms are easily cured and expelled. FALLING OF THE WOMB, PRODUCED BY A FALLING OF THE BOWELS, &c. • I have before told you of the situation of the womb, — that it is situated at the top of the front passage, and between the bladder and back passage. The womb (uteru'*) is in shape like a pear, or like a balloon; the small end, or neck, is downwards,' hanging into the front passage. The womb is closed, save at its lower small eiid, where there is a small opening. The'large end of the womb is uppermost, when in its natural place. (See Plate R.) The ovaries are two little yellowish balls, situated on each side of the womb, at a little distance from it, arid communicate with the womb by little pipes, that go frotn the balls to the womb, and enter the womb on eaich side near its top. (See Plate S.) I shall speak of the use of the ovaries in another place. 258 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. The womb, in its natural position, is situated exactly in the centre af the basket of the hips, towards its top. It does not sway one side more than another, nor does the womb fall backwards on the back passage, or forwards upon the bladder, nor does it fall down- wards into the f ont passage, if in health, and in its natural place. No organ or pfirt of the female frame is so liable to dislocation as the womb, and this dislocation, if much, prostrates the female, and produces gi-eat injury to the powers of life. The slightest changes in the position of the womb may aftect the female health, and make her an invalid in a short time. I will now mention some of the changes that take place in the position of the womb, and the consequences aiising from thera. The womb is always disposed to keep exactly in its place, if not pressed upon by other bodies. I believe, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the womb is never moved from its place, unless the bowels from above fall down upon its largest and uppermost end. Some- times by bad falls, such as being thrown out of a carriage, and falling sideways on the hips, or flat on the back, or on the stomach, the womb may be thrown to one side, or backwards, or foi'wards ; but these cases are very rare. The almost universal cause of dislocation of the womb, is the falling of the bowels from above, upon the womb. Sometimes the womb is congested, and greatly enlarged, from miscamages, and other causes, so that its weight is much in- creased, and it falls down by its own weight. By looking at Plate S, you will see that the womb is very large, and broad at its top, and presents a large surface, on which the falling or dislocated bowels, or any part falling into the basket of the hips, may strike, or impinge. The womb hangs in the basket of the hips, by ligaments. It is moved out of is place with difficulty by anything diat comes against it from b low, but almost the shghtest touch from above, striking on its large end, will move it out of its place. By this, and by falls, the top of thf womb may be thrown backwards, upon the back passage, dou- bling on itself, or it may, in the same manner, fall forwards upon the bladder. At other times, whilst the top of the womb falls on the back passage, the neck, or lower end, will pa-ss over against the blad- der. Sometimes the womb Mis to one or other sides of the basket LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. S59 of the hips. This is often the case where the womb falls downwards much. The most common change, by far, is when the womb falls directly down into the front passage. I will now speak more partic- ularly of some of these changes in the position of the womb. TOP OF THE WOMB FALLING BACKWARDS, AND STRIKING ON THE BACK PASSAGE. This change is not very frequent ; when it does take place, the un- fortunate lady experiences the most horrible pain in the small of the back, — almost total inability to sit, stand, or walk, or even lay down. In her agony, after trying eveiy position, she usually finds most re- lief by putting herself on her knees in bed. In this position she will often remain hours, and whole nights and days, until the womb falls back to its plac«. Hysteric fits, at times, take place from the extreme agony and pain. I once knew a very accomplished English lad)', who had a falling of the womb in this way, at times, for years. She con- sulted the most eminent medical men in London, with little or no relief ; nor could they explain to her the cause of her malady. After li\ing a temble sufferer for six yeare, she visited Philadelphia, and consulted a medical gentleman there, who, on examination, discovered that it was a dislocation of the top of the womb, and its falling back- wards on the back passage. The use of suitable remedies soon re- lieved her. FALLING OF THE TOP OF THE WOMB FORWARDS. When the top of the womb falls forwai-ds, it strikes on the top and back part of the bladder, usually causing a total inability to re- tain the urine. Either it passes off involuntarily, or she is forced to pass it every few minutes. Great pain is felt in the bladder, and in the stomach, and, in fact, all over her. Relief is usually obtained tem- porarily by laying on the back. FALLING OF THE WOMB INTO THE FRONT PASSAGE. The womb falling directly down into the front passage, or downwards, or a little to ose side, is by far the most common form of falling of the S60 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. vvoinb, and is iiPaily always p'odae d by- the falling of the bowels from ab.A't; upon the top of the womb, by which aocidpiit the womb is pushed downwa-ds, into the front passage, and, at times, entirely out of the body. At times, it fall , because its weight is much increased' by dis- ease and enlargement of it, from child-bearing, or miKcarriage. SYMPTOMS OF THIS FORM OF FALLING OF THE WOMB. The following are some of the proimhent symptoms of falling of the womb : Extreme weakness in the small of the bacl< ; pain and heatir the same part ; inability to walK much, especially going up-stairs, or up a hill ; easily, very easily fatigued, on exercising much ; ap])etite ca- pricious, — sometimes good, and again noTie at all. The lady, on first rising in the morning, feels usually quite well ; on goiHg aboutj or at- tempting a little exercise, she, in a short time, begins to feel indisposed, and, shortly after, must sit down, quite exhausted, aiid out of heart, — spirits all gone, believing that she linist always be sick. She is ner- vous, easily overcome, and subject, on much hasty exercise, or unusual exertion, such as hfting a, Weight, to be seized with tremblings all over; her inmost flesh seems to tremble in all its parts; she is Kstlcss and languid, and feels disposed to spend much of her time in bed. Some- times she will experience the most excrueiating pain at the veiy end of the back-bone, weakness across the hips, and across the bowels. She feels an indescribable sense of sinking at the pit of the stomach, and all gone. She has a feeling, as if cut in two, below the pit of the stomach. She often ha-s most distressed head-aches ; at times, great _ heat in the top of the head ; at other times, she feels as if a hefivy weight was pi'essing down on the top of her head, — ringing in her ears, specks float before her eyes, distressing pains in the L'mbs, &c. Some- times does not sleep well ; sometames complains of a cold spot on her head, &c., e fur encouragement and thank- fulness. On the whole, I have not enjoyed such good health for more than a year, and your supporter [ can speak of in the highest terms; I should not bo willing to part with it on any account.. I think it ha=i done more for the improvement of my health than all the medi- cine I have taken. It appeare to su])port the whole frame. Your patients. Misses An^ell (see pa^? 151) and Tylsr, are improving in health, especially Miss A. She has not been so well for a long time. I must speak of the inhaling tube you gave me, which I consider a valuable present, and am greatly obliged to you. " I am, with respect, youre, &c., " A. W. KiNOSLEY." LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 27i CASE II. — Mrs. Emeline M. Rowland. This lad}' called on me at New-Bedford, in April, 1845. Her health had become so impaired, that for a year previous to consulting me, she had been unable to do anything in her family, and was nearly all the tiine under the cave of her physician. She called on me on Satui-day evening, — on Monday morning following she resumed her duties in her family. I saw this liidy six months afterwards, accom- panied by her husband. She called on me ; she had become fleshy, and was in perfect health. Her husband told me, that for many years some physician or other had visited their house professionally, from once a week to three times a day ; "and now," said he, "to our utter astonishment, when we think of it, no physician has been called to visit us since my wife received her remedies from you." Copy of a letter froni Mrs. Emeline M. Howland to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "New Bedford, Mass., June 23, 1845. •' Dr. Fitch : " Health is a blessing that I have not enjoyed since a child, and for the last eight yeare have suffered much, and never expected to enjoy it again ; and have expected to drag out a miserable existence, and find an early grave. Often have I desired a quiet night's rest, but in vain. You have only to turn to your notes, and view what my situation was ■when I callsd on you, a few weeks since, with but little faith, and small hope. I took your supporters, medicine, and directions, and returned home, encouraged by your advice. With great resolution and perse- verance, on my own part, and from your supporters, medicine, and ad- vice, I have received great benefit. I now enjoy good health. I feel that I have just began to live. I can rest sweetly all night. I think I never enjoyed life so well before. In truth, I must say, the benefit I have received from your medicine cannot be expressed. Accept this slight testimony of my gratitude, for the benefit I have received from your directions. I think I shall never be afraid of cold water again. Miss Anna Bunder is much better, especially as regards her throat, tha!n when you were here. Respectfully youre, "Bmemn* M. Howeakb." 272 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. CASE III. — Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner. In July, 1845, 1 was requested to \Tsit this lady. I found her in a very bad state of health, a helpless invalid. She had been confined to her bed upwards of four months, and was wholly unable to stand or walk ; she could not rise from her bed ; two or three persons were re- quired daily, to lift her in and out of bed. She experienced gi'eat pain and weakness in the small of her back, suffered excessively from gravel, falling of the womb, &c. ; on being placed in an upright po^ture, ex- perienced excessive bearing down, and disposition to faint, with utter . prostration of strength. All the medical aid she could obtain had en- tirely failed to reheve her ; she utterly despaired of ever being able to walk again, being strongly predisposed to hereditary con-iumption. Her case was extremely critical. In September, I received the follow- ing letter, and about the middle of October, twelve weeks after I first saw Mrs. Gardiner, I met her brother, who informed me that his sis- ter was now in excellent good health, and was able to walk about towni and attend to her duties as well as any lady. Copy af a letter from Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Fall River, Mass., Sept. 7th, 1845. " DooT. S. 8. Fitch : " It is with great pleasure that I avail myself of this opportunity, to iaform you respecting my health. It is greatly improved in some res- pects, since I began to take your medicine, six weeks ago last Wednes- day night. I have not been so well of co'^tiveness for nearly two years, as at present. My appetite is good, and causes very little heaviness, or distress in my stomach, to what it did. My head is better than it has been for more than two years, yet I am still weak, and have to lie down once or twice in the forenoon, and as many times in the after- noon. In three weeks from the time I began to take your medicine, I walked out of doors as far as the gate, and have been, since that, to the nearest neighbor's. My greatest weakness is now in the small, and low down iu ray back. I have tried to be as careful iis I could, but by some means, I cannot tell how, whether it is the sudden changes of the weather or wbat^ I have had a bad cold about a fortnight, and cough LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 373 so that I could not rest when I lay down. I think I should feel quite smart, if it were not for this. I feel thankful that you have been thu means, under our Heavenly Father's blessing, of restoring my health as much as it is ; and now, according to promise, I want you to send me all the instructions you can. I want you to send me word how soon you are coming, and if soon, there are some things I have not mentioned, that I wish to tell you ; and if not, I will write again. Your visit to Fall River has been blest to others as well as me, and we have the promise, that if we do all the good we can, we shall bo blessed both in a temporal and spiritual sense. This is the sincere vrish and prayer of her who addresses these lines to you. Please to return an answer, as soon as you receive this. " Mary F. Gardiner.'' CASE IV. Oopy of a letter from Miss Betsy A. Beedom to Dr. 8. S. Fitch. " New Bedford, Mass., June 10, 1845. "DK.S.S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — After a considerable period of ill health, I y/as attacked in January, 1845, and lost several quarts of blood, that reduced rae greatly ; confined to my bed five weeks ; and gradually regained a little strength, so as to go about my room and the house, but not able to do any work. April 19, 1845, 1 firet saw you ; my situation was then as follows : — Pale as ashes ; unable to do any work ; my food soured, and remained undigested in my stomach ; bad dyspepsia ; ail broke off, and sinking at the stomach, all gone there ; costive all the time ; very short breathing ; scarcely able to walk ; weak stomach ; icy-cold feet ; small of the back very weak ; pain in the small of the back and shoulders; female irregularity. I could have hardly ex- pected to have been alive at this time. The supporter, braces, and medicine, produced a rapid and happy change in my health, strength, and looks. I have now been able to work for five weeks past. I am in excellent health ; eveiy bad symptom either entirely gone, or so slight as not to be noticed. My best thanks to you. " Betsy A. Beesom." 12* 874 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. CASE V. Copy of a letter from Mrs. Abigail Gibbs to Dr. S. S. Fitch. " ProvUeBcei R. I., Julj 29, 1845. " Dr. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — "When I came to you, I had been suffering frorn com- plaints of long standing, from which I had failed to obtain veheL I was glad, when hearing you lecture, to know you had supporf^rSj, as well as medicine, to strengthen the system. When I commeneed taking your lemedies, I was very hoarse, often fainting, could- net walk any di tanee' without being oppressed for breath, was very weak, wiih a pain iffi my side, and a congh that troubled me very much. I am positively very much benefitted fl-om wearing your abdominal supporter, and shoulder-braces, which, with the medicine I have taken, have imparted to me a degree of health to which I had been long a stranger. I feel convinced that, under Providence, I owe my recovery from distressing" prostration and suflfering, entirely to the ageneyof your medicine. This testimony I give with the most heartfelt grati- tude for the kind interest which you manifested for me; and which I shall ever remember^ Yours, with respect, " Abioail Gibbs" CASE vr. Co^ of a letter from Mr. Peler Fayerwcafher to Dr. S. S. t%tch. " Bridgeport, Conn., Eeb. 24tb, 1845. "Dr. S: S. Eiich: " Being. out of business this winter, I hav-e-bsen out of tdwii.nio«t q£ the.> time. Thisi is my ajjology. We have not. forgott?tt- your kindB£ss ta usi last fall. 'So,, we feel, uodw lastmg oi)ligaUoas. to you. My health is quitet good,, considering my dapres»ion-of rtniod. Your remedies I found, in eveiy particular, good. Mre. Fayerweather is almost entirely freed from all her old difficulties. Her countenance is brightened up. She feels active and young, as she did ten years ago. She has fleshed up, and,, in short, she is almost the entire pic- ture, of health..- She wishes to be remembered to you in a particular LECtURE TO LADIES OVSUf. Spf5 manner. She says she owes to you, through God, all the cheerful- ness and enjoyments of this life. Oh ! how vain aro all things here below, without health. I remain youra, in the bonds o^ gratitude, " Peter Fayekweather." CASES Vil. AND VIIL Copy of a letter from Mrs. Betsey A. Jenney and Mrs. Lydia French, to Br. S. S. Fitch. "New Bedford, M^s., Nov. 1st, 1845. " Dr. S; S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — From six irionths' experience in use of your suppcfrters, shoulder-braces, and medicines, and instructions for the formation of heahh, I can speak in the highest terms of approbation of them. I am now in excellent health. Your supporter is an adiiiirable instru- ment. I have fully experienced the truth of all you promised. From wretched; and long-continued prostration, I am returned to good health. " Betsey A. Jenney." " I can say ditto to the above, and send you my best thanks. " Lydia Fbench." CASE IX. Copy of a letter from Mrs. Harriet O. Taher to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "New Bedford, Mass., Nov. 3d, 1845. "Dr. Fitch: " 1 am glad to add my testimony, with many of my friends in this town : perhaps it may be of use tO your patients. I will here state, that you have cured ms of \reakly complaints, which I never expect- ed to be fr^ed froni. I hWd a laih6 side for two years, aiid, at times^ it, was very liiHch swollen. After 1 had given your medidne a fiiir trial, it not only cured my side, but otheF complaints; I have beea ac'qtiainted with some of yotir patients in this pla^!, and take the liberty to recommend you to all those who have curable diseases. I feel a debt of gratitude to you that words cannot express, and hope that you will receive your reward iii the life that now is, and in that which is to come. " Mrs. Harriet G. Tabek." 276 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. CASE X. Copy of a letter from Mrs. Lois S. Smith to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "New Bedford, Mass., Nov. 4, 1845. "Dr. S.S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — In November last I was attacked with flooding, at- tended with universal pain all over my sides, back, loins, &c. ; palrn- "tation ; loss of appetite ; sour stomach ; costiveness ; distress across me ; inflammation of the womb, &c. ; pale as ashes ; and was con- fined chiefly to tny bed for nearly six months. On the 20th of April last, you saw me ; I am now vastly better than 1 was. I am able to do all my own work — can walk miles if I please — have good appe- tite, and very good health for me. I have not followed your direc- tions very strictly, but as far as I have done, have derived vast bene- fit. I feel under vast obligations to you. The supporter is a valu- able assistant, and I have gained nearly all my flesh. " Accept my best thanks, Lois S. Smith." CASE XI. Copy of a letter from Miss Mary Nutter to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Portsmouth, N. H., Feb. 26, 1846. " Db. Fitch : " Kind Sir, — My health has for many years been on the decline. I am now happy to inform you it is much improved. That com plaint for which I consulted you in December last, I live in hopes I am about well of. I have experienced much benefit from your sup- porter and medicines, for which please accept my humble thanks. I rest well at nights,'^nd have a good appetite. I think I feel about ten years younger. I have found much benefit from the cold and warm baths. I try to stand, and sit, and walk, as upright as possible. I hope you vrill be the honored instrument, under God, of restoring thousands to health ; and when your labors on earth are ended, may you be so happy as to join that land where the inhabitants thereof will no more say they are sick ! " Mary Nutter. " If you should havie occasion to write to me, please address to care of Robert Smitlj." LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. 377 CASE XII. Copy of a litter from Miss Sician T. Waldron to Dr. S. S. Fitch. " Taunton, Mass., Oct. 8.h, 1846. " Dr. Fitch : " I take ray pen this morning to tell you the past and present state of my healtli. In April, 1841, I was taken with low bilious fever, that confined me to ray room tour weeks. On the 27th of August my fever returned. I then sent for Dr. , of Easton ; he is called the best we have with us. He said I had the Hver complaint. In two days my skin was as yellow as an Indian. In seventeen days my fever was gone. I gained strength, so that I could sit up one hour in a day, and thought I should soon be able to sew again. I was then taken with dysentery, that so reduced my strength, that I could not walk about the house for three months. I did not walk a step in the streets for eight months. In eight months more I gained strength enough to sit up all day, but I could not work. In 1843, I was introduced to Dr. , of Norton, a homoeopathic doctor. I took his medicine one year. It much improved my health, so that I went to work, yet I never saw a well day. A soreness at the pit of my stomach, palpitation of the heart, lameness through the chest and shouldei'-blades, and pain and weakness in the back : fi-om all these I have been a daily sufferer, and never expected to be relieved until my ins mortal spirit took its flight to that blessed world above, where sick-, ness and sorrow never are known. " October 17th, 1845, 1 called to see you. You furnished me with a supporter, shoulder-brace and medicine. My back was immediately relieved, and, to my unexpected joy, in six days I walked a mile, spent the day and walked home again at night, with ease. I have not walked so fai- in one day for five years. The soreness in my stomach and chest is gone. I have suspended all medicines, and feel well. Your remedies I have strictly followed. My strength daily increases, and my skin looks clear. Use my name, if you please, for your own special benefit, and for the afflicted also. Ex- cuse all the mistakes in spelling, for this is tlie first letter I have written in four years, confusion. in my head prevented it. I recom- mend your supporters and shoulder-braces to all. " Please to wiite me a line, for theii I shall know if you have re- ceived jnine. My mother and sisters join with me in returning thanks to you for my speedy recovery. " Your?, with respect, "Susan Ti Waldkon." CASE XIII. Copy of a letter from Mrs. G. P. Van Ness to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "New York, April 22ud, 1851. "Dr. S.S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — I feel it my duty as well as liiy privilege to' express my gratitude, that you have been the means of restoring health to me, with the blessing of God. When I came to you in January, 1850, my health had been very poor for several yeare. I had been able to go out most of the time till June, 1849, when I was attacked with the cholera, and that, with my old complaints, reduced my strength so that I was confined to the house and my bed part of the time till I called to see you. I had severe turns of sick head-ache, occasional sore throat, and at times a slight cough ; veiy bad dyspep- sia ; great sinking, sick, all-gone feeling at pit of stomach ; constant pain in niy back, loins, and hmbs ; falhng of the womb ; bad jriles ; : very bad female weakness ; great heat on top of my head, bowel.', and limbs ; very nervous, and almost evei-y thing else that would make me feel low-spirited. I had not walked a block at a time, or even across the room without the greatest fatigue, for six months. A friend" lent me your Lectures ; after reading them I had faith to be- lieve I should be benefitted by trying your remedies; accordingly I called on you, took one of your supportere, bi'aces and medicine, resolving to be faithful in taking them. I commended very carefully atscording to directions, as I did not feel any worse on taking them. I followed your advice strictly, till some time in Sspteraber, when I found near- ly all my bnd symptoms gbne^ I have enjoyed better health this winter than I have done for years. The only trouble I have left is my bowels, they are not as regular as thf y should be ; my strength is increasing fast. I hope ere long- to say^ I am entirely wdli I LEGTURE TO LADIES ONLY. S79 have stated mf case just as it has beeii> and if these- few lines can he of a/By service to you, you are welcome to use them as you please. I would not be without your supporter for any money, ila effect has been wonderful in helping Bie to gain rriy health, and to walk with all ease. Pleas© accept ray best wishes for your future welfare; " I- am yours, with esteem, " Mrs. G. p. Van Ness, "119 Madison street, New York." CASE XIV.- " Saybrook, Ct., May 29, 18&0. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — I write to give an account of the wonderful effects of your Abdominal Supporter on Mi's. Lay. She could walk very little, indeed, and felt as if her bowels and back fell apart; very costive. At once the Supporter helped her so as to walk all about, even half a mile at a time, and to church, &c. She is most delighted, and is nearly 80 yeare old. She has almost renewed her age, and it does her good every day. "Helen M. Lay." CASE XV. "Union Village, New-York, Feb'y 10, 1850. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: " Dear Sir, — Five yeare ago next July, I was attacked with a curva- ture of the spine, just as it leaves the ribs. This was followed by two lumber abscesses, which confined me to my house over two years, often to my room, and had vast pain in my back, bearing down and terrible female troubles. The abscesses at last got well, leaving my back veiy weak and painful, with no probability -of ever walking much, as walking or attempting to walk almost killed me. In fact, I could not walk or stand erect without a cane. My right limb was. much shortened or drawn up. On trying to stand erect,' I was taken MJth shortness of breath and faintness ; I could not ride at all, on ac- count of the jarring motion. In this deplorable state I read your 280 LECTURE TO LADIES ONLY. Lectures, and got your Abdominal Supporter, which I have wom every day since. Its eflFect was almost magical : I was soon able to ride and walk without any inconvenience. My back is all but well ; my limb is nearly restored to its usual length ; and 1 am now almost in perfect health. No pereon can overrate the extreme value of your Abdominal Supporter. Yours, with many thanks, " Harriet Cleaver." CASE XVI. "Housatonic, Berkshire Co., Mass., Nov. 20th, 1850. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Very dear Sir, — Your letter and box of medicines, though wholly unexpected, met with a hearty welcome. You will please accept of my most sincere and grateful acknowledgment for this act of kind- ness ; sympathy to the afflicted must ever be acceptable, but when accompanied with acts of kindness and benevolence, it cannot but make a deep impression, an-l when such favors are conferred by stran- gers, upon whom we have no claim, the motive must be pure, — the heart must be right. Thii.^ I have reasoned ; then once more with lively feelings of gratitude, let me say I thank you. The Succeda- neum, I think, is acting favorably. You will see me, or hear from me again by the fourth or fifth of December. " With sincere esteem, youre, truly, " W. V. S. WORDWORTH." LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 381 LECTURE SIXTH. TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. On the mode of forming a noble, manly chest, and' fide erect car- riage. — On the best manner of preventing decline of animal strength, and of invigorating the male constitution, so as to preserve health and life to an hundred years. Gentlemen : " Mens fana in corpove sano," (a sound mind in a sound body,) is one of the oldest apothegms of antiquity, and was considered, after being itself, the greatest gift of God to man. All will grant that a found mind is the first best gift, and after this, a sound body is the next greatest possible gift to us. Throughput all the civilized and semi-civilized portions of the world, we find temples, schools, and eol- leiT.s raising their time-honored and world-renowned spires to heaven, cathedrals, basilicks, chui-ches, chapels, temples, mosques, schools, seats of sacred and secular learning, where are taught the knowledge of God, and the way to heaven, a knowledge of all things earthly, comprised in the sciences, the professions, the arts, all devoted to ex- panding the mind, and so far assisting the body as to attempt the cure of diseases when they occur; still, in all the earth, as far as I know, there is not one temple devot<'d to health. The schools of medicine can scarcely be called scliooh of health. Few physicians are acquainted with health ; fdw are able accurately to define it. They are introduced to man in a state of disease. From this point, they study him. It is their province to remove or crush the disease, which is often not done, or done so bunglingly as to crash the patient, or so imperfectly as to leave its impressions upon him for life. This is the greatest fault of all our medical teachings. The medical stud»nt should xfiret of all be made a perfect adept in the science of health ; he should study every organ in it-s healthy state, and all its healthy relations, and, when perfected in this, he should be made acquainted with each in a state of disease, and see them when all are involved 2S3 LEettfRE TO agfTttEMEN ONLY. in disease, or when only one is acting to confuse the functions of life or disturb the harmonious action of all the rest. Tlii^ would perfect his msdicai education, and rao;-e than double his usefulness*. As it is, now, wh i-t many j'hysieians can check or cure disease, few are able to Ic ad back their patients from a sick bed to perfect health. This they too often ignorantly leave to time and nature. Also, in the first slight beginnings of change from perfect health towards disease, how few physicians can promptly detect it, and retnove it by means that in- stantly arrest the chang3 without injury to the person. In 1835, a fire took place in this city,' which destroyed avast many public buildings, stores, dwellings, and merchandise, amounting in value to seventeen millions. At one time in the histoiy of this great conflagration, one bucket of water would have extinguished it. So it is with all disease : the beginning is veiy slight, almost imperceptible ; and then the merest trifle, if the' right thing, would correct it. Who should then study health ? Man — all men, all women, all children, as soon as their minds can understand it or appreciate teaching. There is always a period longer or shorter, from the commencement of the first slight changes of health up to the moment when disea.se is so imminent of developed as to demand the aid of the physician ; and in nearly all cases there is some time when the changes are known only to the patient; and again, after the disease is crushed or cured, and the fatigued and enfeebled patient is left by his physician to pick . his'way back to health, as time or nature or accident may lead him, often a long period ; when the patient is the only witness of those fluctuations that retard his progress, or, what is veiy common, throw him back in a state of disease, even woree than when first attacked. These conditions cry al(,ud that all should intimately know the whole science of health, and the art of arresting slight indisposition, when- ever occurring, and the mode of preventing disease and confirming health whenever enfeebled from any cause. These considerations, if fully understood, will impress any mind that the cortiplete and ti-ue science of health, and all those accidents or agents that reduce or prevent it, and all the laws of life by which our systems are Med, physical energies produced, and our days de- te^Hwaedv form « subject of s^4f secbw* tfr none in importance, after LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 283 a knowleda;e of those holy teachings that elevate our minds to con- templations and duties tliat shall insure us a happy immortality when our earthly career is closed. The whole science of health has been extremely neglected. It has not been considered strictly within the province of the physician, and ■woe to his standing among his fellows, if he writes any popular book on medicine or health directed to popular readers, and not cb hed in a learned tongue. This has much retarded the science, still many be- nevolent and good physicians have given valuable maxims, almo-t accidentally, on this useful subject. Within a few ye.ans, in the United States, we have had a good many lectures delivered by mm more or less competent to instruct, and although some error has been taught, and some human weakness disj layed, still a great doul of good has been done, and, in proportion to the increase of l.ght amongst the people, wiU teachings be appreciated and errore be re- jected, coming from axty authority. Clergymen have occasionally referred to the consequences of vicious habits upon health ; . but I think not as often and prominently as the subject demands. The agitation of temperance questions, and their bearing upon health, has done much, very much good. All have been useful, as agitating and preparing the universal mind for higher advances, and more mature and systematic teachings of all the science of health and hfe. I believe and hope the time is rapidly approaching when all pa- rents will consider the teaching of the whole science of heaUh, and knowledge of the human system, in its anatomy or construction, and the laws that govern its existence, and perpetuate its continuance, and the causes that produce disease and shorten lite, as of the great- est importance to their children, and of the first necessity after moral teaching; as also a most powerful agent of moral instruction, by showing to their children how virtue tends to perpetuate health, and vice to destroy it ; and no education will be considered at all well founded that does not very early communicate the -whole science of life and health. Finally, that good health is the greatest wealth. H^ people OB earth- eseaed the Aagjo-Aix^ri^B m tkeiiF uni-yevsal 284 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. spirit of enterprise ; few obstacles can deter them, few barriere arrest them. With courage indomitable thej- grapple with the gi-eatert difficulties, and umally overcome them ; their sails whiten eveiy sea, their ships cross every ocean, in the pursuit of prosperous commerce, or in the accom])lishment of hardy adventure. In the mechanical arts, no people display greater ingenuity, exercise better judgment, or apply more accurate science. In education, its universal diffusion is scarcely equalled by any people. But on the subject of health, no people are more behind what is known, than the Anglo-American. Even the rude savages of our continent are far better instructed in the principles of health, and likewise in the knowledge of remedies curative of disease, than our most intelligent, best educated, and best informed citizens, who are not profes-ed physicians. Let a sick man enter an Indian camp, and nine out of ten adult men and women are capable of prescribing for his disease, and in general successfully. The preparation of our food is an art of the highest importance, con- n"cted with the preservation of our health, and yet not one American gentleman in a thousand can be found who is capable of preparing his own food. Yet in many parts of Europe, and nearly everywhere among the gentry, the art of cooking is well understood, both in theory and practice. A vast many European gentlemen can be found, who know perfectly well when a dinner is properly cooked, and in a case of emergency, are capable of cooking it themselves. In the symmetry of our persons, in making the human figure what it should bo, or what it is capaable of being, few people, savage or civilized, are behind the people of the United States. In this country, sym- metry of figure is ahnost entirely neglected by every class of people, high or low, rich or ]^oor, ignorant or educated. In many parts of the United States, a perfectly formed man is a great rarity; seldom, vr^ry seldom seen. If there is one designation that applies to us more than another, it is that of a round^honld'-red stooping race. Con- sidering the high intelligence of the people of this country, the uni- versal neglect of these great subjects seems almost unaccoimtable. The results are truly appalling, filling our country in its whole length and breadth with chronic diseases. Few, very few, of our people enjoy uninterruptedly good health from youth to age. Numbers are LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 285 cut ofl" in the spi'ing-time of their existence. Piemature old age in- vades vast multitudes, whilst a hale, hearty old man is ranly seen. From ignorance of the best principles of health, errors in diet, and neglect of symmetry in our persons, result liver complaints, dyspepsia, and pulmonary consumption, and numerous other diseases that now pei'\ade our country to an alarming extent, and awfully shorten the duration of human life. Why this ignorance on these great subjects ? Because it is everywhere considered too efforninate for a man to attend to the subject of heallh. This is reserved for invalids, and they very rarely regard it until far too late for their own restoration ; and al- though they may lift their voice of warning, their words usually pass by unheeded. In general, we possess a most beautiful climate, and tlio best materials for food, in the most superfluous abundance, and every material for our physical formation, and the means of produ- cing the most perfect constitutions, so as to create the healthiest and longest hved race of men in the world. To effect this, to banish premature disease from our land, to bestow univereal and perfect health, and grant the longest continuance and endurance to our hves, all that is required is correct knowledge on the subject of health, and the knowledge of those facts and principles from which human health is derived and continued. The human frame is a machine as me- chanically formed as a watch. It is mechanically formed, and acts upon mechanical principles, and all its operations are capable of being undei-stood ; if not as yet perfectly understood in all its parts and operations, it is probably not owing to anythingineoinprehensible in its physical or corporeal structure. Had the human frame never have been described by any persons, except mechanics, and those descriptions never clothed in any lan- guage, save the sim| le language of each country, it is more than probable that a general knowledge of the human frame, and its dis- eases, would have been advanc d hundreds of yeare. The human machine is made for long endurance. It is endowed with the highest powers of self-reparation ; and, were it not for the continued war of ignorant, luxurious, and effeminated man on his own frame, the hu- man machine would always last, barring accidents, from one hundred- to two hundred years. I believe I may assert, without the least fear 28S LECTURE T0 GENTLEMEN ONLY. of contradiction, that no human being ever yet died of old age, until he had pa<«ed one hundred years. Death occurring sooner, nearly always results from previous errors of life, or from accident or disease. Man is confessedly the lord of creation ; and can we, for a moment, entertain the idea that he is created to be far shorter- lived than many of the brute creation ? It is well known to naluralifts, that many birdi and animals have Uved to over one hundred years. The raven is one of these, and the eabfle is another. It is but a short time since, that an eagle, apparently in the most vigorous health, was shot upon the Jura Mountains, in France, having around his neck a gold ring, which, by the date upon it, showed that the eagle had worn it upwards of eighty yeai-s. I do not recollect the history of any animnl whose real or rea-sonably supposed age is as great as that of the well authenticated age of many modern men. To prove to you that the human machine is made to endure from one hundred to one hundred and fifty, or more, years, I have only to present to you one Well authenticated instance of this age having been attained by man. But, in place of one instance, thousands of instan- ces can be adduced ; and where one case of longevity is recorded, there is no doubt that hundirdA die unnoticed, and unrecorded'. Now then, allow me to ask, is God unequal 3 Are Iiis laws ma^le for each individual life, or for all hves ? And are we so constructed, that the same'])rinciples the same circumstances, and the same causes, that allowed one man to reach one hundred and fifty year', will not allow every other man to ab^,h6 same ? I answer, that the laws of life and the cau-es of longevity are applicable to every human being; and if thoroughly arid universally Und?*fetood, and correctly and fai'.hfully ap]ilied, all men might easily attain to old age, and the average of humin life, instead of thirty -three years, mijjht talte its place at one hundrrd years, thus trebling the duration of our earthly e.xistcnce. The object of this lecture is to adduce instances of longfxity, and present those rules by which, saving accidents, it may alwaiys be attained. Pas ing over the antodeluvians, whose ages come down to us ex- t"ndod to even nine hundred yeai-s, and givrn to us under the highest autliority, we descend to men of modern Himes, — within the r^ach of LECTURE WO QENTLEMEN ONLY. 287 modern history. Thomas Parr, as recorded by Lord Francis Bacon, was born in 1483, and died in 16.'J5, aged one hundred and fifty-two years. He died, not f.orn the disease or decay of a single organ, but from too great fullness of bbod, paused by more than usual in- dulgence in eating and drinking. He had led an active country life, and enjoying country air and exercise ; but was invited to London, where luxurious eating and drinking soon finished him. His bodv was examined by the celebrated Dr. Harvey, discoverer of the cii'cu- lation of the blood, who has left an account of the examination. Parr enjoyed good health for a century and a half. Thirty-five years after the death of Parr, Henry Jenkins, of York- shire, England, died, aged one hundred and sixty-nine years. He was born in 1501, and died in 1670. His age is fully authenticated, and is the greatest amongjhe moderns. John Effingham, of Corn- wall, England, died, aged one Imiidred and forty-se.ven years. James Lawrence, a Scotchman, lived one hundred and forty years. About the year 1 790, Joseph Surring-ton died at Bergen, Norway, aged one hundred and sixty years. In 1772, atman named Drakenburg died in Denmark, in the one hundred and fovty-sgventh year of his age. In 1825, Pope Leo XII. granted to a poor man livino- near lake Thrasimene, in Italy, a pension on account of his great age ; he was then an hundred and twenty-five years old. He died a^ed one hun- dred and thirty years. In 1830, a man died at St. Petersburg, ag"d one hundred and thirty yeare. I knew a man in the isl:md of Cuba who was an hundred at^d twenty yeai-s old; he was able to rid? on horseback sixty miles in a day, and return home the next. We will now come to our own country. In 1820, a man named Henry Fran- cisco died at Whitehall, in ths stat« of New-York, aged one huiidied and thirty-fom- years. He beat the drum at tlip coronation of Queen Anne, and was then sixteen years of a^o ; he did not die of o'd a;j", b\it of the ^ue mid fever. I forgot to Dftentioa the name of Dr. JV^epd, who wa^ constjlting physician to Queen Elizabeth, and died at thg agft of oiie hundr.-'d and forty-eight yeai-s. John Hightawer, re- siding in Marengo county, Alabama, died January, 184,5, aged one hundred and twenty-six years. William Pngd?n, of Maryland, died O^ljojb^r, 1P^4 agedane hundred a^^^W^oty-thr.e year. , '^fee. Bev. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. HENRY FRANCISCO, Died at WbJtehaU, iii tlie S ate orNew-Yurk, October, 1820, aged 134 years. Mr. Harvey, a Baptist clergyman, residing at Franltfort, in the State of New- York, is now in the active and useful discharge of hi? clrrical duties, at the age of one hundred and eleven years. This very year he presided at a convention of the Baptist clergy, and is pe"haps the oldest clergjrman in the world who is able to discharge his clerical duties. A Mr. Blakewell, residing near Greewille, North Carolina, was living a short time since, at the age of one hundred and thirty- six yeare. A colored man named Syphax, in fine vigorous health, was living last year in Cumberland county, Virginia, at the age of LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 289 one hundred and seventseu years. The Montreal Times, October, 1846, translates the following from the Revue Vanadienm : "An old man died at Wexford, Upper Canada, a short tim j since, named Daniel Atkin, but rejoiced in the soubriquet of Black Dan. At the time of his decease, he was one hundred and twenty years of age ; and during his life had contracted seven m:u-riages, by whom he had h:id an incredible number of children, grandchildren, and great grand children, in all about five huuded and seventy — tliree hundni'd and seventy of whom are boys, and two hundred girls.'' Mr. John V^an Iloozer, of Jeft'ei'son county, Tennessee, died at his residence, about the Istof Augu4, 1850, aged 122 years. A great many men ai-e now living in this country who are over 100 years of age. I have already enurn?rated as mmy cases as our purpose d>m,nnds. They sho.v to us conclusively, how long the human m ichine may continue its exi-itsnce — by how long it has been known to continue. I think no fact is better proved, than that the human frame is formed to last over one hundred years, that no mrin ever died of old age un- til after one hundred years, and thit, barring accidents, every mm may live to one hundred years, provided he does not war upon liis own frame, and provided, as I have before remarked, that ho follows judi- ciously the laws of health, commits few errors in his diet, and preserves the symmetry of his person. Let us now discuss a few of the principles that form the basis of health, and indicate the path of longevity. GRAND DIVISIONS OF THE FRAME. In the firet place, allow ms to remark to you, that the human sys- tem, upon examination, falls at once into three great divisions, each dirision, in its object and purpose, totally distinct from all the others. The firat of the divisions is found in the brain, comprising the organs of the intellect, through which, or by which, the mind of man receives knowledge and retains it, and acts upon it ; and, through the medium of the will, and the connections of the nervous system, governs the whole frame of man. The orgins of this firet division rosida exclu- sively in the region of the brain, and are waited upon by the se-ases, their servants. The second great division is found in all those or- 13 290 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. gans that ^ve the power of self-reparation to the human machine, making this machine totally distinct from any machine ever invented by man, as it is capable, when supplied with its proper food, of re- pairing its own waste, and thus perpetuating its o^vn existence for a great many ye^rs. Those pai-ts of the body included in this division, or the principal parts, are the lungs, the heart, the stomach, the bow- els, the kidneys, the bladder, and the limbs, with their subordinate connections. The next great division is those organs that serve to propagate the species. AUow me to recapitulate, that the three di- visions are,— first, to supply food to the mind ; secondly, to repair the body ; and, thirdly, to propagate the species. Now, analyze man as much as you please, — investigate him as minutely as you choose, — scmtinize him from every point of view, and you will find this is all there is of him, and all you can make of him. All his almost in- finitely varied pursuits,, occupations, and excitements, will be found to fall into one or other of these divisions ; and that all the impulses of life, and stimulus to action, owe their origin to one or other of these divisions. On their harmony with each other, veiy much depends the continuance of life. To have all these organs in full develope- ment, no one outstripping the others, nor acting at the expense of the others, is a grand desideratum, and foims the basis of health, and lays a sure foundation for longevity. I have in previous lectures referred to the uses of the lungs. Allow me again to remark, that pure, healthy air is their natural food, — ^that they strive for the air, and continually pant for it, — that no peraon can have good health for any length of time, unless he breathes pure, wholesome air, and a plenty of it ; and hence the exceeding value of a change of air to the sick, to invalids, and to persons worn down by continued labori- ous occupation. It is for this reason that a change of air will often do more for sick and worn-out pereons, than all the medicines in the world. MANNER OF FORMING A FINE CHEST. I have, in my lecture upon the uses of the lungs, remarked that the chest is a basket of bones, so constituted and framed as to be most remarkably under the government of the will, and, totally unlike LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 291 any other bony cavity of our bodies, it can be enlarged or dimin- ished at pleasure. (See Plates A and B.) The firet and natural mode of enlarging the chest, is by breathing, by inhaling the air. The lungs, I should say, are air-bags, hung up on each side of the chest, and folded into cells comparable to the honey-comb, and capable of being immensely expanded, or correspondingly contracted. The largest lung may be made to hold a gallon, or so reduced as not to hold one gill. Now, the larger the lungs, and the more air they can receive and digest, the stronger and healthier they will be. They ■will also enjoy an exemption from disease, almost exactly in the ratio of theii- large and full developement. These changes in the lungs would, of course, produce corresponding changes in the basket that en- closes them, — ^the chest becoming broader, larger, and fuller. No one should be afraid of the air, but consume as much of it as possible, by taking long breaths ; — draw in all the air you can. Make a practice, many times a day, when in pure air, and especially when in pure, cold air, to suck in all the air you can, and, in this way, strain the chest open to its utmost dimensions, and hold the air in the chest as long as you can, and blow strongly upon it, not allowing it, however, to es- cape fi-om the mouth until forced to do so. Should the person be of a stooping figure, or of a contracted, narrow, stoopiug chest, let him, on rising from bed in the morning, and as many times during the day as he pleases, draw in the air as long as he can, and fill the chest to its utmost capacity ; now hold in the air, and throw back the head and neck as far as possible, and, at the same time, throw back the arms and shouldere with sudden jerks, as if to tear the shoulders from the back of the chest, at the same time retaining the air in the lungs. If the lungs are kept fuU of air during this exercise, on throwing back the head, neck, and shouldere, the air in the lungs becomes an elastic cush- ion, that acts powerfully on the inside of the chest, lifting the ribs and breast-bone outward, upwai-d, and backward, and, in this way, rapidly enlarging the chest, and greatly assisting to give it full size and per- fect symmetry. This exercise of the chest should be practised on rising from bed, and repeatedly during the day. Another great assistance in forming a large chest, is to habituate ourselves always to speak or sing from a 292 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN OTTLY. full chest, — that, is, when singing or speaking, we should never sing or speak from a half-filled chest. We should always remember, that the vocal organs, in singing ar speaking, are placed in a proper posi- tion, and then a current of air is more or less forcibly dashed upon thetn f.om the lungs, and that the strength of the tones and the power of the voce depend upon the volume, the density, and the momentum of this current of air. Now, any speaker, or singer, who attempts to speak or sing from a half-filled chest, will soon greatly injure his vocal organs ; his voice will become weak, his throat become irritable and inflamed, his windpipe injui'ed, the upper part of his chest become flat and contracted, and much pain at the top of the chest : to these, sing- ing and speaking is a great injury ; but to those who always, when s'.nging, or speaking, do so from a chest well filled with air, these ex- ercises rapidly enlarge the chest, and give great power and firmness to the vocal organs. I met, two years since, a young gentleman, who, alone, and unassisted, gave a concert in a large hall at New Haven, in Connecticut. He told me that, originally, he had a veiy small, contracted chest, and was a teacher of the piano forte ; neces- sity compelled him to become a teacher of vocal music ; but his chest was so narrow and contracted, and his voice so weak, that he almost despaired of being able to accomplish singing ; yet, by practising as I have mentioned, and inhaling the air, his chest began rapidly to expand, so that, in three years, his voice acquired a power and com- pass that enabled him to pronounce words so as to be heard dis- tinctly one mile. His chest was one of the largest I ever saw. Persons who pursue a sedentary occupation, and students and scho- lars, besides taking long breaths while sitting, should, at least once OF twice an hour, rise up from their seats, walk about the room for a few moments, and fully and thoroughly expand the chest, and throw the shoulders off of the chest, as I have before directed. Those per- sons who have very considerable weakness about the chest, and more or less pain, should commence these exercises kindly and carefully, and gently habituate the chest to gradual changes, so that it will become freely and fully enlarged, without occasioning pain, or pro- ducing any inconvenience whatever. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 293 THE PROPER CARRIAGE AND POSITION OF THE CHEST. The next step to the possession and continuance of a fine chest, is to learn to carry it well, and choose such a position for it as never to allow it to fall forward. In this respect, there is a most astonishing diflerence between the Anglo-Aineidcans and the Europeans. The latter, as a general rule, have straight, erect chests, whilst the Anglo- Americans most commonly have stooping, flat chests. In walking, dancing, and all pedestrian exercises, tlae chest should be kept per- fectly erect, and rather falling backwards ; at the same time the head and neck should stand plumb to the spine, not in a stiff and formal way, but in an easy and graceful manner, which habit will soon enable us to do. In sitting on hoi-seback, or in a carriage, the chest and per- son should, at all events, be kept perfectly straight, and not allow the head, neck, chest, and spine to be bent and crushed forward, like the half of a hoop, as we may notice every day. The drivers and conductor of coaches, in England, are usually among the straightest men we meet, and consumption is very rarely met with among them. They usually sit perfectly straight and erect. In this country, I have been repeatedly consulted by stage-drivel's, in confirmed consumption, brought on, or at least strongly predisposed to it, by sitting in a contracted, bent position while driving their horses. Persons pursuing sedentary occupations, such as clerks, stu- dents, watchmakers, and men pursuing sedentary and otherwise light occupations, boys at school, it only to exhibit what may be done in the most highly civilized cominnni- ties and with apparent advantage. Dr. Abercrombie told me, that he had hundreds of times found the water in his bathing-tub frozen o^er, and would place himself in the water, covered with floating ice. Now I would not recommend this couree as judicious to any one. I rather question its propriety, or very much doubt whether it could be universally employed without injuring some persons. I think all, or nearly all, the benefits of cold bathing can be obtained, and with vastly less trouble, and much less inconvenience, by the use of A WET TOWEL, SPONGE, OR THE HANDS. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 321 I reconiiTiGiid to my patients, and others, the following method of managing the surface of the body, every day, morning or evening, or at any hour that is most convenient, — I rathei' prefer the time of rising from bed in the morning. The room should be warm, unless you are robust, and accustomed to bathing and exposure of the per- son. Throw off all your clothing, and with a brush, or hair-gloves, &c., or one or two coarse crash towels, rub the whole pereon over in the most thorough manner, exciting a fine life and glow upon every part of the covering of the body and hmbs. After this is done, take a sponge or towel, and dip it in cold water, and, with one of these, rapidly wet over the whole surface of the body and Hmbs, dwelling much upon the neck, chest, and all the spine, and the larger joints. In lieu of a wet towel, use the naked hands, and wash all over with a sponge or wet towel as you need it. Now take one or two towels, and wipe every part of the person dry. Now rub the skin all ov6r, so as to excite a fine glow upon it, and then resume your clothiilg, observing that the shirt worn through the night should not be worn through the day, if convenient to you. The whole time required for this bath need not be more than from three to five minutes. To be sure, you may occupy as much time as you please ; but an active person can accomplish it in the time I have mentioned. Some persons are so delicate or sensitive, that they cannot heix the shock of cold water. These pei'sons will usually find themselves greatly benefitted by using a tepid bath. I also recommend to my patients, especially those of a scrofulous habit^ or those having a low condition of the system, to stimulate the water, more or less, as they choose, by adding to it sea-salt, or rum, brandy, gin, or any spirituouk liquoi's, or cologne water, &c. SEA WATER Is a most valuable article in bathing, and should be used whenever convenient. About once a week, great benefit may be derived, and beauty, softness, and purity of the skin be greatly promoted, by add- ing to pure soft water some sal seratus, or super-carbonate of soda. Either of these will confer an alkaline property to the water, and thus purify the skin in a most effectual manner. 14* 322 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. EFFECTS OF WATER UPON INFLAMED OR DEBILITATED PARTS. Allow me to trespass upon your time a few moments, that I may name some of the benefits of water applied to inflamed, swelled, or debilitated parts. I now very seldom recommend the use of blisters to inflamod or painful parts ; but, in place of blistere, I recommend the application of cloths dipped in cold water, or cold salt and water, and sometimes I use warm water, or very hot water. In most cases of pain in the side, breast, or throat, or in a joint, I find the applica- tion of a wet obth, and worn some time, even for weeks, in old eases, ■will produce a far more effectual, certain, and permanent cure than blisters, leeches, or any species of sores. In cases of WEAK EYES, Or slightly impaired vision, or inflamed eyes, or eye-lids, when pain- ful, &c., particularly in students, or persons of scholastic habits, I scarcely know a more effectual remedy to cure or prevent these affec- tions of the eye, than dipping the forehead, eyes, and nose a great many times a day in cold water, and holding them there as long as possible. This course will serve greatly to strengthen the eyes. In cases of rush of blood to the head, great heat about the head, or head-ache, there is no remedy that will compare with the use of cold water, aad the water made as cold as possible, by the addition of ice. This "ivill often relieve the head, when every other remedy fails. The head should bs dipped in the ice-water, and held there as long as pct^sible, a great many times a day, according to the urgency of the case. Another mode of application is to sponge the forehead and temples frequently with cold water, keeping them wet, &c. Some- times advantage is derived from using warm water, in place of cold ; at others, a bladder of ipe. SORE THROAT. The neck is a very sensitive part, and the application of blisters is apt to produce a great deal of pain and nervousness of the system. In many cases, the sufiering becomes quite insupportable, a high fever LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 323 being excited, , and one of the best. Taken in the open air, it is better than in-doors ; but either in or out of doore, when accompanied by the harmony of mu ic, it at once dis- sipates the tedium of life, excites, in high activity, the circulation of the blood, exercises every part of the body, and vivifies the whole nervous system. I do not speak of the dissipation of dancing — far from it ; I only speak of it, when practised in moderation, as an ex- erdse. For the delicate, the sickly, and the sedentaiy, it is invalu- LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 333 able, and may be practised every day, and at all seasons of the year, and, of course, in all weathers. All the out-door athletic exercises practised by men are valuable in promoting robust health, and may always be taken, when circumstances will allow. ANIMAL PLE.VSURES,— PROPAGATION OF THE SPECIES. Perhaps there is no subject upon which a lecturer can speak that is more delicate than this, that I have referred to as the third groat object of the human machine. Every man knows his own history and his own peculiar excitements. All that I will say, is, that exces- sive indulgence in secret vices, animal passions, and unbridled lusts, is apt, esjsecially if indulged in whM» young, to destroy the nervous system, frequently producing affections of the spinal marrow apd brain, and eai'ly insanity, and premature death. At its best, it often breaks down all the powers of the system, destroys the voice, and in- duces dyspepsia, throat disease, and pulmonary consumption. Later In life, these excesses produce imbecility and premature old age. In all these respects, study purity — sin not against your own body — in- dulge in the refined enjoyments of marriage — and from these sources you will receive no impediment to the continuance of health and the attainment of long life. Extinguish the burnings of pa^ision in the sacred delights of marriage, and you will find the most noble and exquisite pleasure in the society of your wives and the love of your children, towards whom you should be a Providence, Protector, Pro- phet, and Priest. SYMMETRY OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF THE BODY. Extreme gratification is always conferred upon me when I have an opportunity of addressing a body of intelligent and reflecting men, — men of mature age, who can take uj) the subject on which I lecture, dispel all crudities and hyperboles, and treasure up the teach- ings, noticing if their application is pernicious or useful, and thus, by obsen'ation and experiment, detennine what is false and what is tru % and evsr after retaining and diffusing whatever is true and important. 334 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. In the early part of this lecture, I spoke to you on the importance of preserving the external form of the human machine in perfect sym- metry, keeping the head and neck, the shoulders, the chest, the spine, limbs, &c., all in the admirable poifection of their natural formation, when no deformity has been introduced by art, by incon'ect habits, &c., &c. I now come to speak to you of the symmetry of the internal, or- gans of the body. I mentioned to you, that symmetry was the very key of liealth ; that the human system is a machine put together and acting upon mechanical principles ; that each part has its appropriate bearings, every other part being built to meet the situation of each organ. These remarks applying to the external form of the person, also apply with equally great force to the internal parts of the body. I believe that all diseases proceed from two causes only : one is loss of symmetry, either in size, position, function, or integrity ; the other is from poison. The human pereon may be likened to a box or trunk. Now, suppose this trunk, the person, to be laid flat upon the back, we should then find the bottom and sides mostly solid, whilst the top or covering of the trunk would be solid only at one end, across the chest, whilst the lower part of it is covered with elastic belts. Now fill this trunk full, as it is laid flat on the back, and set it up on end, we shall find that every thing inclines to settle down to the lower part, and press against the elastic belts ; now, unless these belts are extremely firm, they ^vill become relaxed or stretched, and allow the different parts of the inside of the body, more or less, to fell down out of their places. On examining the trunk of the body, we find the lungs, the heart, with the blood-vessels, air-pipes, &c., besides some small glands, filling up the whole chest. These parts possess considerable weight. The chest is a basket of bones, entirely open at the bottom, or its only floor is a loose, fleshy, moveable curtain, that floats up and down between the chest and abdomen. At the top of the abdomen, towards the left side, and stowed up against the loose floor of the chest, we find the stomach, that, when full, with its contents, weighs several pounds. We find, also, the liver, at the top of the right side of the abdomen, a solid, heavy mass of several poimds Weight. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 335 Beneath these, we have the large bowel, which, with its contents, is very heavy, and besides these the caul, and the small bowels. All these, in some large persons, weigh fifty or sixty pounds, or even more. Now all this immense weight, checked only by slight fasten- ings, is at last fully supported by the abdominal belts, by the belts that cover the front of the abdomen, and either take their origin or insertion from the lower edge of the breast-bone, from the lower edge of all the short ribs, from the back-bone in the small of the back, or from the upper edge, all around the basket of the hijjs. (For a view of these belts, and their situation, see Plate E.) Whilst in perfect health, and whole, these belts keep all the different parts of the inside of the body fully and snugly up to their places ; but when broken anywhere, very promptly, we see the bowels gu-ihing out, and drag- ging everything inside out of its place ; and if any way considerable, the person can neither stand nor walk. This is exemphfied in the case of ruptures. I once knew a sturdy blacksmith who had an im- mense rupture, and wore a trus.'S. While the truss was well adjusted and kept the bowels in their place, he got along tolerably well ; but if the truss moved out of place, great quantities of the bowels would instantly glide out, — at once causing loss of strength and faintness, leaving him no resource but to throw himself flat on his back, when the bowels would stop falling down ; he would then have to push the bowels back into place, and adjust his truss so as to keep the bowels up, when he could at once go about his business. Now, from a mul- tiplicity of causes, although there will be found no open space through the abdomen, yet the belts covering it become stretched or relaxed, and do not keep the internal parts of the body in their places ; and in this way, the stowage of the internal parts of the body, and all the parts, experience jawing, and settling downwards, producing a condi- tion I shall denominate FALLING OF THE BOWELS, Now, the falling of the bowels occasions a vast amount of sickness, that, when I speak of them, will be mentioned as caused by falling of the boweLs, whilst the falling of the bowels is, itself, produced by re- M&ttetoj er stretching, or weakness of thfe abdominal belts. (See 336 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. PLATE R. Plates O; P, and R, and notice all the diflferent organs of the body there.) As you see them in their places, you will observe how readily their forms will incline them to fall downward-, which, if the)' do, will produce some or all of the following diseases of the frame, depending on the extent of the relaxation of the belts, and falhng of the bowels ; at one time producing some one of the symptoms in only a slight degree, and at other times causing the most ten'ible effects, and cer- tain death. I will now mention some of the effects produced by this upon the large organs. First, the effect of falling of the bowels UPON THE LUNGS. By looking at Plates D and C, you will observe that the hmgs are wedge-shaped. Their points, or smallest portions, are highest up under the collar-bones, whilst their heaviest and largest parti are lowest, and rest on the floor of the chest, and greatly incline to drag downwards. It is entirely indispensable to the perfect health of the LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 337 lungs, that the bowels be well kept up, so that there shall be no fall- ing away of the floor of the lungs. The efiijct upon the lungs of the falling of the bowels is to cause a sense of extreme weakness and sinking feeling at the top of the chest. The breath enters the lungs, and seems to be lost — the sufferer not being able to fill up the top of the chest ; and thus, as I said in my chapter upon the causes of pul- monary consumption, if any part of the lungs is not kept well ex- panded, it lays the foundation for pulmonaiy consumption, so that falling of the bowels is a very frequent cause of consumption ; and • the lungs being allowed to drag down, engorgement of the top of the lungs, or a secretion of tuberculous matter, will rapidly take place. BLEEDING AT THE LUNGS. For the same reason, bleeding at the lungs very often arises from a falling of the bowels ; the top of the lungs being so dragged down, that the blood does not circulate well through them. The sense of weakness at the top of the chest, and of being all gone there, causes the pereon to stoop very much, and to bring the shoulders forward. I never attempt to cure pulmonary consumption without using means to have the bowels well brought up to their places, and thus have the floor of the lungs well supported. A great many consumptions arise from falling of the bowels, particularly in delicate young pereons. WEAKNESS AND LOSS OF VOICE, AND DISEASE OF THE AIR-PIPES, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. It will be very obvious to you, that if the lungs are not well filled with air, thattheir dragging down will bear heavily and at once upon the small air-pipes, the windpipe, and the organs of the voice, so that one of the earliest efiects of falling of the bowels is to produce weakness, and even loss of voice ; the voice at times becoming hoarse and husky, and weak, falling to a whisper. Talldng or reading aloud occasions great exhaustion, a soreness in the throat, dryness a^d heat in the windpipe. The eflForts to speak greatly strain the windpipe. PubUc speakers are, in this way, rapidly driyen from their desks, and their usefulness destroyed. Many 6f these broken-down men, I have' restored to usefulness by the aid of few medicines, ^nd giving perfect 15 338 LECruKis rO (jfCiiii x ijr/jLva.iii.i \jj-^^i-- abdominal support, so that the lungs should be well hfted up, in order that no dragging down of the windpipe, or vocal organs, can take place. Some clergymen, who are sagacious observers of themselves, I have known to cm-e all weakness of voice in themselves, by inventing and applying support to the abdomen. To permanently cure weak- ness of voice, and disease about the windpipe, I deem it indispensa- ble to have the abdomen perfectly supported. SHORT BREATH, AND DIFFICULT BREATHING AT TIMES, May be said to be an universal accompaniment — ^indeed, they are among the &st symptoms or indications of felling of the bowels. Short breathing in men, especially after the middle period of life, panting upon- any inconsiderable exercise, and for these reasons great difficulty in walking, whilst running and dancing are nearly impossible, and next to impossible to lift a heavy weight. In April, 1845, 1 was consulted at New Bedford, Mass., by a man who was a resident of Westport, Mass. He owned and resided upon a small farm, but was unable to do anything whatever. His lungs were very much affect- ed, bleeding at the lungs, cough, &c. He had not been able to do any work for four years, and was not able to stoop down and raise up a four-pound weight. He was in consumption. His was an aggravated case of- falling of the bowels. I gave him suitable remedies for his lungs, and an abdominal supporter. I saw him in July folloTving. He walked four miles on a warm afternoon, to see me. He told me he was in perfect health, and could lay stone wall fifteen hours in a day. In October, 1846, he informs me, by letter, that he continues in fair health. PALPITATION OF THE HEART, And disturbance of its functions, are very often produced by falling of the bowels, even stoppage of the heart and fainting, when the per- son falling, or being laid down, the heart resumes its action. I have often witnessed apparent heaitdisease cured simply by an ab- dominal supporter, but usually medical remedies are required. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 339 SINKING FEELING, AND ALL-GONE AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH. This is one of the most common symptoms of faffing of thp bowek; an ejrtreme sense of exhaustion, as if there was a large empty space in the stomach, that nothing could fill. The food, upon eating, seems to pass away and leave the same hollow, empty feeling. This is par- ticularly the case with men who stand a great deal at a work-bench. I was consulted in April, 1844, at Springfield, Mass., by a tin-worker, who told me that he had suffered this distressed feeling about the pit of the stomach for six years. He supposed it was occasioned by standing so continually at his work, which was no doubt the case. I gave him his remedies. The second day after, his wife called to see me, with a message from her husband, saying, that he had not spent such an agi'eeable day for six years as the first day that he had used all my remedies. All the functions of the stomach are more or less impaired by falling of the bowels ; and the person feels at that point as if cut in two, and is greatly disposed to stoop. INFLUENCE OF THE FALLING OF THE BOWELS UPON THE LIVER. The weight of the liver is so considerable, that, unless the abdo- minal belts are very firm, it is apt to drag down, more or less, out of its place, sometames so as to obstract the bile-ducts, inclining, more or less, to induce obstruction in the bile and jaundice. When the falling of the bowels is excessive, the effect upon the liver is, at times, deplorable, as it may become very much dislocated, and even torn, so as to produce fatal effects. I have no doubt but that inflam- mation of the liver is very often produced by its not being well sup- ported. To exemplify this, I will give one example. A few years ago, a gentleman visited Saratoga Springs for his health. He had a diseased liver. He recovered his health very rapidly. At the end of four weeks, proposing to return, he started for home on a hard- trotting horse. The gentleman rode eighteen miles the first after- noon, and, at the dusk of evening, stopped at a tavern, disposed of his horse, and immediately retired to bed. The next morning he 340 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. was, found dead in his bed. His body was examined by Dr. Steele, of Saratoga, when it was found tbat his hver had been recently healed of ulcers, and that the old and new portions of liver, by the hard trotting of the horse and consequent jarring and falUng of the liver, had been torn apart, causing a considerable loss of blood, that flowed into the cavity of the abdomen, and produced death. Proper sup- port would have entirely prevented this. BREAKING AWAY OF THE BOWELS THEMSELVES, BY RELAXATION OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS. I have repeatedly witnessed cases where the large bowel has been torn out of its place, more or less, from lifting heavy weights, or from excesses in exercise, or accidents, or severe straining of the bowels. In these cases, weakness and pain are apt to continue a great many years. I was consulted at Worcester, Mass., by a tall, dehcate young man, who, by walking many miles on a veiy hot day, had caused a very severe dragging down of the liver and breaking away of the bowel at its great turn in the right side. (See the situation of this bowel on Plate C.) He had great heat, and smarting, and weak- ness in the side, inability to walk far, and unable to perform any hard labor. I witnessed another case where this bowel was broken away in front, and another in the left side, causing a great deal of pain, weakness, and debility. After continuing a year or two, the sensation is that of hopeless debility in the affected part. One case I witnessed where the pain and sufferin'f had continued for thirty yeare. All these cases were promptly cured by a few suitable medi- cines and perfect abdominal support. A relaxation of the abdominal belts and falling of the bowels wiU often produce great weakness and debility in the bowels themselves. This leads, in many cases, to HABITUAL COSTIVENESS. At other times, the very opposite state of the bowels will be pro- duced, and the patient will suffer greatly from a chronic diarrhoea. Both of these states of the bowels, so opposite to each other, it is well known arise from the same cause, — that is, debility and want of tone in the bpwels,^ which is produced or .^eatly aggravated by LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 341 a relaxation of the abdominal belts. Suitable medicines and abdo- minal support will usually eflFect a speedy cure. UMBILICAL HERNIA, Or rupture at tie navel,, I have repeatedly cured, by the use of the abdominal supporter. PILES. This disease, which gives trouble, disquietude, and suffering, pro- ducing in some very severe illness, I believe is nearly always caused by falling of the bowels. By referring to Plate S, you will notice that the large bowel is tied to the centre of the back part of the basket of the hijis, just as it becomes straight and passes through the basket of the hips to go out of the body. Now, when the bowels fall do^-sTi, they are exceedingly apt to fall upon the large bowel, where it is tied to the back-bone, pressing, more or less, hard against the bone, and thus preventing the return of the blood from the lower portion of the large bowel. Piles may be greatly aggravated by the condition of the liver, by scrofula, or by a humor in the sptem, and by costiveness ; but I believe the grand producing cause is almost always a falling down of the floating bowels upon the straight bowel, after it is tied in its place to the bone, as it is about to become straight, &c. ; and upon this condition of things will result the various kinds of piles, as blind piles, bleeding piles, external piles, &c., all produced by the same cause, that is, the bowel is so obstructed above, that the blood which enters the bowel cannot return, and hence results this disease. In nearly every case, this is relieved and often cured by removing costiveness, and using suitable ointment. But for radical and per- manent cure, support usually is required to lift the bowels up to their place. I have had the pleasure of curing a vast many cases of piles, and do not recollect to have ever failed doing so, where the patient fol- lowed my directions. By tying a string around the finger, you will notice how soon the end of the finger will begin to swell, and 342 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. if the string is kept on any length of time blood will ooze out from under the nail ; precisely in the same way piles are produced, be- cause obstruction prevents the return of the blood. GRAVEL PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. In another place I have spoken to you of the cause of gravel in the bladder, as occasioned by the urine being long retained in it. I then explained to you the situation of the bladder, the kidneys, and the pipes that convey the water from the kidneys to the blad- der (for a view of which, see Plate S.) Now, when the bowels fall downwards, they are exceedingly apt to fall upon the pipes that convey the water from the kidneys to the bladder, and thus obstruct the passage of water from the chamber of the kidneys, so that it deposits its earths, salts, and acids in the kidneys, thus producing gravel in these organs in a great many persons, causing a great deal of heat, pain, and weakness in the small of the back. Sometimes the affection will be confined to one kidney, which is shown by pain and heat on one side only. At times, gravel in the kidneys is not only produced, but other diseases of the kidneys, inflammation, ulceration of the kidneys, &c. To cure these, requires suitable medicines and abdominal support. PAIN AND WEAKNESS IN THE SMALL OF THE BACK, WITH THREATENED DISEASE OF THE SPINE. By referring to Plate S, you will see that the abdominal belts ai-e tied to the back-bone alone, in the small of the back, and that where the back-bone is quite weak and unsupported. Now, when the ab- dominal belts become relaxed, and the bowels sway down consider- ably, and produce severe pressure upon the spine of the back, this very soon renders the back so weak and painful, that much difficulty is experienced in walking, and great weakness is felt over all the lower paiis of the body, so that in some persons the water will pass off involuntarily and they become perfectly impotent. All this is re- lieved by a suitable supporter, and by such medicines as ^ve strength to the spine. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 343 PLATE V. Heart and Blood- Vessels. PAINS IN THE LIMBS PKODUCED BY FALLING- OF THE BOWELS. I have often witnessed great pain in the limbs produced by falling of the bowels upon the large nerves that go out from the basket of the hips to the lower extremities. In September, 1844, at Bristol, Conn., I was consulted by one of their most enterprising men, on account of very great pain he suf- fered in the lower limbs, that was so great as to threaten to deprive him of all power to pursue his farming occupations. He was quite astonished when I told him I thought it proceeded from a falling down of the bowels, and that I thought he could soon be cured, as he had began to despair of all relief. Having taken a great deal of medical advice and medicines, and used many remedies without the least benefit, I had the pleasure of relieving this gentleman in one 344 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. week, by a few medicines and supporting the bowels. I believe nearly or quite all similar cases would yield to the same treatment. SWELLING OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. By looking at Plate V, you will have a view of the large blood- vessels that go down ont of the basket of the hips to the lower extremi- ties, and also a view of the large vessels that return fi'om the lower extremities through and into the basket of the hips, to go to the heart. Now, when the bowels fall downwards, they are very apt to press upon these large blood-vessels, and obstruct the return of the blood, causing swelling of the lower extremities, and an obstructed circulation of blood in them, and a sensation as if the limbs were asleep. At times so intense is this feeling as to become very dis- tressing indeed. Even coldness of the feet and legs will often arise from this cause. Swelling of the large veins of the legs and feet is often produced by falling of the bowels, and cured by abdominal support. ABDOMESTAL SUPPORTER. Many instruments have been invented and used to support the bowels. We will recollect that the object of a supporter is to raise up the bowels to their place, and. keejJ them there. Some abdominal supporters are objectionable, because they press flatly against the bowels, and do not lift them up more than they press them down, and thus sometimes aggravating instead of reheving the disease for which they are employed. Other supporters are objectionable, be- cause they swaddle up the hips, and prevent free walking. Othere are so formed as to press upon the spine of the back, thus occasioning some of the worst cases of spine disease I have ever seen. Others are made to be stiff and rigid without any elasticity, not allowing any movement'of the bowels after they are once put on. Others, again, act more upon one side of the person than the other, having a spring upon one side and a strap upon the other, and in this way preventing an equal action. Othere are most inconveniently cumbersome and weighty, or produce far too much heat. Now, all these objections are perfectly unnecessary in a good suppoiter. The instrument I LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 345 employ for supporting the bowels is made of steel springs, weighing only a few ounces, and perfectly elastic, and prepared with suitable pads, so as perfectly to support and lift up the bowels. The pads at the back do not touch the spine or go very near it, nor do they touch the small of the back, but rest upon the short ribs above, and the hip- bones below, so that while the bowels are perfectly supported and kept in their places, the spine of the small of the back is completely relieved from any pressure. The springs do not go round, or press upon the hips, but rise on both sides above them, so that no obstruc- tion whatever is experienced in them from walking, in working, in danc- ing, or in any kind of exercise. By the elasticity of the springs, and their easy but effectual pressure, no chafing or suffering is produced anywhere, yet the bowels and the back are perfectly supported, whilst the instrument, yielding to every movement of the body, seems per- fectly alive, and keeps all the parts in symmetiy. After being worn one or two days, its presence gives no inconvenience whatever, and is remembered only from its constant support. It is woni with the pleasure of a well fitted glove. I scarcely need remark, that the sup- porter never need be worn in bed, and is not worn next to the pereon, but over some part of the clothing. (See Plates L and M.) If from any cause the bladder is much inflamed, the abdominal support- er cannot he worn until this is reduced and relieved, when it may bo most usefully worn. ' * SLEEP AND BEDS. I look upon sleep as one of the appetites. It is most eminently connected with all those organs that repair the waste and exhaustion of the body, allowing them perfect liberty to exercise their restora- tive functions, whilst, when perfect, it lays at rest all those organs which, when in action, exhaust the system, or waste the substance of the body. Hence the limbs; the senses, the brain, are all at rest in perfect sleep : and so is the whole nervous system, except those parts of it that give action to the repairing organs, which never sleep, and are chiefly the lungs, heart, blood-vessels, stomach, bowels, kidneys, the skin, the hver, and the appendages of these different parts. Con- sidering sleep as an appetite, we find that, like hunger, it comes to us, 15* 346 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. when in health, at those times when the waste or exhaustion of the body requires it. As the waste or exhaustion of body differs in every individual, so, like the food, there is no laying down any rules 1» de- termine the quantity of food or sleep that any individual requires ; and he must be governed by a well-regulated appetite. Laying, upon soft downy beds much of the time, is very apt to produce effeminacy and loss of strength. As a general principle, our beds should be rather hard than soft, and more or less elastic, if pos- sible. Straw, hair mattresses, &c., make excellent beds for the warm and temperate periods of the year, and in winter feather beds are often employed to advantage. In Italy I saw most excellent mattress- es for bed8,that were made by preparing the outer covering, or husks, or shucks, of the ear of Indian corn. These, on being combed or split into iine threads, serve to form most delightful mattresses. Too much clothing should never be employed in bed, yet every person should be, warm and comfortable while in bed, but not so warm as to be kept in a state of perspiration. The time for sleep is, by the universal con- sent of all nations, allotted to the houis when the sun is- below the horizon. In very hot countries, the people sleep more or less in the day-time. The loss of sleep, and the dissipation of late hours, are usually found highly pernicious. Early rising is remarked to be an almost universal habit of old people. To this I have never met with but one exception. This gentleman was seventy-seven years old, and indulged in sleep to rather a late hour of the morning. CONCLUSION. I have now detained you, gentlemen, as long as your patience or my time will permit. I could mtroduce other subjects, or enlarge each one upon which we have spoken, to a full lecture, and so am- plify and ©amplify the subjects as to swell them to an indefinite ex- tent ; but I forbear, contenting myself with throwing out the ideas, and leaving to your experience and intelligence the task of supplying what I have omitted. I again repeat to you what I have before said, that few die of old age until after one hundred years, and many, very LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 347 many, have lived far on towards two hundred years. All may live to reach the utmost verge of longevity, provided accidents do not oc- cur — diseases are^obviated, and premature exhaustion of the system does not take place from our own war upon it. In order to attain to long life, we must have health eveiy day. Excesses of all kinds must be avoided. The symmetry of the body, both external and in- ternal, must be preserved. We must study the capability of each part of our system, and over- work or exhaust no part. In this coun- try, many suffer most from over-exertion, not allowing their systems time for self-reparation. Our systems can bear much, and live on, but there is a limit to their powers of endurance, beyond which they cannot pass. The amount that can be safely accomplished differs in each, yet the weak often endeavor to emulate the strong, and crush then- own systems by their excessive labors. This is strikingly ex- emplified in many of our schools of learning. What one there accomplishes in two years with ease, another, to do it with safety, requires four years. Yet emulation, or supposed necessity, prompts him to finish the task in two years. Now the midnight oil is con- sumed ; now the taxed brain reels under its efforts ; now the nervous system begins to falter ; now, the organs of reparation, faithful friends to those who treat them rightly, lose their poWer to supply the waste and exhaustion of the system, and veiy soon the brain, the lungs, the heart, Ihe stomach, or the bowels, one or all, cease then- wonted healthy action, until the human frame, like a noble ship, that instead of resisting the elements . and making them subservient to her pur- poses, yields to their blows, deviating from her c^rse, and is driven madly and rapidly forward to destruction. This is the fate of millions, not only of students and scholars, but those of every occupation. Everywhere persons may be found, who, for a while, do two days' work in one ; but in a short period the machine breaks down, and the imprudent person becomes an invalid, or is out off in the midst of his days. I will repeat to you, tax no organ beyond its powers; preserve all, and life will roll on, in a smooth, unbroken current, until a century is marked upon the dial of our years. If any of you discredit what I say of excesses upon the hmman maohine, go and survey all the 348 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. operations of machinery of human invention, and ask the keepers how long will last a piece of machineiy driven beyond its powers 1 And again, ask how long would the same machine endure, when only required to do a reasonable duty, when promptly repaired on discov- ering the slightest defect, and always judiciously preserved ? The answers will fuUy satisfy you that what I have said of the human ma- chine is coiTect. Study, as you value life and health, a just equilibi'ium between rest and exercise, between repose and labor, between repa- ration and, exhaustion, and between the supplies and waste of the system, and never tSx any organ that is in a state of disorder or de- bility. No animal can endm-e as much as man. The care that is bestowed upon a favorite horse, if extended to ourselves, would give us good health. THE EFFECT OF VICE UPON LONGEVITY. One word more, and I win conclude. Allow me to speak of the effects of wickedness, vice, and immorality upon longevity. It is a veiy interesting fact, and a very cmious one, and to my mind a veiy strong argument, that the same mind that dictated those precepts of morality which we find enjoined upon us in the Old and New Testa- ments, was also the framer of the human machine. This ciuious fact is, that everything laid down in the sacred volumes of the Old and New Testaments, as vice, is most strongly and strikingly opposed to longevity, and most fully justifies the expression of the inspired penman, " that the wicked shall not live out half their days." On the contraiy, all the vu'tues enjoined and recommended in those sacred books are most strikingly conducive tb long life, to length of days, to longevity, I speak this to you, gentlemen, not as a moral preacher, but as a physician, as an observer of those agents which destroy or shorten life, or which promote and continue it. Now, -we will take those three great purposes for which the human body was formed. In the first place, the mind, in order to its full development and high- est attainment, requires unruffled tranquillity ; this will prevent its destroying the frail brain by which it acts. LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 349 Notice the effects of — And on the conti'aiy, those of — Anger, Kindness, Jealousy, Trust, Remorse, Peace, Hati-ed, Love, Envy, I Good will, Covetousness, Generosity, Revenge, Forgiveness, Despair,. -. -Hope, Profajiityj , Reverence, Fraud, Integrity, Fear, Confidence, Theft, Honesty, Cruelty, Compassion, C Contentment, Grief. i Patience, ' Cheerfulness. Now let any pei-son reflect upon the state of mind produced by any of those vices, the excitement of the brain, and the tendency of this excitement to produce apoplexy, fever, inflammations, &c. How many lives have been lost by sudden fits of anger, or bursts of passion. How often the heart itself has been burst by a fit of anger. I have known a pereon reduced to a perfect skeleton by a fit of remorse, and witb it every symptom of rapid dissolution, and the same person restored to good health in an equally short time, upon obtaining for- giveness for the crime that had occasioned the remorse. Again, we have seen feai- turn the hair perfectly white in twelve hours. The effects of these different vices or passions are to break up the human machine, and suddenly cut off life. Even profane swearing is calcu- lated to produce an undue excitement of the system. So that all these too much excite or depress the functions of the brain, and thus far remove that organ, and the nervous system, from that repose and tranquillity necessary to health and longevity. Run the eye over tlie list of virtues, and notice how beautifully and sweetly they harmonize with all the functions of the system. They produce perfect peace to the whole human machine. 350 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. When I read the moral law, found in God's Holy Word, for Man's guidance, and then contemplate the laws that govern the human fi-ame, I am forced to exclaim the same mind dictated them both ; so perfectly congenial are they to each other, that no human being can break God's moral laws without injuring himself. The keeping of those laws is always beneficial to the human system. Again, let us notice the vices which concern those organs that effect the reparation of the body. We find them to be — Opposed are — Prodigality, Economy, Indolence, Industry, Gluttony, Temperance, Drunkenness. Sobriety. I have repeatedly had occasion to remark to you the effect of these vices upon health and longevity. All of them are most fruitful causes of early death. What is more prolific of disease, or shortens life sooner, than gluttony, drunkenness, and excesses ? As for indolence, it produces a very rust of all the organs of the system, and contri- butes greatly to shorten life. Again, look at the opposites of these, temperance, sobriety, prudence, industry, and economy, and see how perfectly they are adapted to the well-being of the system, and how indispensable they are to long Hfe. Look at the third great division of the purposes of the human frarne. Notice the vices — Opposed to these are — Impurity, Pirity, Fornication, Bestraint, Lust, Chastity, Adultery. Fidelity, The sword has slain its thousands, but these vices have slain their millions. Go to the gallows, to the state prison, to the murderer's grave, to the resting-place of the suidde, to the hospitals for the in- sane, to the residence of the outcast, and they will tell you, in words not to be mistaken, the effect of these vices. The diseases engendered by them are among the most tenible the human machine suffers. It is out of my power now to tell you the number of deaths annually LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 351 aiTsing from these vices. But, taking the whole habitable globe, the number is absolutely incredible, and contiibutes greatly to shorten human life. On the contrary, see how peculiarly friendly to the hu- man machine is chastity, purity, and virtue. No triumph can be greater than that of the resolute man over his passions. And this triumph greatly contributes to lengthen his days. Let me also say, tiiat, in general, all our vices unite together, and contribute to strength- en each other, and whether few or many, they are always at war with the peace and health of the human machine. AU of them contribute powerfully to shorten human life. It is another curious fact, that none of these are so incorporated with the system as to be uncontrollable or out of ou» power to prevent, and cannot be said, in any respect, to form a part of the human niachine in any way ; they being entirely under the control of the will, and, whenever present, exist as abuses, none of them ever being committed involuntarily, we must always consent before we do them. Again, all the virtues unite together and support each other. Each triumph we make over any vice, power- fully strengthens our virtues. All the virtues contribute to the well- being of the human machine, and give a mighty preponderance to those elements that strengthen and fortify it, contributing to confer upon it immunity from some diseases, and assist to bestow upon it vast length of days, even the days designed in its orginal formation, which I believe to be from one to two hundred years. I said that I had noticed these facts in relation to virtue and vice as a physician. Allow me now to add, that I delight in them as a Christian. They assist much to strengthen my belief, that when that change comes to me, and vrill come to us all, my eyes will then be opened to that other state of existence, whose glories and grandeur are heightened by the feeling that there can be no change except from glory to glory, and whose great endowments are health, purity, and immortality. 352 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. CASE OF A CURE OF PILES, In July, 1843, at Troy, N. Y., I met the subject of this case. He was afflicted with most distressing piles, and was of a very scrofiilous habit. I then soon cured his piles by medical treatment. He was, a little time before, forced to lay for weeks upon his back, being una- ble to walk, stand up, or do anything for any length of time. After I prescribed for him, he remained well until the next Mai-ch, when his disease returned upon him so as to greiatly impair his strength. In April, 1844, 1 gave him an abdominal supporter, which soon worked a radical cure. Copy of a letter from Mr. John B. Whiton to Dr. S. S. Fitch. " "Weathersfield, Dec. 11, 1844. "Dr. S.S. Fitch: " Dear sir, — In reply to your inquiries, I will inform you that I was afflicted with most distressing piles for about three years. In July, 1846, I met you at Troy, Now- York. I was at that time, and fi-e- quently before, so reduced that I could not do any business, could not ride, and hardly walk. Aly usefulness was entirely destroyed ; you relieved me by medicines. " In March, 1844, I was again attacked, and suffered very much from piles, so as greatly to impair my general health. The firet of April, you gave me an abdominal supporter, which in a short time per- fectly cured me. I have now been well ever since. I feel most grate- fully obliged to you, and cannot but most confidently recommend your supporters to all peraons who may be troubled with piles, as, in my opinion, the only radical mode of cure. John B. Whiton." MANAGEMENT OF SCROFULA, &c. Case of Kelita B. Townley. In August, 1845, I visited several of the springs in "Western "Vir- ginia, and among others the celebrated Red Sulphur Springs. My object in visiting these springs was to observe their effect upon the consumptive. On my return, I stopped at Lynchburg, Va. I there LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 353 saw the subject of these remarlra, one of the most distressed men I ever saw. He was one of the proprietor of the " Lynchburg Virgin- ian," (newspaper.) Ho had been sick about five yeara, and for the last year had been confined to his bed and room all the time, and in despair had left off taking any medicine. He had a large sore upon the left hip and another upon the left thigh. The left leg, from the knee downward, embracing the whole of the left foot, toes,