Cornell University Library The original of this 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/cu31924031260882 LN^ r - ■ ■£■// BY SAKIA.W' '-^'^■/^.cy, ^ SiX LECTURES ON THE iUlOTIONS OF TKE LUNGS, AND CAUSES, PREVENTION, AND CURE OF PULMvl. 'ARY CONSUMPTION, ASTHMA, AND DISEASES OF THE HEART; OT THE LAWS OF LIFE; AND ON IBS MuD'=: ',v PRESERVING MALE AND FEMALE HEALTD TO AN HUNDRED YEARS. ALSO A TREATISE ON MEDICATED INHALATION. WITH 30 ILLUSTRATIONS. BY SAMUEL SHELDON fITCH, A. M., M. D. TWEimr-ForiTH edition. " I yet may walk, as it appears lo me, the rosy paths oftife ; and the ener^^y and action that were once in these limbs, may again be mine. If so, I shall {:ive ' honor to wliom honor is due ;' and if contrary to this, the earth should soon close over me, to the latsf mo rnent of my life should I be satisfied that this is the way, and tlie only true v/ay, to cure tQii.«uinption." — JSxtraetJrom Henri/ Peck's letter to Dr. S. St Filch. NEWYORK': S. S. FITCH & CO., 714 BROADWAY. LONDON : L. II. CHANDLER, 60 BERNERS STREET 1856. Entered aeeordlng to an Act of Congren, In the year 1856, by JOSIAH P. FITCn, b the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Sonthern District of New-Tork INTRODUCTION 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, Hollaijd, Belgium, France, Italy, the northern shores of the Mediterranean, Switzerland, Sar- denia, 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 peculiarities of each locality, both in the nature and prevalence of Consumption, and the peculiar methods adopted for its prevention and cure by the highest professors and teachere 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 iv iN'SKODi'criox. success. To facilitate his researches, ho 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- able 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 be flatters himself will become for Physicians a guide to a successful treatment of Pulmonary diseases. 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 njost gratifying personal benefits. The writer's experience is derived from an observation of more than twenty-five thousand cases vrithin the last eight years, besides all his previous practice. To reader 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 understood, im- plicitly believed, and judiciously followed, would lead to an almost, total annihilation of Pulmonaiy Consumption. ' To obtain a share of this confidence, a few lettere are subjoined from men of undoubted respectability and integrity ; some of whom have knovfn the writer for many years, even from childhood ; oth- ers, who have had a thorough opportunity of, noticing his practice and its gratifying results. The reader will find at the close of the volume a ^uU exposition of the^ method of treating Lung disease by "Medicated Inhalation." An effort is being made to mislead the public in relation to this prac tice; it is therefore important that the facts should be known. CONTENTS. Title p. i Intrpduclion iii Letter from Dr. Luther Brigham to Amos Binney, Esq xiii " from Dr. Bunj. H. Wfest to Dr. Gardner ib. " from R. R. Hinman, Esq., late 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, Md xiv " from J. Hubbard Graves, M. D., to Dr. Wm. D. Buck, of Con- cord, N. H ib. " from E. Halley M'Coy, Esq., to Dr. S. S. Fitch ' xv " from John W.Collins, M.D., to Wm.Haslam, Esq ib. Uuestions for Invalids, writing for advice. xvi LECTURE FIRST. Uses of the lungs, and causes of consumption p. 19 Four great chambers in the human frame 33 Skull ib. Chest : SS Left lung smaller than the right isS Impossible to contract consumption when the air passes in and ou( of each air-cell ib. Consamption is caused by general or partial closing of the air-cells lb. Consumption a most curable disease lb, Grand uses of the lungs ^. . .2( Uses illustrated T.. ..2'j Pure air food of the lungs 33 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 Palling of the bowels 40 Vi CONTENTS. Effeminacy and debility cause consumption J). 43 Hope antagonises the spread of consumption 45 Typhus fever — fever sores, scrofula, &c 46 Inhaling dust, metals, &c 48 Irregularities in diet — dyspepsia ib. Liver complaint — chronic diarrhoea — costiveness ib. Diseases of the throat 49 Too much clothing to be avoided 50 Influence of climate on consumption 53 Catarrh — influenza 56 Hereditary consumption < 57 Spinal diseases 58 Pain in theside, kidney affections lb. 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 S welled tonsUs prevent consumption 69 Common cold cures consumption 71 Hysteria 72 Prevention of hereditary consumption 73 Plain bringing up of children 75 Effects of cheerfulness and exercise to prevent consumption 78 Dancing ....80 Beds, and lying in beds 81 Climate and light prevent consumption ^ 81-2 Sea voy%es, diet, regular sleep, employments 84 Never neglect a cold g5 Cold bathing, inhaling tube, braces, supporter 86 Cure of pulmonary consumption 88 Inhaling tube, how it acts gO-1 Inhaling tube alone will not cure consumption 94 How we know one has consumption lb Treatment to cure consumption gg Bleeding, rarely advised ,..97 Counter-irritation, often injurious gg OONTSNTS. vii Diet p. 99 Air, and changes of air „ 100 Effects of journeys 101 Searoyages 103 "Warm climate 10? Respirators — ^bad effects, when may be used ib. Under what condition of the lungs may we hope for a cure of cdnstimption . ib. First and second groups of curables , 104 Third group curable 105 E'ourth group ib. fifth group ; 106 Asthma, causes and cure. 109 Heart diseases, pauses and cure 110 Mineral, iron and salphur waters ..115-16 Red Sulphur Springs in Virginia ib. Hot mineral waters 117 Throat affections ib. Cure of tnroat 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 Spasmodic asthma. Case n. Miss Little.... - 138 Case III. Mrs. Femald 139 Case IV. JohnH. McGiffin 140 Consumption — Case I. Miss Hawley 141 " II. Mrs. H. Gardner 143 . " III. Rev. L. D. Barrow 145 " IV. Mrs. Hmlburt 147 " V. Master Geo. W. Roberts , 148 " VI. Mr. Thaddeus Barnes 150 " VII. MissAngell 151 "VIII. Miss Nicjcerson .; 152 " IX. Rev. John Morris Pease 154 " X. Miss Redmond 155 " XI. Grovner Noyes 156 « XII. Mr. MoseaEly 157 "XIII. Mrs. DoroasT. Moore 159 Viii COKTENIB. Case XIV. Rev. Rodolphus Bard P- "'^ " XV. Mrs. Sarah Louisa Burrelt 1G2 " XVI. Mrs.T. T. Dean ^^ " XVll. Rev. R. Whitwell I^"- " XVIII. Mrs. Chas. M. Brockway >b. " XIX. Rev. W. H. Tiffany '65 " XX. Mr. William Wigram. 'GO " XXI. O. Thayer, Esq 107 " XXII. Ann D. Birosall 1"1 " XXIII. Mr. Stephen B. Dodge 178 " XXIV. Mrs. C. B. Collins ib, " 'XXV. Miss Elizabeth B. Lum 173 -■ XXVI. C. D. Pelrie, Esq 175 " XXVII. Mrs. M. H. Valentine 176 " XXVIII. C. M. Murray 178 " XXIX. James M. Evans 179 " XXX. Mary Ann Brooks ib. " XXXI. Rev. William Livesey , 180 " XXXII. Miss C. A. B 182 " XXXIll. Catherine Ann Smith ,....186 Cionclusion 188 LECTURE FOURTH— TO ladies onlt. rstances of longevity 190 Female life should average 100 j'ears, instead of 30 191 nlluence of female beauty on man 192 Health and beauty intimately connected 193 Symmetry of person , the foundation of all health and beauty 1 95 Shoulder supporters 198 To form a fine beautiful chest 201 Habitual stooping to be avoided 204 Silting posture 305 Position of the chest in walking 207 " " in bed 208 Standing on one foot 209 Tight Ucing jb. How to form a clear and beautiful complexion , 210 The teeth Po. Uige.«.tion 2H Dyspepsia 213 Articlesof diet that injure the complexion 215 CONTENTS. IX Gall-stones in the gall-bladder p. 217 Bad breath ., 218 Costiveness, its effects, how to correct 218-19 Kidney evacuations 220 Periods suppressed — painful — termination of 221-2 Evacuations from the lungs 223 The skin ib. Clolhiug, 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 cxerciss ■ 231 Grand arts of the toilet among the princely and noble families of Europe.23'» LECTURE FIFTH— TO ladies only. Basket of the hips , 340 Symmetry of the internal organs of the body 242 Falling of the bdwels — Effects 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 256 "Worms .^.- ■. * 257 Falling of the womb ib. Effects of dislocation of the womb 258-9-60-1 Fluor albus 261 Barrenness ib. Miscarriages 263 Floodings '. 263 Abdominal supporters . 364 What a supporter should. do - , .,86.6 When abdominal support should be used 269 X CONTENTS. SyiamelTy of mind essential to health p. 268 Case of Mrs. Kingsley 209 Mrs. Ho wland 271 Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner 272 MissBeedom ...273 Letter from Mrs. Gibbs 274 From Mr. Fayerweather ib. From Mrs. Jenney and Mrs. French 275 From Mrs. Taber ib From Mrs. Smith 276 From Miss Mary Nutter ib From Miss Waldron 277 From Mrs. Vanness 278 From Helen M. Lay 279 From Harriet Cleaver ib. FromW. V. S. Wordworth.. 280 LECTURE SIXTH— TO gentlemen only. Cases of long-lived men 387 Grand divisions of the human frame 289 Manner of forming a fine chest 390 Proper carriage and position of the chest 293 Bad effects of vicious position of the chest 295 Position of the shoulders ,. ggg 'Remedy for round shoulders.. 298 Shoulder-braces jj, How shoulder-braces should be made, and by whom worn 300 Man is intended to stand perfectly straight 302 Fine figures of savages , jl. Premature old age 303 Position in bed 3q^ Self-reparation of the body 3Qrj The stomach 3Qg Progress of food after leaving the stomach 3O8 Small and large bowels „ 308-9 Costiveness „„„ Bad effects of costiveness ". 3 . „ Depression of spirits '„.^ Jaundice. — Piles " ., A. bad breath „ ' Sea-sickness lb CONTENTS. xi Manner of curing costiveness p. 314 Office of the kidneys and bladder 316 Skin and its offices 318 Bathing 319 Sponge bath, sea water .' : 321 Effects of wate"pon 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 cure 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. Effect 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 iDack, limbs, &c. ib. Swelling of the limbs and veins 344 Abdominal supporter ib. Sleep, and beds ifg ^..° 345 Frame destroyed by seek! ng to do too much at a time 347 The effect of vice upon longevity 348 MEDICAL INHALATION, as employed by the author 353 Advertisements (before title-page.) Consultation. Professional.— J. P. Fitch, brother of author, associated as his assistant. Dr. S. S. Fitch not absent from home. The public cautioned against imposters. Notices of the Press. CONTENTS. TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS. . Portrait of Dr. S. S. Fitch, A. M., M.D., (fronts title-page,) A — Three views of the human sketeton 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 S3 ,D — View of the windpipe, lungs, air-pipes, and air-cells, heart, and midriff 34 E — View of windpipe, gliUet, and natural belts that form the walls of the abdomen ■ ■ 26 F — Consumptive and non-consumptive figures. .. i..' 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 364 M — Back view of do. do ib. N — View of the figure and inside of the stomach .212 P — Side view of the midriff, stomach, large and small bowels, bladder, ^nd womb... .7. 243 F— Same parts fallen down ib. (i — View of the liver and gall bladder 216 R — Falling bowels ". 336 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 Head of Henry Jenkins ggg Figures of Inhalers for Medicated Inhalation 35g Figure of apparatus to medicate the air of patient's room '. . 357 LETTERS, ETC. From Dr. L/iUher Brigham to Amos Birmey, Esq., of Boston. Lowell, January 4, 1844. Amos Binnet, Esa : Respected Sir, — Allow me to introduce to your friendly notice, Dr. S. S. Fitch, of Philadelphia. I have known Dr. Fitch from his childhood. His grandfather, Dr. Ebenezer Fitch, of Connecticut, 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 his opinion and advice on those subjects of great value. His patients in this place speak of hfm in the highest terms. Any favors you can render Dr. Fitch will be highly appreciated by his numerous friends, and by none more highly than by your old friend and humble servant, Luther Brigham. Extract of a letter frora, Vr. Beiy. 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, of Philadelphia, a gentleman who has been lecturing here on Con- sumption ; one whp is acquainted to a swrprising extent with the subject in its most important bearings ; ■ and who, by his disinterested actions, has shown himself entitled to the respect and confidence of all with whom he may be brought into contact. I bespeak for the Dr. your hospitalities and friendship. Your FrienS, Benj. H. West. Copy of a letter from R: R. Hinman, Esq., late Secretary of State of the Stutt of Omnectuut, to Professor Kingsly, of Yale College. Hartford, October I7th, 1844. Pkofessos Kinoslt : My dear Sir, — As Doct Samuel S. Fitch, of Philadelphia, is about to vist XIV 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 yean , tliat he sustains an estimable moral character, that he is notonly a regularly educated physician, but that he has been eminently successful in that branc} of his profession which he has particularly pursued for many years pas', His travels in Europe at different periods of his life, and particularly hi. residence in London, has afforded him a fine opportunity to examine the many cases of consumption with which he iias met in all climates anc 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 patronag. of the public. Yours, • R. R. Hinman. Copy of a Utter to the Hon. Upton S. Heath, Esq., United States District Judgl in Baltimore, Maryland, from Richard G. Belt, M. D. Fall River, Mass., Aug. 2, 1845.' Dear Sir, — Allow me to introduce my friend Dr. Fitch, of Philadelphia, to your acquaintance. The Doctor has spent several weeks in this place, and delivered a most interesting course of leptures, which I had the pleasure of hearing, upon the origin 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, of 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 IV^dical 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 Utter from J. Hubbard Graves, M. D., to Dr. Wm. D. Buck, M. D., of Concord, New Hampshire. Nashville, N. H., Oct. i20, 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 cau.ses 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. Fitch 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 le(!ttu^ LBTTKBS, ETC. XV eis invariably are. You will find that they are clearly arranged, and that all his conclusions have heen logically deduced. In fact, from what I have Been 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 Gbaves. Copy of"' letter from E. H. HTCoy, M. D., to Dr. S. S. Pitch. 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 with increased interest. In- deedy I have learned more from this smaM voluvie on those subjects^ ihtijt froTti 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 with 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 could net 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 esteem, &c., &c. E. Hallet M'Coy. Copy of a Utter from John W. Collins, M. D., to Wm, Haslam, Esq. Hopkinton, R. I., January 23, 1851. Wm, ITsslam, Esa: 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. Collins, M. D. [Doctor Collins is a very experienced, respectable, regular practitioner ol medicine.] QUESTIONS FOR INVALIDS. „^ Ab I hare had the happiness of relieving very many eonsiunp«Te Had othat mralids whom 1 have never seen, I subjoin a number of questions of which the in valid, wishing to consalt me by letter, will pleaae answer such as may concern hnn adding any further remarks that may be necessary to a clear description of his case I can then give my advice almost as successfully as though the patient were him- •elf present J stUl, if convenient, it is better that I should see him. TO INVALID LADIES. What is your name, age, occupation, residence, so a letter may reach jrou'? Where born and brought up^ Delicate or good constilution'! Height t Slender or broad figure 1 Fleshy or lean 1 Erect or stooping ■? Chest full and straight, or contracted, flat, and stooping 1 What is your measure around the waist, just above the hips 1 What is the color of your hair, eyes, and complexion 1 To what diseases are your family subject 1 Any died of asthma, scrofula, heart disease, dropsy, cancer, or consumption 1 Are you subject to asthma or short breathing 'i — any humor, salt rheum, or skin diseases t — any head-ache, 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 cough 1 —how long had it % Do you cough up any thing 1 — ^howmuch'! — what kind, &c. ^ When cough most 1 — anrf when raise most "i Ever raise blood 1 — how many times 1 — how much 1 On which side lay best, if either 1 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 out daily 1 Any palpitation, n distress at the heart, or stoppage of circulation t Are jrou nervous, or paralytic, or have fits 1 Any bad dreams, and their effects 1 Any dyspepsia, sour stomach, or distress, or pressure at the stomach 1 After eating, does food rise "i 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 % Appetite good, bad, or capricious ^ Bowels regular, costive, or di- arrhoea 1 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 1 What kind 1 Any gravel or kidney complaints ? Water stoppage, or free, or too much, scanty or scalding, or settlings T Cold or burning feet 1 Bloating anywhere 1 Much wind in stomach or bowels 1 Rheumatism or neuralgia 1 Any deformity 1 Ever any wounds 1 Long fevers'! Took much medicine, or mercury i Fever sores 1 Bilious hab- itually 1 Married or single, or widow! Had any children 1 > Suffered miscarriages, or floodings t Ever rise from bed feeling quite smart, but, on exercising, soon obliged to sit or lay ilown, all exhausted, or head-acke, and discouraged 1 Natural periods easy, painful, regular, or irregular, or stop- ped 1 If so, how long, and why 1 In the family- way 1 Any bearing-down, or female complaints 1 What have you done for these complaints 1 Can you read aloud, or talk long, or walk well, or do light work, without unusual fatigue 1 Are you in indigsnt or easy circumstances ? Hare you good teeth 1 Do you work hard, go out much, or the reverse 1 TO INVALID GENTLEMEN. What is your name, age, occupation, or profession 1 Residence, so a letter may reach you 1 Where born and brought up'! Delicate or good consti- tution 1 Height 1 Slender or broad figure 1 Fleshy or lean 1 Person erect or stooping 1 Ch3st full au.l straight, or stooping and contracted 1 Consti- lulion delicate or robust t What is your measure around the waist, just above the hips 1 What is the color of your hair, whiskers, eyes, and com- plexion 1 To what diseases are your family subject 1 Any died of asthma, scrofula, heart disease, or consumption I Are you subject to asthma or short breathing t — any humor, scrofula, salt rheum, or skin diseases t — any Gead-ache, or pain in the chest, neck, spine, shoulders, back, stomach, bow- els, 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. Any cough t — how long had it 1 Do you cough up anything ) — how much 1 — what kind, &c. 1 When cough most 1 — and when raise most 1 Ever raise blood 1 — how many times 1 — how much t On which sideday best, if either 1 On full breathing, do your ribs rise equally all over your chest, or do the ribs rise better on one side or part than another t Have you daily chills, or fever, or night-sweats, short breathing, or asthma 1 Are you con- fined to your bed, or room, or the house, or do you go out daily 1 Any pal- pitation, or distress at the heart, or stoppage of circulation 1 Are you ner- vous, or paralytic, or have fits 1 Any bad dreams, and their effects 1 Any dyspepsia, sour stomach, or distress, or pressure at the stomach, after eating, or ever sick stomach to vomit, or food rise after eatingt Ever any sinking, exhausted, all-gone feeling at top of chest, or pit of stomach, or in the stom- ■ ach, or sides, or bowels, or across the bowels f Appetite good, bad, or capri- cious 1 Bowels regular, costive, or diarrhoea 1 Any external, or bleeding, or blind piles'! Weak back '! Have a rupture '! Suspect having worms 1 What kind t Any gravel or kidney complaints f Water stoppage, or free, settlings,^ scanty or scalding, or too much 1 Any heat in your back ar any parf! Cold or burmng feef! Bloating anywhere 1 Much wind in stom- ach or bowels! Pains in your limbs 1 Rheumatism or neuralgia! Any deformity'! Ever any wounds '! Long fevers'! Took much medicine or mercury 1 Fever sores t Bilious 1 Clear complexion % What done for these complaints'! How long'! Are you married or singl" '! Can you read aloud, or talk long, or walk actively, or do your work, without unusual fa. tigue 1 In indigent or easy circumstances t Do you work hard, or take aitive exercise, or tlie reverse 1 Dropsy or cancer 1 Have you good teet)' 1 DISCOURSES. DISCOURSE FIRST. ON THE USES OF THE LUNGS AND CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. "Wb live in an age remarkable for its vast discoveries, for its wonderful developements in knowledge ; developements which are giving us great control over the material world, annihilating time and space. At one moment, discoveries obtrude upon our notice in a gentle light; at another, they buret forth with the most brilliant meteoric glare, dazzling us with their splendor and awaken- ing profoimd and wondrous anticipations of the future. Even now, so much more can we achieve than we could have done fifty years ago, that life seems ' almost to have doubled its value in that period. Three hundred years ago, could a person have been thrown to sleep, and have continued in that state fifty years, on awakening and returning to the schools, he would have found the same books, the same mode of teaching, the same elements of thought, perhaps without a single change. Now, let a person remain in seclusion for no more than five years ; on returning, he would notice many changes in the arts, and in all the active developements of human knowledge. As an example : about fifteen years ago a celebrated oculist was accused of ha\'ing said that, by cutting a few fibres of the mascles of the eye, cross-eyes, or strabismus, might be cured. He, in the public papers, declared this to bs a libel; that lie had never mado 20 ON THE USES OF THE LUNGS, AND suuh an assertion ; considering it the height of absurdity. Within a few yeais after, this operation was adopted all over the civilized world. Perhaps very few peasons are aware, or suspect, whither all these improvements tend, or what is to be the final result. I answer, they are aD building up a science that now has not even a name. It is now like an open square in the centre of a great city, to which all the ways tend, but itself is only open space. This science is the science of Longevity — the science that tends to prolong human life, and make all reach the limits of its utmost duration. It is even now known that the duration of human life among civilized nations, is in the exact ratio of their increase in knowledge. In those countries where knowledge is on the increase, in that ratio does the duration of life increase among that people. For ex- ample : In 1760, the deaths in London were one in twenty-one of the inhabitants; in 1820, the deaths were one in forty-one; and in 1850, one in forty- five ; life having nfearly doubled its du- ration in eighty years. At that same period, the ' deaths in Paris were one in seventeen ; now they are one in thirty-two. In New- York, the deaths vary from one in eighteen to one in thirty-two annually. This knowledge must increase among the people, as at this time, in venerable Rome, the deaths are one in twenty-five; and in the polite city of Vienna, the deaths are one in twenty-two. The physicians of Rome and Vienna are fully as good authority in medicine as those of London or Paris ; but the mass of their popu- lation are remarkable for gross ignorance. Knowledge to each in- dividual is almost a palladium to his existence. You all know to what great reputation some physicians will attain in large cities. This is owing in part to the high intelligence of their patients, whose sagacity and knowledge give almost double efla(aoy to medi- cal remedies.. Correct knowledge to each individual in society, on the subject of health, is what is required. It is this which is my apology for pre- paring this work, and presenting it in plain English, that all may road it and have health. Many diseases were once deemed incurable, which the prci«?re« CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 31 PLATE A.— Views of the Human Skeleton. 1. side View. 2. Front View. 3. Back View. 4 — 4, the Collar Bonea. 1—1, (he SVitt'.iWer Blailes. of knowledge has taught us are not so, but are now readily cured. As for example : the small pox, once*sweepiiig away tribes and nations, as with our North American Indiums. Dropsies, inflam- mations, (fee, were usually fatal. My own belief is, that there are noj^iseases for which successful remedies do iiot exist; but, owing, to our ignorance, their prompt and timely apphcation is not made, and thus the lives of millions are needlessly lost. Oftentimes perfect remedies become of no avail, from -the ignorance or scepticism of the patient, or his friends. A little correct knowledge in the mind of each individual will work wonders in preserving his health and multiplying his days. Beforejproceed further, allow me to call youi" attention to the skeleton. (See Plate A.) We live in a house. The human frame b a piece of mechanism put together on mechanical priiiciples, and USES OF THE LUNGS, AND PLATE B, 1, Breastbone. 2—2, Basket of the Chest. 3—3, Basket of the Hips. 4, the Spine in the Loins or small of the Back. acting in all its parts mechanically, or mainly so ; the only excep- tion to this is, in the chemical changes and galvanic or electric ex- changes that take place in the actions and secretions of the various assimilating organs of the system, and in the supply of power to the nervous system. But the whole human frame and all its parts constitute in the whole one'great machine, whose harmonious action confers general health. The skeleton, or framework, on which all is built, besides the upper and lower limbs, is naturally divided into four chambers : 1st, the skull ;• 2d, the chest ; 3d, the abdomen ; 4th, the pelvis, or basket of the hips. (See Plates B and A.) The first chamber I will Hotico, is the skull. This is a dark chamber, remarkable for being the room in which the brain is lo- cated, and is also remarkable for the place where mind and matter meet. In the brain resides that inscrutable and awful being, the human soul. The eye does not see, the ear does not hear, all the senses are only means and instruments that convey lmowled<'e it CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. PLATE C. 33 I, the Windpipe. 2—2, the Lungs. 3, the Heart. 4, the MidritT. 6, the Stomach. 6, the Liver. 7, the Gall Bladder. 8, the Large Bowel. 9, the Small Bowel. the soul. Tke soul is imprisoned in this dark chamber. Its food is knowledge; no man can explain — ^no man can comprehend it. It is an emanation from the Most High ; arid in control, holds the same relation to man's body that the Almighty does to it. Impri- soned now, it will one day leave its prison-house, and wing its way to immortaUty. The chest is a basket of bones, formed in the male Uke a sugar- loaf, and open at the bottom. (See Plate B.) The ribs of this basket are tied in front t* the breast-bone, by elastic cartilages, which, for perspicuity, I will call India rubber. By this construc- tion, the chest is made flexible, expansible, and compressible. It is the only bony cavity of the human frame that can be enlarged or diminished at one's will. So formed is it, that any person choos- ing a full fine chest, can have it ; and any one choosing to have a 34 USES^OF THE LUICGS. AMU PLATE D. " 3 . %, it I, Windpipe. 2, Right Lun?, or Great Air-Baj. 3, Heart. 4, Loft Lung; half cm i«»5, Bhowing the air pipes and air cells. 5, Midriff, or floor of the Lungs. contracted small chest can be gratified Tliis flexibility of the chest continues with many and most persons to old age. It is in high- est perfection in young pereons. The chest is separate'd from the abdomen by the diaphragm, or midrift', which is a fleshy substance, or floor, that is loose, and floating upwards into the chest on expi- ration, and falls downwards on inspiration : working up and down as we breathe. (See Plate C.) On each side of the chest are situated the lungs : a couple of air bags, folded in such a manner as to present a \ast surface to the air. (See Plate D.) The lungs, Itke their envelope, the chbst. are flexible, compressible, and expansible. The he?J't is situated be- tween the two lobes of the lungs, and under the breast-bone, to- wards its lower portion, inclining a little to the left side. (Sfee Plate D.) The lungs will bear moderate compression and expan- sion, without immediate disease, but the heart will not. CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. «S A great many cases of heart disease are produced by a contrac- tion of the chest, so that the heart has not room to play. I hare often cured seemingly fatal diseases of the heart, by enlarging the size of the chest ; of which I shall speak in another place. The left lung is smaller than the right. It is divided into two lobes, whilst the right has three lobes. The lungs 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 thinness 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 become smaller, or are en- tirely closed. Each air cell is in communication with the air pipes, from which it is fiUed with air at each inspiration, and through which it 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 into and out of each air cell, and thus keeps all the walls of the aii- cells thin, and free from engorgement or deposition of foreign matter ; and they will be kept perfectly fi-ee from such engorgement, or deposition of matter, if the air fuUy inflates each air cell at each inspiration. AUow me to repeat, pulmonary consumption is caused by a gene- ral or partial closing of the air cells, either from external compres- sion, internal engorgement of the walls of the air cells, or a deposition of foreign matter in the air cells, as chalk, bony matter, &o. ; which last is very rare. It is utterly impossible to have pulmonary con- sumption, unless the air cells are more or less obliterated. The dis- ease progresses IS the air cells are progressively obliterated. A portion St healthy lung will float on water ; a portion pulmon- arily diseased, wiU sink m water. Prom vast observation and experience, I unhesitatingly assert that consumption is one of our most curable diseases ; and it is easier prevented and warded off than any hereditary disease to which we are inclined. 2 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND PLATE E. I, Windpipe. 2, the Gullet, or pipe that conveys the food fi-om thfc mouth to lb* Gtomach. 3—3, the belts covering the front of the abdomen. USES OF THE LUNGS. On a correct knowledge of the uses or functions of the lungs de- pend all correct views of their diseases, and of their treatment. It is well known that in all great pieces of machinery, both natural and artificial, we very often find one grand leading purpose, and then comes an important but subordinate purpose. Li nature, let us consider the sun : its first grand purpose is to keep thp planets in their places ; its subordinate pui-pose is to furnish light and heat to those planets. In art, observe a watch : its fii-st gi-and object is, by the move- ments of a pendulum, to mark the progress of the sun across the heavens. It might be a peifect time-keeper, with only this move- ment ; but in order to make it useful to us, that we may be in- , formed of the progress of the 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 hours and minutes. Again : Lead two savages into a flouring mill ; on leaving that mill, one may be supposed to ask the other its grand ilse. At once he replies, it is to separate the coarse and line parts of that powder from each other. No, says the other, that is not thc- principal use of the mill ; it is to crush the kernels of wheat into powder. The former, by only noticing a subordinate function, arrives at a very false 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 is derived the 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 answered. 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 more than could be separated by two glands half the size of the kidneys ; and d6es not at all account for the vast size of the lungs, so disproportionate to this object. To purify the blood of 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 l^as arisen, with all its deplorable effects. What are the grand uses of the Lungs ? In 182'r, whilst pursuing some investigations in Philadelphia,, upon Nervous Influence, preparatory to my graduation thesis, I 38 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 m« what are the principal uses of the lungs. I have often asked this ques- tion. I never met but one person who made even an approximate aaawer. But what are the uses of the lungs 2 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 ^;he 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 amount 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 aU. It is of vital consequence that we perfectly CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 29 ondorstand the uses of the lungs ; do this, and they will become as playthings to us. USES ILLUSTBATBD. " Tlie first example I will give you is that of the race-horse- Ask any stable groom upon what depends the value of the race- horse, and he will tell you, not on 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 accomplish sixteen miles. This truth was known long before the days 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 you, 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 Grecian sculpture, the Apollo of Belvidere in Rome, and the Venus of Medicis at Florence, to which pilgrimages are made annually by thousands of a.dmh'ing observers, this rule holds : the breast of the Apollo measures three, the Venus two. These 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 physical strength ; she conquers by her charms ; her lungs are a third smaller than his, consequently her physical strength is always less. Again : observe the difference in the strength of different men. Were you required to select the strongest man of your acqnamt- ance, would you select a man vrith a flat thin chest, long neck, and narrow round stooping shoulders, or would you select a man with a wide, deep, round chest, and hvoai heavy shoulders. There can be but one answer. You would choose the man with large lungs, and you would not be disappointed. You would find his strength 30 USES OP THE LUNGS, AND in the exact ratio of his pulmonary developement, oOier things being The diflfereice in the strength of different men is immense, and the difference in the"size of the chest forms a very striking character- istic 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 : observe a man about to lift a heavy weight ; as he stoops to raise it, his last act is to fill his lungs to their utmost expansion, and if a great effort be required, 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 aim is prefei'red in its use over the left ; in other words, that all men are 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 tie 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 beliffve in all cases where they are left-handed, 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 yeai-s the brother in the country will be found to possess in a vast many cases double the CAUSES OP 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 stnick at its wonderful performances : but there is a power that laughs at the steam engine, and that is the power tliat 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 own weight, flies away wth him to the top of Mont Blanc. Tliis is power acting upon mechanism. We know of nothing in man's art tliat will compare with it. Now what is peculiar in the eagle ? Fu'st, his lungs are as large as can be stowed in his body ; secondly, the air is made to fill all his bones and quills, and finally is poured through the cellular tissue, and spread upon the Unng muscles, so that they may feed xipon the air witliout the inteiTention of the lungs. In the case of the eagle, science says this universal diffusion of air in his quills and bones, &c., is to buoy him up in the sky. Not so ; for if you strike him in the sky, he falls to the eaith as suddenly as any other body of the same weight and space. It is to give him more air to consume, as no lungs can be given him suf^cie^tly large to give ah' enough to generate a power sufficient for the wonderful feats of sb-ength he is called upon to perform. Many migratory pigeoas that travel fifty miles an hour, that you can hold upon your hand, consume more air than some females. Again : go down the scale of beings, and take those animals who, for a gi-eater or less period of time, suspend all action, and you find that the lungs consume little or no ah at this time, as in the case of the frog imbedded in stone or clay, for indefinite periods, perhaps hundi-eds of years. So witli the hibeiToating bear, who breathes scarcely once in several minutes. In all cases it will be obseiTed, with no exception whatever, that in all animals the action of the lungs ■mil be found to coreespond exactly to the consumption of power ; and, as I have before remarked, where there is no air, there will be no action. The impoi-tancc of fully understanding this subject may be inferi'ed, by knowing that the lai'ger the lungs and the more perfect their de- 32 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND velopment, the less they are UaWe to pulmonaiy consumption. ITiat the more fhey are exercised, the larger they will become ; that as we .take active or laborious exercise, our lungs will be contjnually enlarg- ing ; and that on the contrary, indolence, want of exercise, &c., will render the lungs smaller and smaller, \mtil by absence of air the air cells then wiU close up and collapse their wdls, as a bird folds up its plumage. By this we also learn that pure au-, and even cold air, because more dense, is the best fnend of the lungs, and should be resorted to with the greatest confidence, both to prevent and cure their diseases. Pure air is the food of the lungs, and diffuses through them, life, energy and activity, into the system. In the pursuit of any science, if many minds of equal power and endowment investigate a subject, and arrive at far different conclusions, diverging from each other like the spokes of a wheel, we may be certain they have started wrong ; that their premises are erroneous. As for example, the hieroglyphics of Egypt. On many monuments, tombstones, obe- lisks and pyramids in Egypt, are observed numerous inscriptions, paintings, &c., drawn or engraved upon the solid granite. For more than ^teen hundred years a knowledge of the meaning or purpose of these inscriptions was lost to the civilized world. Books and almost libraries were written to prove their uses, some making them one things and some another, until recently it was hinted that these very pictures were alphabetical letters. No sooner was this idea faii'ly stated, than an alphabet was commenced and gradually completed, until now these Egyptian writings are read with the fecility of the insdiptions on the tomb-stones in our ^ave-yards. AU the wretched speculations of the once would-be learned scholars have been dissipated and proved to be the absurdity of ignorance. We now learn that what was supposed to be a cloud, covering most inscrutable mysteries, are only simple records of men's actions, wishes, lives and deaths, and were once familiarly read by alt the stone-masons of Egypt. Now this is precisely the condition of our knowledge in regard to the lungs, their uses and diseases ; a perfect cloud rests over them, because their uses are not well understood. Their grand purpose in CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 33 entireiv overlooked, and unknown by the mass of medical and other men. This IS shown in their practice and its results. No two of any ex- perience agree in their practice. I do not know that I ever met two physicians who were of any eminence, and not mere imitatore, who thought or acted alike in treating consumption, or who had the least notion how it might be prevented. Nor have they any confidence in their own practice : in few cases have they the least hope of curing the disease, or of preventing it. Go to them to treat a pleurisy or lung-fever, or inflammation of the lungs, and they do it skilfully ; but tell them the patient has consumption, or is threatened .with it, and at once all is doubt and darkness. One tells him to go to a warm climate — another says, go to a cold dimate ; one says, keep in the open air — another says, shut yourself up in your room in all cold, damp, or windy weather. One says, we can cure consumption if we can stop the motion of the lungs, and so directs his unfortunate pa- tient not to breathe much, and to restrain his breath as long as pos- sible ; one tells him to breathe the air when out of dooi's, but another commands his patient to wear a respirator and cover his mouth, and not to allow the cold to touch his lungs, &c. One blisters the chest, or makes awful sores upon it ; another rejects this, &c. One bleeds and reduces the patient, another stimulates him and gives tonics. In one thing they nearly all agree, and their experience is alike, that their patients nearly all die. This universal mortahty among theu" patients keeps them all in- countenance, and inspires confidence that their practice. is right. Nothing daunted, a leai-ned physician will conduct all the members of a family to their graves, one after another, giving the same reme- dies to each, and never once suspecting that his practice is wrong, or that it can be changed for better. Intimate to the medical body that consumption is a curable disease, and at once such an idea is denounced as the height of folly or knaveiy. What results from this darlsness of the medical faculty ? Why, the whole land is covered with a pall ; nearly one half of the adults, when Uiey die, die of consumption or diseases of the chest. 2* 34 USES OP THE LUNGS, AND The whole population are i-unning everywhere for aid. All confr dence in the regular medical faculty, for consumption, is lost ; nobody respects them, and they do not respect themselves on this subject. AUow me here to say, from great experience, that nme-tenths of all that is laid down in medical books, taught in medical schools, or pm'sued in medical practice, for the prevention and cm-e of consump- tion, is calculated to creafe the disease, not to cure it. Another most startling fact grows out of these premises, which is, that our oldest and most eminent physicians, every where — ^those standing highest in the communities where they reside, having the most influence, and most addicted to wiitten authorities, and regular precedence, in fact, called the head of the medical profession — are the poorest possible authority on consumption, except to record its fatality. Their consumptive patients all die, without a single exception ; and for this we have their most emphatic authority. Dr. Nathaniel Chap- man, who has been for a great many years Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, in a re- cent pubhcation, denounces a man who professes to cure consumption, as sinking himself to the most degrading charlatanism ; and solemnly declares, that in a practice of fifty years, he never has seen a case of seated consumption cured. This, my readers, is a record of his -prac- tice ; and of nearly all, with scarcely an exception, in the regular faculty, up to this time ; and most fully confirms aU I have said upon the awful destructiveness of their practice. This leads me also to call to your minds, that nearly all the higher classes in the United States, who only employ the old school physicians, when struck with consumption, die of it. Whilst with the more independent, and think- ing classes, not trammelled by fashion, not reverencing mere names and pretensions, but fly from such persons, and ask for facts, demand cures, find often, at last in perhaps an obscure old woman, or some illiterafa person, that aid which could not be obtained fi-om their regular and "world and time-honored physicians." This want of success of the school-bred physicians is owing to their profound ignorance of the uses of the lungs. Why do tiiey not at once, as honest men, tell their consumptive patients, we cannot cure you, and leave them to nature and its resources, without adding to their sufferings the accumulated CAUSES OP CONSUMPTION. 85 and accumulating ills of drugs and medical remedies, that, in nine cases out of ten, hurry them to their graves, and deprive them of all comfort whilst living. I have known many old physicians, who at last, over- whelmed by their iU success, say at once to their patients, let medicines alone, and trust to diet, change of air, and nature. It is a fact, that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, patients left to themselves will live much longer without the usual medicines, than with them. "Woe then, to you, consumptives, who put yourselves in the care of those who pronounce consumption always incurable. Let me here enter a solemn disclaimer of any unkind feelings to- wards any physicians. No man better than myself, knows their sa- crifices, their great benevolence, and disinterested efFoi-ts in behalf of sick and sufiering humanity. None admit more fully than they, all that I have said on the insufficiency and even mischievous nature of their practice, and on its deplorable effects on medical reputation. None would go farther, or do more than they, to introduce a successful prac- tice in the cure of consumption, or rejoice more to see it fairly classed among curable diseases. But, alas, in our profession, a few high priests dictate to all the rest, and the laity of the profession consent to receive instruction only through these oracles. My father, my grandfather and brother, were regular, eminent, and respectably edu- cated physicians. I cannot bear ill feehngs towards physicians. No one respects them more ; but I do deplore theh ignorance of the uses of the lungs, anvinter, and wovliod on the fin in in summer, until he was seventeen yenra old ; tlien, instead of going to school, he taught school and pwsued his studies out of school horn's. After two or thrcu years, he was prepared to enter Dartraoutli (Jollege, still teaching Bcliool during the winter, and attending' ooUego in the spring and fall months ; but working at home on the farm in haying and harvest- ing. This terrible couree of effeminating and exhausting labor soon broke his health. Ho was predisposed to consumption by family taint, his motlier having died of it. Its early symptoms soon began to ap- peal-. He was sent to the south to improve his healtli and teach school. Tliis couree soon completed its work. The lady, on an'i\ing in Virginia, found her young relative dead of consumption, and he tJio only son of a rich father. The souUicrn jioople, when tliey sco these multiplied cases among tliem of young pereons of reputedly rii'li pai'ents, cannot but tliink tliat the Now England mind is the very acme of mc.innoss. CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 53 Ajiolher case I will ^ve of a similar character. I was consulted in October of 1844, by a young gentleman in one of the richest country towns in Connecticut. He was a fine looking, genteel young man His first remark was, " I have called, to ask you how long -I have to hve ;" not believing that he could hve long. He was an only son. His mother died of consumption, leaving one son and two daughters, one of whom had also died of consumption. The son gi'aduated at Yale College, then studied law in the Law School in Albany. On closing h^ law. studies, he settled in New*- York ; not ge*fcg law busi- ness as fast as he deshed, he took a situation as book-keeper in a vhole- s:,le store : staid there until pulmonaiy symptoms began to appear, thoii went home : change of an- and occupation soon restored his health, and now he takes a school for occupation ; in three months, bleeding at the lungs showed that consumption had began its work in earnest. He relinquished his school, and passed six months of unmitigated dis tress in anticipating an early and certain death. I had the pleasure of J^^Stwing him to perfec^ealth by God's blessing. No danger need he ever apprehend from consumption, if he follows faithfully the direc- tions. His father is a veiy wealthy man. I will add one case more. I was consulted in May, 1844, at Spring- field, Massachusetts, by a young man in the very last stages of con- sumption. He was brought up to fanning pursuits and active out- door occupations until twenty-two yeare of age; then desiiing an easier employment and higher wages, he came from the country to Springfield, and hired himself to a confectioner, and worked in a basement, almost a cellar, over kettles of boiling sugar and boiling syi'ups, most of the time inhaling a bad ah', and covered with profuse perapiration. In seventeen months he died of consumption. Tliese cases will suffice to point out the terrible effects of leaving out-door occupations, and choosing exhausting and debilitating employ- ments within doors. If predisposed to consumption, youi- fate is cer- tsiin ; if not predisposed, a predisposition may be induced by these exhausting di-ains upon the vital energies. CLIMATE PREDISPOSING TO CONSUMPTION Allow me to say a word or two on climate, and some states of tha M . DSES OF THE LUNGS, AND .^tmospaite, as under some circumstances predisposing to consump- tion. Consumpti<*j prevails most in dark, damp, cool climates, sucL as tliat of Scotland and England ; but climate alone never will cause consumption, and never did. In Scotland, and some parts of Wales, consunii{)tion is almost epidemic. Its highlands and sea coasts are dark, cold and cloudy ; but in the early periods of Scot- tish history, its population was a most hardy race. Effeminacy al- most unknown in both sexes. Then, consumption was almost un- known ; now, nearly, half of its adult population, whe^^they die, are its victims. Climate can only concur with other causes in pro- duumg iconsumjjtion. Light and dry climates are least predisposing to lung diseases, such as the chmate^ of "Siberia and Cuba. No more deaths take place, nor as many, frpm consumption in Siberia, as in Cuba, in pro- portion to the population. Consumption was an exceedingly rare disease in Canada for many generations, until they became an effeminate race. It is now fre- quent. C0I4 is not a cause, nor does it cause predisposition to con- sumption, as is commonly thought. In fact, cold dry air is most healthy and beneficial to the lungs. But cold may act to such an extent as to enfeeble and break down the system, and then, like other debilitating causes, it may predispose to consumption. Of all the predisposing causes, the effects of cold are most easily oV viated. I had the honor of a personal acquaintance, for many years, with the Hon. and Right Rev. Dr. .Stewart, Lord Bishop of Quebec. In his old age and enfeebled by disease, his duties compelled him to pass alternately his winters in Quebec and Toronto. In Quebec, the cold is incessant, steady and diy, for nearly six months, with very few changes or fluctuations of temperature. The air is dry and bracing. In Toronto, the rdv is mild, damp, and subject to grert and sudden changes of temperatm-e. Dr. Stewart told me that he much preferred residing in Quebec. Consumption is much less freq»ient ui Quebec than in Toronto, all things considered. Those cases of consumption induced much by skin disease will be influenced by cold in tlie early stages of the attack, the same as the CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. ^ 55 original skin disease was. For example : salt rheum is most apt to appear in cold weather, and at the period of changes ■ from heat to cold, and to disappear on the approach of warm weather. Hence inany oases of this kind in the early stages disappear in warm weather, and are helped on going toa warm climate, so that many cases of asthma, bronchitis, throat disease and consumption, are fegtter in their early stages by warm weather. But as the disease beconjps more seated the good eftectsof the warm weather are overbalanced by the de- bility it|BrodMces, and the sufferer derives no benefit from the re- turn of spring and access to warm weather. Other forms of skin diseases are worse in summer, aind if affecting the ImrigS, throat, &c. ; the persom,-vgJl have muclf more cough in suramoi' than winter during the fii'st stages ^f their disease. This whole subject of humor, or skin, or tissual diseases is eminently de- serving of the most serutiniiing attention, as it must greatly m6dify our advice and remedies. Obstructed perspiration, or a common tcold, a cause of consump- tion. " , A common cold is a frequent cause of consumption. Although in my remarks on diseases that cm-e consumption, I shall refer to a cold as at times curing, instead of producing consumption, yet it much oftener produces than cures consumption. The first attacks of cold very rarely produce consumption unless in lungs highly pre- disposed and prepared for it. There are many pereons who will have a cold in cold weather which will last two or four Weeks, and go off. The next winter they \^ill last five or six weeks ; and so increase in intensity and continuance in successive winters, until a cough lasts nearly all the year, and consumption is the result. Cold produces consumption by obstructing the pores of the skin, and the fluids which should pass by the skin are thrown upon the lungs. The lungs become gorged with blood ; the an- cells nearly closed. Nature, to retrieve herself, sets up a secretion of phlegm more or less watery and acrid, that is thrown off in gi-eater oi- less quantities froni the skin that lines and covei's the walLs of the air pipes and air cells. Should these seci'etions continue long and be profuse, great irritation is pro- duced, and the system sinks into consumption by the gi-eat debility 50 - USES OP THE LUNGS, AN0 of the Ivmgs, and engorgement of blood and mucus and ulcerated se cretions. Wliat is called quick consumption, is usuaUy in the begin ■ ning only a common cold. CATARRH. ' CataiTb is a fonn.of disease like a cold that is located chiefly on the in- ternal lining o^the*nose, extending up between the bony plates above the eye-brows.; at times occasioning most intense headache and dull- ness about the head and eyes. Oftentimes the disc^gM are very copious. Occasionally it extends all over the back of the throat ani parts about the palate, reaching along the passage back to the inter nal ear, and produdng at firs^dulhiess of healing and finally deafness The diachai'ges wiU often dropfrom the back of the nostrils into the wind-pipe, 'p^ducing constant hawking and raisiog of offensive mucus. Sometimes' the catarrh spreads dovra the wind-pipe and along the air-pipes to the top of the lungs, when pain, tightness and stricture is often felt — also producing,a cough and rai^g nearly the same matter as is discharged fi'om the nose. Catarrh diners from a common cold by its longer continuance, almost total absence of any fever, and by its offensive smelling discharges, rarely ever found in an ordinaiy cold. I think it is produced by a humor or sort of skin disease, that spreads wherever the catarrh is experienced, and is its exciting and continuing cause. Catan-h is veiy curable, and all its unpleasant consequences easily removed. It is often a cause of noises in the head, ringing in the eare, and great oppression about the head, causing deafness. It at times deranges the general health so much as to prepare the way for pulmo- nary consumption. At times catanh cui-es consumption, yet it is al- ways on the lungs more or less during consumption. INFLUENZA. Among the exciting causes of consumption, and one that weakens and instates the lungs as much as' any other, is influenza. It is a ter- rible disease. Us occurrence in summer is a fiightful calamity, as it lays the foundation for thousands of consumptions. Influenza will ren- der the strongest lungs m persons no way inclined to consumption, high- CAUSES OF CONSUMP^ON. 51 \y predisposed to it. It is worthy of remark, fhat a summer cold or an influenza in summer, is much more liable to produce consumption than if it takes plaue in winter. No relics of influenza should bo al- lowed to remain, but it should be done away by exercise, bathing and the inhaling tube, and suitable medicines. HEREDITARY CONSUMPTION. In speaking to you of the causes of pulinonary consumption, it is proper that I |j|iDuld speak to you of hereditary consiunption. Here- ditary taint is often spoken of as a cause of consumption. I do not think because our parents die of any disease, that we must necessarily have it, whether there is a predisposition to consumption, cancer, or any oth- er disease. It is a veiy curious fact, that children are copies of their parents, more or less frequently, in each minute particular ; both in ex- ternal formation and the most intricate peculiarities of the constitution. I once knew a ease of a man, who, after marriage, and having two healthy children, lost by injury the use of his right aiTn, that gradual- ly withered away to mere skin and bone, with no power in it. He had two childi-en bom after this accident, and both had withered ai-ms. Persons born of parents who are consumptive, only inherit a predis- position to this disease, and sooner fall into consumption from any of • the active causes I have before mentioned, than if then- parents had been free from consumptive complaints. This strongly indicates fo them the necessity of avoiding all the predisposing caiises of consump- tion I have enumerated. Greater care is required of these in forming and keeping a fine chest and lungs. They should also recollect that they should sooner adopt preventive* remedies, and longer continue the precautions I shall hereafter point out. Disease in them is more rapid and sooner fatal than in persons of healthy parents. That their lungs will hear vastly less disease and are cured with greater diflBculty than if not predisposed. Therefore they should take earUer remedies in their cure. It must be agreeable to the consumptively disposed, to know that of all the diseases to which we are or can be predisposed by hereditary taiirt, that the seeds of consumption are easiest eradicated and most perfectly obliterated fi'om the constitution. Perettas not heiMtarily predisp'osfed to (SHisumptfon may become 68 DSq^ OF THE LUNGS, AND predisposed to it, by l8ng suflfeiing under any of the causes \ have mentioned as inclining us to consumption ; so that no person, whether predisposed or not, should allow any circumstances tending to con- sumption to be acting upon him, if possible to prevent it. That it - can always be prevented, will be shown in the lectui-e on prevention *3iid cure of consumption. SPINAL DISEASES. Spinal diseases often lead to diseased lungs, by CURE OF CONSUMPTION. PLATT, II. PLATE I. 67 iAifim;itic CliesL Coiraumptive Cheat. disease caused by consumption, or consumptive tendency in the lungs, and always arrests the progress of consumption. It is a__vastly lesser disease given in place of a gi-eater, and instead of being a curee, is usually a great blessing. In consumption, the lungs are too small ; in asthma they are too large. (See Plates H and I.) A. disease like asthma may be produced by ossificati'on of the blood vessels of the heart ; but in nearly all cases, it is produced by consumptive initation of the lungs. It often takes place suddenly, in earliest childhood, continues until between 12 and 20, then goes off and is never seen again ; but the person fails^ a victim to consumption ; or ^sthma 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 -ivill tisuaily be found that ossification of the blood vessels of the heart is present, and not simple a-sthma. Asthma all but always cures con- sumption ; never produces it. In some exceedingly rare cases, by excessively effeminating and debilitating the system, a person may sint 68 ON THE PRETENTION AND under the effects of asthma into apparent consumption, or what is made consumption by veiy bad treatment. The asthma leaves the pei-s.on, and he is rapidly overcome by the consumption that had always been on him whilst he had the asthma, and which resumes its rapid and fatal course, on asthma leaving him. If asthma is cured without perfectly expanding the lungs, and keeping them so, the person is extremely liable to consumption. In October, 1844, at East-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 years 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 delighted with his relief; 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 he died ten days after I saw him. Mr. Daniel Russel, at Providence, Rhode Island, consulted me m 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, vrith the early sjrmptoms of a fatal and true tubercular consumption. Mra. Faxon, of Boston, consulted me in March, 1844, for distress- ing asthma. She had been for forty-two nights unable to lie 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 «harged fi-eely, which gave her immediate rehe^ 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. Duiing 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 foi-ming, and during this period, most distressing asthma would be present, and all leave when the abscess broke, and the u-ritation of the lungs was over. She would then recover her usual health. Asthma, in this case con- CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 60 sequently curing; consumption. I saw this lady in July, 1845, in very good healtli. As in heai-t diseases, so in asthma, wpe to the person who is cured of asthma, without a free, and perfect, and continued expansion of the thest ; as he will, in nearly all cases, sooner or later fall into consump- tion. The remarks about asthma curing consumption, and preventing it, I have verified in a multitude of cases. It is also trae that children, born of asthmatic 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 asthma neaily as I do consumption, I find it perfectly and readily curable ; much more so than consumption. Its longer or shorter continuance, before I see the patient, is of very little conse- quence in its cure. March, 1851. — ^I have to this time ti-eated many thousand cases of asthma. I do not know of five cases that iave failed of recovery. I have seen asthma affect one lung and consumption the other SWELLED TONSILS PREVENT CONSUMPTION. Swelling and continued inflammation, more or less, of the tonsils, derive fi'om the lungs, and often and usually prevent consumption. Of this I have seen a great many cases. Dr. Ramadge, in London, had a cast of the chest of a man who died of consumption of the left, lung, while the right lung was well, or nearly so. The right tonsil was always enlarged and inflamed, and he considered the escape of the right lung from disease was owing to the swelling and inflamma- tion of the right tonsil. The left tonsil hkd never been inflamed. After a lecture I delivered at Saratoga, in 1843, 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 yeare, his son bad 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 gi-eat many physi- cians and sm-geons, who couM giv^ no account of the usBs of ^e 70 ON THE PREVENTION AND tonsils. One old surgeon of great celelj'ity, said tliey 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 clpse the throat, Bo that the passage of the air out 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 son 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 reiidenoe in a warm climate. It w§s remarked in his case, that one tonsil was c.Ut out and a part of the other. The in- flammation attacked hia 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 tlie 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-IIampshire. A child of Captain Philip Currier, 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 motlier's inoxpi'essible grief, soon died of consumption. Tn cases of peraons who are inclined to any humor in the system, and that have the ton- sils inflamed, if you cut them out, the lungs are almost certain to become affcctid. Tlie inflammation and swelling of the tonsils are easily remedied and relieved ; so that cutting them out is usually umiecessary, besides oftea endangering the hfo of the person who has his tonsils cut out. Parents who hav4 the health of their child- ren in their keeping, should be cautious how they allow their tonsih to l e cut out. If very greatly enlarged, they may be cut out after put ting the lungs in a healthy state. CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 71 COMMON GOLD CURES CONSUMPTION. I have before 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 will endeavor to make you underetand 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 will attack the deep-seated parts 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 enlarging the lungs very much, and will prevent and even cure consumption, as I have witnessed in many cases. The case of Mr. McNeil, of Hillsboro', 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 afiected ; 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 affection, &e. In Liverpool, England, I met a lady "whose mother died of con» sumption; and, as her only child was very 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. When ^, knew her, she had had a cough and daily expectoration for twenty- seven years; saving its inconvenience, she enjoyed excellent heallh,^. with a full, well expanded chest, without any symptoms of a decline. In November, 1842,1 lectured at Burlington, Vt-j^upon consump- tion ; after the lecture, a respectable lawyer of .that town, Griswold, Esq., came to see me. He told me that if he could have thought Ihad previously known him, he would have believed that I had Wured upcm him ; as my various remarks so strikingly eorresponded 72 ON THE PREVENTION AND with his experience. He had suffered fi-om a cough for more than thirty years, ind raised a gi-eat deal from his lungs. At one time he had » \)iA influenza, and joined to his old cough, presented strong syiiiptoms of rapid consumption. It was in March, a very 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 off his disease. Under this treatment %» strength rapidly declined ; cough and expectoration became profu^, 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 preferred to havo 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 BurUngton — " For," said he, " as you say, I have a great deal to do, and but a short time to dp 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 nearly well I saw him eighteen years after this transaction, in vigorons health, al- though stiU subject to his old cough and expectoration. As a very strong intimation of his consumptive habit, I may 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 tlie air leaving the lungs ; and in this way consumption is often re- eURE OF CONSUMPTION. 73 larded and at times entii-ely cured. The effect of heart diseases, asthma and swelled tonsils, hysteria, a cold, &c., in part is to divert irritation from the substance of the lungs, and also to expand the lungs and chest, and in this way cure and prevent a great many con- sumptions. It ■ is a most interesting circumstance, that there are some diseases that cure consumption — that heart disesises, asthma, is voice. -J prescribed for him, but made it an in- djlspgnsable condition to his relfief, fiiat he sfaWnld go fo his frfrm and CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 85 abandon all law practice, for at least two years. After much hesita- tion he chose to do so. I met him twelve months afterwards in ap- parently good health. Had he continued his law practice three months longer, he must have died. He is now quite well — March, 1851. It is deplorable to see consumptives continuing the same occupa- tions, such as laborious studies, public speaking, teaching, factory labor, &c., which have originated the disease. Yet they will often continue on in despite of pain in the chest and side, cough, or bleeding lungs, whilst every effort they mak^ is only piercing theu' bosoms with daggers. NEVER NEGLECT A COLD. I have before said that a cold will at times cure or retard the pro- gress of consumption, yet it often, leads to it ; for this last reason a cold should never be neglected. Some persons are very liable to cold, such are usually inclined to consumption.' It will often begin at the be^ning of cold weather, last a few days, and then go off. The next year the cold begins and lasts much longer. So from year to year, until the lungs are very much initated and debilitated ; at last, the cough and expectoration do not leave at all, and fatal consumption is the consequence. A cold should never be neglected ; on its first ac- cession it should be stopped by drinking at bed time, a large draft, say one pint or more of hot tea of sage, or mint, 'thoroughsrort, or lobelia, but not so strong as to vomit; at the same time take a httie gentle physic, such as salts, and put the feet in hot water. This will usually soon relieve the cold. Do not give over your efforts until it is removed. An old and celebrated physician, of Philadelphia, told me that whenever he perceived he had a cold, he would go to his bed, take warm drinks, and lie in bed until well,^nd would ne- ver have it last more than one day, and often a less time. Colds in summer, or in warm weather, are far more dangerous and more liable to produce consumption than in winter. Coughs beginning in sum- mer are far more dangerous than those commencing in winter, and should never be neglected. 8ti ON THE PREVENTION AND COLD BATHING. Cold bathing as a preventive of consumption, is most valuable. Pei-sons who bathe in cold water every day, rarely ever take cold, or are liable to consumption. It is one of the most valuable preveo tives. (See Lectures IV. and VI.) I have- before mentioned the case of a lady who lost all her femily, father, mother, and seven brothers and sisters, by consumption. She was the la«t. She bathed her chest freely in cold water, in all seasons, and at all times, irom seventeen to thii'ty-five, the age I saw her ; and although at times a httle troubled with colds, yet had entirely escaped consumption, and when I saw her, was enjoying good health. It is much more valuable in cold weather, and in variable weather, with the coldest water, than in Wann weather, and consequently moderately cold water. I shall refer to this subject again in my fiiture lectures, P)a:Iie in tepid water if you cannot bear cold. INHALING TUBE, BRACES, AND SUPPORTER, I have thus far spoken to you of remedies and preventives, which, although valuable, and should never be neglected, yet do not always in eveiy case prevent consumption. I now come to speak to yoa of preventive remedies, which, if faithfuEy and perseveringly used vrith the others, cannot fiail to prevent, all consumption. I have told you, consumptjou cannot take place Unless the air cells of the lungs are closed up move or less. This may arise from tossrof symmetry by the shoulders pressing on the chest; by tying up tlie chest so that it cannot expand, and by the falling doWn of the bowels, so that the floor of the lungs is partially removed, or not well sup- poited. If you have a weak stomach, and sinking all gone there, short breathing, &c., wear a supporter which I shall hereafter describe. (See Plate L.^ The next step is to remove all tight lacings fi'om the chest, and wear a pair of shoulder braces. The shoulder braces will assist to rapidly expand the chest, and keep the shouldere from press- ing hard on the chest. The next step is to use an inhaling tube. In speaking of the cure of consumption, I shall describe the inhaling tube. (Also see Plate G.) The use of the braces (and the sup- porter, if the abdominal musdes are weak,) and inhaling tube, «U1, CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 87 with the other remedies, eatirely prevent the possibility of consamp- Uon from whatever cause. The inhaling tube, shonlder biaces and supporter, when needed, are useful preventives, and should not be ne- gleeted. The lungs are not liable to become diseased, if the shoulders are kept off the chest, and the abdomen weE supported, and then an inhahng tube faithfully used. Pains, hoareeness, and weakness of the chest, are often removed. The breathing becomes deep^ free and full. The chest rapidly enlarges, and every air cell is opened. Any per- son, in this way, who chooses to take the trouble, can have a large chest and healthy lungs. Scrofula is driven from the lungs, and is rendered difficult to settle on them. All invalids confined to their beds, except from acute fever or inflammation, should use an inhaling tube, to exercise and expand the chest, and open all the air cells of the lungs, and thus prevent the progress of consumption. After lung fever, pleuiisy, or pleurisy fever, or influenzal, the use of it is^ beyond all possible praise, as it will promptly relieve the lungs, and avert a liability to consamption. So also use it if laboring under scrofula, or scrofulous sores, or white swellings of the joints, or hip disease, or spinal complaints, or rheumatism, and, in fact, under any affection that prevents a &ee exercise of the lungs. In a great many cases, consumption is dated from a,lung fever, or pleurisy, or some chest disease. If, after any of these diseases, an inhaling tube is faithfully used a few months, or even weeks, the lungs and chest often become as peifectly well as they ever were. In December, 1 842, an old man at Rutland, Vermont, consulted me in behalf of his son, who a few months before had a large abscess in the chest. It openedoutwardly, and two quarts of matter were discharged at once. It continued to discharge for six months, up to the time I saw him. I met his phy- sician who told me he had seen an account of the inhaling tube, and although he had never seen one, yet he constructed a rude tube and gave it to this young man, and by its use the lungs had been pre- served from any cough, and were strong and well. Attacks of measles, scai-let fever, scarlet rash, and all the eruptive diseases, and influenza, often leave the lungs in a bad state, espe- cially measles. If the inhaling tube is fj-eely used after thies^ <&• eases, aU seeds of consumption often are eradicated. 88 ON THE PREVENTION AND The inhaling tube is a most valuable assistant in curing dyspepsia, and many diseases attended with great debility only. 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 thus ward off an attack of consumption, and prevent aU weakness of the lungs. Persons whose lungs readily stuff up, and fill up iTith mucus, or from any cause, win find that the use of the inhaling tube will entirely prevent this filling up of the lungs, or greatly relieve it It should be under- stood, that the only object in using an inhahng 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, drawing 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 most cases equally valuable with the inhaling tube ; it is often better, and may be done a thousand times a day and night, in all places and positions. The weakly and delicate will often prefer the inhaling tube. Persons not accustomed to take long full breaths, should begin their use with the same care and precaution as in using the inhaling tube. For most invalids 1 think the inhaling tube too useful to be neglected. CURE OF PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. Having spoken of the prevention of pulmonary consumption, and having endeavored to convince you that, first, consumption is in some measure a mechanical disease, and may in' most cases be pre- vented by counteracting mechanical remedies, I come now to speak to you of the cure of consumption after it has actually taken place, after the lungs have become tuberculated — after cough has become habitual — after the lungs have become ulcerated — after hight sweats and hectic fever ai-e of daily occurrence — after all these are present, I have shown to you that heart disease, asthma, and pulmonary ca- tarrh will cure it. I will now endeavor to explain a course of me- chanical and medical treatment, that will in most cases, if seasonably applied, cure settled consumption. I have shown to you that heart disease, asthma, &c., cure consumption by enlarging the chest, and 'fivertmg tlfe diH«bs6 fo cKb^i loCsfEtifes. I have now to introduce to CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 89 your notice a mode of expanding the chest, even when the lungs are ulcerated, that is far better and more certain than to have consump- tion cured by other diseases, and has the advantage, that it may always be used in every case of persons old enough to use them. The discovery of this mode of expanding the chest, like most great dis- coveries in medicine, was made by accident, and its fortunate discov- erer was an eminent physician of London, Dr. Francis Hopkins Ram- adge. Laennec, a celebrated French physician, wi-ote a work more than 30 years 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 h,ow 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 ordinary expectation,- or experience, and who, yeai-s after, had died of other diseases ; he had opened their lungs and seen ti-aces of dis- ease, and cavities wHere ulcers had once existed in the lungs, but had healed. Dr. Ramadge was a pupil of Laennec, and established a lung hospital in London, many years ago. At this time. Dr. Ramadge enjoys a very extensive and lucrative pi-actiee in London, chiefly con- fined to diseases of the chest. The discovery was as follows : Among his niunerous patients was one, Vho, whilst in an advanced stage of consumption, was attacked with a tumor or swelling at the bottom of the neck in front, and above the breast bone. The swelling became so large as to threaten suffocation. It requh-ed all the skill of the doctor to save his patient from being suffocated by the pressure of the tumor on the wind-pipe. In about six weeks the swelling began to subside, but before this the consumptive complaint rapidly yielded, and when the tumor on the throat subsided, the consumption was well. After a little time, the doctor received a call from a person who was the last of his family, all the rest having died of consump- tion, and he was in confirmed consumption. The doctor related to him the case of the man who was cured by a tumor cortiing on the fi-ont of his throat. At Dr. Ramadge's suggestion, this last patient made a silver band to go around his neck, and on the fi:ont of it he fastened an ivory ball, and bound it firmly down on the wind-pqie in front. This operated neaily as the diseased swellmg had done in the 90 ON THE PREVENTION AND first patient. It soon cui-ed the lungs of the sUver-smith. From these two cases, Dr. Ramadge learned that the effect iii each was to rapidly enlarge the lungs and expand the chest. He also discovered, that all he had to do was to cause the patient to breathe through a small opening or pipe, much smaller,- say twenty times smaller, than the opening into the wind-pipe. To effect this, he made an instrument then called, AN INHALING TUBE. PLATE G. This tube he at first made about four and a half feet long, with an opening through its whdle length, provided with a mouth-piece to go between the lips, and the patient sucked in or inhaled the air as long as he could, and then, throuo-h the same tube, blew it out again. By this process, the chest would rapidly enlarge. Dr. Ramadge also made an inhaling tobe a lit'.le like a whistle, with a valve in it so constructed that the air would go into the mouth and lungs through a large free passage, and, on returning, the air would be forced to go out of the mouth and lungs through a much smSller opening. The effect of which- is, to allow the lungs to fill rapidly and without exhaustion of strength, and on leaving the lirags, it is all passed through an opening not much larger than a knitting needle, by which the air was slowly forced out of the lungs, and by this pressure the lungs were greatly expanded, and the. air every- where opened the chest in the freest manner. Dr. Ramadge is the original inventor of the inhaling tube. For the expansion of the chest, and expansion of the lungs, and the cure of pulmonary consumption, 1 prefer the valvular tube, as being in all respects the most efiicient and easy to the patient. These tubes were at first made of wood and ivory. For several reason^, I prefer the tubes to be made of silver, platina or gold. Becau.se tubes m.ide of wood, ivory or india-rubb .r, are apt soon, if used by a poi-sou with CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 91 ulcerated or diseased lungs, to become very foul and poisonous in some cases. Some time ago, early in my practice in the United States, I was cansulted by a man who had ulcerated lungs. I pre- scribed for him. He told me he could borrow an inlialing tube, to which I did not object. He did well for eight days and a half, when he was attacked with violent vomitings, and died in two and a half day^, in despite of all the efforts of four physicians. The symptoms mucb the_same as death by poison. I asked to see his inhaling tube ; I found it was an india rubber long tube, and had been used by a consumptive man for four months. It was' so impure that you could notice its unpleasant odor on entering the room where it was. I de- termined at all events, whether poison had anything to do with my patient's death or not, to put it out of possibility by having the tubes made of silver or gold, and never to be made of any material that could contract any impure or poisonous matter from the air that pass- es through it from ulcerated lungs, that might thus cause ulceration in healthy portions of the lungs, and so poison the whole system. The silver and gold is much better than wood, and will last a hun- dred years, as far as I have had experience, or in other words, never wear out. The consumptive shquld always have his inhaling tube. - The wood and india rubber tubes, or ivory, will last but a short time. HOW THE INHALUSTG TUBE ACTS Many of you may ask me how the inhaling tube can assist in the cure of ulcers in the lungs. I answer that ulcere in the lungs do not incline to heal ; because every day the substance of the lungs ai^ continually growing lass, and the walls of the sores or ulcers re- tire from each other, and continually from this cause and the motion of the lungs are kept separated from each other. But if you use the inhaling tube, its eflfect is to expand the lungs. In this situation they struggle everywhere against the ribs and on all sides for room, at once closing up any cavity existing in the lungs. Reflect for a mo- ment that the lungs enlarge so as to fill and enlarge the chest, four, five, six, and seven inches in circumference. A good deal of force is naed by the patient to open his -lungs, and this more sti'ongly push- 92 ON THE PREVENTION AND •es the lips of the ulcers together, and occasions them to heal, or places them in a position to heal,- The use of the inhaling tube will very soon teach the patient having ulcerated lungs, where his disease is, as there he will feel pain, smarting and burning, more or less. All ulcers not broken, will, on the use of the inhaling tube, break and discharge their contents. This alarms the patient. There is now no cause of alarm, because all the ulcers must be broken up and emptied before they will heal. Again, by the use of the in- hahng tube the air cells all round the ulcer or idcera, having greatly enlarged and expanded, will sweH around and into the ul- cerous cavities and close them up. Allow me to illustrate, as well as I can, this most important subject. Suppose I wish to cause two of my fingers, which are now placed beside each other, to grow to- gether. If they grow leaner each day, they will separate from each other, and cannot grow together ; but suppose that I by some process cause each finger to swell to two or three times its natural size ; the efiect of this would be to bring the fijigers hard against each other, and should the- sides of the fingers next each other be made sore, or the skin be removed, the fingers might be made to grow togethei. In this way precisely the inhaling^^tube a«ts. Its use expands and opens first all the air passages ; next, all the air cells ; and causes a free expectoration of all mucus and pus, (fee. It completely cleanses the ulcers, next enlarges the air cells around the ulcers, difiiises new life and vigor through the lungs, forces the extra blood out of lie walls of the air cells which has thickened and nearly closed thein up. It causes a rapid and free circulation of blood through the whole lungs, allows no blood to -remain in them that should not, £md it soon obliges the enlarged blood vessels of the lungs to become smaller an^ to return to a healthy state. In all cases when there is a cough, but no ulceration, the inhaling tube is greatly required and is of unspeak- able value. After bleeding fi-om the lungs, if used with proper pre- cautions, the inhaling tube is of vast value, and its use should never be omitted. The history of the intooduction and use of the inhahng tube is in- Btructive, as it Mly proves, that in all sciences, and arts, as also in all mechanical instruments, there maybe the original and true idea, and CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 93 also the spurious or false imitation, the substance and the shadow. About nine years ago, the discovery and object of the inhaling tube was mad? known in this country. Instantly attempts were made to make a thing which seemed so simple, and also to use it. No questions were asked, no anxious inquiries were made as to how it should be made, but one physician whittles out a stick, bores a hole through it, and places it in the hands and mouth of some dying patient, and suffers, but does not encourage the patient to use it. Many fly to the use of goose quills, as most eminently appropriate, and as good as anything; A large quantity of tubes in imitation of Dr. Ramadge's long tubes, were made and peddled through many sections of the country, and sold at high prices, without any opening through their length to allow the air to pass through at all. I saw one inhaling tube, formed under the di- rection of an eminent physician, which was made by cutting off the large end of a tin candle-mould, stopping up the ends, and cutting a small hole through each end, so as to allow the air to pass, and then declaring this was as good as any, whilst in the immediate neighbor- hood the true article was to be had. In Boston great numbers of tubes have been made and sold, that looked well and would allow the air to pass freely into the lungs, but it could not come out through the tube, but out through the patient's nose, &c. Eminent physici- ans in many sections of this country have in this manner employed the inhaling tube, or what they supposed to be the inhaling tube, with- out any success, who on being consulted would pronounce the inhal- ing tube a failure, and of no use. In most case's physicians have never recommended the inhahng tube until the patient was in the last days of life, when his lungs were so extensively ulcerated and gone, and his general strength so reduced, that a return to health was impossible under any known treatment. In such cases, without making any allowance^ for the hopeless state of the case, the tube is condemned, and the physician still adheres to the idea that consumption is incurable, deceiving himself and his un- happy patients. All new remedies, with few exceptions, have to fight their waj- into notice, and their bitterest detractors and opposers will be found among members of the medical profession. In no case has this been more verified than in the case of the inhaling tube. Being 34 ON THE PREVENTION AND rejected in some measure by physicians from tlie causes I Lave befura Btated, it has been taken up and used by empirics. This has still farther exasperated the regular profession, and makes them give up all inquiry on the subject— in many cases rejecting a patient investigation and s.tudy of a remedy that is destined to produce an entire revolution in our notions of consumption, and place it among the curable diseases. Will the inhaling lube alone cure consumption ? You will ask me, will the use of the inhaling tube alone cure con- firmed consumption ? I unhesitatingly answer, no. Medical remedies must also be used : consumption, as a general principle, cannot be cured by the inhaling tube alone, unless the patient is in perfect health except a small cavity or ulcer in the lungs. In nine hundred and ninety-nine cases out of a thousand, proper medical remedies are required. The medical treatment must also be right ; if not, the inhaling tube cannot make head- against the disease, and the injurious effects of the medicines too. This forces me to make the solemn de- claration, and in the most emphatic manner, that the usual routine of practice laid down in nearly all the medical authorities, adopting the use of emetic tartar, blisters, setons, tai'tar sores, caustics, housing up the patients, confining them to their rooms, using opium and its pre- parations, drastic emetics and purgatives, much bleeding, iodine, low diet, &c., are all calculated to make consumption, and not to cure it ; so that if the inhaling tube is used in conjunction with these remedies, its benefits are nearly counteracted. The first step in our progress is to know if the lungs are actually diseased or not. The air, in passing in and out of the air cells and air passages of the lungs, gives peculiar sounds in health, from which there is no great variation in persons of the same strength and age. When the lungs become diseased, the air does not enter some parts ; or in parsing in and out of their air-cells and passages, it gives a different sound from what it does in health. On this is found the art of examining the chest, to ascertain the condition of the lungs. You know the piano, the accordion, the flute, the viohn, all gi\'e forth peculiar and different pounds ; and so does a perfect, or a broken, or a cracked instrument, Or an instrument imperfectly made. Every deviation from health is m- CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 95 pressed on the sound, or absence of sound of air in entering or leaving tlie chest. It requires an instructor, time and prattiee, and constant experience, to be able to explore the chest, or ascertain the condition of the lungs with proper certainty. In London, Paris, New Yorls, and Philadelphia, as far as I know, nearly all the practice of examining the chest is done by very few in each city. In all these cities it is perfectly understood, th-at one man cannot know all branches of me- dicine and surgery, and be as perfect in each branch as if the whole mind and experience were devoted to one department. In each of these cities there is practice in each branch enough to employ the best minds, and all the time of physicians who are devoted to one branch only. It is customary in these cities for physicians, who do not de- vote their time to examinations of the «hest, to send their patients to - those who make examinations of the chest a particular study. No certainty and accuracy can be attained in exploring the chest, without a good teacher first, and large experience and observation afterwards. The author of these discourees, besides his opportunities in London, has had twenty-seven thousand consultations in, cases of consumption and kindred diseases, within the last seven yeare. In no instance have I ever had a decision of mine proved incorrect by any physician. I name this, in the hope that when I mention in my discourses that such or snch a patient had diseased lungs, it will be lihderalood that I carefully ex- amined the chest myself. No matter how learned a physician or sur- geon may be, without considerable practical experience, he is liable to fall into great and sometimes deplorable errore in his opinions on the state of the chest, for it may be diseased and he not detect it ; and he may pronounce disease when there is none. A striking case of this kind occurred in one of our largest colleges a few years ago. A young gentleman, a student, was taken sick with what appeared to be con- sumption ; besides his attending physician, two professors and teachers of medicine were called from a large neighboring city, who all pro- nounced the case confirmed consumption, and advised sending for his father, who came and took his son home. Passing through the city of Boston, he called on one of its oldcjst and most respectable phy- sicians, who agreed with all the others, that he was in the last stage of consiunption. The young man went to the state of Maine, whdw ON THE PREVENTION AND dM, and died in eight days after his return. His father had ^est examined after death ; his lungs were found to be in per- w^t health. He had died of disease of his stomach. I knew another case, where a young man died in the interior of the stat»-of Connecticut, of what was supposed to be a disease of his kidneys. He never had aiuy cough until a week before his death. Several physicians had seen him during his sickness. After death, his body was examined j no disease was discovered in the kidneys, but both his lungs were found to be extensively diseased ; he had died, not of kidney disease, but of consumption. Some persons may actually have diseased lungs, who hardly suspect any such'thing, anu others may seem to have consumption who have it not, but soma other part besides^ the lungs is the seat of the disease. There is no way of settling this, but to have the lungs examined t)y some gentle- man who is acquainted with the mode of examining and exploring the limgs and chest, both in disease and health. A man who does know how to examine the lungs, goes to the chest to learn their con- dition, whether diseased oi" not, with the same confidence as you would look upon the face of a clock, to tell the time of day ; but to do this, the physician requires knowledge and much practice. TREATMENT. Having ascertained by actual, careful, and skilful examination of the chest, that the lungs are diseased, the physician should inquire into the condition of every other part of the system. He should in- vestigate carefully the condition of the brain, the nervous system, the stomach, the bowels, the kidneys, the heart, the circulation of flie blood, if there is daiJy fever, or. night sweats ; if the patient has piles, gout, rheumatism, scrofula, skin diseases, or any humor; canker, sores upon any part, such as white swellings ; dyspepsia, gravel, all kidney diseases, throat diseases, liver complaint, worms ; in ladies, falling of the womb, all female diseases, weakness at the pit of the stomach, or across the bowels, sinking, or all gone at the pit of the stomach ; weakness of the back, pain anywhere, stoppage of healthly nature in ladies, costiveness or diarrhoea. These must all be cured, for it is irrational to expect, as a general thing, to cure the lungs, and CURE OP CONSUMPTION. ^ 97 lesre any of these before-mentioned diseases upon the patient. A cure cannot be easily reaKzed, whilst other diseases are upon you. , For all those different complaints, I admiluster what I think to be proper remedies, so as in general to remove them perfectly. I next put upon my patientj a proper abdominal suppw-ter, well adjusted, of the right size, strength of pressure, &c. ; next, I put on I'-im 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 inhaling tube differs in many persons ; what suits one per- .'ion wiU not suit ereiybody, or every patient ; if the inhaling tube is not perfectly adapted to the case, its eflScacy is much impaired. I next direct him or her to be bathed fi'eely eveiy morning in cold water, or cold salt and water ; any kind of spirits may be used in the water. The efficacy of the water arises somewhat from the tonic power of the cold that is in the water ; hence, th« colder the water the better for the patient ; if not accustomed to cold bathing, the water may be a httle wanned at first. (For directions for bathing, see Discourses IV. and Vl.) Before washing all over, the chest should be nibbed well ; if cold and chilly, use flannel,— if not, use a cotton o^ linen towel ; after being well heated up by rubbing, then wast all over with th« cold water, especially the thi'oat, neck, spine, all the chest, and stomach ; it is better to wash all over, daily, either morning or evening, — I rather prefer the morning. Unless under very pecuHar eii-cumstances, nothing should be done to reduce the strength of the patient. It has been the fashion at various times to consider every itep in thft commencement and progi-ess of consumption to be occa- sioned by inflammation, and to rednce inflammation, the patient's Mood must nearly all be taken from him. BLEEDING. At one time, bleeding was all the fashion in consumption, and this hsA a few years ago ; for be it understood, there is a fashion in medi- dro as in everything else; as leaders andjettera of fashion say, so it is adopted by all their followers, or those who rarely think for them selves, but rely on otliers for direction ; for this reason, at one time, bleeding was all the go. I once knew a man bled nineteen times in 5 98 * ON THE PREVENTION AND %liteen days ; I weU remember his remarks on its singular efficacy, kow it removed all the cold chills. He had constitution and lungs to have lasted many years ; he never ralUed from the dreadful bleedings, aud died in a few months. In preseribin| for about twenty thousand per- sons within -about four years in this counlay, and. at all seasons of the year, and in all locations, from Virginia to Canada, I have never re- commended bleeding, but in one case. In tJiis case the young man had a cousin that bled to death from the lungs two months previously, and another cousin of another family, that bled to death two years before in the same way. He came to me, and had been moderately bleeding from his lungg for three days. In his case I directed bleeding from the arm, and other remedies, and soon relieved him. Jn the ordinary progress of consumption, I never think of bleeding, as it would be productive of -vast injury. One or two leeches may at times be nsed, but I rarely find it necessary ; still, at times leeches are of great benefit. COUNTER-IRRITATION. It has been at different times the fashion to use the most severe remedies to produce irritation, and discharges, and sores on the chest, so as to cure internal inflammation. Three days since, I saw a ladyi who, under the direction of a respectable physician, had put seventy successive blisters on her chest, with hardly any perceptible benefit. Another lady I saw a short time since, who had on her chest, tnade under the direction of a physidan, the most severe emetic tartar sores. The physician himself applied the emetic tartar ointment Its severity and extent may be inferred from the fact, that on the breast-bone an opening was made directly through it into her chest. It was several months before it healed.^ These sores and blisters, besides being most horrible and dreadful in nearly every point of view, tend greatly to reduce the patient, and unless under very peculiar cdrcumstances, should never be used. In some rare cases they may be used, but the cases where they are needed are very rare. I once knew a young- lady who was in consumption, but able to attend to all ordinaiy duties, to take long daily walks,, a good appetite, and fair strength. Under bad advisers, she put an immense blister CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 99 plaster over ter whole chest, and kept it on all night. It drew one vast blister. She never after could leave the house, and hardly, hei- bed, until her death. Foi- the firet three weeks after using the blister she never left her bed, except to have it made, but two cases in this country ; therefore I do not speak of it. Within the last five years I have had more than 3,000 persons of aU ages and both sexes consult me for the relief of heart troubles, pal- pitation, heavy beating, irregular action, fluttering, stoppage, inter- mitting, rheumatism on the heart, weakness of the heart. I have met cases of partial dislocation of the heart, and various trueorganic de- rangements of the heart, enlargements, viitten. I gained my health slowly ; every cold I took I would have an attack of the asthma, until about July ; since which tine I have had no asthmatic^ffection whatever. Some days, when the rill I is East and damp, I am some troubled with shortness of breath, i« ON THE PROOFS OF THE But my complaints have entirely changed since the third night on commencing yom- remedies, which I commenced December last. I had not been able to lie down in bed for several months, until I took yom- medicines. I continue to wear the braces and supporter, and u-,0 the tube occasionally. Since the asthma has left mo, I have becii troubled with the catai-rh 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 then again commence ; and quite a cough attended me, which seemed to be no farther than my throat. My lungs seem well since the asthma left. I took the most of the catan'h snuff you sent me, but did not receive much benefit ; and have tiied two othei' kini?s, and still receive no cure : but my health, at present, is better thai- it has been for several months. I think if I could get cui'ed of tie catarrh, I should find myself well. I have not applied to any physician, excepting Dr. Bm'nham, for snuff. The cold bath I cou- tinue across my throat and chest. But I thought I took cold 1iy bathing, after leaving my warm room, and did not bathe, only across my chest and throat, but seldom. If you have medidne, or can ad- vise me what coiuse I can pursue, in order to be cm'ed of the catan'li, I should be highly gratified in hearing from you. " Eespectfully yours, H. R. Fbrnald." CASE lY.— John H. McGiffin. " Hudson, New- York, June 3, 1850. "De. S. S. Fitch: Dear Sii-, — In compliance with yom* request I take this eai- hest opportunity to address you a few lines, expressive of the satis- faction I experience in regard to your treatment of my case. As you may reme;nber, I first appUed to you by letter, I think about the Yth December, 1848. I had been pre'viously afllicted with asthma from infancy : the fits oecm-ring at intervals of from three or four, till at that time often less than one a week. I had previously done but littJ.; for them, except using for a short time some medicines prescribed by Df. of Philadelphia, together with his inhalmg tube, from which latt ,r I thought I received some, though but partial benefit. CURE OF CONSUMPTION. Ml On the whole, the attacks were more frequent, and only prevented by the smoking of saltpetre paper inhaled on going to bed. I com- menced using your remedies on the 23d of December, 1848, and continHied them pretty constantly till about June following. The win- ter of 1848 was a very unfavorable one, and I did not experience any change for the better till about the beginning of March ; it was how- ever, from that time, very rapid, and by the middle of April I felt per- fectly well.. I used the tube till July, when I was obliged to dispense with it for want of time. Through the latter part of August, I again felt the symptoms of asthma, which resulted in a return of its attacks about the 15th September. These continued through the last part of the fall, though by no means as severe as before. I again applied to you December 27, 1849; commenced a course anew, and felt my health improved within a fortnight. I have had no asthma for two or three months, and feel satisfied that your ti'eatment is the proper one, the more so as I judge by the result of two trials, which would seem to preclude the possibility of the effects by any other causes. I have done nothing to prevent the fits but use your medicine, and have not used the saltpetre paper more than two or three times in as many months, and then probably unnecessarily. Wishing to add my mite to the mass of testimony you already possess in fevor of your treat- ment of lung diseases, both from gratification to myself^ and a desfre in some degree to contribute to alleviate the suffering of my fellow- creatures, by pointing them to means of relief to be confidently expect- ed, I have penned this in much haste. Should I continue as well as I hope, I shall write again in the FaJl. In the mean time, I am, with sincere latitude and esteem, your obliged friend, "John H. McGiitin.'' PROOFS OF THE CURABILITY OF CONSUMPTION. CASE l.—MissHawley. In December, 1842, I was at Vergennes, in the state cf Vermont. On aniving there I was very anxious to visit a gentleman i once knew,. who resided in that place, and who was a very respectable lawyer, and 143 ON THE PROOFS OF THE had resided in my father's family when I was a boy Immediately' after my arrival, Dr. Bradford, one of the &st physicians of that town, called upon me. Dr. Bradford had been a room-mate of mine some months, whilst we were attending the Medical College in Philadel- phia. I immediately inquired for Mr. Hawley. He told me Mr. Hawley had died of consumption seven years before, adding, also, that his daughter was in consumption and not expected to live but a short time. Now, said he, I do not know what to say of ttie cure of consumption, but I do not believe you would say you could cure it, unless you thought you could ; and, if you please, I will introduce you to Miss Hawley, and if you can cure consumption, you can have a<;hance to do so in her case. After seeing Miss Hawley, and her family, he called and took me to see her. I can hardly describe the agony of her countenance, as she said to me, " I suppose you have come to tell me I have consumption." On examining her chest, I found her very much emaciated, and ulcers in the tops of both lungs. She had a bad cough, and raised blood occasionally. She expectorated ulcerated matter, pus, everyday. The d4y I wastihere,.she raised blood, and had all the general symptoms of consumption in a rather aggrar vated form. This was the only time but one I ever saw Miss Hawley. I gave her her remedies, and also wiitten directions for her treatment, medicines, &c., and placed them in the hands of Dr. Bradford, to see them faithfully fulfilled ; and this I did with all my patients I had there. I, at the same time, requested them, or Dr. Bradford, to write to me in case any farther assistance was required. I would say, that Dr. Bradford is a very candid, judicious, and excellent physician. ; I heard nothing more of my patients in Vergennes, until the next Au- gust, when I met one of them in a steamboat on Lake Champlain, and this was the senior Captain Sherman, of Vergennes. He told me he believed all my patients got well, and, added he, " that young lady. Miss Hawley, for whom we all felt so much anxiety, and thought would not hve one month, began to mend immediately after you saw her, and has now become entirely well." In September, 1844, some- tb'ng over twenty-one months after I saw Miss Hawley, I wrote to her, i-bquesting an account of her health, and in answer reodvei tlie following letter. Her case was one of true hereditary tubercular CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 143 consumption. Her cure was perfect. I ought to say she was about liineteen years of age. April, 1851, MissHawley is still in good iieiilth, and has been for some years the wife of a physician. Copy of a letter from Miss Sawley to Br. S. S. Fitch. ''Vergenues, Oct. 2d, 1844. " Dr. Fitch : " Your kind letter of the 20th I have just received ; and am re- joiced to assure you, in answer to your kind inquiries, that I am now enjoying a very comfortable state of health. You are aware that, two yeare since, at the time you were at Vergennes, I was fast declin- ing, with the most dangerous and alarming symptoms of consump- tion, and a sure prospect of speedy dissolution. I raised blood from my lungs daily, causing me great pain, with an unn^ural appetite, fljlsh upon my cheek, a general losing of flesh ^ and my condition such, that it was impossible to raise a blister upon my lungs. I fol- lowed your prescriptions faithfully, and commenced blistering, and was soon able ia obtain relief from this source. I was reduced in strength by this treatment, but my lungs grew better. I am now quite well, and am able to be about the house ; can walk and ride without inconvenience. In fact, my health is full as comfortable as it has-been for the last ten years. I attribute my recovery to yom- visit, and Dr. Bradford's attention afterwards. Your reqWest to him shall be complied with. Ilis health is good. Accept the thanks of my mother and brother, and believe me, that I shall remember you with the greatest pleasure and gratitude. " Migs Hawley. " P. S. — Allow me the pleasure of. informing you that Mrs. Scott is in a comfortable state of health, owing to your kind attention, sh« thinks." CASE II. — Mrs. Hannah Gardner. January 31, 1843,^ I was called to see Mrs. Hannah Gardner, at Salem, Mass. This lady had lost father, mother, one brother, and three sMters, of 'xjnsumption. Sb« had been ur well a long tine, but 144 ON THE PROOFS OP THE very sick for six weeks. Her physician was, and is, one of the most estimable physicians I ever knew. Mi's. Gardner's case seemed most hopeless : exceedingly emaciated ; night sweats ; cold feet ; constant coughj — ^expectorated a pint every night, by coughing ; strength ut- terly prostrated. It was a case of apparently hopeless hereditary consumption. In October, 1846, 1 received the following letter from her husband. She is now, January 1852, very well, I believe. "Salem, Oct. 15th, 1846. "Dear, Sir: " I received your note, and it is with the greatest pleasure that I answer it. In the summer of 1 843, my wife's health was very poor ; in December she was taken sick with a lung and pleurisy fever. Her Dr. tended her five or six weeks ; and she continued to grow worse. I called on th^ Dr. and he gave me no encouragement. He told the neighbors that she was in a consumption, and that she could not Hve but a short time. My brother called on me, and told me that he heard your lecture on consumption ; and he believed that you could help her. When you saw her; you gave me very little hope ; but you gave me some medicine, and directions for bathing, which were attended to very strictly for four or five days ; and she began to grow better, but continued feeble and weak, with night sweats, and very bad cough, and raised a' pint in the night. She continued to take your medicine until you left the city ; and her health improved very much. In the spring, she was able to walk out in the yard, a mere skeleton. In June, she went into the country, and staid six or eight weeks ; and her health improved very fast. Since that, her health is better than formerly. She is able to do the most of her work. She is more fleshy now than ever ; and has no cough, except when she takes cold. She has a very good appetite, and enjoys life well. She was very sorry that she did not see you when you was at Salem. We did not hear of your sickness till after you had gone, or we should have called on you. If you should ever visit Balem again, we should be happy to see you. Yours, truly, Charles Gabdnxb." CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 14» CASE lllM-Hev. L. D. Barrow. In October, 1843, I lectured »t Nashiaa, N. H. Among the per sons mentioned to me in that town in consiimptioh, or strongly in- chned to it, was that of the Eev. Mr. L. D". Barrow, a Methodist cler- gyman, resident in Nashville. He was then travelling for his health. He called on me in Concord, N. H., a few days after I left Nashua. He was a tall, thin, emaciated figui-e, with a very slight delicate chest, and in every appearance indicated the presence of consuoLp- tion. On examining his chest I found the upper part of both h' ; lungs were considerably tuberculated. He stooped very much, hi shoulders were drawn very much over his chest, and hjs cheat r.sa, very much contracted. He had considerable cough, pain in the chest, ifcc. I think he was able to preach once a week. It was with dif- ficulty he could write for half an hour a day. I gave him his reme- dies. In a few weeks after I met him at Nashua. He told me he was happy to say he felt quite well, and that he could write all day easier than he could half an hour before, and that he could preach three times a day. . . ■ . . In November, 1844, I received the following letter. There is one circumstance in this letlier to which I wish to call your particular attention, where he mentions that he re- ceived great benefit irom the remedies, but becoming so very much better, he left tlierri off, or omitted their use for a while, until he be- came worse. Does it not seem extraordinai-y to you, that any man or woman, who had been walking in sight of an open grave for. months, because struck by a disease that is usually thought incurable, on finding a remedy that every day makes them better, should leave off that remedy before their health is perfectly confirmed, and before their systems are entirely rid of it ? The patient persevering use of remedies is often required for three or four years. The prize in view being perfect health, with daily comfortable health all the time. You will observe the remai-k of Mr. Barrow, that he had left oflf bis remedies prematurely, and you will observe the same m some of the other letters. On the first impression upon the lUngs, or when they are observed to be improving, no effort should then be relaxed until they are perf ictly well. When from oareleBsness, smd omitMng the 1 H6 ON THE PROOFS OF THE use of the remedies, a relapse is suffered, the recovery is much re- tarded and sometimes rendered doubtful,Hhe cure of which was abso- lutely certain at fii-st; Let every patient remember, that if he becomes positively better, he will certainly get well if he perseveres in the use of his remedies, and he should continue his remedies long after every vestige of disease is removed. April, 1851, Mr. Barrow still preaches, "ind is in good health, residing at Newark, New Jereey. Copy of a Utter from the Rev. Mr, Barrow to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Nashville, N. H., Nov. 1st, 1844. " De. Fitch : ' " Dear Sir, — It is but juat that I should acknowledge the beneiit derived from your treatment. For nearly one year previously to my applying to you, I had been suffering with a difficulty, which my medi- cal ad\'isers pronounced the ' Bronchial^ attended continually with a slight cough ; my throat and tonsils became inflamed, and the latter much enlarged, until a small portion of one of them was removed by excision ; my cough continued to increase until all medical gentlemen, to whom I appUed, pronounced the right lobe of my lungs diseased. In this condition, sir, you found me ; your instructions, together with the good effect of your braces, soon convinced me that my posture in writing had greatly conduced to my then state of health. At once I could write half of the day with more ease, with the braces, than one hour without them ; your inhaling tube soon relieved, in a measure, my cough ; and gave a heavier, smoother, and easier tone to my voice; my feeble and naiTow chest, in a few weeks, was enlarged more than one inch. " The relief which I realized soon induced me to fall into careless- ness respecting your prescriptions ; and though my lung difficulties have recently revived sHghtly, it is the result of my own heedlessness, and I am applying again to the tube and braces, as my most efficient remedy. I can but think, sir, that your inforaiation and mode of treatment is fraught with gi'eat good to the human family, and espe-, cially to clergymen, whose habits of study and exposure of lungs need to be guarded and directed by your most maportant instructions. N« CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 147 speaker, even in health, can use your tube -without great advantage ; it will give a compass and music to the voice, and learn him to avoid a high, short, unpleasant, and destructive tone of voice ; and to use those tones which will strengthen the lungg, and thus make speaking itself a means of prolonging rather than shortening life, which I be neve to be the true theory. " Most respectfully yours, L, D. Babkow " CASE lY.—Mrs. Hurlhurt. At Weathei-sfield, Conn., in August, 1844, I was requested to see a Mi-s. Hurlburt, wTio resided in the west pait of Weathersfield, about two miles west from the meeting-house. Her physician, was Dr. Robison, of Weathersfield. She was represented to me as being in quite an advanced stage of consumption. An eminent medical gentleman from Hartford, had the week previously visited Mre. Hurlburt, in con- sultation with Dr. Robison. I accompanied Dr. Robison to her. I found her in what is called quick consumption — that is, her lungs were affected pretty much all over them, and large quantities of pus were poured out daily fi-om the internal skin of the lungs, with ulcer- ation in the top of the right lung. She had a bad cough, daily fe- ver, profuse expectoration, raising more than a quart a day, night swe.its, great prostration of strength, and cold extremities. In fact, her immediate friends did not suppose she could live one week. I believe Dr. Robison and myself concm'red in the opinion, that unless speedily relieved, she would soon die. I gave her remedies, such a.s the case seemed to require. Her relief was very prompt. I saw her several times. In three weeks she was able to come down to the gate and converse with me. In a few weeks she was perfectly re- covered. Her husband is a respectable farmer. Her recovery is still spoken of in that region as little less than a miracle. Copy of a letter from Mr. James Hurlhfirt to Dr. S. S. Fitch. " Weathersfield, Dec. 15th, 1844. " Dtt. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — Ixi reply to your inquiries, I will, tell you that my wife 148 ON THE PROOFS OF THE was in poor health, all last spring and summer, with some cough. The fore part of July, her cough became alarming, with fever, and every symptom of consumption. Two eminent physicians attended her ; but no medicine seemed to help her, as she sunk veiy rapidly, until both physicians quite despaired of her recovery, considering' her in a rapid consumption. Few pereons considered that she could live two weeks : some thought she might not hve one week. Such was her situation when you were called to see her. In twenty-four houra after your first visit, my wife began to improve : in two weeks, she was about her house. By a faithful use of all your remedies, she has perfectly recovered. She imputes her recovery to your timely aid. She, and all her famUy, as well as myself, send you our best thanks and highest regards. We cannot cease to recommend your .practice to all in consumption. James Hurlburt." CASE N.— Master George W. Hoberts. In January, 1846, I was at Newbuiyport, Mass., and was re quested to see a young lad, who was about fifteen years old, an only child. He had been sick for upwards of three years, and at this time did not go out at aU — could set up only a part of every day. The top of his right lung ulcerated. He raised a great deal, and had a most harrassing cough, and although the weather was very cold, yet he was obhged to sit up two-thirds of every night. His case seemed to invite but little hope, as he had been so long ill, and his system was so prostrated. But his confidence was boundless. He used his vemedies faithfully. I need not say that no person expected he could recover. His physicians had left him entirely, considering his case hopeless. Within three weeks I had so far calmed his disease, as to allow him full sleep' at night, and to be more or less out of doors in the day time. In March I received the following letter. I believe at this time, (April, 1851,) he is in fair health. " Newbuiyport, Mass., March 1st, 1846. " Db, Fitch : " Sir,— I take pleasm-e in communicating through you to an afflicted CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 149 public, the astonishing effect your medicine has had upon me. I have not enjoyed perfect health for the last three years. Much of the time I have been reduced very low, so as to be given up by my physicians. They thought my liver was so consumed that it was be- yond the power of medicine to cure me. Some refused to give medi- cine, saying it would have no effect ; that I could not live but a short time at the longest, and perhaps might live a little longer without tailing any medicine, excepting a resting powder. So I left off taking any other medicine (or all other medicines), and I think I felt a little better, for my medicines generally made me feel very ba,d. I was so that I was able to go out. I went out and took a slight, cold ; was taken down to my bed_again. My cough increased, my appetite failed me. T'or many months I was obliged to be bolstered up in my bed. I could not lie down in bed on account of my cough ; if J did, it was attended with severe coughing spells. I raised a good deal, — was troubled with night sweats. I had given up all hopes of being any better — supposed I very soon must die. I was in this sit- uation when I heard of your arrival in this place. I had heard of the astonishing cures you had perfgrmed, and felt anxious to see you ; and, by the blessing of God, I am happy to say I owe my life to you, and the health I enjoy. I applied all of your remedies according to directions, and felt greatly relieved in a short time. My night sweats •disappeared, my cough grew better, my appetite increased, my strength was greatly increased. I continue the remedies. I now can Me down in bed, and sleep all night ; am able to go out, and take several walks during the day. I have faith to believe that your medicines will en- tirely cure me. All of your medicine has had an astonishing effect upon all that have been taking it in this place. Your patients, so far «is I have been able to leam, are doing extremely well. We all feel very aflxious to have you visit this place again. I feel very anxious to hear from you. Please write when you think of visiting this place again. If you do not think of visiting this place, you must write without falL I remain your obliged friend, " George W. Eobert9 ' 150 ON THE PROOFS OP THE CASE VI, — Mr. Thaddeus Barnes. In October, 1844, I was consulted at New Haven, Ct., by the sub- ject of the fallowing case. His father died of consumption, and in eveiy respect he was, himself, highly consumptive in appearance. He was about twenty-four years of age. He had been declining in health for two years ; he was extremely emaciated ; his face was white as a sheet, the complexion perfectly blanched ; he had a bad cough ; raised considerable every day, and frequently raised blood ; the morning I saw him he had raised considerable blood. His friends had no hope of his recover}', and he had very little himself. His recovery was very satisfactory. I heard from him about eighteen months after, and then he was in good health. I saw him in October, 1845, twelve months after he called on me. He was then in fine health and spirits. I saw him again on October 28th, 1846, in good health. April, 1851, he still enjoys good health, and has never omitted daily bathing in cold water. Copy of a letter from Mr. Thaddeus Barnes to Dr. S. S. Fitch. New Haven, Oct. 8th, 1845 " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — I cheerfully comply with your request for a concise account of my situation, previous to my acquaintance vvith yourself, and your remedies. For some two years I had felt that my health was gradually declining, and for some eight or ten months prior to your visit to New Haven, my friends had become quite alarmed at my symptoms. My hands and feet were always cold. ^A constant hacking cough had produced extreme soreness in the cheat, together with bleeding from the lungs at seven or eight diflFerent periods. My flesh was wasting away, and my strength so far gone that ascending a flight of stairs with more than ordinary haste would Completely ex- haust me. In fine, my fiiends were bold to tell me I had the con- sumption. This was and had been my situation at and before your visit to our city. After placing myself under your treatment, I very soon began to improve. In two months I had gained ten or twelve pounds of flesh. My cough was silenced in about one week, and I CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 151 Lave nuver been ttoubled with it since. Without detailing farther, I can say my health has been good most of the time siuce I commenced with yom-^ remedies. " BeHeving, sir, that you were the means of my restoration to health, I subscribe myself, yom-s, under lasting obligations, " Thaddeus Barnes." CASE YIL—Miss Mary B. Angell. The subject of this case, a beautiful young lady, consulted me at Providence, R. I., on the 5th of March, 1645. This young lady waa the last of her family, her father having died of consumption. A } oung 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 consumption 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 hv6." Her lungs were highly congested, besides suf- fering from tubercles and ulceration. In July 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 16th, 1845. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : ., "Sir, — I take the greatest pleasure in informing you, that after six mouths of cough and all indications of consumption, my father's death, fcudia dear sister, who died of consumption, in July, 1844, had in- duced me to expect their fate. All my friends and mother pretty much gavp me up as soon to die. In March last, 15 th, you saw me ; 153 ON THE PROOFS OP THE I took your remedies ; I was then weak^ lost flesh, constant cougl, expectorated a good deal, and raised blood, with some pain in the side. 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 experiencei of its delightful and happy efiects. " My mother and all my friends, with myself give you our best thanks. Miss Angeil." CASE Vni. — Miss Sarah G. NicJcerson. In AprU, 1845, 1 was consulted at New Bedford, Mass., by this young lady, who resided at Fair Haven, opposite New Bedford. I reheved her entirely from the indisposition under which she had labored for some years. I returned to New Bedford in June, and found a letter at the hotel, requesting, should I come to New 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 diversify Jiis treatment. Some physicians are so stupid as to use the same set of remedies perhaps an hundred successive times, and always without success, seeming 9ot to know how to diversify then- practice. I found Miss Nickerson in a very deplorable state of health. She had had a very severe plemisy upon the right side, and inflammation of the right lung ; and this had continued for upwards of three weeks, until near- ly every hope of recoveiy had vanished. The day before I called, she had, in the most aflecting manner, intimated to her friends, that. she thought she could live but a short time ; and in this they all concurred. She had constant burning fever, total loss of appetite, incessant cough, 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 very much upon her side ; homd tartar emetic sores had been made upon her side a.nd breast, and fi- nally, to shut out all air fro^n her chest, the whole chest was covered CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 153 with oil-silk ; but beneath the silk were plasters, 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 seemed to have failed of conferring any benefit. All this, joined to complete prostration of strength, geemed to make the case almost hopeless. In addition, she had been delicately brought up, aijd was "of rather effeminate habits. I, however, did 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 warm,, 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' chest, oil-silk, plasters, salve, and every thing of the kind, 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 reoted her to keep on the^ wet cloth for three hours, then take it off and be sponged over with cold salt and water ; then be wiped and rubbed dry, and placed pleasantly in bed. I also gave her such med- icines as I thought suitable for her case. The use of the wet cloth, as first directed, I recommended to be in the same way every eve- ning, untU all pain and soreness should have left the chest, and all fever was dispelled from the system ; and after this, to wash her per- son all ovei', every day, with cold salt and water ; to go out as soon as possible, and to wear no jnore clothing about her chest than was comfortable ; to put no more oil-silk or plasters upon it ; and finally, as ?oon as she found the side relieved of pain, and the fever some- what dispelled, to use her inhaling tube in the freest manner, so as to open and expand the collapsed lung. In one week I received a letter from her, stating that she was much better ; in six, she visited me st 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 mtich astounded as if I had told them to kiU her, ffor would it have been adopted h^ eVe n»t before 154 ON THE PROOFS OF THK tried nearly every other reteiedy without succeas, and had she not pre- viously experienced benefit from my proscriptiens. I saw her in the following October. She enjoyed the finest health. April, 185], she is married, and enjoys excellent health. Copy of a letter fi-mn Miss Sarah G. Nickerson to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Fairhaven, Mass., July 18th, 1845. 'Dr., Fitch: " Respected friend, — In answer to your kind inquiry concerning my healtk, I am happy to inform you of its rapid improvement. You doubtless recollect the situation you found me in when you so kin^Jy 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 my physicians and friends were, ' The warm weather is in your favor.' You, sir, Uke some kind angel commissioned by Heaven, declared I might yet live. After following your prescriptions two or three 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- storedj^my cpugh 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 inhaling tube, cannot be expressed. " I therefore most cheerfully recommend to all sitiiilarly 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 wannest thanks for youi kindness ; and that Heaven's richest blessings may rest on you ana yours is tlie sincere wish of your friend, " Sakah G. Nickerson.'' CASE IX. — Bev. John Morns Pease. I add on« letter, containing the experience of the Rev. John Mor- CURE OF CONSUMPTION, 155 Oi, .Fi-Me, who, after long continued chest and lung disease, is now r«5s,U)Kd lO perfect Jjealth, with a fine noble chest. "Dr.Fitoa: " Dear 8u, -You will please send me five inhaling tubes. I would not go so far, ood be so long away, without providing for accident, and to supply .he sufiering. On no account would I be without your inhaling tube. It has been everything to me ; I use it, daily ; it is the best mecricine I ever used. Indeed, I coidd not live without it. It saved me^ by the blessing of God, from the jaws of death, and now preservei me in comfortable health. In two years, by its use, my chest, the>. 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, rK.c. 1, 1849." CASE X. — Miss Redmond. " Paterson, N. J., August 31, 1848. " Dr S. S. FncB : , , " Dear Sir, — I wish to inform you of the eflFect of your medicines upon my daughter. She is 18 years of age, and deUcate. She was tak,en in April last witha 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 totalloss 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 side at all ; her feet aild limbs swollen very much, so as to shine and appear almost trans- parent. Her physician gave her up. Another physician, who chiefly attends to lung diseases, said she could not be dured — ^he could do nothing for her. It was supposed she could not live one week. " On the 22d of June last, n^^ husband called on you, stated the 166 ON THE PROOFS OP THE case, and took your remedies. After the remedies were received, oui' clergyman called on us, and said, as consumj^on 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 this, and hope you may be always as successful. " Elizabeth Rbdmond." April, 1851, Miss R. is in excellent nealth. CASE XI. — Chovner Noyes. "PeeksHll, 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 rae. Two years ago the 28th day of March, I was attacked with a severe tmn of bleeding from the lungs, which continued for a day or two. For two or three months previous to this, I had a very distressing cough, insomuch that 1 could not rest day or night. I tried everything I could think o^ but noth- ing seemed to do me good. After bleeding from the lungs I was veiy 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 attended 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 I could scarcely breathe. Whenever I coughed, my lungs became so irritated they bled. I was as helpless as an infant. Reduced to a mere skeleton, my hones hai worn through the shin. I was in as shoeking a condition as any one could be, aild lire. N C0RE OF CONSUMPTION. Ul one thought I could sm-vive but a short time. For three mouths I ■was in tWs condition, %hen a kind neighbor felt interested enough to send me one of your books called " Dr. Fitch's Six Lectures on the Prevention and Cure of Consumption." I read the book, and felt assured you could do something for me, and that to remain in the condition I was then in I must die. I stated my case to you, by let- ter, 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- bled to get out of dooi's again, to the astonishment of my physicians, friends and neighbors. It seemed as if your medicine braced me right up. My recoveiy 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 weathere, and not take cold. I can truly say that I have not had a bad cold or cough since I commenced using your remedies. I coii- tinue bathing daily with cold water. The shoulder brace and sup- porter I would not dispense with for any consideration. When I feel the least indisposition I apply to your remedies, whicli always give immediate relief. I have now no pain or soreness whatever; can lay down and skep soundly. If I can always enjoy as good health as I now do, I shall be contented and happy; and I write this to certify that both my friends and myself have the utmost confidence in your superior skill and knowledge of my case. " Yours, with respect, Gkovneb Notes." April, 1851, is iB.exceUent health. CASE XIL-^Jfr. Moses Ely. When I first saw Mr. Ely, his right lung was most extensively ulcerated, and neither myself nor anyone supposed that he' could possibly recover. This letter speaks for itself. April, 1851, he is 'still in excellent health ; now twenty-one years old. "New-York, N. E. cor. Gold and Fulton sts., Aug. 20, 1848. «Dr. S. S. Fitoh: " DeSr Sir,— In «ccor'aanee with your deSii'e, I will mow attempt to ,58 ON THE PROOFS OF THE give an account of the veiy critical situation in -which you found mo •when you visited me on the 5th of May, 184'7, together with the causes which led to it, and my present state of health, compared witli ;,that of the above time. Careless exposure during the winter previous had caused me to take cold upon cold, which being neglected, paved the way for inflammation of the lungs, with which I was attacked on the 20th February, 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 applications were made, with but temporary eflfeot, and the disease gradually progressed, notwithstanding the eflfoi-ts of the best medical advisers 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 right breast moved. My cough abated none, and the character of the expectoration became worse and worse. The disease so far baffled the skiU of my physicians, that they soon began to' abandon all hope of my recovery, and on or about the fct of May, they gave me up, and resigned me to the kind offices of ' iitne 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 deliberating what coui-se next to pursue, that I heard of your manner of treating diseased lungs, and determined, 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, mid-fray between the hip and the shoulder, running from the front through to the back part of the breast ; in my right shoulder, and running down my arm to my elbow, (which last prevented my raismg my hand to my head,) and an ahnost incessant cough, with a copious expectoration of thick, yellow ofifensive matter, which sank in water. I was confined to my bed most of the time, and unable to lie on my right side. My right lung was still inactive— my appetite, which before had been miserable, was now almost insatiable, and my bowels had been, since I was first attacked, very inactive. My right CURE OP CONSUMPTION. 159 ride had sunken in veiy much,,and my shoulder being deprived of its proper support, sunk so far as to Idb much below a level with the other one. On the same day that I placed myself under your care, I went to Newbarg, 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 appetite became reduced to its natural standard, the pains gradually subsided, and my bowels became regular. On the 4th July, I was so far recovered as to be able to be fi-om home aU the morning ; and on the 1st October follow- ing, returned to New- York, and have ever since attended to my busi- ness, with scarce any interruption in consequence of sickness. " I now feel quite well, but still have a slight cough, fi'om which I hope soon to recover. Other than this, nothing remains of that dan- gerous illness, from which, through yom- timely aid, I was relieved. I have recommended your treatment to others, and watched its eflfect upon them, 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 aflflict- ed with diseased lungs, feehng 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 XUL—Mrs. Dorcas T. Moore. "Parmington, Maine, Oct. 16, 1848. " Dr. Fitoh : "Dear Sir, — I fear thit you have thought that I have forgotten you, tny kind benefactor — but I h.ave not, nor ever shall, while me- rooiy lasts. Your medicines and machinery have met my most san- jruine expectations. My health is better than it has ever been since my remembi-ance ; 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 T. Moore." 160 ON THE PROOFS OF THE CASE XIV. — JRev. Bodolphm Bard, A- " Dr. S. 8. Fitch : " Dear Sir, — In looking over the history of the last two years of my life, I am filled with gratitude to Goifor his great goodness in so far restoring my health and giving me back to my family, after all hope had fled, and they could only look on me as already entering the grave. It has ever been to me a self-evident trutb that the all- wise Creator always works by means, and it gives me great pleasure, my dear sir, to say that your remedies for the cure of consumption were the means, the ' only means,' of my recovery, as will mpre fully appear by the following statement of my case. " First, my &mily nearly all consumptive — my mother, brother, and also a large nuinber 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 hoarseness and hacking cough, some expectoration, often night sweats, and habitual costiveness, attended with fi-equent distrfessing nervous head-aches. A change of climate from New York to Ohio operated favorably, and for 12 yeare I was able to act as Pastor of the Baptist Church -in Brimfield. In the winter of 1844 I had a severe attack of erysipelas fever, which very much injured my consti- tution, and left me in a decline, In the winter of '46 I took the charge of a protracted meeting in Mantua, laboring night and day for four weeks, at the close of which I found my whole sptem en- tirely prostrated — ray lungs so weak it was with difficulty I could speak so as to be heard. My friends and ministering brethren be- came alarmed, and earnestly advised me to stop preaching. ' But I did 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 light frothy matter, daily chills, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, pain in the chest, shouldere and limbs, palpitatttm #f thie Yi&strt, nervousnisss, -bone at its base, and contri butes vastly to enlai-ge the chest, always in all cases preventing it» contraction. A great many ladies, from debility or bad posture, contract a habit of stooping, and thus bring forward the weight of the shouldeis and arms and hands across the chest, and contract it feaj'fully. If they cannot correct this by any other means, they should 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 carri^e of the head and neck are fully appreciated, and have been un- derstood for ages. Indeed, from obsei-ving these classes, all my ideas on these subjects have been fully confirmed. In many boarding- schools of England, it is a part of the education of young persons, to provide that the shouldere, and carriage of the head and neck, &c., shall be perfectly erect and elegant. They know that stooping or rounded shoulders are alike destructive of elegance and health. Round and stooping shoulders are set down in England as decidedly vulgar, marking igtioble descent, and denoting weakness and age. The tick- ets for admission to the ball-room at Almacks', in London, cost $1.25 each, or five EngUsh shillings, yet at any time five hundred dollars would be paid for one. But money. cannot buy a ticket at this aris- tocratic place of meeting. Admission for a lady is obtained through a committee of ladies of the highest rank, the object being to intro- duce tjie aristocratic youth and beauty of tile empire to each other,— to show ofi!the finest blood in the world, and the highest breechr.g and physical cultivation. The least approach to deformity would be an insurmountable farrier to the admission of any one person, how eve:- exalted in rank. The Queen herself would hardly be admitted, DISCOURSE TQ LADIES ONLY. - 199 if slio hfid dsformsd shoulder3._ At some boarding-schools, if young lu'lies have high or stooping shquldera, strong shoulder-braces are put on them, and pass down the back behind, outside the dress, with a heavy weight attached thereto, and the child is placed on a stool for some hours daily, until the shoulders are brought into the required synmie- try. They are worn until the d'.spositjon to stoop is entirely overcome, and a peifact figure and carriage are fully estabUshed. Shoulder- braces are univeraaliy worn b}' all classes tliat desire fine figures, or the rewards of them. The officei's of the army cultivate in themselves, and in their men, the finest figures, and. perfect position of the shoul- dere. They all wear shoulder-braces, more or legs. The soldiere also wear them until the form is perfect. , Prom the nobility and higher classes, and from the army, a taste for a fine figure and perfect posi- tion of the shoulders is diffused 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 les§ degree, to throw the shouldere and anna \ipou the chest ; and from this results one-half the fatigue of manual labor. With a va.sl many the habit of stooping at hiljpr ia extended to periods of walkmg' and sitting ; and, finally, at all times, save in bed, the weight of the shoulders and arms is forced upon the chest; and thus the individual always carries a pack upon his back, and exactly the same effects are produced as if a person were always to carry a burden equal in weigtt to the hands, arms, and shouldere, upon the back. Back-ache, pains between the shoulders, pains in the jieck and spine, lie.at between the, shoulders, are the frequent effecta of bringing the shoulders forward. The occupation of many persons requires them to iise 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-blad&, 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, thus producing great deformity and disease. Nearly every case of crooked spine between the shoulders aiises from this cause ; that U, the weight of the shoulder most used drags the spine out of the straigh.t line, or to one side. Now, to prevent all this, wear shoulder-braces. Tio 300 DISCOURSE 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 possible, hy which arrangement their points recede fryn each other as far as possible, and the shoulder-blades lie fiat upon the back. (See Plate A, fig: 1, and Plate K.) To produce this position of the shoulders, it is necessary that the whole length of the spine should be perfect- ly suppoited, and therefore the small of the back is the first point to be supported: Having established my support thei'e, I then caiTy the brace' up the back,- between and around the shouldeis, by which I bring them downwards and backwards at pleasure. The foundation pieces at the small of the back and between the shoulders, should be elastic. Great care should be taken to cover the spine as little as possible, as the spine may be kiept too warm and weakened by it. Some braces are made so that rubber stuff oovera the whole spine. I made them in that way until fully convinced of their inju- rioilS eifeets. The spine must hot be wholly covered with any thing that can prevent free evaporation and airing of the spine. The India rubber stuff on the whole spine will keep the spine wet with perspi- ration, and greatly weaken it. Such braces should never be worn. The pieces of the shouldef -braces between the shouldera should be elastic and allow fuU movements of the shoulders, and hot confine the ball of the shoulder or arm, so that a free movement is permitted, and, on resting, the shoiilders will at once be brought back by the elasti- city of the stuf& to their places. The piece on the loins should be elastic, so as to allow free motion of the whole person, if desired. A great many peraons, especially those with light chests, and whose shoulders are very flexible, and move easily, cannot do much with their arniB or hands, cannot sweep a carpet, nor do any manual la- bor, nor work, nor write, nor stoop long, &c., without having pain in the chest, or in the side, one or both. These pains often extend to both arms, to the ends of the fingers, and pain is felt down the whole spine, and great weariness at the top of the chest and between the shoulders, and heat about the shoulders, pains under the shoulder- blades, ver end of the trunk ^the body, by this wretched position, if long practised, lose their symme- try, and are bent forward, and contract the basket of the hips,or, as anatomists term it, the pelris. I have no doubt that a great many ladies have lost their lives by thus contracting the basket of the hips, and bending inwards the lower end of the spine, so that no space or little is left for the greatest oflSce th« female can ever' accomplish. No person will sit badly, unless- from extreme indolence, or igaorance of its most injurious eftects. • ..:^ - Let me say to you, ladies, who have daughtei's or young girls un- der your care — follow them to school, and at any cost or sacrifice, ia- sist upon it that the seats for your httle girls shall be eaiy, and that they shall sit at a table to study, write, &c. ; and this table be so high as to make it impossible for them to stoop at all. If the table.is made as high as the arm-pits, and the child sits neat to it, the chest will not be contracted, but will be expanded by studying or writing at such a table. For writing, one inch below the arm-pits will be found fuUy as low as is necessary, and habit and practice will very soon cause the child greatly to prefer a high to a low desk. The child should not sit sideways, but perfectly fronting her desk or table. The caution to have girls sit square in front of the table is very important, for if they sit sideways to the table, the effect usually is, or in a great many cases, to lift up one shoulder higher than the other, and to bend the spine either betweeli the .shoulders, or in the small of the back. ■ I have observed this effect in a multitude Of cases, from five years old to thirty years. Bad position is the parent of nearly all de- formities of the trunk of the body, either of the spine, the shouldere, the hips, or the ribs. In all occupations that require you to stand, keep the person sti'aight. . If at table, let it be high, raised up nearly to the arm-pits, so as not to require you to stoop ; you will find the employment much easier, — not one-half the fatigue ; whilst the form of the chest, and the symmetry of the fiigure, wifl remain perfect ^ou have "O" DISCOURSE TO LADIES QNLY. 307 tie«~\that a vast many tall ladies stoop, whilst a great many short ones, are erect. This, arises, I think, from the tables at which we sit or w 3rk or occupy ouTselves, or study, being of a medium height, far t6o low for the tall person, and about right for the shoit person. This should be carefully regarded and corrected, so that each lady may oc- cupy hereelf at a table suited to her, and thus. prevent the possibility or necessity of stooping. POSITION OF THE CHEST IN WALKING. I have already occupied you a long time upon the position of the chest, -and will still occupy you with a few words upon the position of the chest in walking. An elegant carriage of the person in walking is indispensable to health and beauty, and to that graceful elegance of figui'e, of which the pers.on is fully capable. It was the fashion forty years ago for the ladies to walk with great grace, and peifectly erect, without any stoop. A few years ago some of our tourists and ladies took part in it, having seen the Venus of Medicis at Florence, in Italy; her position being stooping,^ conceived 7 the fine idea that a stooping position in walking or standing was the very acme — the highest point of elegance and grace. This stoop was palled the Gre- cian bend. The statue" of the Venus of Medicis at, Florence, in Italy, , which I have often seen, and admired, is that of a lady entirely naked ; just having left the bath, her person gracefully inclining, or stooping forward, she extends her -hand for her robe. This position — the acme" of grace in a lady uncovered— was never intended to re- present for one iiistant a lady dressed. To prove this, you have only to look at the forms of the females as they are carved and painted in the processions of the Greek and Roman ladies — ^funeral, religious, and triumphal processions, &c. At Saratoga Springs, two or three years ago, I had an opportunity of noticing this • most wretched pos- ture in walking. In the large parlor of a large and fashionahle hotel, were a number of ladies and gentlemen. The ladies generally as- suftied the Grecian bend, the shoulders and chest thrown forward, stooping from the small of the back,^a position at once indicating weakness and deformity. In striking contrast to this were the figures, the carriage, the step, of two young ladies, daughtel-s of an English 208 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. gentlomaB, but an American njothor, and bora and educated in Conneo- ticut. Their chests were fully developed, and their peraons pei-feotly erect and straight They atti'acted the notice of all. They must have been greatly obliged to the other ladies for so strikingly sotting off their figures and carriage, by the miserable positions they had assumed, unless, what was most probable, the artless and unsophisti- cated minds of the young ladies forebore drawing comparisons unfa- vorable to their companions, and favorable to themselves. ' I hardly need say that the same rules apply \o standing and wallc- ing, as in sitting, to keep the pei'son straight, the shouldera completely off the chest, the chost thrown out, head and neck; perpendifcular to the spine, but easy in its motion, and flexible, the weight of the arms and shouldere entirely falling behind the chest. The step elastic and buoyant, and not mincing or affected or stiff. If the least stoop is permitted, let it be from the hip-joints, and not from the waist or shouldere. POSITION OF the' CHEST IN BED. I have no doubt that all beds should be rather hard, such as can be made from a hair mattress, husks or shucks of com, straw finely cut up, cotton, &c. I think these far better than down or feathers ; being better ventilated, they do not so much confine the heat of the body, and better promote the circulation of the blood, and do not effeminate as feathei-s and down invariably do. The position of the chest and person should be flat, laying on the back as much as possi- ble ; indeed, this should be the habitual position in bed, the head very low, or level with the body, so that the spine is kept straight. This position, if early adopted, will be found, as *a general rule, far more salutary than to bolster up much under the head and shoulders, espe- cially on a soft bed. The practice of sleeping on a soft bed, with the head and shouldere high, will, in itself, make you crooked, and greatly contract the base of the chest. You should notice the position of your daughtera in bed. They should never sleep always on one side, as this throws the lungs, heai-t, liver, stomarh and bowels, out of sym- metry, and often causes disease. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 309 STANDING ON ONE FOOT. Nothing is more common than to see ladies who rarely stand erect on both feet, biat rest first on one foot and then on the other. This, besides being most ungraceful, is often productive of deformity. I was lately consulted by a lady on behalf of her daughter, who had one hip much larger than the other, so as to be a great deformity, and caused entirely by standing very much on one foot. The hip of the same side of the foot on which she most rests, is soon thrown out, and the other hip drawn in. This, in a longer or shorter time, becomes permanent, and produces an irreparable deformity of the hip, and often cm-vature of the spine, and derangement of symmetry through- out nearly the whole person. TIGHT LACING, A great deal has been said and written against the habit of tight lacing, or confining the waist, so as to make it very small. You will notice, by recalling what I have said, how pernicious and destructive lacing the chest must be to the lungs, the heart, the hver, and large bowels. It produces a broken constitution, and almost certain death to any or all who practise it. It is utterly subversive of symmetry, and is, in every poin^ of view, decidedly vulgar. No person is now known to practise it, save the ignorant and,, the would-be fine and genteel. It.must.not be practised if you would have health, elegance, or symmetry of person. But, as I have told you in speaking of the shouldei's, widen them, and make the top of the ctest wide, and the symmetry of the waist will be perfect without contracting its dimen- sions by lacing. It is murder in a parent to lace tightly the waist of a female child. Allow me, ladies, to exhort you to study symmetry of person, as a great science, and achieve it in each one of you, at any sacrifice of temporary ease, indulgence, or long-formed habit. Without perfect symmetry, you cannot have perfect beauty and elegance, and rarely health and long life. 10 210 DISCaURSB TO LADIES ONLY^ TO PROCURE A CLEAR AND BEAUTffUL COMPLEXION. Supposing the symmetry of the head, neck^houlders, spine, chest, waist, and all your person, to be perfect and unexceptionahle, it is necessary to perfect beauty, and a consequence of perfect liealth, that you have a clear, beautiful complexion, — that the lily and the roso God has painted upon you should be developed in their full perfec- tion, and preserved untarnished and undiminished. To enable you to understand the art of doing this, I must give you some account of oUr food, and those processes of Nature by which paiis of it become nouiishing to us, and other parts of it useless, and are rejected from the system. THE TEETH. The first of that series of processes by which the food is made to nourish and replenish the waste of the human machine, after the cook, or Nature, has prepared it, is to masticate it, to chew it well. This cannot be done without good (teeth, which leads me to speak of the teeth in connection with health and beauty. Beauty of the face de- pends on regular symmetiical features, and three brilliants, — biil- liant eyes, brilliant complexion, brilliant teeth. Each of these biilliants are reflections of the health, the taste, and the neatness of their pos- sessors. No lady can be beautiful, or long healthy, vrith bad teeth. The food, in order to a healthy digestion, should be rather slowly eaten, and Well chewed ; but if the teeth are decidedly defective, or de- cayed, or both, mastication becomes imperfect and painful, and dys- pepsia follows, — more or less as a natural consequence. As a point of beauty, the mouth is a very striking feature. The teeth, in perfection, and beautiful and appropriate in their foi-ms, and all in pkce, present two perfect rows, one on each jaw, of a brilliant and exquisite pearly lustre. They become, when the countenance Ls animated in conver- salion, or enhvened by smiles, a constant source of delight to the be- holder. But should the teeth be di-colored, irregular, defective, or deficient, they become at once a source of avereion and great disgust to the observer. With beautiful and perfect -teeth, the smile of a lady is irresistible ; should it be otherwise, her laugh is a grotesque caricatui-e, exciting pity and aversion. You cannot possess attraction DISCOUESE TO LADIES ONLY. 211 with tarnished and bad teeth. Such teeth destroy the purity of the breath, and shorten life. I am proud to say, no country can boast better or more intelligent dentist-s than our own. In all our larger towns, and most of our smaller one's, good deptists are to be found. The care of your teetli, and those of your children, should engage your constant attention-, aided by the advice and iisiistance of. the best dentists. If the teeth are defective, they should be repaired ; if not capable of repair, their places should be. supplied by artificial ones. In-egulaiity should be seasonably corrected. A good dentifrice should be used ; at any rate, each day, a brush and pure cold water should be freely applied 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 repulsi^f. In repose, should her features, not be strikingly prepossessing, let her smile, and at once she receives at- tention 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. (See Plate E, fig. 2.) It passes behind the wind-pipe, and behind the heart, through the chest, into the abdomen, and terminates iii a bag, which balds 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 passes out of the stomach into the bowels. After it has ontorod the boweb 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 boweb. (See Plate C.) These small bowels are about 25 feat long, — that is, almost twelve times as long as the usual length of the trunk of the body. Whilst Ae fo«d is in these bowels, it is rapidly drained of all those parts of it that are fit for nourishment, or can enter the blood, 813 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. PLATE N. the coarse portions rernaia, and are hurried along to the termination of the small bowels. These bowels end at the right grtoin, in the large bowel. This large bowel (see Plate C) commences in the right oToin, and advances upward to the right waist, under thei 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 body, from the right to the left waist, when it turns downwards, along the left groin. At the bottom of 'the groin it passes to the right, as far as the back-hone, 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 back passage through the basket of the hips. The large bowel, is almost five feet 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 eflfect, in fulfilment of their functions, exert a most important influence upon the complexion, and upon the general health. Tliis makes it necessaiy for me to say a few words upon eadi of these ; and, first, lipon THE STOMACH— (see Plate N.) It is the imfortajit office of the stomach to digest the food, and pre- pare it to enter the blood, and give nomishment to the body, and ftii-nish materials to repair the daily waste of the system. With the healthy action of the stomach, the health of every person is intimately DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 213 connected. Witiiout good digestion, it is impossible to have health in perfection. The health is usually injured in proportion as digestion is imperfect, until, if digestion ceases for a short time, death ensues. I have before told you, that in good digestion, and a healthy condition of the stomach, the food, according to its character, its quantity, and condition, is digested in from three minutes to foui" hours. Should the stomach be diseased, or weak, and unable to perform its natural duties, the food may remain in it three months. I have known two perfectly authenticated cases, whei'e some portions of the food re- mained in the stpmaoh, in one case twelve weeks, and in the other forty-six days ; and was in both oases vomited up, but little changed. This disturbed state of the stomach, by which it digests food imper- fectly, is painfully known to thousands under the name of DYSPEPSIA. This is known to exist in some persons by a sensation of weight in the stomach after eating ; in othera, by a sour stomach ; in others, heart-burn: in others, by great disti'ess in the stomach, after eating, taking place in a few minutes, or in one or two hours ; in othera, by a great deal of wind in the stomach ; in others, by severe head-aches ; in others, by a chronic diarrhoea, the food coming away unchanged ; in othei-s, the effects are chiefly evinced by pains in different parts of the body, more often in the left side, or from the breast-bone, through to the back-bone, &c. In others, dyspepsia is manifested by great palpitation of the heart. In a vast many cases, true heart diseases be- gin with dyspepsia ; and in many others, what seems, by the great pal- pitation and stoppage of the heart, and iiTCgular breathing, to be a genuine disease of the heart itself, is not so, but is caused by indiges- tion. Some or all of the foregoing symptoms, and many more, such as cough, mentioned in another place, are found to exist in dyspepsia. I might mention sleeplessness, nervousness, beating of the heart on laying down in bed at night, often arise from indigestion. The effect of continued indigestion is, to reduce the strength, to take, all color from the face, and, in many cases, to cause "the face to become the oolorof a tallow candle. At other times, it causes gi'eat rushing of the blood to the head and face. It is the fruitful parent of skin dis* 214 DISCOTTRSE TO LADIES ONLY. eases, or is intimately connected witli them. If a good ikal of bile comes into the stomach, it is apt to cause the skin of the neck, the forehead, e, and repulsive, destroying both rose and lily. Its ear- liest effect is to destroy the complexion, produce sallowness, and great biliousness, when no injury -vyhatever is suspected. It inclines to prodvice in those predisposed to thein, bleeding lungs, and to develope scrofula and skin diseases. Children should never taste it, except at long intervals, say once a year, or month. Black tea in moderation, m'.h, and also water, or milk and water, are good articles for drink. Late suppers should be avoided. Our food should never be taken much, if any^ warmer than new milk. • Animals in their native state usually enjoy perfect health their whole hves, yet never take their food any warmer than new milk. In general, a lady, who would have perfect health, and a brilhant 316 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY complexion, should eat as much food as she pleases, inclining to eat enough, and to select, indiscriminately, as her taste, or appetite, or convenience, or opportunity allows, fish, flesh, o!' fowl, fruit, vegetables, bread, &c. Allowing her food to be well cooked, and, above all, let it be of a perfect quality, not rancid or tough. Taljje salt, on fresh provisions, she may eat as much of as she pleases. Salt is an indispensable article of diet, and perhaps never does harm. Recollect, we should eat for nourishment, not gluttony. Variety in our food is desirable, but this variety should not depend on the art of the cook or confectioner, but on-the diversified variety we select from the markets. Meats long salted shoilld not be much indulged in. Acids, spices, pickles, &c., should be sparingly used. Watch your own experience, and what you find best agrees, use it, but let the variety from which you may choose be as large as possible. Never run after vagaries in diet. Never weigh your food, or think to build up a constitution on one kind of food or diet. What you may find by experience disagrees 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. -^^Diipe Sp! disease is rave. When it does talie place, it requires the. aid of thi; DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 311 physician. Observe the rules of health laid down in this lecture, and you -will rarely have any liver complaint or any derangement of any of its important functions. GALL-STONES IN THE GALL BLADDER. This disease is often seen, and is productive of great mischief. It often produces sudden attacks of dreadful pain at the pit of the sto- mach, inclining to the right tide, and great tenderness is felt there on pressure ; at other times, a cniel 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 occasions distressing' sick head-aches, and these periodically for a long, life ; in other cases, and accompanying any or all of these, the sufferer vomits very freely a sour, bilious water, often clear bile. Appetite impaired, and very dyspeptic, rejecting many kinds of food ; bowels costive, stools clay-- colored, face more or less yellow, and at times the color of an orange, &c. ; kidneys do not act well, scarcity and, scalding 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-bladder is enor- mously distended, and if not relieved, will burst, as I have seen, — of course, suddenly'fatal. The cure for this in its early stages, and in nearly all cases, is to drink at the moment of getting into bed one table-spoonful to one gill of pure sweet oil (tabk oil.) It may be ne- cessary to continue this for some vy^eeks, until a gallon of oil is used ; but in many cases a much less q.uaptity will effect a cure. It is a perfectly 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 Uttle senna tea, or if feverish and robust, senna and salts, or castor oil. By this treatment I have knovra a pint of ^all-stones brought away in a few days, and good health retm-n. The oil must be pure. Much tabb oil sold as pure olive oil is adulterated with lard oil, and then is almost useless for dissolving gall-stones, and very much disagrees with the invalid. These same symptoms may occur without any gaU-stones being in the gall-bladder, and then the oil will do little or no good, yet it scarcely produces any bad effects. ' 10 918 DISCOURSK TO LADIES ONLY. BAD BREATH. The breath cf some dyspeptics is extremely oflfensive, owing to un- digested food remaining a long time in the stomach and bowek. 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 eveiy day — in extreme cases much less, or vjustly more, bivt this is about its medium range. Now, all this leaves the body after it.has accomplished its destined object. How do I know it all. leaves the body ? I know from the very 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 jitlle, but it does not alter the general nile, for should even a veiy small portion of our daily food be retained, or stick to our bodies, we should become monsters in size during ., Jong life. Now, all this fuoJ and drink, with all its grossness, leavps the machine, or person, through five avenues only, namely, the skin, the lungs, the kidney^, the bowels, and the womb; and on the mutu:*Vharmony, in action and functions, of those five 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 uafit for nourish- ment, or is undigested, passes-through the small bovvels and is lodged in the large bowel. In a healthy condition of the large bowel, and when it acts naturally, it evacuates itself ever}- twenty-four hours. If the contents of that bowel are letained longer than twenty-four hours, it becomes injuiiotis to the machine, or s3-stem, and the injury is in proijortion to the time it b retained over its natural term. COSTIVENESS. When this bowel is slaggisli in its functions, the fluidc- that should pass by the bowels are thrown upon the skin, the kidiiej's, and the lungs, loading each of these organs, and deranging their ofltices. One of the very earliest effects is. to render the skin of the faee gross, thick, sallow, and unhealthy. Its brilliancy is lost. The blood i-ushes more or less to the head, the eye becomes dim, and soon loses its •ieaiwias aad brillraacy. The i^n evtrywhete ceases to be tranqw- DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 219 rent ; an unpleasant odour is exhaled from the bod)' the breath becomes offensive ; the liver enlarges, and is loaded wilt blood arid bile ; 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 costiven.jss. Piles,- bearing dovcn paiiis, monthly irregularity, disease of the womb, en- largement of the ovaries, falling of the womb, dropsy, apoplexy, palsy, spine diseases, gravel, and disease of the kidneys; head-ache, and sick liead-ache, flatulence, and colic, are often prodiiced ■ 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 horses, 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 bovels, I found they moved but once a week. On going into the fai'mer'j house, I found his wife sitting in an arm-chair, unable to walk.'. She had lost entirely the- use of her lower extremities, from tkdi small of her back down, caused entirely by costiveness. Here- were two sistere ; one with a heart disease, the other palsy, caused by costiveness only. The large bowel, when its instincts are followed, never fails to sohcit an evacuation daily. When neglected, the next day the call will be less urgent, and in a few weeks habitual costive- ness wiU be established. The calls of Nature become less' and less in some cases, until the bowel will not act at all. In the early part of March, 1844, I was consulted by a member of the Massachusetts legislature, on behalf of his sister, who had passed nine eritire months without an evacuation from the bowels, the bowels baring 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 fi'om the bowels for four and a half months. Bloat iilg is a frequent companion of costiveness. CURE, OF COSTIVENESS. The perfect preventive, aad the almost infallible remedy for oob- 3a0 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. tivenesa, is habit. Never allow a day to pass without a free evacua- tion. Obser,ve one particular exact time for it, and at that exact pe- riod solicit the evacuation. A few days' or weeks' patient solicitation will usually restore Nature to its full health in this respect. Should this not fully answer, eating soft food, or coarse bread, such as bread made of corn meal, or of wheat meal, unbolted. These are excellent to remove costiveness. Chewing a little good Turkey rhubarb daily, will often remove all sluggishness of the bowels, and, assisted by,habit, will entirely cure- costiveness. Rhubarb has the rare property of a tonic to the bowels, and will not lose its effects upon the bowels, or do them any injury. • I have known a lady, who had taken rhubarb, more or less, for forty years. It is a safe and most valuable remedy for costiveness, if assisted by habit. Neither health, beauty, or purity of system, can be long preserved, if costiveness exists. It should be reheved at all hazards. KIDNEY EVACUATIONS. The next great evacuation from the system is from the kidneys. The bladder is a reservoir, into which is received the water, which with a variety of salts and earths, are separated from the blood by the kidneys. The water is conveyed from the kidneys by a pipe from each kidney, that conveys it to the bladder. (See Plate S.) In a natural and healthy state, the proper time when the bladder should be emptied is indicated. Should the water be habitually retained longer than is proper, the effect, as in the bowels, is to lessen the ac- tion of the bladder and kidneys, and less water is taken off from the blood. In this way gi-avel and other diseases of the kidneys often take place. It is well known that the highest and lowest people in England rarely have any kidney disease or stone in the bladder, whilst the intermediate classes, who, from modesty, will often retain the wat«r for hours beyond its natui-al period, have more of stone and gravel in the bladder and kidneys. If this is habitual, much less water will be secreted from the blood ; bad odour of person arises, loss of flesh, and a pecuhar shai-pness of the lines of the face, sallow- ness, &c. 'All these complaints are usually prevented by never re- pressing the calls of Nature in this respsct. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. S31 PERIODICAL NATURE. Allow me to say a few Words on the great and peculiar function of Nature, which indicates maturity of the woman, beginning at different ages in different pei-sons, dependent on climate and education some- what. In this climate, it commences at about thirteen, fourteen, fif- teen, sixteen, and seventeen yeai-s, without injury to the female health. Fourteen and fifteen ai'e the most usual periods, when it naturally re- curs almost with the regularity of clock-work, continuing from thirty to thirty-eight yeai-s, and ending usually between forty-four and fifty- two years. By this great provision of Nature, the female is reminded each month that she may become a mother. At its commencement in young ladies, it is at times irregular, taking place perhaps two or three times in the same number_ of yeai-s. This is usually owing to effeminacy, to poor health, a low state of strength and delicacy, aris- ing from attacks of sickness, from confinement in-doors, too much at school, and general debihty. This is soon cured by change of air, out-door exercise, sea-bathing, and strengthening medicines. After the regular nature is fully established, any derangement of it is a just cause of alarm, and should warn us to seek relief from medical aid, which is "generally successful in the cure. The effect of disturbed natm-e, irregularity or stoppage, is disastrous to the health and beauty of a lady ; color flies fi'om her countenance, her face be- comes hfeless in appearance, and assumes the hue of a tallow can- dle ; her eyes lose their brilliancy ; her buoyancy of spirits leaves her; she becomes spiritless, timid,- shuns society, and, when not re- lieved, is apt to fall a prey to disease, dyspepsia, consumption, dropsy, &c., &c. In nearly all cases, it is easy to cure this state of health, and especially so at its commencement. In some cases, and rather frequently, the turns are too profuse, in a greater or less degree, even to flooding.- This state of things" may occur to all ladies, but it is most usual at from twgnty to fifty. The effect is to produce great sinking at the stomach, and faint feeling, weak back, inability to walk much, general prostration, even confinement to bed for months at a time. It is very easily and perfectly cured. I do not recollect to have ever failed to cure such cases in a few days. There is one effect produced by derangement' of this natural function, that I do 823 DISCOURSE TO LAOPP ONJLY. not recollect ever to have seen mentioned by any writer, in connection witli disturbed female health ; but which, I think, in nearly all cases, proceeds from a disturbance of the monthly nature, or derangement, in some way, of the female functions. This is the formation on diffe- rent parts of the face, the forehead, and upper parts of the face, most usually, of yellow or brown spots, occurring more or less in extent or depth of color ; at one time hardly noticed, — at another time, large, well defined spots cover half the face. These spots are often said to arise from a disturbed liver. I think they all but always arise from a derangement of the female health, or some functions of the womb. They are quite curable. The effect is most disastrous to female beau- ty, for the brilliancy and clearness of the complexion is entirely lost. A cure can certainly be obtained. PAINFUL PERIODICAL NATURE. In a great many cases, the commencement of the periodical nature is marked by vast pain, most distressing and terrible, taking all strength from the body, and often continuing a whole week. I never fail in its cure. (See the letter of Miss Mm'ray.) END OF THE PERIODICAL NATURE. The natural close of the monthly^ nature is often marked by some disturbance of the health, but, by care, keeping the bowels fr^, and preserving the general health, it will usually pass away, and a long calm succeed in the female liealth. This, when properly managed, will be scarcely marked by a single ripple upon its smooth, unbroken surface, until the female attains, or may attain, to one hundred years. Although, after the cessation of the months, she cannot again give ex- istence to another, yet she can eiyoy the highest charms of society and social intercom'se. She can guide the young, and everywhere en- liven and adorn, and instruct society, by the fei-vor of her affections to her family, the brilliancy of her wit, the polish and charm of her accom- plishments, and the generous diffusion of her knowledge and expe- rience, resulting from the stores of her reading, and the extent of her observation. Let her preserve her health and charms in the highest perfection, and never allow inactivity to creep upon her, or for an DISCOURSE TO jLAiDIES OiNLV. 223 instant allow the thoughts of age to approach her, or thi«k herself less useful or attractive than she ever was, convincing all that ap- proach her, by her kindness and benevolence, that time can not sear her affections, or damp her sympatliies, or pluck a single flower of loveliness from her mind. Such a lady will find the last half of her century as pleasant, and even more pleasant, than the first. AH places will be open to her, all hearts will welcome her. No society can be complete mthout her; her children will be proud of her, her frieilds will admire her ; she will so reahze the value of her presence, and the extent of her usefulness, that never for a moment can she be made to feel herself a burden to others, or useless in society. She should never retire from society, and never cease to make heiself use- ful, agreeable and happy. EVACUATIONS FROM THE LUNGS. . I have mentioned the lungs as one of the avenues thr6ugh which' passes off more or less of what we eat or drink ; and that neitlier by cougliing or expectoration; but the matter is dejjosited in the air, and passes off by the breath. To convince yourselves of this, only- breathe a moment upon a plate of. cold glass, and you will notice it instantly covered with viscid matter. IIow much the lungs throw off in this way, we have no positive means of ascertaming. It differs in different persons, amounting, in some cases, I have no doubt, to some pounds daily. Clear, cold, dry air will take "off vastly more from the lungs than moist, humid air. Ilence, in cold, damp, wet vreather, the lungs are vastly more loaded and stuffed up than in a clear, dry air. This will teach you the value of breathing the pure out-door air daily, fi-equently, and constantly as possible. I have spoken of this suf- ficiently in my remarks on forming a fine chest, and on the prevention of consumption, in another lecture, to which I particularly refer you. THE SKIN. Ilanng passed over these three great avenues of evacuation,^-the bowels, the 'kidneys, and lungs, — I now come to the fouilh— the 234 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. Before proceeding with the general subject, I will say, the top of the chest is the very throne of beauty. Its round and voluptuous swell is most seducing, winning every observer. The skin covering it should be brilliantly clear and transparent. It is the misfortune of a great many ladies, to have the chest and neck, sometimes, but the chest very often, most hombly scaiTed by sores, made to remove pain or tightness across the chest, a cough, or a cold. Even little girls suffer from this practice. No practice of medicine or surgery, in my opinion, is more pernicious, or more detestable than this, infficting most horrible agony, and injury, in place of good, — very rarely bene- fitting any patient in the least degree. It was only yesterday I had occasion to examine the chest of a young lady, who, in the last five months, had had tartar emetic sores made on her chest nearly all over it ; front and sides marked by hundi-eds of scars, in size from a small pea to that of a four-penny piece, without a thought of good or benefit. Rarely need you apply a blister, — all but never setons, or sores. Should you wish to remove pain, or soreness, or stricture, rub the affected part well with a little stimulating liniment, and then cover it with a linen or cotton cloth, dipped in cold water, wrung out so as not to drip any. Keep it on a few hours, then change it. Using Uniment, and wearing a wet cloth a few days, save in very rare cases, will remove pain, and soreness, and tightness upon the lungs, infinitely better than sores of any kind, and will produce no pain or prostration, and leave no scars. Mothers, I beg of you, allow no such sores to be made upon the chests of your daughtere, and allow none on your- selves. I witnessed one case, on a lady's chest, where a tartar emetic sore was made on the breast-boije, and continued until a hole was eaten entirely through the breast-bone into the chest. It did not heal for several months. The beauty and brilliancy of the skin and the whole surface of the body is greatly aflfected by the condition of the lungs, the stomach, the liver, the bowels, the womb, the kidneys, — and all these are great- ly affected by the condition of the skin. It is impossible for the skin and complexion to be healthy when any or all of these are much de- ranged in their functions. It is also difficult for them to be in health should the skin not act in a healthy manner. Our gi-eat Creator in DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 226 tended the skin for a clothing and a protection to the whole body. Some tribes of men, at this day, wear no clothing, not a vestige, and yet suffer no more than the animals around them. This fact should never be forgotten, that the skin is itself a clothing. Artificial cloth- ing is intended to exclude the cold, and retain the heat and warmth of the person upon- itself. A certain amount of clothing does all that clothing can do for the wearer ; and after this, you may pile on as much clothing as you please, ^nd you will only burden yourselves and efleminate the skin, without adding one particle to its wannth. The standard of health is rather to have the skin cool', than to have it hot or perspi]'ing. Many delicate pereons are taught, that when feeble or reduced in health, adding very much to their clothing will contribute greatly to their health. They flatter themselves, that by much cloth- ing and warmth, tl>ey can fence out disease ; and if in perfect health, a great deal of clothing will keep them so. A suflBciency of clothing is necessary to health, but too much is very injurious to health indeed, and greatly injures the complexion, as do heated rooms. As little clothing as possible is the true rule of health and beauty^ and rooms as cold as possible, consistently with comfort, and a healthy action of the skin. When already habituated to very much clothing and wann rooms, and flannels, especially next to the skin, sudden changes should not be attendpted, and, above all, never in autumn or winter, or early spring ; but when we propose to reduce our clothing, tlie change should be made in early summer, and thus, through the warm weather and advancing fall, we may permanently leave ofi' aH unnecessary clothing, after bathing all over in cold water, which will tend gi'eatly to prevent taking cold. I think cotton or silk worn next the skin in summer, and all the year, if possible, far preferable to flannel or wool- len. Should one be already accustomed to the use of woollen-flan- nel, she may substitute good cotton-flannel, I think to great advan- tage. Woollen-flannel worn all the year, and great quantities of clothing, effeminate the skin prodigiously, destroy the complexion, and induce debility and great delicacy. The slightest changes of weather are felt to the innermost core of the heart ; not a breath of air can blow upon her, or the least part of her person, or neck, or bosom, be exposed to h. air, without taking cold. The true rule is 226 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. to wear as little clothing as possible, consistently with comfort. Never wear olothing for health. — wear it for ornament, — wear it for comfort, 60 as not to be chilly or cold, but never increase it for health. The neck should always be uncovered, or with the shghtest possible cover- hig, unless exposed to very great cold. Ladies who habitually cover the neck are liable to sore throat, while those who habitually keep the throat and neck uncovered seldom have sore throat or cold. A piece of human skin, on being held up to the air and viewed through a magnifying, glass, is seen to be perforated with innumera- ble small openings through it. These are the pores of the skin. Through these pores, when in health, a great quantity of matter is constantly passing, in an extremely subtile form, and Ls called the in- sensible perepiration. Were a person divested of clothing, and placed in a glass case, and the air pumped all out, the body would look as if covered with a cloud ; upon placing youreelves in a bath, after a few moments you can notice air bubbles rising from the skin, and cov- ering it all over like very fine pearls. This is the insensible perspirar tion, and is constantly passing oflF through the pores of the skin. This makes the skin the fourth great avenue, through which passes an im- portant share of what we eat and drink. Now it is of the last im- portance to health and beauty, that the pores of the skin be kept in a healthy state, and, in fact, that the skin be considered as a covering and a clothing, and as a great element for evacuating, and unloading the human machine or system of its useless or effete matter. To achieve these two purposes for the skin, it must be well aired, never effeminated, and the pores never allowed to be closed by its own se- cretions or external impurity. I have before remarked, you must not wear too much clothing, as it effeminates the skin. All your clothing should allow of ventilation of the skin, and not completely confine the air around the body. Some persons wear oil cloth, or oil silk, around the body, over some part of their person, or next to the skin, to ex- clude the air entirely ; nothing can be more pernicious or destractive to health. It effeminates the skin and prostrates the system, and should never be done. To strengthen the skin, and to fortifv it and all the system against cold or changes of weather, and to render the skin pure and healthy, no remedy can for one moment be compared DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 327 to washing *Ji6 whole surface of the body over daily with ,pure cold wp.te'. I da not refer to covering youi'selves with water, or taking a bath, but simply to washing your whole -poraon over- daily with pure cold water, as you do your -face and hands. Extend the same favor to your whole person, that you. do to your hands and face. All you require is two to four quarts of cold water, and as much more as you please, but a common wash-basin will do, and two or thr«e towels. Take one of the towels, dip it in this crystal fluid, eminently worthy of you, and you of it ; lave well the wrists, the eare, the neck, the chest, the whole pereon, the lower limbs, the feet. Dwell much on the chest, about the collar-bones and below them, and on all the large joints, and feet and soles of the feet.' As it will be a little difBeult to wa.sh between the shoulders, fill a towel full of water, and spread it out like a shawl, and convey it over the head, and 1st it fiill down the back to the hips, covering all the shouldere, and all the spine. Let it embrace and wet all the spine well. Now, take a igood-sized towel, one in each hand, if you please, and commence vigorous fric- tion, and wiping on and over all your peraon, rub yourselves peifectly dry, animate all the skin by rubbing with at dry towel. This done, throw the dry towel over your neck, take the opposite corpera of tlio toweliin each hand, draw the towel across the back! of the neck, and i)etween the shotilders, and down the back as far as the hips, wiping andrubbing the whole spine well and thoroughly, and shoulders, neok, shoulder-blades, &c., all down. Fill the chest full of air as you can, then throw thehead, neck, shoulders, and chest backwards as. far as possible, and for one or two minutes walk the room, holding the breath, and expanding the chest to its fullest extent by drawing inall the air you can. By this operation your shoulders will soon lie flat to the back of the chest, and the bosom, all untrammelled, will swell and resume all the luxuriance of its natural form, and almost unapprdach- able beauty. Thl«; whole operation- will not occupy you more than three or four min-.ites, when your ablutions, frictions,, and expanding the chest, will be finished, afid you prepared to resume your clothing;. The morning I"; the best time of day for bathing, — on fli-st stepjiing out of bed, acj when all the skin is in. a glow of warmth. Any othej houriof the dfty, or on retiring at. night, ma.y be selected witfa-^eat ' 328 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. advantage, as inclination or convenience may dictate. Ladies not accustomed to cold bathing, or -who dread exposing the person to the air, may, at first, use only'a damp towel, or merely dampened in salt and warm water, and fii'st expose only the limbs and person very par- tially at a time, and so gradually accustom the surface of the person to exposure. In this way, by exercising a little sound discretion and care, in five to ten days the most efieminated and feeble persons may habituate themselves to the free use of cold water, over all the sur- face of the body and limbs, daily. Should you in the commencement take cold, you need not dread taking cold always from exposure of the person, or bathing with cold water. The value of the bathing, save mere purity, is derived from the cold that is in the water. Bathing in cold water is more valuable when the weather is coldest in autumn, winter, and spring. In summer its effects are less striking than in winter. It is at this moment, ladies, I wish I possessed the highest powers of persuasion, to induce you to adopt at once constant daily ablutions with cold water all your lives. It may be done always, whether the monthly turns are on or not. When accustomed to it, it may be done an hour before child-birth, or an hour after, with perfect safety. It is hardly possible to imagine any fever, or any sickness, that forbids your daily bathing, or washing all over with cold water. On the contrary, in scarlet fever, measles, typhus fever, child-bed fe- ver, lung fever, scrofula, spine diseases, liver complaint, dyspepsia, consumption, ague and fever, erysipelas, and, in fact, in almost any ard every disease incident to the human frame, cold bathing is itself a trreat remedy, and never can do hurt, when you have before been accustomed to it. Rarely, Very rarely, will you be subject to any of these, should you constantly and faithfully bathe daily in cold watet The shower bath may be used, when perfectly convenient and agree- able. Never use a tepid bath, unlass to begin before you use cold, — it effeminates the whole system. Let the water be hot or cold. Hot baths are occasionally admissible, as a remedy for pain, fever, or hoarseness, either of longer or shorter duration. For stiff joints from rheumatism, lameness, pain in the side, and sore throat, or quiney, • pain and heat in the spine, swelling and pain and heat in either side, or about the chest, tkel*e are few remedies -stiperior t© tdi water DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 939 either poured on, or, what is most applicable, a piece of cotton doth folded two or three thicknesses, and laid or bound on the painful or swelled part, changed often, and kept on for hours, or days and nights.. Coarse crash is much used. This application is far superior to a blister, or tartar emetic sorA ; will remove the pain sooner, and make a far more permanent cure. By tying up the neck with a handkerchief dipped in cold water, and kept on over-night, or for several days and nights, if urgent, or for successive nights, you will usually cure the sore throat in the most gi'atifying manner, without one twinge of pain, or reducing the strength in any degree. Over the wet cloths should be laid thick, dry ones, so as to keep the parts warm and perspiring, otherwise injury Would result from the cold. Dry friction, with a flannel, if the surface is cold, or with a dry towel, fine or coarse, as suits you, or with a flesh brush, as taste or inclination, or judgment directs, will be found ex- cellent. ' Friction, to have its best effects, should be long continued, and for old persons it is most valuable ; but ought notto supersede the use of cold water. Gold water preserves the freshness of the skin, and prevents wrinkles, and every thing of that 'kind, to a gi-eat degree. Followed and preceded by friction, it. is beyond all possible value. A person who bathes in cold water freely, as I, have directed, can hardly feel the fluctuations of the weather, or be liable to take cold, or receive any injury from atmospheric clianges. She will ever rarely have a pain, or be liable to fever, to rheumatism, or inflammation of the lungs, or pleurisy, or quinsy, or sore thfoat, or cough, or skin diseases, liver complaints, or dyspepsia. When you can faithfully and fearlessly wash yourselves all over with cold water daily, you will have taken a vast step in the commencement of a pe- riod of uninterrupted health. Infants at the breast should be bathed in cool water daily, from their youngest hours. Do not be afraid of •doing them any injury by it. It is impossible, when the cold sponge bath is judiciously used. It is of almost inappreciable value to the child. The rooms in which you wash may be very warm indeed, if you please, and should always be warm, if you are delicate or unac- customed to exposure of your person to the air. The water at first may be used warm or tepid, and used colder as you can bear it, or B30 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. * istitnulated with salt. To render the skin soft and pure, I recommend to my patients, to wash all over once a week, with sal aeratus and water, cold or hot, or with super-carbonate of soda, which ,is the best. The effect of this upon the skin, \ued once a week, .is Very agreeable, and iftakes the surface of the peraon as pure as the rose. The soda should be the fine super-carbonate of soda, sold by the apothecaries, &c. It will make the skin as soft as the finest, softest velvet. You need ijever be afraid of exposing your whole pereon to the air, (in a warm room, if delicate,) and of washing all over, daily, with pure cold water. The effect is, to i^ve you good health, and, unless counteracted by othercauses,as I have already mentioned, and shallmention in another discouise, uninterrupted and brilliant health. The mind will be clear, the eye bright, and countenance brilliant las the first blushes of the morning. Lassitude, despondency, low spirits,, and indolence, will find no lodgment in your persons. Timidity, fear, and moroseness, will be driven from you by the courage and resolution that result fiom good health. Your first great enemy is ignorance ; the next, its legitimate child, is indolence. Overcome these, and you have be- fore you a pleasant and beautiful world, a long and happy life ; wc- torious over these, and eveiy other obstacle to health, usefulness, or happiness, will retire at your app-oach, as darkness before light. THE FEET. I will say one word on the condition of your feet. You cannot walk well, unless the feet are ingood condition. "V^^heHnot properly treated, the feet are apt to swell, and become covered more or less with corns. Many ladies are also liable to very cold feet, the cold extending even to the knees, at times. To remedy all this, I recom- mend putting your feet once aweek in hot vi-ater, — not a tepid, warm •bath, — rbut in a hot bath, — and, if you please, medicated. I direct my consumptive patients, and all my patients, and every one, to pre- pare, once a week, a foot-bath. If the pereons.are feeblej or liable to uight-sweats, the hot foot-bath need not be' used, and is even iiijuri- 9us if the feet are in good order. Take three or foui- quarts of water, (vann ; add to this one table-apoonful of the coiiimou washing soda, »r the fine suj)er-«arbonat/>, of soda, as you please, an^ three tablfrspoW' DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. ^1 fuls of common salt. Now put your feet in, -and gradually add Lot ■water, as you can bear it, for twenty or tlurty minutes, until you liave raised a very high heat upon your feet. Now remove your feet, and wipe them dry. Should any spots of hardened skin be upon them, SQrape these off as often as possible, so as to make all the skin cover- ing the feet, the bottom and .sides especially, as thin as possible. Eepeat this bath once a week, and you, will -never have eoms, or any inconvenience in your feet, — remembering, the shoes -should be inost gi'aceM, and fit the foot perfectly, but never squeeze or pinch any part of it, the hot foot-bath, such as I have described to you, is one of the greatest medicines for rushing of blood to the head, recent at- tacks of pain, neuralgia, pleurisy, swelled face, quinsy, scarlet ifever, rhemnatism, lung fever, cold, Hver complaint, — and in consumption, it is most valuable. In all cases of .pains in the limbs, and deranged circulation, the hot foot-bath is valuable. In fits in children, and a vast many cases of disease, quite too numerous to mention, it.vnll neverdo any injury. , «ln profuse monthly turns, it at times does harm ; when deficient or tardy, it is valuable. The time to use the hot foot-bath is at bed-time ; and on leaving it, reltire to bed. Ladies in perfect health need not use the hot foot-bath, jmlesa they choose. The .feet of all should be wasfied daily in cold water, and particularly next morning after a hot foot-bath. Do not use it if it weakens you, or makes the feet very tender. AIR AND EXERCISE. Although, in another lecture, 1 have said something of exercise, and rincidentally much of air, I will here say a, few words upon these most important subjects. Walking, riding, dancing, and all amusements in the open air, coptribute to form and.jnvigorate theconstitutioii to a vast extent. Without exercise in the qpen air, no rules for health could P9?s?bly bCfComplete. It is impossible to have vigorous health, or pre- serve it long, without daily exercise in the open air. It is most unfor- tunate, that, in this country, ladies take, so littla exercise in the open air, especially thbse who are welljjfend in easy circumstances, who have the leisure tor it. Many ladies, during the longperiod of cold weather, say nearjy seven months jpf the year,JiaH%^ooutat.all. They stay 332 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY". within, m heated rooms, taking little or no exercise, for many montha. The effects are deplorable. Debility all over, loss of spirits, costive- ness, loss of bloom on their cheeks. The eye loses its brightness ; and health and beauty become impossible in this state of things. To fe- male children it is veiy injurious. The striking contrast between Eng- lish ladies, and the French and American, and, in fact, nearly all other ladies in the world, is owing to out-door exercise taken daily ; scarcely any weather prevents it. Should the weather be very inclement, exer- cise is taken within-doors. In stormy weather, the Queen of England daily takes exercise, by riding or walking in covered buildings, or ter- races, &c., never omitting exercise, any day of the year, for herself or children. The ladies of England usually enjoy brilliant health. The very greatness of England is intimately connected with the ouWoor exercise of their females. Por a fine race of healthy children is impos- sible, when the mothers are effeminate, and take no exercise, or but httle. In our country, many ladies exercise and go out in summer, and in the beautiful weather of autumn, which, in this Sountry, is un- surpassed by any, and so gather a few roses on their cheeks ; but the cold, bad weather of our late autumn usually drives them in, not often to be seen out again until spring. No health can be supported under this want of exercise. Every lady should go out eveiy day. Should the weather, by its inclemency, forbid it, then she should walk or ex- ercise on a balcony, open to the air, should this be at her command- walking one or two hours. Exercise should be taken to the point of considerable fatigue. It is better to ride or walk in the open air, in the country or city, where the eye is refreshed, and the mind delighted, than to walk in a room, without these. It is also vastly better to walk and take exercise in company than alone. It is better for health, not to be solitary. But, either with or without society, take exercise. Gar- dening, and tending flowers, is a pleasant and engaging exerciise to some. Jumping the rope is a very pleasant exercise, both for symme- tiy and health. Dancing is the king and queen of in-door exerdse. It is suitable to all classes, all ages, both sexes. It is a most elegant and most exhilarating exercise. Ft is one of the most ancient, and one of the most salutary. 1 do not speak of it as a dissipation, but as an exhilarating and vsduable exerdf'e. Among the exercises, it i» 8», DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 233 cond to none. It is extremely suitable for the sedentaiy, for invalids, and for consumptives. 1 have known one of the worst cases of con- sumption I ever knew cured by dancing alone, practised daily, for many months. The cui-e was permanent and complete. It is deplorable that dancing and amusements of nearly all kinds should have fallen under the ban of the clergy, and should be preached against as sinful. It is more than doubtful whether the morals of mankind are benefitted by forbidding all amusements, and it is most certain the health of thousands is sacrificed by it. Who are those that sink earliest into consumption among ladies ? Allow me to say, it is those who take least exercise, and refrain from all amusements, -^who, at school, at church, at home, are marked as models ; whose ■looks are demure, whose walk is slow, and whose convereation is always on serious siibjects, — who most apply themselves to severe studies, and protracted application in acquii-ing knowledge and education. Buoyancy of spirits, even to mirth and levity, is infinitely better for hesJth, than to be morose. There is nothing better for the lungs than deep, frequent, hearty laughter, and the laugh should never be suppressed unless forbidden by circumstances. Laenuec, a celebra- ted French writer on consumption, relates a case that came under his observation in a convent of niins at Paris. He had^tnessed all the inmates die three successive times within a few years, except the gate-keeper, the cook, and the lady abbess. These were obliged to take ' exercise, and so escaped death. Of all the contrivances to shoi'ten and destroy hfe, a convent of nuns is the grand climax. Here, confined without exercise, or cheerful amusements,' and'engaged in severe devotions, or sedentary occupations, ftey fall into supine inac- tion. Healthy energy, and activity, all go together. In a few years death does his work, and their long-prayed-for, long-sought-for haven, is soon obtained. No greater truth was ever uttered, than that — " Religion never was designed To make, our pleasures less.'' Neither in its letter nor spirit (|pes our happy and blessed religion, — the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chiist, to whom be eterna' praise and obedience, — anywhere forbid pure, rational plea- 11 S34 DISCOUiRSE TO LADIES ONLy. sures and gratification. " Use the things of tliis world as not abtt sing them," is the injunction of the Apostle, and is a complete sum- mary of all the teaching of the whole Bible upon this sniijeict. It never can be too much regretted, that the American ladies, «t a very early period, leave, off all ^buoyancy in exercise, in spirits, in amusements, and consent, before they are thirty years old, to be old women, — ^taking little or no part in amusements, or social pleasures, leaving society to be regulated by young ladies in their teens. No lady should ever leave society, or rational amusements, until deprived of them by absolute disease, or until the infirmities of extreme age utterly prevent. But by this, course, extreme age may be attained, whilst its great infirmities may never be reached. The human frame is a machine that requivesdaily exercise in the open air, .and in society, as far aspossible. Without this it will fall into decay, and both mind and body sink into, imbecility, whilst those d^ly and constantly em- ployed and engaged are constantly and daily renovated, aiid kept .from one hundred to one hundred and fifty, years in perfect health. Allow me to urge upon you symmetry of ,the whole person. The head and neck erect, and straight with -the back ; the shoulders thrown back ; the shoulder-blades laying flat againsi the back of the chest; the front of the chest round, high and full ; die waist untrammelled ; the person straight, never stooping, save from the hip joints ; tlie step elastic and buoyant ; the, teeth perfect, pure, complete and regulai' ; the diet wholesome, plain, full and simple. Exercise daily in the open air; diiily recreation and amusement as much as possible, in pleasant and cheerful society ; the bowels perfectly regular and free ;^ the kid- neys unembarrassed; the person daily washed with pure, cold water; clothing graceful, appropriate, tasteful, Ught and sufficient : all these .are entirely in your powei'. Should every one not be able to use cold water, use it tepid, — by all means, use it. These, I repeat, are all at your command, whether your means are ainple or limited, — whether your lot is that of poverty or riches. All these are the servants of your bidding. They form those grand arts of the toilet, and of health, that for ages have found, more or less, a home in the high, princely and noMe families of Europe, — that have ^ided them to per- petuate theii names and Knegge, from age, to age, through manyfSJi" DISCOURSE TO iLADIES -ONLY. 335 tacies,ibiBatawitigflpon them an dlinost constant and univereal exeijivp- tionifrcsnthe ills, tlie frequent calamities, and the devastating diseases which have cantinually pi;eyed upon the-ignorant aivd consequently ignoble classes, everywhere. These arts,, conferring such superior lihysioal endowments, such striking ibeauty, -and so long continued, have struck mankind with ■awe, and ohaijmed their admii-ation, not only in rude ages, but in the most favored and enlightened periods. of our own day. Id 1837, I had the honor of attending a ball in the French capital, given under the patronage of the Duchess of Roxburgh- About 3,500 iladiesiand gentleimen were present, comprising ithe m6at dip- 'tingttished Enghsh and French nobility then .in Paris. Manydip- tinguished English and French cffEcers, of the highest gmdes. Some \ladies wore ornaments to the value of one hundred thousand dollars. Xwosonsiof Louis Philippe were present Here I had an .opportji- uity of noticing and verifying all I have before said. of the connection of symmetry, -health and beauty. Ladies of sixty hardly looking thirty ; gentlemen, .seventy, and scarcely seeming forty. Not a round- shouldered European in this^asemblage ; no lack-lustre eyes:; noipale- sunken cheeks ; no halting -gslits ; no balancing, first on one foot, then on the other. Nearly all the ladies .wore the top of the i chest bare, yet no scarred *bosoms were seen ; no scraggy collar-bones stood out ■QVer.the chest, but all^was symmetry and grace, presenting the human machine in .its AUest symmetry and ihighest elegance, and ipaifect health. ;Each lady, besides borrowed ornaments, presented in .her animated countjetianoe three brilliants, — brilliant teeth, ibrilliant com- plexion, and brilliant eyes. *■ CONCLUSION. J will now, at the close of this discourse, say a few words on one of the .most difficult anddelicate subjects ever disouSsed.- I-will'remark to you, that your fratnes and whole systems are constructed for 4hrae purposes oiily. The first set of lOVgans. are made to develope and-sustain, the mind ; the second sot, -are formed to develope and •repair jtnd' preserve the body; .and 'the third set, are made for the continuance of ouj- *aee. In my dispourse to gentlemen, you may see 836 DISCOURSE TO LADIES,Oia.T. more remarks on the treatment and developement of the mind ; and the two discourses to ladjes are mostly on the reparation of tie body. I will now venture a few words on those sympathies, &c., which procure a continuance of our race. If our thoughts are our hearts, then our emotions constitute the heart of our hearts. The em^,tion8 are parents of thoughts. Far down in the innermost depths of our being they have their origin. These emotions are maternal, paternal, fraternal, filial, sexual : they are the parents of the affections — they are the parents of likes and disUkes — they exist even before the thoughts. To the sexual emotions only, do I now wish to call your attention. These emotions are impressed upon the female, that our race may be continued ; they are the gift of her great Creator, and make her susceptible of exquisite pleasures that cannot be described. Your fascinating charms attract the other sex. Yonr own sexual emotions cause you to reciprocate them. Deep in the female being, the sexual emotions develope : in some, truly ardent — in others, totally wanting. It is this that fires the eye, burns upon the cheek, animates the mind, gives point to every impulse, and pours burning health throughout the system. It bestows courage in her heart, pride on her brow, confidence in her step. Her influence over the opposite sex is irresistible, giving rise to the most exquisite impressions, and the liveliest susceptibilities. Wit, cheerfulness, and brilliancy surround her, reflected from her own glowing heart. Her whole being knows no cold medium. On the other hand, she in whom these emotions are wholly wanting, is a li\nng, continuous disappointment : her cold eye rolls in its socket with the expression of polished ice ; she is nearly a stranger to emotion ; her mind is sluggish— r-her body more so. No de^^p color burns in her cheeks, no vivacity in her thoughts ; slow and passionless in her susceptibilities. Her monthly nature, usually late in its appearance, is irregular, and often entirely wanting or ceases at an early period. Society has few attractions for her. The opposite sex is looked upon with fear and distrust, whose only attractions are as providers or protectore. The connubial bed is far from agreeable to-her. As a wife, she has few attractions, and, in many cases, hei disheartened husband drags out a hfe of disappointment, or leaves her. Her health is of a low grade ; she possesBes no powers of endu DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 237 titnce. Her'Ghildren, if blessed with any, are apt to be a poor, feeble, and soi'ofuloiis race. She has not the least comprehension of the highest pleasures of which the female being is susceptible. You ask me, if such cases do occur, — are they common? I answer, they oc- cur in ^ greater, or less degree in many, and that in all grades of so- dety> both rich and poor. I will endeavor to point out the causes. Mks. a. is endowed with excellent prmciples, fi^ll of piety, and good worlcs. She has in her recollection cases of female indiscretion,, and is fully resolved her daughters, shall be well brought up ; she keeps them mostly with hei-self ; very rarely do they speak to one of the opposite sex ; sent to schools for females only, never allowed much society, or only that of elderly ladies ; they are most circumspect and demure in all their doings ; great care is taken of their health. From , tender infancy they wear a great deal of clothing, so that the hips and basket of thei hips particularly are covered with heavy clothing in aE seasons ; at 8 the little girls are clothed as if they were 20 yeai-s of age. If they go to parties, it is not to speak to gentlemen, unless to some venerable uncle, or old friend of -their father. Daughters thus brought Up grow truly degenerate in their physical constitution; but their children, brought up in the same way, are often totally wanting in all sexual emotions. These remarks apply, as far as is known, to citizens of the United States. The remedy for this truly disastrous state of things, so un- fortunate to all concerned, but most of all, to the wretched subjects themselves, often and usually totally unconscious of any loss or any want, is to pursue an opposite course. All should know and con- stantly *ealizeftbiat men and women are formed to grow up and asso- ciate with each other, from the tenderest age until life itself fades in its oldest period. Nothing is more dreadful in its consequences on the physical constitution than a convent of nuns. Sports and games, and walks and spirited conversation, and the merry dance, ■all in their proper time and place, both sexes participating, give stimulus to life, glow to health, and an edge to all enjoyments. What God has be- stewed, let us not rashly condemn or seek to extinguish. All this is consistent with the purest piety and the holiest hfe. Every lady should wcoUect, both for herself and her daughters, that the highest glory 238 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. and the prSudest privilege of a woman is to be a beloved wife and iappy mother. Our excellent pastors and spiritual teachers, whilst jach week, with holy zeal and burning eloquence, they condemn all «ce and inculcate every virtue, never mean to impress upon the fe- male mind, or have their teachings so construed as to induce her, to extinguish every sexual emotion. These remarks have been forced upon me from having witnessed among these unhappy ladies so many cases of consumption. My next discourse to you will be upon the symmetry of the inter- nal organs of the body and symmetry of mind. ON CHANGES OF DRESS. It is a circumstance particularly worthy of notice, that our cloth- ing, on being worn a short time, becomes more or less charged with electricity from the body and linen, although we may be bathed and wash the surface of the whole person daily in cold water, as I have before noted. Our clothing, especially such as immediately invests the person, should not be too often changed. This rule particularly applies to all delicate persons and invalids, and all children, any far- ther than absolute cleanliness requires. One of the reasons why a great many children of wealthy parents are delicate, and much mori? so than those of the poorer classes,! is because their clothing is too often changed, and thus the body is rapidly exhausted of its electri- cal forces. Flannels in cold weather may be changed once a week, or two weeks, in some cases. You can judge for youreelves. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 839 DISCOURSE FIFTH. TO LADIES ONLY. On Symmetry of tJve Internal Organs of the Body, and on Symne^ ii'ij of Mind, as preventing Pulmonary Consumption, and ensuring . Long Life. Ladies : The present discouree will be upon tbe symmetry of the internal or- gans bf the body. By a glance at Plate C, you will notice all these organs in their natural and appropriate places : the lungs, on each side of the chest, from the collar-bones above to the seventh rib below in front, and extending much lower back. The heart is in front between them. The contents of the chest i are separated, from the abdomen by a floating curtain, called the midriff. The right and left portions of the midriff are loose, and float upwards into the chest, every time' we 'breathe out the air in the chest. On breathing in the air, the midriff of a person in health forms a floor to the lungs and heart, and descends until it is dfaWn tight, flat and stiff across the body. The midriff' is so arranged as always to forrti rather a fast support to the heart, and floats below, the lungs on their emptying ■ out the air from the chest. The lungs are wedge-shaped ; the small ends of the wedges are uppermost, under the collar-bones, whilst the b^e of the lungs and vastly the larger portions are at the bottom of the; lungs, and turned downwards heavily oB' to the diaphragm. When we stand Up, tbe lungs hang on the wind-pipe and large air- vessels, and on the large blood-vessels with which they are tied to the back-bone behind. 'The lungs float downwards into the'rtiidriff or floor of the lungs, and sideways against the ribs, evei^ time we draw in it))e air. The, heart is also wedge-shaped, an^ its base or large end is upper- most, whilst its small end points downwards and sideways into the '«ft chest, occupying one-third more room in the left chest than it doeg 340 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. in the nght, moasuring from the centre of the breast-bone, under which the heart is placed, towards its middle and lower part. Tho heart floats a little with the midriff, but is held securely in its place by its attachments to the Icsr.er midriff, by its own case, and by the great blood-vessels that come and go from it.. The heart and lungs both, and all, are enclosed in the chest, which is a basket of bones, formed by the back-bone behind, the breast-bone in front, and the ribs that go from the back-bone to the breast-bone ; seven ribs are long, five short; tho five lower ribs are short, yet all arc so tied as to be. connected with the breast-bone. (Sec Plate B.) This basket of bones is entirely open at the bottom ; only divided off from the abdomen by a fleshy floating curtain. On looking into the abdomen on tho plate, you notice towards fJie left side, below the breast and left lung, the stomach ; to the right of this, is the liver ; below, are the large and small bowels. Nearly all the bowels are floating, and readily wove up and down, and rush out as quick as water, when, on stand- ing, the walls of the abdomen are out or broken through. Both ends of the large bowel are tied fast. ■ The lower end of the large bowel is tied for some distance to the back-bone, and is thus kept from float- ing. It forms the back passage through the basket of tlie hips. * BASKET OF THE HIPS— (see Plate B.) rhe hasket of the hips is placed at the lower end of the waist, and is united to the end of the back-bone, at the bottom of tho small of the back. This basket is open above and below, and is so placed that its lower end opens backwards, and its upper part pitches foi'waj'd. (See the Plate.) By this shape and position, in a straight, well- formed person, the bowels cannot fall down through the basket of the hips, but are stopped on the bone that crosses tho lower part of the abdoraou in front. This bone in front connects one side of the bas- ket of the hips with the other. The bony walls of the basket of the hips are very thiclt, and very solid ; the only part moveable is the lower end of the back-bone. The other parts of the bony walls of the basket of the hips can hardly be said to have any power of being moved, or stretched, to a larger size, or to be capable of being coijipressed to a smaller sisse, offering a striking contrast to the walls of the basket of DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. a4l the chest The chest you can make as lai*ge as you please, or as small, but cannot move the basket of the hips, save in a slight degree, and bever in any manner "at -will'. In youiig ' persons, by a vicious habit of sitting in a very crooked postin-e^ arid long at a time, all bent into a heap, the basket of the hips may bend from its union with the back-bone, and come forward at its lower parts, so as to make the basket of the hips pitch, forward, instead of backwards. This is a great deformity, and often leads to most deplorable consequences, by allowing the organs of the trunk of the body to fall into the. basket of the hips ; by this at timtes pushing the womb entirely out of the body, a,nd if not soon cured, will lead to being, _ at least, permanently bed- ridden. This deformed position of the basket of the hips always prevents being, straight in pei'son, or walking well,, or standing erect. It is a great misfortune, and can always be prevented by sitting erect alid straight, when you do indulge in a sitting posture, and by never sitting aU in a heap, and much bent, and stooping. (See Plate K.) The evil is aggravated by sitting long bent over bn a hard seat, as is often seen with girls at school. The basket of the hips in females is much broader than in males, and is larger, and will hold much mor« than in males, aE other things being equal CONTENTS OF THE BASIOET OF THE HIPS. The basket of the hips contains some of the most important organs of the body. In front, behind the cross-bone, first, is the bladder ; next', behind this, is the womb and its appendages ; behind this, is the back passage, or lower end of the larg-e bowel. The large bowel, in its whole length through Hie basket of the -hips, is tied tothe back- bone, or what represents it. The front passage only extends from fJbe upper part of the womb outwards, when the womb is perfeoUy in its natural position. (See Plates S and O, for a perfect view of all these organs in their natural positions.) ^ THE KIDNEYS. The kidneys are not in thei basket of the hips, but above it, in the small of the back, each side of the back-bone. Their office is to se- parate the surplus water, and salts, and earths, from the blood. Thera 11 242 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. is a small chamber in eacii kidney, iuto which tlie water is first poured. Fiom the chamber of each kidney a pipe passes downwards, behind the bowels, to the bladder, and conveys all the water fiom the kid- neys to the bladder. (See Plate S.) THE WOMB- The womb is situated between the bladder and back passage, and at the top -of the front passage. The womb has the shape and figure of a pear, — it is wedge-shaped, with its large end uppermost, and its ]ower, or small end, jiointing downwaj-ds. Its base is upwards ; its lower end extends into the top of the front passage (see Plates S and O.) The womb is kept in its place by the soft parts around it, and by liaving no pressui'o at all on its top part, and by its own proper ligaments or ties. OVARIES. On each side of the womb, and connected Tvith it by two pijjes, are the ovaries, two balls of the size of. a small egg. If the ovaiies, or tlie pipes that lead from them to the womb, are diseased, or obstruct- ed, so that nothing can pass from the ovaries to the womb, the female cannot become a mother. (See Plate S, figs. 6-6.) SYMMETRY OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF THE BODY. I have before tiescribed the belts that cover the front and sides of the abdomen (See I'latc E.) The trunk of the body is a species of round box. Imagine a ronnd- iih box, the size of the tiiink of the body,' and that it is laid dpwn flat, nnd stowed full of good*, and that half its lid is made soliil and strong as a board, a:id the other half of its lid is made of cloth. Now, sot this truiij^up on end, the cloth part of its cover being at the lower part, all the goods will at once drag down to the lower part, and ])ush out the clotli cover : hi-nce, you will see how solid and firm the diKh cover must be, to koep u]) all the goods, and not burst out bol<)w. (See Plate 0.) This is a fair parallel of the formation and owdition of the trunk of the body. DISCOURSK TO LADIES ONLY. PLATE 0. PLATE P. 243 'Side View of most of the organs ofi/te [ StdeVicioofmos/.ofi!u:impm-ttmicrsans hiij in their noMralsitu^ion. of ihc bony, whic'j, have fallenihmn-rjm C, Elevated Midriff, or floor of the Lungs. , a relaxation of the didaminal )dis. G, the Bladder, n, the front passage in I thchasfcet of the hips. I, the back passage through the basket of the hips. ■ S, theSto- mach. X, Floating Bowels. C, the Midriff. G, the Abdomen, hanging down. H, the Bladrler. ' I, the Womb. S, the Stomach, fallen down, X, Floating Bowels. All the organs of tlie trunk of tlie b.ody, such as the lungs, heart, liver, stomach, and bowels,, are kept in their places in part, by the ab- dopiinal' belts that enclose and form tlie walls of the abdomen. Now then, if these belts, or walls, become relaxed, or pushed out, the effect B44 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. Ls to cause, on standing up, a dislocation, or dragging down, more or less, out of their places, of the lungs, heart, stomach, "liver, bowels, womb, ovaries, and back passage, producing the following effects, more or less aggravated, as the abdominal bolts are more or less re- laxed, taking every degree of mischief, froin shght inconvenienlce to instant death. (See Plate P.) Effects of a relaxation or giving way of the abdominal belts upon the lurigs. The fiist effect is to take way from the floor of the lungs their sup- port, and they drag downwards, causing wheezing breathing, short- ness of breath, asthma, a hacking cough, great difficulty^ when stand- ing up, to iill the lungs vrith an-, a sense of great weakness and wear iness under the collar-bones, a strong inclination to bring forward the shoulders upon the chest, and to stoop, on stsmding or sitting, — a feeling of hollowness or emptiness at the top of the chest, great diffi- culty to get the breath, on walking fast, or on going up-hill, or up stairs, or on any sudden exertion, — rutining is impossible. Bleeding from the lungs is another effect of falling of the bowels, and relaxation of the abdominal belts, or coverings. I have often witnessed bleeding from the lungs in these cases. Another effect, in many cases, is a collapse, or closing all up of the air-cells of the upper parts of the lungs, and a shrinking up of the tops of the lungs, and thus allowing a deposit of tubercles, and formation of pulmonary con- sumption. Tall, thin ladies, with hardly any development of abdo- men, are very often subject to falling bowels, when very few would imagine it -possible. In proof of this, I have once before mentioned the stoppage of the progress of consumption when a lady is in the family-way, and its most rapid progress after the child is born. This leads me to remark, how carefully a consumptive lady should bo supported, on getting up, after the birth of a child. I will men- tion two or three cases of consumption produced by falling of the ^^ bowels. ' In September, 1843, 1 was requested to see a young married lady, for consumption. I found a tall, elegant young lady, who had been very delicately brought up ; had been married thii-teen months. At DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONL,y. »245 the end of ten months, she gave birth to a daughter, and seemed doing extremely well. Three weeks after the birth of her child, she was- allowed to leave her bed without sufiBcient support, and went fifty miles to visit her mother. The want of support to the bowels allowed ihe lungs to drag down ; bleeding from the light lung began. I saw her twelve weeks after this, in the last stage of hopeless con- sumption. In those females who have never borne children, the ab- domen may remain very flat, and yet the bowels fall dovra more or less ; but with ladies who have borne children, the abdominal belts become then enorfnously stretched and extended. After child-birth, they usually, in a few days or weeks, return to a smaller 5ize, but rarely as flat as before. Woe to the unfortunate consumptive mother who, after child-birth, is allowed to rise too soon from her bed, or is not perfectly supported when she does get up, In a great many cases of weak ladies, the abdominal belts never go back, to be small and flat, as they ought to be ; and from the birth of a child, or a miscarriage, they date ill health ever after. Nearly all cases of bed- ridden ladies are made so from this cause. In September, 1844, I visited a lady at Glastonbury, Ct. who had a child eighteen months old. The mother could never sit up afterwards. At the end of one year, she fell into consumption, and was in its last stages when I saw her. In April, 1845, 1 was called to visit a young lady, at Providence, Rhode Island. She was extremely beautiful, and inclined to be fleshy. Soon after her marriage she travelled with her husband through several of the western states, and during the journey rode seventy miles in a stage, on a very rough road. On retm-ning to Providence she soon found herself unable to walk, and had been con- fined eleven months to her bed and room. The morning of the day I saw her, she was taken with bleeding at her lungs. She told mff the joumey to the western country, and especially the stage-coach, travelling over the rough roads, seemed to shake and jar her' inside almost to pieces, so that she had never recovered from the fatigue of the journey. Had her bo wek been well supported, all these dreadful effects of her journey would have been entirely prevented. She had never bsen in the family-way. Lthijak, nearly one-third of all con- 248 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. sumptions in females are induced by falling of the bowels, and thus 5eading to a dislocation and dragging down of the luilgs. 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. The person cannot sing or talk long, or read aloud, -or speak in public, without excessive fatigue, and very soon cannot 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 hoarsC, take a sore throat, and if not relieved, are soon forced to leave their occupation. In March, 1845, I was consulted in Providence, Rhode-Island, by a very accomplished lady, who was a teacher in a large school, but for four months pafet had been forced to leave her school, because of sore throat and^reat weakness of voice. She called on me, and asked me if I could relieve her in four days, because, if I could, she could return to her school at that time. I had the extreme pleasure, by God's blessing, 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 causes 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 beingin 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 Weathersfield, Connecticut, by two ladies, for palpitation of the heart, from which both suffered gi-eatly. One was a married lady, mother of eleven children ; shg was short and very fleshy. The other was a young single lady, about seventeen years old, tall and very thin. Both had palpitation from the same caufe, and both were cured by abdominal support, DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 247 FAINTINU FITS. Many ladies, mare especiully young ones, are liable, on taking much exertion, to be suddenly overcome and to faint ; also, to faint in church, or in a crowd. This, in nearly all cases, is produced by abdominal ■weakness. The heart is not well supported, and readily stops its ac- tion for a short time. This explains why a lady faints on standing, walking, or sitting up, that never faints whilst lying down. SINKING, ALL GONE AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH, FROM FALLING OF TIIE BOWELS. Many ladies, and especially those who stand much, experience .t niost distressed and sinking feeliug at the pit-of the stomach — a feel- ing of being all gone there, a place which seems quite empty, and which nothing will fill. Eating a full meal will, for a short time, usual- ly stop this feeling, but it soon returns, and the lady feels as if slie had eaten nothing, and a faint, exhausted feeUng, takes away all her spirits, or ambition to do anything. She experiences-a sense of great weakness at the pit of the stomach, and a disposition to stoop. Stoop- ing, at first, seems to relieve her a little, and she stoops more and more, until nearly bent double. I saw a tall lady, a few montlis ago, who began stooping, as I have said, andcontinued the habit until she was beiit nearly double, bending from her hips so as to cany her head and chest and abdomen as low as her hips, producing a most distress- ing deformity. In other cases, the lady feels as if cut in two at the j it of the stomach. At other times this weakness or sinking feeling is ex- perienced in the side, either right or left, or both. If this weakness occurs on one side only, the lady will stoop more or less to that side. This great weakness and sinking at the pit' of the stomach and sides, is usually much aggravated on walking or lifting, or on taking any .active exercise. The lady 'is soon obliged to lie-down, to recover her breath and strength. At other times the weakness is felt in front, op.posite the hips, below the middle of the stomach, and at times it is felt in the chest, under tie collar-bones or about the throat. All this is often relieved or perfectly cured by abdominal support. '' have witnessed and cured a great many cases of this kind. , This weakness at the pit of .the stomach often leads to dyspepsa or S48 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. indigestion of the food. The food often, after eating, lays very hea^y ; feels a load ; M other times the stomach bloats, and the lady feels as if she could not breaithe. At other times the food sours in the storaaoh sooner or later after eating, and many kinds of food cannot be eaten. In othere, in a longer or shorter time after eating, distressing pain is felt in the stomadi. CHRONIC DIAERHCEA. In some cases, falling of the bowels from a relaxation of the abdomi- nal belts, will produce a constant diarrhcsa 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 fennents there, causing flatulency and looseness. A vast many of these cases are helped or om-ed by abdominal support. GOSTIVENESS. In some cases, falling of the bowels causes them to be extremely sluggish, and acting veiy slowly indeed, so as to seem almost as if dead ; often having no passage for days together, and fi'equently 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 faU low in the abdomen, if the abdominal belts are not strong and firm. I have known one case of a pereon who had very weak bowels. By riding on horeeback, without having proper ab- dominal support, the liver broke i)artly in two, and the person died in a few hours. This remarkable case I shall relate in my discourse to gentlemen. Jarring, and dragging 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 the liver is changed, and the bile does jiot get out of the gall-bladder DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 249 and liver as readily as. it sLould do„and gall-stones are formed in the gall-bladder, thus producing jaundice, and almost evei-y form of liver complaint. All these causes should receive our earliest attention ; and if any weakness of the abdominal belts is suspected, aMominal support should at once be employed. PAIN IN THE SIDE AND BREAST, PRODUCED BY. FALLING OF THE BOWELS. A vast many cases- of jiain in the side are caused by weakness and relaxation of the abdominal belts. ^ Pain in the breast 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 Df the abdominal belts, and consequent falling of the bowels, it is rare- ly much helped by blistering, or setons, or issues, or sores, but is con- stantly apt to return in a short time after being stopped by any 6f 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, &c., had entirely failed to remove the pain. In fine, •where the abdominal musdes, or belts, are much relaxed, or dragged down, all their upper ends, or attachments, are moi-e or less liable to pain, and at times all over them. WEAKNESS, PAIN AND HEAT IN THE BACK AnD SPINE, PRODUCED BY 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 strengthened, 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 pei-son, who does not stoop much, this weight is but little ; but in a person who stoops much, and wh(»«s abdominal belts are re- 250 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. laxed, it is greatly felt, producing great pain in the small of the ba«k, that may extend, up the^spine, to the neclf, causing heat in the spine, and soreness, and every symptom of a txue spinal disease, in its earlier and milder forms. Abdominal support in all these cases is required. I would here remark, that the abdominal supporter should perfectly reKeve the spine, and not bear on it, or cover it, or heat it at all ; but the pads should go up oil the ribs; and down on the hip bones, so as to completely relieve the spine of any pressm-e or swaddling whatever. Some of. the woret spine diseases I ever saw, were produced by .pads of trusses, and suppoiiers, resting in the small of the back, and press- ing 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 side 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 fi'om each kidtiey, forwards and" downwards, 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, carry the water fi'om the chamber of each kidney to the bladder. Now, then, when the floating bowels roll downwards, they often fell upon tbese pipes, and close them, more or less, so that the water is prevented from passing into the chambera of the bhidder. This throws it bafk into the kidneys, and soon fills up the kidneys. The water usually has salts, and earths, and acids, woni within thelfront pas- 8i(ge, I do ' not' U36 in one. case in five hiindFed patiantsj In a- vast many cases, supporters worn within the person produce incuilabfo dis- ease of the womb, and -change a most 'curaMe dJieasS into one that aerei can be owed, and reideis the. ladya^idistiieSsed iavdid whilst she lives. All the -sttpporters I use, sa're ' in exeeedlagiy rfti-e cases, are worn outside tiie person. Thby consi* of a neat' 93^ well'^tuffed pad, -that rests agaiiistor rathef undel- tie stbdoaienjIjMt iiJ)^ve the cross-bolie.'pi fi-ont. The padi k so formedj aads so pressefej that at lifts the whole abdomen and bowels upwards, and does not press in Bueh i teanner '^' to' lay flat on * the ■ biwels, aiid'Sb fn-ess-'apart of tliem downwards inw) the basket <> of the hips ; ' mus- causing the very eril W0' wish -to prevent. To ' this pad I ini feont, ' two delicate watch- spring .tempered st^eliaprin^ 'are attached. : These 'spring^ -go up Mtely above the hips lintb th^ waist, «iid aroundiihtd the sinall of 4e back, so as not to' touch the hipp,' or interfere with them at all. Tteyi do not go around the hips; but go entirgly' above thsm. In^ the small of the Ijack are four^ small pads-connected with' the springs of' the front pad. ; The small pads do not rffltin.the small of the back, but.two of rthcmirest on the flat part of the hips behind, and two of them rise up on.to theshort i5bs at some 'distance each side Of'the Bjane. Notiiing is allowed to press intoitbe small df the back, or to press at all on any part bf the 'lock-bone. The instrument is neatly oovered.and padded, so as to produce no Junpleafsant pressure any- where. I Thb (taly feelin^/is that of support. Tlie insti-ument weighs about: four ounces, and is so ' perfectly elastic as to embrace eaifch' part like a well-fitted, beautiful glove. (See Plates L and M.) In a very short'time, not the least senssitfon 'fe experienced, except a feeling of perfect support: No l^tigiie is j/roduced, or the least' disposition to tte the instrument off. On taking off the itlstrument, so elastic is it, that it folds itself totirelyup, all of its parts coming together. The pressure is equal on both -sides of tjie waistband not more on one side than another, so that it does :not make the wearer bend over to one' ^e, as some supporters do. 1 rJTo feeliig is produced "that one side ijflhe supporter is stronger than .another. No beat is produced an-y- 12 , 256 DISCOURSE TO LAOrES ONLY; where. Tlie instrument is worn over the linen, and not next td tha peiBon. , It produces no sensation of being tied up, or swaddled up, as some instruments do. , Twelve months ago, 1 gave one of my sup- porters to a very accomplished lady, who had suffered greatly from falling of the womb, and its consequences. In a few days, she told me, that in a residence of many yeara in London and Paiis, and this countiy, she had never found any instrument that coiild compare Svith mine, for its perfect support — the absence of all inconvenience what- ever, allowing her to ride, vfalk, land dance, with no otlier conscious-; ness of the presence of the instrument than its perfect support. AYIIAT A SUrrORTER SHOULD NOT BE, OR DO, . AND NEED NOT BE, OR DO. A supporter should not be heavy,^or cumbersome, so that any sen salion of weight, or fatigvie, i.^ produced by, wearing it. Again, asup- porler should not press at all on the b.ick'bone, anywhere. ' As bad sfiine diseases as 1 ever saw, were produced by the supporter pressing on the, spine, or back-bone. Again, a supporter should not be made to swaddle up the hips and small of the back, so as to produce heat abo\it tiie back-bone especially, or stomach, or hips. The India rub- ber supporters, or those riiade wholly, or in part, of the elastic India rubber stuffs, are extremely objectionable, from the heat they cause; and in thied nearly all my flesh. i " Accept my best thanks, Lois S. Smith." . '- - ■ "J :;: . .1: ■ -■'. ■.:CASE,.X1. .- j' c- -:■ 7 ;,:- Copy t^'dUtisr frvm Miss Mary Nutter to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "-P^rl^inoHth, N. H., Feb. 26, 1846. "Dr^ Fitch : . _, ,. "Kind Sir, — ^^My "heaHthhas for many years been- od the decline. I am- -nci-n' hap'py 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'bfenefit from your sup- portef arid 'medicitteSjfor which pteasa accept ray humble thankst I rest well at n^Kts, and have a good appetite. I think I feel about ten years younger. I have found mvich benefit from the cold and warm baths. ' I try to stand, and sit, iaiid walk, as upright as possible. ! hbpeyoii will be the honot;ed insfrument, under God^ of restoring thousands to health; and when your laibors on eai-th are endedj may yotfbesohappy as to join that land' where the inhabitants! thereof will no more say lihey are sick ! " Mart Ndttbr. " If you should have occasion to write to me, please address to caiA of Roberft Smith.* -i -^-i--: ,..:.. DISCOURSE TO LADIES OI^fLY. 277 CASE XII. Copy oj 7 letter from Mio.' ■>'■"«"" T. Waldron to Dr. S. S. Fitch. ' taunton, M^s., Qct. 8th, 1846. "Dr. Fitch: : ■/ i . ''I'tailce my pen this morning to tell you the past and present state of my health. In April, 1841, I was taken with low bilious fever, that confined me to my room four weeks. On the 27th of August my fe\jer, returne^. I then sent for Dr. — r — , of Ea&tqn ; .he is called the hest we have wjth "« ^=- said I had the liver complaint. In two days iiny skin was as yellow as an Indian. In seventeen days my fever was gone. I gainefl strength, so that I could sit up one hour in a day, ana thoUgnt -. snotdd soon be ablb to sew again. I was then taken with dysentery, that so reduced rriy strength, that I cduld not walk.aboui ..no uOuij« for three months. I did not walk a 'Step in the streels lor bism moDtiis. In eight months more I gained strength enough to sii, up an aav out I could not work. In 1843, I was introduced to m. — ^ — . or JNorton, a homoeopathic doctoi". I took his medicine one year, ii mucn improved' riiy health, so that I went to wori£, yet I never oaw a weu aav. A soreness at the pit of my stomach, palpitation oi ine neart, lameness thtougli the chest and shoulder-blades, ana pam ana weauness in the back : from all these I have been a daily suneier. ana never expected to be relieved until my immortal spirit took its Ligiiu i,u suat blessed world above,- where sick- ness and sorrow never are Known. " October llth, i84o, ^ cai.ea lo see you. You flii^ished me with a 'supporter, shoulder-biiice ana medicine. My back was immediately relieved, and, to my unexcectea joy, in six days I walked a mile, spent the day and waikea nome agadn at night, with ease. I have not walked so far in one aay lor five years. The soreness in my stomach and chest is gone, i nave suspended all medicines, and feel well; Your remedies j. nave strictly followed. My strength daily Increases, and my sKm looKs dear. Use my name, if you please, for your own special oenent, and for the afflicted also. Ex- cuse al the mistakes in speiimg, for thij is thb first letter I have Written in four years, confusion in toy head prevented it. I recom- mead your supporters xaa shoiUdei^bi;ater would have extinguished it. Spit 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 ? Map — all men, all women, all pjjjldreu, 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 disease i? so imminent or developed as to demand the aid of the physician ; and in nearly all cases there is some time when the changes are ki^o«;n 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 very common, throw liim back into astate of disease, even worse than when firist attacked. These conditions cry al(5ud that all should intimately know the whole science of health, and the arfi.pf arresting slight indisposition, when- ever occurring, and the mode of preventing disease and confirming health whenever enfeebled from any cause. These considerations, if fully undei-stood, will impress any mind that the cor.ipl.ete and true science of he.'iith, and all those accidents or agents that reduce or prevent it, and all the laws of life by which our systems are ruled, physical energies produced, and our days de- termined, foiTO a subject of study second to none in import^ce, eitet DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 283 a knowledge of those holy teachings that elevate our minds to con- templations and duties that shall insure us a happy immortality when our earthly career is closed. The whole science of health has heen extremely neglected. It has not heen considered strictly within die province of the physician, and woe to his standing among his fellows, if he writes any popular book on medicine or health directed to populai" readers, and not clothed in a learned tongue. This has much retarded the science, still many benevolent and good physicians have given valuable maxims, almost *xidentally, on this useful subject. Within a few years, in the United States, we have had a good many lectures delivered by men more or less competent to instruct, and although some error has been taught, and some human weakness displayed, still a great deal of good has been done, and, in proportion to the increase of light amoi;igst the people, will teachings be appreciated and errora be re- jected, coming from any 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 very, much igood. All hav« been useful, as agitating and preparing the universal naind for higher advances, and more mature and systematic teachings of all 'the science of health and life. I believe and hope the time is rapidly approaching, when all pa- rents will, consider the teaching of the whole science of health, and tiie kpowledge of the human system, in its anatgmy or construction, and the laws thait goveni its existence, and perpetuate its continuance, 811(1, the causes that produce disease and shorten life, as of the great- est ^mportanpe to their children, and of the fiist necessity after moral t^adiing; as also as a most powerful agent of moral instruction, by sbovving to .their children hove 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 ijfe and health. Finally, that good health is the gTeatest wealth. Np people on earth p?;Qe,e4,the Anglo-American in their universal 284 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. spirit of enterprise ; few obstacles can deter them, fewbamera arrest tiiem. With courage indomitable they grapple with the gl'eatest difficulties, and usually overcome them ; their sails whiten every sea, their ships cross every ocean, in the pursuit of prosperous commerce, or in the accomplishment 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 scavoely equalled by any people. But on the subject of health, no people ar/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 infoi-med citizens,' who are not professed 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- nected 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 nedrly everywhere among the gentry, the art of cooking is well understood, both in theory and practice. A vast many European gentMmen 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 jSgure what it shoiild be, 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 almost entirely neglected by every class of people, high or low, rich or poor, ignorant or educated. In many parts of the United Stales, a perfectly formed man is a great rarity ; seldom, very seldom seen. If there is one designatioli that applies to us more than another, it is that of a round-shouldered stooping race. Con- sidering the high intelligence of the people of this country, the uni- versal neglect of these great subjects seems almost unaccountable. The results are trdy appalling, filling our country in its whole length and breadth with chronic diseases. Few, very few, of qur people ei^joy uninterruptedly gOod health from youth to age. Numbers are mSCOtrlRSE to feENTLEMEN O^Lt. 285 etit eff in the spring-time of their existence. Premature old age in- vades vast multitudes, whilst a hale, hearty old man is rarely seen. From ignorance of the best principles of health, errors in diet, and Beglect of symmetry in our persons, result liver complaints, dyspepsia, and pulmonary consumption, and numerous other diseases that now pervade our country to an alarming extent, and awfully shorten the toation of human life. Whythis ignoi-ance on these great subjects ? Because it is everywhere considel-ed too efeninate for a man to at- tend to the siibjedt of health. This is reserved for invalids, and they Vfery rarely regard it until far too late for their own restoration ; and although they may hft their voice 'of warning, their words usually pass by unheeded. In general we possess a most beautiful climate, and the best materials for food, in the most superfluous abundance, and every material for 6ur physical formation, and the means of pro- ducing the most perfect constitutions, so as to dreate the healthiest and longest lived race of men in the World. To effect* this, to banish premature disease from our land, to bestow universal and' perfect health, and grant the longest continuance and endurance to our hves, all that is required is a con'ect knowledge on the subject of health, and the knowledge of those facts and principles from which human health is derived and by which it is continued. The human frame k'k machine as mechanically formed as a watch. It is mechanically fbrnied, and acts upon mechanioail principles, and all ite operations are capable of being underetood ; if not 'as yet perfectly understood in all its parts and operations, it ib probably not owing to anything indSmprehensible in its physibal or corporeal structure. 'Had the human frame never been described by any persons, ex- cept Wechanics, and those descriptions never clothed in any lan- gurage, save the simple language of each country, it is more than probable that a general knowledge of the human frame, and its dis- eases, "frould have been advanced hundreds of yeai-s. Thehuman machine is made for long endurance. It is endowed with the highest powere of self-reparation ; and, were it not for the continued war of i^'orantiiuxurious, and effeminated man on his own frame, the hu- liian machine would always' last, barring sicddents, from one hundred t» tWo hundred years. I believe I may assert,, without the least fear 386 DISCOURSE TO GfENTLEMEN ONLY. of conf;ra4iction, that no human being ever yet died of old age, ijntil, be had passed one hundred yeare. 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 naturalists,, that many biids and animals have lived to over one hundred years. Th^ raven is one of these, and the eagle 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 years, I do not recollect the history of any animal whose real or rea.sonabIy 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^ne 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 hundreds die unnoticed, and unrecorded. Now then, allow me to ask, is God unequal ? Are his laws made for each individual Ufe, or for all lives ? And are we so constructed, that tjie same principles, the same circumstances, and the same causes, that allowed one man to reach one hundred and fifty years, will not allow, evefy other man to do the same 1 I answer, that the laws of lifC) and the causes of longevity are applicable to every human being ; and if thoroughly and universally understood, and correctly and faithfully applied, all men might easily attain to old age, and the average of human life, instead of thirty-three years, might take its place at om hundred years, thus trebling the duration of our earthly existence. Tlie object of this lecture is to adduce instances of longevity, and present those rules by which, saving accidents, it may always be attained. Passing over the antedeluvians, whose ages come down to us ex- tended to even nine hundred yeai-s, and given to us under the highest autliority, we descend to men of modern times, — within the.reaoh of CISCQURSB TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 287 modern history. Thomas Parr, as. recorded ]iy Lord Francis Bacon, ■was born iii 1483, and died in 1635, aged, one hundred and ftfty-two yeare. lie died, not from the disease or decay of- a single organ, hut from too great fullness of blood, caused by more than usual in- dulgence in eating and drinking. lie had led an active countiy life, and enjoying country air and exercise; but was invited to London, where luxurious eating and drinking, Soon finished him. His body was examined by the celebrated Dr. Harvey, discoverer of the circu- iKtion 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 among the modems. John Effingham, of Corn- wall, England, died, agetl one hundred and forty-seven years. James Lawrence, a Scotchman; Uved one hundred and forty years. About ,.tlie year 1790, Joseph Surrington died at Bergen, Norway, aged one hundred and sixty years. In 1772, a man named Drakenburg died in Denmark, in the one hundred and forty-seventh year of his age. In 1825, Pope Leo-^II. grahteJ to apooi*' man living 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 aged one hun- dred and thirty years. In 1830, a man died at St. Petersburg, aged one hundred and thirty yeare. I knew a man in the island of Cuba who was an hundred and twenty yeare old'; he was able to ride on horseback sixty miles in a day, aud r^tuni home the next. We will now come to our own country. In 1820, a man named Henry Fran- cisco died at Whitehall, in the state of New-York, aged one hundred and thirty-four years. He beat the drum at the coronation of Queen Anne, and was then sixteen years of age ; he did not die of old age, but of the ague and fever. I forgot to mention the name o^ Dr, Mead, who was consulting physician to Queen Elizabeth, and died at the age of one hundred and forty-eight years. John Hightpwer, re- 5i(Ung in Marengo county, Alabama, died January, 1845, aged one hundred and twenty-six years. WilliamPrigdan, of Maryland, died October, 1845, aged one hundje-bone, on each side, Outward and backward, to the under- side of the outer and upper, point of the shoulder-bone. These are the collar-bones. (See Plate A, fig. 2.) These collar-bones are natural shoulder-braces. Now, then, as long as we habituate ouraelves to cany the arms and shouldere behind the chest, or in such a manner that their weight fells behind the chest, we shall always preserve its symmetry, and have fine full chests. This is the case with the American Indians, and contributes to bestow upon them their straight, commanding and symmetrical figurea. Upon DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 297 noticing any of your children, who are under three years of age, un- less deformed by disease, you will fifld that their shoulders lay llat upon the back of their chests, and that when walking, standing or sitting, the weight of the shouldere and arms falls behind the chest, and not before it. Our children seldom show any indications of round shoulders until after they ai-e sent to school, where, in general, they rapidly learn to contract the chest and round the shoulders. Unfortunately for civilized people, and pai'ticularly the citizens of the United States, these great truths are very httle known, and of couree very little appreciated. At a very early period, with scarcely a thought of its bad consequences, either upon health or elegance of figure, at nearly all of our occupations, relaxations, and even amuse- ments, we commence stooping and throwing the shoulders ■ forward upon the chest This forward movement of the shoulders is, in some degree, an-ested by the natural shoulder-braces, the collai'-bones, biit not entirely so. The pressure upon these bones causes them to bend, in some cases, very considerably. The weight of the pressure of the shoulders for- ward is transmitted by the collar-bones, and contributes very much to press the breast-bone downward and backwai'd, and with it all the ribs that are attached to it, thus lessening the size of the chest, and causing it to press upon the heart and lungs. During this process, the spine of the neck is more or less thrust forward, and the shoul- der-blades are thrown outward, upward and forward, so as, more or less, in proportion to these changes, to make the pei-sou hump-backed or round-shouldered. This sets the arms permanently forward, and instead of hanging perpendicularly at the side, rather behind the chest, so that all their weight, together with the whole weight of the shoulders, is thrown behind, and drags lihe chest backward. The aims are thrown do\vnwai-d and forward, obliquely, across the chest, carrying with them all their own weight and the weight of the shoulders and shoulder-blades, with all their fleshy at- tachments, forming a very great weight, crushing down the chest, contracting and lessening it everywhere, especially at its base. Such a pereon, in walking, standing, or at his occupation, cariies an abso- lute pxdk ttpon Ws/baok, littlB less fetiguing to bear than that of any TO* 298 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. foreign body that he may choose to place 'upon his shoulders; Fully one half of the fatigue df wallsing, standing, or of all light o'ooupati'oBs, is produced by the weight of the shouldere and arms upon the chest. This pressure of the shoulders and anus npoh the chest is extremely apt to produce pain between the shoulders and uader the shoulder- blades, and a sense of exceeding weariness in' the shoulders. Pain in the bones of the neck, down the whole length of the spine, in the small of the back, S02 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. man undei' sixty-five years need despair of having a fine, healthy, and perfect chest, in a moderately short time, by the use of the means I have indicated, especially wearing shoulder-braces, and using the in- haling tube ; by which means nearly every case of chest disease may be cured, or prevented. It always gives me great pleasure to address intelligent men ou these subjects, and especially mechanics, and persons practically ac- qusiinted with mechanical laws. Man, in his formatioU, is in- tended to stand and move in a perfectly upright position ; the head, .leck, and other paits of the spine, standing perfectly perpendicular to the hips, whilst the spine at the snaall of the back, in place of bending outward and backward, as occura in crooked persotis, natu- rally bends inward and forward. That this is our natural positioti is proven in the forms of all our children under three yeara of age, or who have not yet had their persons deformed by attending school, or by manual labor. The same fact is noticed in all savage nations with whom we are acquainted : the Indians of America, the native .Afri- cans, and th« inhabitants of the South Sea Islands. All travellers are everywhere struck with the fine figures of these people. An excep- tion to this is found only in those savages, who, from necessity, or in- dolence, reside in caves or very low huts, where they cannot stand or sit erect. Among these are the Hottentots, of South Africa, and some others. These only form solitary exceptions. So "that man, in his pereon, when standing or sitting, represents a straight, upright column. Allow me to ask you, who are mechattics, how much more weight a stooping column can bear than a straight one, and how much longer will a stooping column last, supposing it made of per- ishable materials^ than if it stood upright. There can be but one answer, and that is immeasurably in favor of the ujprig'ht column. Whilst the upright coluinn will support almost any weight, a trifling pressure crushes the stooping one to the earth. Now, we will suppose a man canies Lis Tiead, neck and shoulders perpendicularly, as in- tended in his formation ; he suffers no fatigue from this position, and experiences no wear and tear of his system, however long continued. In foot, this position is constantly consolidating the frame of the sya- lem, harmonizes with every part of it, and confere upon it the great- DlSCOtJRSE TO GENTLEMEN' ONLY. 303 est finnness and durability. So "perfectly does this accord witli uni- versal experieroe, that upon beholding a straight symmetrical tnan, Vve at once and alttiost involuntarily associate with him the idea of long life. On the contrary, take a man who throws his head and neck forward, and observe to what a mechanical disadvantage it is supported. It becomes at once an absolute burden; and, although habit makes us quite unconscious of it, yet its bad Teffeeta are shown by the far greater fatigue, and far less power of tendurance, that such a person suffers o\ei one who caa-ries his head and neck erect. It is a source of constant weaf and tear to the System. Now extend the case still farther, and in addition to the head and neck, bend forward the shoulders and spine, and the evils are still mOre' increased, just in proportion to the deformity, so that a crooked man, especially if young, and even at aily period of life, at once gives us the impression of disease, weakness, and debility, and especially of age ; the yoUng inan looks much older than he fe, and the older man quite anticipatns his yeare. PREMATURE OLD AGE. 'Besides the diseases ' I have mentioned, resulting from deformity and crookedness of person, there is one effect that always takes place in all cjises, and that is. premature old age. I am fully aware that occasionally many very old people are seen, who, at the same time, are very crooked. Such pereons should know that their lives are always shortened by being crooked. Most peraons think, that to be- come crooked is incident to old age. Bowed down with years, is a pbetical expression ; but man was never yet made crooked by age. Crookedness of person always results froiii habit, occupation, debility, or disease. To demonstrate this, I can point out numbere of very old people, even to one hundred years, who are quite straight (see por- trait of Henry Francisco, page 288,) in their pei-sons, and could we find only one old pei^on straight, this would pl-ove that we are not made crooked by old age. _ Tie disposition to stoop is a matter of habit, and creeps upon ns in a most msidious manner. We often st6op from mere indolence. Disease, by inducing debility; most usually ' Tiiclines US' to lie down or to stoop forward, when standing or walk- 304 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONL?; ing. I will remark, that man'a natural position being to stand wp- right, all the bands, belts,.ties, and fastenings of the different parts, and all their coverings, and moving powers, are arranged for a straight perpendicular position. The faces of all the bones at the joints, as they meet each other, are arranged to this perpendicular structure and face upon each other accordingly. Now then, when we bend forwards, and continue so permafflently in proportion as we do it, we put some of the fleshy parts upon the stretch ; others are relaxed, some are made shorter and others longer than natural, and all are thrown out of their correct bearing. Were it not for the great power of self-preservation, possessed by thp system, and its ability to adapt and re-arrange itself to meet great changes in its form, though al- ways to its injury and disadvantage, the machine would soon cease to act altogether, and hfe become extinct. I think I have said enough on this subject, and will leave it to you, and especially to those of you who are mechanics, to fill up what I have omitted, by your own judicious reflections. POSITION WHEN LYING DOWN. I have mentioned, that in sitting or standing, the pereon should he kept perfectly straight, and as much so as possible at all of our occu- pations. 1 am farther inclined to the opinion, that children and all young persons should be taught to lay flat upon their backs, with the head as low as the shoulders, without any pillow at all. This would contribute most powerfully to make young persons straight. By sleeping upon pillows, much raised, it inchnes young persons to be- come crooked. I know that the functions of life and the circulation of the blood are most easily earned on when we lay down upon a level bed, with the head as low as the shoulders. This is shown in peraons who are very low in fever, or who have lost a great deal of blood, or been greatly reduced from any cause : lay them flat down on their backs, with the head fully as low as the shoulders, and life will continue, when, at the same time, were you to place them in an upright posi- tion, they would immediately die. Men, who from long habit have been accustomed to lie with the head very much raised, will find it rery irksfomc or irapOESible to lie with their heads low. FIsshv men, DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 303 . ;^d these Tvitli very shqrt necks, find it indispensable to He with the head liigh, so that tlie blood shall enter the brain with difficulty, and leave it easily. By this means the circulation of the blgpd is mechani- cally obstructed towards the head ; but in all young persons, and all those spare of flesh, there is no objection to laying with the head low, and many positive advantages will result fi-ojn it. SELF-EEPARATION OF THE BOI)Y. In my first lectwe, I fuUy pointed out the uses of the lungs, which are, in the first place, to give the moving power to the human ma- chine ; and, in the second, to purify the blood. It is the office of the heart to circulate the blood. We now come to consider that set of organs whose duty it is to prepare and change our food, so as to make it into blood, or, at least, all the nutritions parts. These organs are the teeth, the stomach, the liver, and bowels. The food, after being, if solid, thoroughly masticated, or chewed well, is first mixed in the mouth with the saliva, its natm'al moisture. Some parts about the mouth are so prepared, that, upon receiving solid food into the mouth, streams of peculiar water are thrown upon the food, and mix with it, whilst chewing, and go with it to the stomach when it is swallowed. It is of vast importance to man, both to his health and continuance of his life, that he have good teeth ; and, for this reason, they should be carefully preserved. The teeth are never lost, except by accident or-disease. A vast deal may be done to insure their preservation, and cure their diseases, by calling in the aid of the skilful surgeon-den- tist. You can scarcely confer a greater favor upon your young sons, ..than to place tJieir teeth under the care of a judicious and skilful dentist, by which means they will be certain to have, when grown up, their teeth healthy, regular, and perfect. You can scarcely do your- silves a greater favor, than to preserve your teeth, by the aid of the dentist. Decayed teeth should be either exti-acted or plugged, and the teeth should always be kept clean. The loss of the teeth, so that food cannot, be well chewed, or masticated, is a great calamity, and always contributes, more or less, to shqrten life. The food, after being naasticated, in the first movement of swallowing, passes into the gul- let, whi.ch is a long fleshy tube, that lays behind the windpipe, and S&G DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. passps downwiird, entirely thi'oiigTi the whole' lengtli of the chest, into the left side of the Stomach. (See Plate E.) In swallowing, food, either solid or liquid, passes down this tube, into the stomach. THE STOMACH. For a view of the gullet, stomach, howela, and liver, see Plates E, N, 0, and Q. On the Plates, you will have a much better idea of these organs than can be ^ven by ah oral description. I will remark, that the stomach has a good deal the foim of a hunter's horn, its larger portion being towards the left side, at the upper part of the abdomen, and separated from the heart and lungs by the midriff, or diaphragili, which is a fleshy curtain that divides the abdomen from the chest. (See Plate O.) The inlet to the stomach is on the top, at its left side ; the outlet is at its right end ; much the larger portion of the stomach hangs below its outlet. This aiTangemeiit prevents the food and liquids from passing out of the stomach, by their simple weight alone. The stomach will hold {torn one pint to two quarts. Its walls are very thin, generally, and are capable' of being very consider- ably stretched. This is one of the causes of its difference in size. Those who eat and drink a gi'eat deal at a time, are apt to have much larger stomachs than moderate eaters and drinkers. The food re- mains in a healthy stomach from half an hour to four houi-s; As soon as the food is swallowed, commences a process by which a con- siderable portion of it is eventually converted into blood. This, considered in all its steps, is one of the most mysterious processes known to us. How portions of a potato, for instance, can be so mo- dified and changed as to become flesh, is very difficult of explanation. We know it takes place, but exactly how, is difficult to determine. It is the pui-pose of the lungs to give us the power of action, whilst it is the duty of the ' stomach to make such changes in the food, that this shall foi-m the substance and growth of the body, and serve to repair all the waste of J,he body. It is of vast assistance to our stomachs, that the food is well chewed or ground up before it is swallowed, so that when it comes into the stomach it shall be in a state of fine, minute division. When the stomach is unhealthy, food may remain in it a great length of time. The late Dr. Dwight, Pra- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY, 307 sidont of Yale College, vomited up a piece of boiled carrot that had fjieiiiajiied in bis stomach twelve weeks. A gentleman in Virginia told me last summer, that he knew a boy to vomit up some persim- mon seeds that hud remained in .his stomach fovty-six days. ' Thus in weak stomachs the food may remain a long time without being much changed ; or it may ferment and form a strong- acid, at the same time generating air more or . Ies3 foul, at times producing an exceedingly, unpleasant breath. These unnatural changes and decay of the food in ?the stomach, attend the disease called dyspepsia.. This is ocdasioned by various causes, but chiefly in grown-up persons it arises from badly masticating the food, from debility of the stomach itself, but above everything, and more than all other causes combined, it arises from eating more than the waste of the system requires. For we ; must always bear in mind, that; after tlie human fi'ameis fully formed, alt the object and purpose of food is to repair its waste, or the loss of ijts substance which is daily taking place. Now, tjie system, when not under the influence of disease, expeiiences the greatest waste and loss .of substance by hard and loug-continued labor, such as is experienced by all the^out-door laboring popnlatipn, and by many in-door laborers. Hai'd and long-continued out-door kbor, unless too 'excessive, greatly invigorates the system, improves the appetite, and strengthens the stomach, at the same time producing gi'eat waste of the substance of the body^ the stomach, now. greatly invigorated, is called upon to .furnish. the supplies, to repair all this waste ; it is under these circum- stances that the stomach is able to do its best perfomiances ; it seizes .iipon any, even the plainest and coarsest food, and rapidly converts it into materials for the healthiest blood, so that the waste of the per- 6on of the laboring man is promptly repaired. So active is his sto- mach, that he is obliged to eat coai-se and hearty food, that it may jiot pass off too rapidly. Now, the idle, the effeminate, and all those that pursue sedentary occupations, experience but a small share of the wa.ste of the body that is suffereid by the laboring man. Hence it is, that they are called upon to eat vastly less food and much lighter in its quality, and easier of digestion, than the laboring man. The great secret of preventing dyspepsia is never to eat any more than the waste of the body requires., How much or how little . this 308 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 13, can only be determined by the experience of each individual. There is no laying down any positive rules on this subject. Each in- dividual will learn, that if he eats, even for a short period, more food than the waste of his system requires, or its gi-owth demands, the stomaf.h may at first digest this sui'plus food, but in a short time, as if possessed of an intuitive perception that these extra suppUes are not wanted, it will refuse to prepare them, — refusing, of course, to digest this surplus quantity of food. As I may speak agajn, in another place, upon the subject of diet, I will say no more of dyspepsia now. PEOGKESS OF THE FOOD, AFTER LEAVING THE S'foMACH. The food, after remaining in a healthy stomach from half an iour to four hours, passes out of liie right opening of the stomach. The process of digestion having reduced the food to a homogeneous con- sistence, very much like cream in its substance, after leaving the stomach and going a short distance, it unites with the bile. A por- tion of stimulants and liquids go from the stomach into the blood. The bile is a bitter soap, the ©bject of which is to produce still fer- ther changes in the blood, and fecilitate its passage through the bowels. The presence of bile is indispensable to perfect digestion. We presume it to be of great consequence in the animal economy, from the immense size of the organ, or machine employed to prepare it. It is the duty of the liver to prepare the bile. The stomach is placed in the left upper side of the abdomen, and partly under the short ribs. The Uver occupies the right side of the top of the abdo- men, and is divided into several lobes or divisions, lying partly under the short ribs ; a flap of it extends on the left side, considerably upon the stomach. The liver weighs a number of pounds, say from five to ten times "as much as the empty stomach. It is by far the heaviest organ of the interior of the body. (See Plate Q.) The food, after uniting with the bile, now rapidly passes down into the SMALL BOWELS. (For a view of these bowels, see Plates and R.) — They are about DISCOURSE TO G^NtLteMEN ONLY. 309 25 feet long, and after a great many turnings and convolutions, ter- minate in the lai'ge bowel at tlie right groin, and are separated from the large bowel by a valve. The food passes rapidly through these BiBall bowels. Those parts of it suitable for blood, are drawn out from the small bowels, throiigh a vast many small ducts, that, like worms, Iiavc their ten thousand mouths, opening into these small bowels, and, sucting out the nourishing parts of thle food, immediately cany it into the blood-vessels. The coai-se p6rti6ns of the food, or such parts as are undigested, or are unfit for food, pass through the whole length of the small bowel, and are discharged into the large bowel. THE LARGE BOWEL, OR COLON. (For a view of this bowel, see Plate C.) — The large bowel commences at the right groin, within the abdomen ; it is about the size of the wrist, and sometimes larger. From the place of its beginning, it at first rises upward, passing iriside of the right hip, and above the loins, until it reaches the under edge of the liver. It now makes a gi'eat turn to the left, and passes under the edge of the stomach, to theieft side. It now turns, and goes downward past the loins, and inside the left hip-bone, for some distance downward, when it turns to the right, and crosses the left side of the abdomen, to1;he back-bone, or to a point opposite the centre of the back-bone, where it is tied. At this point it now turns downward, and continues straight down, lying close to' the'bone, until it passes out of the body. This bowel, in its whole length, is about five feet long, and, in some pereons, will hold nearly a gallon, or more. The coai-se portions of the food remain in this bowel about twenty-four hours in a healthy person, when it is evacuated from the body. Should the food remain in the bowel much longer than twenty-four hours, it produces that disease, or condition of the system, known by the term '■; ' COSTIVENESS: The human system is endowed with peculim- appetites, and appa- lenf instincts, aiVd is remarkably tinder the control of habit ; for example, one person will dine at twelve o'clock in the day,: — others, will dine at two, four, or six o'clock. Now, any person at the hour 3|^ DISCOURSE TO aENTLEMEN ONLY^^ of ,h}s njeaJs, y?Jiether it be ,^nner, breakfast, p^ - s«pper, when iii health, will usually, more or i?ss, f^el the, calls pf hupgQr, and have a dispoBitioji tp' eat. But if not regular in his hours of easing, will eit)ier, be hungry nearly all the time. , or will have no lappetite at all, or be very capricious in his appeti}«. So with the stomach : food thrown into it at regular interyals, and not too frequently,, nor too much of it, wijl usually be well digested. Th? stomach,, as if by in- stinct, expects it, and is prepared to receive it, and to digest it at these stated periods. But let a person be irregular in the hours of eating, and he will very soon, if I may use the expression, destroy; the instincts of his stomach, and greatly impair the powers of diges- tion. Now, this influence of habit upop the instincts and calls of the system, is in no respect inofe remarkable than in the periods of the evacuations. There is no doubt that these periods, in every child or man, are distinctly experienced every day, and might always tate place, unless checked by the will, or by gross inattention to them. Hence I infer, that costiveness is, in nearly every case, produced by not attending to the calls of Nature at stated periods, BAD EFFECTS GF COSTIVENESS. When the coarse portions of the food, or, we might call it, excre- mentitions matter, is too long retained in the large bowel, very injuri ous consequences result from it. We eat and drink from four to twelve pounds, and, in some instances^ much more, every day ; and all of this must leave the body, after having performed the offices as- signed to it. You can ask me, how I know all leaves the body. I reply, that I know this is the case, and, of course, refer to adults ; from the fact, that the greater portion of mankind weigh very little, . or no more, at seventy-five yeara of age, tljan at twenty-five, and, very often, they weigh much less. During tlie long, period of fifty years, they may have eaten and drank something like 150,000 pounds weight of liquids and solids, — so much does it require to replenish the daily waste of the human system for fifty years. Now then, thpre are only four great avenues though which the sys- tem relieves . itself of its effete or jedundant supplies. These are, through the pores of the skin, through the lungs, through the bowels DISCOITRSE; TQ G.ENTLEMETf. ONLY. U}y. and through the Isidneys, bladder, &c. A very insignificant discharge is also obtained from '■ the nose and interaal surface of the moutli. These are all the avenues of relief to % loaded system ; and, on their harmonious and equable action, gi-eatly depends health, and, with it, length of life. It is veiy true, that one of these may be very defi- cient in the' discharge of its appropriate oflBce, and the others will do duty for it. But, in a tolerably short period, if either, of these ave- nues is blocked up, the othera will refuse to do duty for it ; and then general disease will invade the whole system. This is exemplified in the BAD EFFECTS^Or COSTIVENKSS. .When the excrenaentitiyus portions of food are retained too long, in;:tte large bowei,, the fluid parts that should pass by the bowels are thrown upon the kidneys, lungs, or skin, and contribute to produce , disease of those parts in any pei-son predisposed to tbem. Thus, suj^ose a person to be inclined to disease of the lungs, or to raise a good deal from them, costiveness will . always aggravate or increase this, and, very often, is. the principal or entire cause of it. In the commencement of* disease of the lungs, costiveness is almost always present ; and the same remark may apply to the condition of the kidneys. I do not recollect to have ever witnessed a case of bleeding fr0m the lungs, that was not preceded, mom or less, by costiveness. The symmetrical or equal circulation of the blood is often impaired by costiveness, and its circulation is very much retarded through the la,wer bowels. It is often one great cause of determination of blood to! the head, and thus producing obstinate head-aches and vertigo, swimming in the head, dropsy in the brain, and a disposition, in some persons, to apoplexy, and is one great cause of it, and of paralysis, or palsy, either partial or general, and also of impaired ^^sion, or weak- ness ^d even loss of sight. It .is rarely, if ever, that these, affec- tipns of the head occur, unless costiveness is present; or, at least, we nearly always, at this time, notice a sluggish state of the bowels. Tha nervous system is greatly affected by costiveness. Indeed, the almos< constant effect of continued costiveness is to produce great debihty of tj)e nervous system, making the sufferer peculiarly nervous. Th«\ t^iind is more or less clouded, and quite incapable of great or lonjj ■ tontinued effort. 313 DISCdtTRSE Tti GENTLEMEN ONLY. DEPRESSION OF SPIRITS. There js no one accompuniment of costiveness more frequently ob- served than depreBsion of spirits, especially in persons a little advanced in life. It seems to cloud the whole mind, and to destroy every pleasure, to take away all elasticity and buoyancy of the feelings, and to produce a distressing sense of impending woe to come, in the form of poverty, calamity, or disease. Universal fullness of blood is often produced ; and this, at times, leads to dropsy, either partial or general. Diseases 'of the heart are always aggravated, and sometimes produced, by costiveness. I have frequently observed an enlargement of the right side of the heart, in persons long habituated to sluggish, costive bowels. In nearly every case of heart disease, scarcely anything aggi-avates it more than cos- tiveness, and few remedies relieve it so much as free bowels. Slug- lish bowels are a very efficient cause of dyspepsia. It is true, that you will sometimes witness obstinate dyspepsia when chronic diarrhoea is present But, in nineteen cases out of twenty, Sostiveness seems the cause of dyspepsia. In fact, it is exceedingly rare to witness good digestion, when the bowels are costive. Nothing contributes, as a general thing, to relieve dyspepsia more than to have a free state of the bowels. Liver complaint is often produced by costiveness. The liver is apt to become enlarged, and engorged with blood, and to pass oflFite bile badly. It is true, that a disease of the liver will frequency produce costiveness, or, rather, that a want of bile in the bowels will produce it. JAUNDICE Is often produced by costiveness : at any rate, jaundice and costive- ness are nearly always found existing together ; and relieving the bowels tendi very much to relieve the jaundice. PILES. Are often produced by costiveness. The accumulation of matter in the lower bowel prevents the return of blood from that bowel, and thus very often causes piles. DISCaURSE TO iSENXtfEMEN'aNfcY. 313 : A BAD BREATH , - , Ib almost always present in pei-sons of an habitually costive habit. From the pores of the skin, in cases of long-continued costiveness, the most unpleasant odor often arises, or is thrown out, rendering the un- ,..appy subject almost a nuisancer, , i , SEA,-siqB;NESS . ' ',',„, ,/;'^^j Is almost always, aggravated by costiveness, 'and. alnmst prevented by having the boweJsifree. In; feet, there is not a function of the whple system that may not be greatly impaired by costiveness. Let me; for a moment refer you to some other machine. Take, for example, a locomotive steam-engine, and suppose the lireman did not clear the ashes from his fireplace, how long, think you,iCouldibe thus run his engine? Every part would soon become clogged ; little i3>re could be made ; no steam could be generated,; and thus no power would be solved, and his engine would become, to all intents, and purposes, useless. Such, also, is the comparative efl'eet of ihabitual costiveness upon the human machine ; every part is clogged ; by it, and every function is emban-assed. It aggravates most diseases, and tends to produce many. The bowels must be kept tolerably free, to insure good health and long Ufe. I have referred to the fact, that costive- ness is usuaUy produced by repelling thei daily instincts ,of Nature. After we have broken up regular habits in this respect, the calls of Na- ture come to us at longer intervals, and with feeblen influence, so that sne week, two weeks, and even one month, will pass without an evac- uation, until th« bowels seem to have lost all power of action., I nave known one ease where no evacuation was had for four months and a half, and another case of nine months. Nothing in either of these cases could procure an evacuation, so nearly dead had the bow- els become. The last person most unexpectedly recovered. I.have not heard the result of the former. I once knew a young man, whilst on shipboard and very sea-sick, who suffered himself to remain three weeks without an evacuation. He came very near losing: his life by it. Great accumulations will sometimes take place in the bow- els, and produce sudden death. Mr. Legare, of Charleston, S. C, Secretary of State under President Tyler, died suddenly from this 14 314 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. cause, at Boston, in June 1843. I witnessed another death &om flia samis uatuse, in Boston, and another in London. MlA-NNEB QF CURING COSTIVENESS. As costiveness exerts such a pernieiotts influence npon the system, and contributes so much to shorten Ufe, it is roost desirable to know how ti prevent it. The best and most, desirable mode of curing it, is ov restoring the habit. Let the costive pereon, exactly at the same time eveiy day, solicit an evacuation, and that most persever- ingly for at least one hour, should he not succeed sooner, at the same time leaving off all medicine. So much is the .system influ- enced by habit, aided by the will, that in nearly all cases obstinate perseverance in this course, and never >omittkig it afterwards, will en- tirely cure their sluggish state, and the bowels become as free as is desirable, and the calls of Nature become as regular and urgent as if they had never been intewupted. There are some persons, however, who seem, or pretend to believe,, that they still require further assis- tance. These will find themselves greatly assisted by eating rather coai-se/ood, such as coarse bread, rye and Indian bread, and bread made of wheat meal, or, wo might call it, unbolted floor, sometimes called bran bread, and at other times Graham hi-ead. Some pei^ons deiive great benefit from eating fruit. Almost all the summer frnitB are found useful, — apples, &&,— throughout the year. Others derive great benefit from the free use of vegetables, &e. All will be bene- fitted by avoiding the use of very tough meat, and very hard salted meat. I rarelv recommend any other medicine to correct costiveness, than the use of a very small quantity of rhuba»'b. That whichshonld be selected, if practicable, is the best Tui'fc^ rhubarb, either in the foiin of the root, or powder ; the root is apt to be the purest. A few grains of this taken daily serves to improve digestion, strengthen the bowels, and remove costiveness. Rhubarb has the rare property over all other medicines with which I am acquainted, in a vast many cases, of never losing its effect. A great many medicines taken to open the bowels soon lose their effect, and require the dose to be veiy much increased; until, finally, they will not act in any dose, and \eaiva the bowels much worse than when th« patient commenced DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. ^ 1 5 takiflgthem. But this is not the case with Aubarb, as a general thing. I knew one gentleraaji in Philadelphia, who took a Bprtion of Turkey, rhubarb every night for thirty yeajpS. This gentleman, on account of obstinate costiveness, began with taking sixty grains every night, and when he related to n* his case, he found it necessary to use only four grains every night. The late Dr. Physie, -of Philadel- phia, told me he had many patients in that city who had used rhu- barb to great advantage, very much of the time, for forty years ot more. In eonclii(ding this part of our subject, allow me to say to you, that to .have the bowels in perfect order, and acting freely and kindly every day, is most desirable, and may be said to be indispensable to kalth and long life, and with this the happiness, the delights, and the pleasures of existence. A free, healthy state of the bowels is truly a pearl of gi-eat price, and a condition of inestimaible value to the possessor. It is true, that some^persons of costive habit§,live to old age, whilst thousands and tens of thousands are destroyed by it. The fact only proves under what disadvantages the system will labor On, and continu? its fLmctions. Let me repeat tha!t, habit, habit, is the great cure-all. Assist this, if necessary, by regulating the diet, and, as a last resort, use a little rhubarb, — but assist all by habit. Weaj'ing my Abdominal Supporter is most valuable for sluggish bowels. Allow me to say one word to those who are fathers, husbands, and heads of families : that in the arrangement of water-closets or neces- sary out-buildings, a good deal of ai't or discretion should be used, so that the delicate and modest members of your families may not, from fear of exposure, inconvenience, &c., be deterred or prevented from obeying the calls of Nature.' Sometimes these buildings are so, ex- posed to the cold or cuttiBg wiiids, while passing to them, or even exposure to wet or damp whilst in the building, that some of your Wovgd and -delicate ones are det~en'ed from visiting them when they should. BesideB one or more rooms, as the number of inmates may dernahd, these buildings .' should be kept clean, perfectly accessible, and free from exposure. In no one particular is the intelligence, the rivilization, and the refinement of a people, or an individual farailv 316^' DrSCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. more strikingly mai-ked than in the preparation of these necessary buildings. No people on the face of the earth equal the EngUsh na- tion, in the attention, the expense, and the skill in the arrangement of these conveniences. If I dared, or the subject would admit of it, I could enter into a great many details connected with this subject, that I have witnessed in the cities of Italy, and in most parts of France, and in some portions of this countiy, that would contrast most un- favorably with what I have said of the English ; but I forbear, with the remark that I have no doubt, and indeed I have the best reasons for knowing, that many a father has witnessed the ruined health of the members of his family, caused whoUy by inattention to this one subject- My subject would not be complete, were I to omit speaking one word to you upon the evacuation of water. I mentioned to you that the system unburdened itself through the bowels, kidneys, lungs, and skin. An immense amount is carried oflF by the kidneys. THE OFFICES OF THE KIDNEYS, BLADDER, &c. Those solid portions of meat we eat and drink, nc^ entering into the blood, are required to pass off by the bowels. But it is the ofiBce of the kidneys to separate a vast amount of fluids from the blood, and with these fluids, and dissolved in them, they throw off a great quantity of earths, acids, and salts, which, if not taken from the blood, would soon destroy life. THE BLADDER Is a natural reservoir for holding the water until periods convenient for its evacuation." The water is brought from each kidney by a long pipe, that extends from the chamber of each kidney to the bladder. The kidneys are situated in the small of the back, one on each side of the back-bone : the bladder is placed low down in the baskeD of the hips, and immediately behind the front cross-bone. (For a view of the kidneys, and the pipes that convey the water to the bladder, and the bladder itaelf, see Plate S.) Tlie bladder is ■ capable of being enormously distended, by the habit of retaining the water too long. There are many persons, who, from carelessness, and sometime* DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 317 from modesty, do not evacuate the bladder when called to do so. If this habit is long continued, extremely pernicious effects are apt to re- sult. One of these is to produce more or less a distension of the blad- der, the effect of which is greatly to lessen the secretion of water. The kidneys, if I may use the expression, being informed that the outlet is obstructed, cease to secrete as much water as they otherwise would ; and hence much less urine is secreted from the blood. The skin, the lungs, and the bowels, will then be called upon to do duty ifor the kidneys, g,nd to take out the earths, salts, and water from the blood. It is, hpvfever, chiefly thrown off' through the skin. Any person who has witnessed a stoppage of water for any length of time, is immediately struck with the smell of urine that comes from eveiy part of the skin of such a person. The next evil, I will mention, re- sulting from too long retaining the water, is that the water accu- mulated in the bladder, and remaining there for some time, allows the eai-ths, salts and acids, that it holds in solution, to faJl down and settle at the bottom and sides of the bladder, and thus lays the foundation for gravel in the kidneys and bladder, and stone in the bladder. JIuch, very much, of all this mischief is plevented by never retaining the urine when we are- called upon to discharge it. Any considerable iiPbstruction in the action of the kidneys and bladder, especially if long continued, in a gi-eat many cases leads to dropsy. At all events, we rarely ever notice dropsy, without at the same - time observing that the kidneys are slow in their action, and pass off" much less than their iUsual quantity of water. Although gravel is usually readily cured, yet it is better to prevent this aiiii all qtheri diseases , of the kidneys and bladder, by never omitting to .evacuate the water when called upon to do so. It was long ago observed in England; that the, high- .est and lowest classes of society were always far. more exempt from stone in the bladder, than, tlie intermediate classes, and tliey could only account for it from the fact, that the highest and lowest, cla-ssea. of society there are perfectly easy in their manners, and not deteD'ed by modesty, or w;ant of convenience, from evacuating the bladder whenever, they chciose., Somewhat the reverse of this is found in the middling classes, and. hence their greater liability to stone in the Dladder. 318 DISCOURSE T0' GENTLEJVIEN' ONLY. THE SKIN AND ITS OFFICES: 111 order to insure perfect health, great attention should be paid to llie state of the skin. The skin is the extfernal covering of the body, and is to man a natural clothing. There are yet some nations of the earth known to exist without wearing any artificial clothing whatever. I mention this as merely showing the amount of protection derived from the skin. That it is a covering or protection, we have only to notice those parts of our pei'son that are exposed to the air, such as the hands and face, which are usually uncovered : these meet the air with perfect impunity. In addition to being a clothing, the skin is pierced vrith an innumerable number of very small holes, through vfhich constantly pass a vast quantity of fluids from the body, 'jither in apparent or invisible pei-spiration. Sometimes we will see great drops of perapiTation standing on every part of the body ; at other times it is not visible to the eye, yet it is always passing off in gi'eat quantities when in health. Were the clothing to be removed entirely fi-om a man, and his body placed under a glass case, and the air pumped off, he would, seem to be covered entirely with a cloud of ' vapor. This is the insensible perepiration. The same thing may be noticed on first entering a bath : in a moment or two after the person is under the water, upon looking over the surface of the body covered by the water, we will notice vast numbers of little air-bubbles, seem- ing to stick to the skin. The minute openings through the skin ai'e called its pores, and through these pores vast quantities of fluids, and even solids, pass off. It is perfectly indispensable to health, that the skin be kept in a healthy, vigorous condition, and that its pores he always entirely unobstructed. It is not desirable that the skin have too much clothing placed upon it ; indeed, we should wear as little clothing as possible, consistently with comfort. This will depend upon each person's experience and early habits. It is well known to every observer, that those children who go barefooted through all the warm months of the year, and wear little more clothing than a linen or cotton shirt and trowsers would be upon boys, and continue this light cloth- ing and bare feet for as many months as possible in each year, and during all the years of childhood, have much better constitutions, and enjoy far better health in after-life, than those who are more delicately DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 319 I bri^Ughtup. ' The same, thing applies to the .continued preservatiori of health in adults. The more the surface of the bpdy is exposed, and the lighter the clothing,: if they can bear it, the more health they will have. An old man in New-IIampshire, who had attained to nearly his ninetieth year, , yemafked to, a friend, that of late he had become very effeminate. " Now," said he, " I am obliged to wear shoes more than two months <)f the year, when for the most part of my life I have been able to go baijefeiot tii,^, whole year." I knew an old tnan at Bristol, Conn., who was. eighty years old, that never wore stocking^, upon his feet, and only Ind.ia rubber, shoes through the sea- sonof snow. All his. other clothing was correspondingly light. He enjoyed perfect healt|i, and spent a large part of every twenty-four houi-s in active out-door employment. It is wejl known what excel- ;,lent health the American Ipclians enjoy,, ^fid blow impatient they are of clothing. For, nearly or quite eight months of the year, in our cold climate, they wear yery little clothing. For this reason, J. think, cotton next to the skin is better than woollen- I will, however,, leave this subject to every man's expeiience, fully believing that the less i clothing we wear, consistently with conifort, is most conducive, to health. I would- particulai'ly urge every man not to increase hin clothing, unless forced to do so by actual suffering, BATHING. The skin should be kept clean, and the best mode of invigorating it, besides exposing it to the air, is to bathe the surface of the|body frequently with cold water, — thisi at all seasons of the year. To men who are delicate, and not accustomed to bathing, and exposure of the pereon to the air, I would particularly recommend to them, when .^beyiieomnience bathing, if in cold weather, to do so in a well-heated room. Tips ^.blutioij' of the body with cold water, I think should be done every day-pf th,e year. Many pereons shudder at the idea, of ;dsing cold water npon their persons iri cdd, weather- Ithinkitfe' ; then most useful. In the veiy cold winter of 1835-6, tlie Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, D. D., one of the oldest, Episcopal clergymen in Phila- delphia, called at my house on one of the coldest days. The old man was about seventy-fiye years of age; and'^f a very light, thin figure, 320 OrsCOTTRSE TO GENTLERlEN ONLY. In the coiii'se of coiiVersation he chanced to remark, that he did not feel as well as usual that day, because he had forgotten to take his bath in the morning. " Why," Said I, " Doctor, you do not take a cold bath such weather as this ?" " Yes," said he, " I have been in the habit of hathing in cold water every day, in aU seasons of the year,' for moi-e than ■fifty yete." Few men ever enjbyed more unin- terruptedly good health during a long life than Dr. Abercrombie. In January, 1845', I was called ' upon at Norwich, in Connecticut, by a gentleman severity-two' yeais of a^e. He told me that he had not heard my lectures, but that he hkd heard of them,' and my re- marks upon' bathing iti cold water. He said to me, " My neighbors call ine crazy, because I go out in all weathers, and never wear an over-coat ; and We," said he, opening a thin cotton shirt upon his bosom, " is all the covering I wear for my breast, save my coat and waistcoat ; and farther," said he, " I bathe a great deal in cold water. I prefer bathing in the river here." The Water in the river at Nor- wich is salt, or brackish. He said, " If I omit bathing for a week, I become indisposeii; and it is very fregiiently'the case, in winter, that the bay is frozen a long way out. In such eases," continued he, " I very often, without any regard to the vfeathel-, walk orit on the ice as far as I can go, and there take off my clothes, deposit them upon the ice, and crawl upon my hands and kijees over the edge of the ice into the water, and stay there as long as I please, and generally till I feel better." The old gentleman enjoyed excellent health. Now, this is an extreme case, and one that I do not hold up for imitation, but only to show what may be done in the most highly d-vilized communi- ties and 'with apparent advantage. Dr. Abercrombie told me, that he had hundreds of times found the water in his bathing-tub frozen over, and would place himself in the water, covered with floating ice. Now I would not recommend this course to any one as judicious. 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. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONUY. 321 I recommetid 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,^-! rather prefer the time of rising frora bed iuthe morning. The room should lt>£i warm,, unless you are robust, and accustomed to bathing and; exposure pf theper- ,son. Throw off all your clothing, and with a brush, or hair-gloves, &c., or one or two coarse crash towels, rub the whole person ovpr in the most thorough manner, exciting a fiue Hfe and glo^ upon eveiy part of the covering of the body and limbs. After this is done, iSike a sponge or towel, and, dip it in cold water, and, with one of these, rapidly wgt over the whole surface of the body and, limbs, 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 ajl over with a sponge or wet towel as you need it. Now take one or two towels, and wipe every part of the pei^on dry. Now rub the skin all over, so as to excite a fine glow upon it; and then resume your clothing, observing that the' shirt worn through the night should nqt be worn through the day, if convenient to you. The whole time required for this bath need not be more than f^om three to five minutes. To be sure, you may ocppy as much time as you please; but an active ' person can accomjalish it in the time I have mentioned. Some persons, are so delicate or sensitive, that they, cannot bear ■ the shock of cold! water. These persons will usually find themselves greatly benefitte4 by using a tepid bath. I also recommend to ray 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 spirituous iliquore, 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 coflfer an alkaline property on the watei*, and thus purify the skin in a most eifectual manner. 14* 322 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. EFFECTS OF WATER UPON INFLAMED OR DEBILITATED PARTS. AHow 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 blistei-s to inflamed or painfiil parts ; but, in place of blisters, 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 cloth, and worn some time, even for weeks, in old cases, 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, i Posterior view of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, and Nerves that go to ^tie arms and lowpr limbs, SoiuB physicians are oonstantly on the stretch for spin6 diseases. Upon the least pain in the back, it is at once subjected to the ordeal of a severe examination ; strong pressure is macle upbn eveiy part of the spine, and even pounding the spine, to see if a tender spot can be de- tected anywhere. Now, I am disposed to think that tender place? can be found upon the spine, in this way, in more than half the peo- ple we meet, at the same time that no spiiie disease "whatevei* exists. But some physicians, upon finding a slightly tender place upon any part of the spine, immediately announce spine disease, and recom- mend the most excruciating tortures known to us, such as excessive blistering, cupping, and, ?il)ove all, horrid fertar emetic sores. The truJy robust and healthy can bear this without great injui-y ; but the nervous, the feeble, apdthe delicate pei-sons are very apt to be over- come by it. In June, 1845, 1 was consulted at Nantucket, Massa- chusetfa, By a lady whb suS'ei'e3 considerably from female confpMnts 326 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. and weakness of her spine. She toM me that, seven years before, ac the recommendation of her physician, she took a very powerful tartar emetic for a slight pain in her stomach. She vomited for twenty-four hours, which greatly wrenched her back, so that she could scarcely straighten herself for nearly two days. Some time during the second day, her physician called to see another sick person in the house, and also spoke to her. She told him that the emetic vomited her very much, and had given her a lame back. The physician said at once he thought she must have the 'spine . disease. On e.tamining her spine where it had been nearly wrenched off, he found some tender- ness, and told her she had a spine disease, and urged immediate measures for its cure. To effect this he gave her a box of strong tar- tar emetic ointment, directing her to spread a plaster about the width of three fingers, to extend from the root of the neck to the lower extremity of the spine, to be snugly applied, saying to her, that the longer she kept it on the better, even all night if she could bear it. Her sister told me, that by midnight the veiy bedroom seemed heated by the heat from the sufferer's back. She, however, wore the plaster until the doctor came the next morning, and removed it. Her sister told me, that on taking off the plaster, the whole length of her back presented the appearance of a cullender, the skin being per- il forated by a great many holes, eaten by the emetic tartar. The lady did not walk again for three years ; but at, last, by laying aside all medicines whatever. Nature gradually and slowly so far triumphed over the skill of the physician, that, at the end of six years from the time of using the fatal plaster, she was able to walk in the street. For one year before I saw her, she had been able to take short walks out of doors. The physician was one of the oldest and most respec- table in Nantucket. The lady had enjoyed fair health all her life before. In almost every case of disturbance about the spine, a towel, or piece of cloth, dipped in cold water, or cold salt and water, or even warm water, if cold is rejected, and laid on at bed-time, and fas- tened upon that part of the spine, so as to remain there all night, will, in nearly all cases, in a short time entirely cure the disturbance about the spine, and that without occasioning, any debility, suffering. •IiISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 3B7 or prostration, whatever. In addition to this, the spinq should ba smartly rubbed, and washed with cold, water, every night and morn- ing. RHEUMATISM. Wga-mth is generally recommended, »nd warm applications, in the cure of |rbeum3.tism ; and most people would say at once, that warmth would prevent it, — and this, no doubt, is to a certain extent ti"ue. But it is best prevented by keeping up an equal and vigoi'ous healtlf. Nothing does this better than the rules I have pointed out, and, in •Edition, wash the body all over with cold water eveiy day. The showei--bath, plunging-bath, and sea-bathipg, may be used by every- body ,at their pleasure ; but for convenient, general, constant, and universal use, I think the sponge-bath far the best, unless we except sek-batliing ; and, as a preventive of rheumatism, I consider the sponge-bath far tlie b*t, — ^this, however, will depend more or less ^n each individual's eK|)eiienoe.^ In the cure of rheumatism, after it is actually present, I know that pouring cold water upon the parts ^«cted is one of the best, remedies. I h£»ye known some cases of iold, obstinate rheumatism, where the patients wer« reduced to their crutches, and becojne perfect cripples, to be completely restored to health by rubbing the parts thoroughly, and pouring cold water upon tiem every day, WATER CURE. I will say a few words here upon water cure, in general, for con- sumptives. As far as my information extends, I think the water cure alone for consumptives i§ a total failure, as regards a cure. Fever and night sweats, and many bad symptoms of consumption, are often alleviated by the water <;ure, whilst the disease itself is not arrested, and in many cases hardly retarded at all, and never cured. I have witnessed many cases of feeble, delicate consumptives, with very little blood in them, subjecteji to the rigora of the water cure, besides re- quired to take or attempt exercise far beyond their strength ; and, in addition to this, attempting to live on food not suitable to them, dis- pensing with meat. salt, &c., until, in a few weeks, vitality is ^.ll- 328 DISCOURSE TO GE^'TLEMEN ONLY. most soaked and starved out of them. Vigorous persons, and tHose aboimding in humors, will '6ften find great benefit from the water cure. Pei-sons with congested lungs or very short breathing, or hean disease, or extensively palsied, should never go under water much, IS it may be fatal' to them soon. I have witnessed three such cases of immedia,tely fatal (ionsequences. In old persons, more or less par- alyzed, I have noticed the worst effects from the water cure long con- tinued. The intelligent water cure physician, will take great care to dis- criminate between rheumatism and palsy, — between a person lame or crippled by rheumatism or palsy. In the last, as far as I know, water may do great harm, employed extensively as may be done at a water cure establishment, whilst in rheumatism it is often- of great benefit. TKEATMENT OF THE FEET. I cannot leave this subject without adverting to the proper man- agement of the feet. It is almost indispensable to health and lon- gevity that we take pleiity of exercise. One of the very best of these is walking out of doors as well as within. But if our feet are not in good order, this important exercise cannot be taken, nor will the sym- metry of the body' be perfectly preserved, if we cannot walk, or ckn- not walk well. The feet are mostly affected by corns and enlarge- ment of the joints, &c. One of the best things to prevent corns and enlargement of the joints, provided the boots or shoes are properly fitted, is, at least once a week, to put the feet in hot water, and this should be excessively hot, as much so as can be borne. I usually recommend to my patients to put the feet in hot water once a week, keeping them in the water fi'om fifteen to thirty minutes, and adding hot water every few minutes : to the water you may add salt, wood ashes, sal-aeratus, or soda, as you choose. On taking the feet from the water, they should be rubbed perfectly dry, and scrape off the thick parts of the skin made soft by the hot water. The skin should be made as tjiin as possible. Most persons will find that this will keep their feet in good order. The hot foot-bath is a most excellent ^hing iot the general health ; for colds aod pain anywhere, it is ex- DISCOURSE TO GE^'TLEMEN ONLY. 329 cellent, and does not forbid washing the feet in cold water every day. The hot foot-bath should always be taken at bed-time, and the next morning the feet washed thoroughly in cold water, and daily washed in cold water. Pereons in consumption, with night sweats and feeble, should not use a hot foot-bath much, as .it often reduces their feeble strength very much. DIET. ; I have mentioned to you that the reparation of the body, and sup- plying the waste of its substance, is a duty that_ devolves upon the stomach, and all those ^arfs engaged in the process of digestion. It is of great importance that the food be taken at regular intervals, and that it be such as agrees with the system. On the subject of diet, what kind of food we should eat, and how much, very discrepant niles have been laid down by authbrs and lecturers. At one time we have a crusade preached against aU meat, including fish, flesh, and ■ fowl ; at other times, the war has raged agadnst tea and coffee ; and now it runs against every description of stimulant, fi'oni pure brandy down to the mildest family home-brewed beer. ' On these subjects, I look upon it as dangerous to run entirely against the experience of all past generations, and especially on the subject of our eating. Violent ' and sudden changes in our diet, especially if engaged in exhausting occupations, I consider as very dangerous. Generally speaking, I be- 'heve the experience of every nation, for centuries past, on the subject of eating, to be a very fair guide to each nation. To exemplify what I mean, and to exhibit the pernicious effects of sudden changes in our food, I will mention one case. A few years ago, a regular war was set up in Massachusetts and elsewhere against the use of meat as an article of food. Everything in the shape of fish, flesh, or fciwl, was attempted to be repudiated. Lecturers, men learned in medicine, and most eloquent, stood forth to vindicate the ex- elusive usS of vegetables, and to announce to the thunder-struck people, that all kinds of meat were in their very nature deadly poison, and the cause of almost all our diseases. Under the term meat, was included all fish, and every species of sheU fish ; all flesh meat, fresh or salted ; all fowls, and all game ; in fact, everything that had ever possessed 330 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. anjmal life. Ejsperjence of a thousand years was at once cast to the moles and the bats. Rumor carried something of these gi-eat discoveries in diet to Andover Theological Seminary. The students of this re- no wne4, institution smnmoned to their halls a gentleman who was a very learned physician, to enlighten them on the important subject of diet. Several persons have described to me the effect of these eloquent lectures, and something of the doctrines taught. One old sea-captain told me that he attended all the lectures. The number he represented to me as being incredible, and " as for eatingy". said the old man, "he left us, as wholesome, nothing to, eat but the pav- ing-stones upon the sea-shore." This is no doubt very hjyrperbolical, yet it is certain that the bill of fere was greatly abridged. Mr. Farley, the very worthy keeper of the students' eating-room, told me, that at the conclusion of the lectures the committee on diet had a meeting, the result of which was to direct him to discontinue, henceforth and forever, from their table, all meat of every sort. "Why," said Mr. Farley, " we have p^k and beans on Monday, shall I not continue that salutary dish ?" "No," said they, "nothing but the simple beans.'* Mr. Farley at once told his wife he should dise by himself, for his experience of fifty years and upwards was decidedly in fevor of flesh as an article of diet. One young theological student, of rather herculean proportions and western growth, expressed to Mr. F. the greatest regret that he had ever tasted of a mouthful of meat in his life ; saying, — " that he believed, if he had not done so, he might have anticipated a tolerably long life ; but," added he, " what I have done was from ignorance, and never will I taste meat s^ain while I live." The vegetable diet commenced eight weeks before the end of the .teim, and was j^ept up in its greatest rigor for those eight weeks. Such was tjie disastrous effects upon the health of the stu- dents, that Mr. Farley told nie he believed that ite continuance four weeks longer would have broken up the school. As it was, about thii-ty young men lost their healths ; nearly all of whom became dys- peptic, and several sunk into consumption. The herculean young man was one of the suiferei-s: his head and nervous system became so much .afifected, that he could not possibly study. After trying a change of air, and every means to regain his health, he found it im- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 331 ■ possible to continue his studies, so fijllowing '^tlie stto of empire," he wended his way west, to Michigan, where he is now a useful fermer. Tlie school re-assemblod at' the expiration of four weeks, and then the committee on diet having somewhat the fear of vogetaibles -before I dieir eyesy ordered more meat than had ever been known before. Here and there a solitajy instance can be found of a person well [sustained by vegetable diet only ; but in general, meat,, in moderafcictn, is everywhere considered: a salutary article of diet by those able to piBocute it. The amount of food required to be eaten by adultSj must always be determined by the waste of the substance of the body when: in health. The amount of this waste depends on the greatter <)ri less degree of exercise and labor. Out-door exercise and out-door Jabor causing more ■wast^ than in-dooj" labor and exercise. The appetite of a person in health and regular habits is a very fair crit^iTon of the amount of food requu'ed to supply the waste of the 'substance of the body.i This amount every peison should, eat, and no more, so thatraU humani beings will vaiy, more or lessj in the re- lative quantity tbey eat ;, arid the same individual will differ from himself, in proportion as the amount of his labor and exercise differ. In genera,!, a varied 'and simple diet is the best, consisting of pure, ■whol^ome food. No raneid-meat or butter, no spoiled vegetables, or the flour of bad grain, should ever be tasted. One of the great se- crets of the health and longevity of the noble families of England, France, Italy, Germany, and, in general, of all -Europe, is owing to ; the great care in the quality and selection of the articles composing their food, its sufficiency, its variety, and in its preparation and cook- ery. ■ There is no laying down miles' of diet that will suit every one, either in kind or quantity. I recommend indulging in every Variety <)f food that we ,find is not absolutely pernicious. For kind, be guided ,fer more by experience than by precept ; and for quantity, be go- verned, in moderation, by thcirequirements of a well-regulated ap]-)e- tjte; but be sure that all the food you eSt is perfect in its kind. Above; all things, avoid taking up notions or crotchets upon the sub- ject of diet;' should, you', do this, you will soon find the tone, of the stomach impa-ired, and the vaaiiety of food you could otherwise eat greatjy abridged. Jn giengral, thfe mass i of mankind follow a coii'ect 333 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. experience on the subject of diet. Never indulge in gluttony, as ex- cesses in eating are often very dangerous. I knew a young officer of the U. S. Army enjoying excellent health, who was killed by iin ex- cessive supper. I beheve nearly all cases of persons found dead in their beds, who have retired in apparent health, may be traced to some error in diet. I will leave the subject to the judicious experience of eveiy on&. I think the substitution of coffee, in lieu of milk, for our children, to be very pernicious indeed. ' No scrofulous person should drink much coffee. No consumptive, no asthmatic, no dyspeptic, no person with heart troubles or head troubles, or costive, nervous or. diarrhoea, or liver complaint, or bilious, or troubled with any humor, rheumatista, or neuralgia, or kidney troubles, sjiould ever touch coffee.. Let it alone. If you can have pure black tea anS pure cocoa, or chocolate, from which all its oil has been perfectly and completely removed, you may Use them if they agree with you. Children under fifteen years of age never should drink coffee, at the most only once in a week, and then very spaiingly. Milk is best for them. EXiERCISE. I have told you that the human frame is a machine. Now, this machine, like many machines of human invention, suffers greatly by continued repose. Every day, when in health, exercise should be ta- ken sufficiently to excite, in moderation, eveiy part of the body. For this purpose, we may adopt walking, riding both on horseback and in a carriage, nearly every species of niral labor, and many kinds of in-door labor, pursued in moderation. Dancing, both for males and females, is one of the finest exercises of which we have any know- ledge. It is one of the oldest known to us, and one of the best. Taken in the open air, it is better than in-doors ; but either in or out of doors, when accompanied by the harmony of music, 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 n6t speak of the dissipation of dancing — fer firom it ; I only speak of it, when practised in moderation, as an ex- ercise. For the delicate, the sickly, and the sedentary, it is in'raiu- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 333 , able, and may be practised every day, and at all seasons of the year, "^ and, of course, in aii weathers. Ail the out-door athletic exercises practised by men are valuable in promoting robust health, and may always be taken, when cii'cumstances will allpw. ANIMAL PLEASURES,— PROPAGATION OF THE SPECIES. Perhaps there is no subject upon which a lecturer can speak that is more delicate than this, which Ihave referred to as the third great, object of the human njachine. Every man knows his.oiisn 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,' especially if indulged in,- Yh9;n joving, to destroy the nervous system, frequently producing affeeljons of the spinal manow and brain, and early 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 ia life, tli^e excesses produce imbecility and premature old age. In all- .these respects, study purity — sin not against your own body — in- dulge in the refined enjojonents of marriage^ — and from these sources you will receive no impediment to the contiii nance of health and the attainment of long life. Extinguish the burnings of passion in the sacreid delights of marriage, and you will find the most noble and exquisite pleasure in the society of your wiveg ; and the love ^f your children, towards whom you should be a Providence, Protector, Pro- phet, and Priest. , , SYMMETRY OF THE IIjfTERNAL ^ORGAJiTSi 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 ; up- the subject on which I lecture, dispel all crudities and hyperboles, and treasure up the teach- ings, noticing if their, application is pernidous or useful, and thus, by obseiTation and; experiment,, determine what is false and what is tru', and ever after retaining and diflFusing whatever is true and impoHant. 334 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEK ONLTt fn the early part c»f tEis lecture, I spoke to you on the impoHance of preserving the external foiin of the human machine in perfect syiii« metry, keeping the head and neck, the shoulders, the chest,'th6 spino, limbs, &c., all in the admirable perfection of their 'natural formation, when no deformity has been introduced by art, by incon-ect habits, port, so that ths lungs should be well lifted up, in ordei tlmt no dragging ilown of the wiudjiipe, or vocal org',n% can takq place. Some clergymen, whoiare sagacious, observers of themselves, I Lave known to cure all weakness of voice in themselves, bj inventing and applying support to the abdomen. To permanently cure weak- ness of voice, and disease about the windpipe, I deem it indispeosar ble to haye the abdomen perfectly supported. SnORT BREATH, AND DIFFICULT BREATHINa- AT TIMES, May be said to be an univereal accompanimenfr^-indeed, they are among the first symptoms or indications — of falling 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 fast, whilst running and dancing are nearly im- possible, and-next to impossible to lift a heavy weight. In Aprjl, 1845, T was consulted at New-Bedford, Mass., by a man who was a resident of Westport, Mass. lie owned and resided upon a^small farm, but v^-as unable to do any labor whatever. His lungs were very much affected, 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 4 lb. weight. He was in consumption. His was an aggravated case of falling of the bowels. I ^ve him suitable remedies for his lungs, and an abdominal supporter. I saw him in July following. Ho walked fonr miles on a warm afternoon, to see me. He told me lie was in perfect health, and could lay stone wall fifteen hours in a day. In October, 1840, he informed 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 ^he heart and fainting, when the per- son falling, or being laid down, the heart resumes its action. I have often witnessed apparent heartrdisease cured simply by an ab- dominal supporter, but usually medical remedies are required. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 339 • SINKma FEELIFCr, AND ALL-GONfi AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH. This 15 one of the most common symptoms of falling of the howels; an extreme 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 to leave the same hollow, empty feeling. This is par- ticularly the case with men who stand a great deal at a woik-hench. I was consulted in April, 1844, at Springfield, Mass., by a tin-worker, who told me that he had suflFered 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 agreeable day for six years as the firet day that he had used all my remedies. All the functions of the stomach are more or less impaired by falhng of the bowels ; and the person feels at that point* as if cut in two, and is, greatly disposed to stoop. ESTfLUENCE OF THE FALLING OF THE BOWELS UPON THE LIVER. The weighfof the liver is so considerable, that, unless the abdo^ minal bej^s are very firm, it is apt to fall down, more or less, out of its place, sometimes so as to obstruct the bile-ducts, inclining, partially, to, induce jaundice, and to stop the regular passage of the bile from theJiver. When the falling of the bowels is excessive, the effect upon the Uver is,, at times, deplorable, as it may become very much dislo- cated, and even torn, so as' to prqduce fatal effects, I have no doubt hut that inflammation of the liver is very often produced by its not being well suppoi-ted. To prove 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 home, he started 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 horae, 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 that his liver 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 falling of the liver, had been tord apart, causing a considerable loss of blood, that flowed into the cavity of the abdomen, and produced death. Proper ab- dominal support 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 cas§s, weakness and pain are apt to continue a g^eat many years. I was consulted at Worcester, Mass., by a tall, delicate young man, who, by walking many miles on a very 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 ease 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 suffering had continued for thirty years. All these cases were promptly cured by a few suitable medi- cines and perfect abdominal support. A relaxation of the abdominal belts and felling of the bowels will often produce great weakness and debihty in the bowels themselves. This leads, in many cases, to HABITUAL COSTIVENESS. At other times, the very opposite state of the bowels will be pto- duced, and the patient will suffer greatly from a chronic diarrhcea. Both of these states of the bowels, so opposite to each other, it is well known often arise from the same cause, — that is, debility and want of tone in the bowels, which are produced or greatly aggravated by DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 34] a relflxation of the abdominal belts. Suitable medicines and abdo minal support will usually effect a spfeedy cure. UMBILICAL HERNIA., Or rupture at the navel, I have repeatedly cured, by the use of the abdominal supporter. PILES. This disease, which gives trouble, disquietude, and suffering^ pro- ducing very severe illness in some persons, I beUeve is nearly always caused by falling of the bowels. By referring to Plate S, you will notice that the large bowel, just as it becomes straight, is tied to the centre of the back part of the basket of the hips, and passes through it to go out of the body. ' Now, when the bowels fall down, they are exceedingly apt to fall upon the large bowel, where it is tied to the back-bone, pressing it, more or less, hard against the bone, and thus preventing the retm-n 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 system, 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 commences 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 it; cannot return, and hence results this disease. In nearly every case, this is relieved and often cured by removing costiveness, and using a suitable' ointment.' But for a radical and permanent cure, support is usually 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 a finger, you will notice how soon the end of the finger will begin to swell, and 342 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. if the string is kept on any lengtt 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 bf 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 bkdder, 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 Sidney, 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, from other physicians who had made experiments also appealed from time to time in this Joijrnal, in, aUdther conducted by Heneke, and in Jahn's Journal of Discoveries and Inventions. About this time Drs. Hufeland and, Neumann introduced the in-- haling treatment into the Hospital de la Charite, in Berlin. Hufeland was one of the greatest physicians of whom Germany has to boa.st. He was for a long time conductor of the MedicalJournal above men- tioned, which was of great authority ; he was physicisJi to the king 364" MEDieATED INHALATION. of Prussia, and the author of numerous medical works of the highest rejjutation. The method of Inhalation was fully tried for lung diseases in the Berlin Hospital, by this celebrated man, upon 54 cases. The treatment and its results are given in his Journal. His statement shows the trial to have been most thoMughly made, and the whole resources of the practice employed. The'etfeets are fdlly detailed in his Journal. Dr. Tott, above mentioned, was selected to write the article upon " Medicated Inhalation" in the great German Encyclopedia of Medi- cal Science, published by the Professors of the University of Beilin. Itis a work comprising 36 octavo volumes, embracing every depart- ment of medical knowledge, and was contributed toby nearly all the best physicians in Germany. In it Dr. Tott has given a very clear and full account of his own experiments, and those of other physicans, of the different substances employed, and the methods of administer- iflg' them. The conclusion to which German experience with Inhala- tion had led him, he very plainly states. " Inhalation" seems to be as familiar to French as to German and English physicians. It will be seen to be so by turning to the works of Delpit, RuUier, Gottereau, LiSfranc, Louis, Bayle, Dupuy- • ten, Desault, Fourcrby, Gannal, Dufresnoy, Valentine, Trousseau, the great Laennee, and many othere that might be named; In 1824, Dr. Gottereau of Paris published articles upon it in the Journal Hebdo- madaire ; Gannal had previously published " Memoirs" upon it ; and in the great work of Laenneo upon Auscultation and Diseases of the Ghest, we learn that he made trial of it in the Hospital de la Charite in Paris. It need hardly be said that under the hands of such men as Laenneo and the others named the resources of the treatment would be exhausted. I will notice the practice of only one other French physician, M. Trousseau. He was Professor of Medicine of Paris, and an author of commanding authority. In a work published in 1837, entitled "Trait^'Praltque de la Phthisie Laryngie de la Laryngite Chronique" &c., will be found an account of his experience and practice. He em- ployed a great variety of substances in the most approved and seien- lific methods, adapting them ekilfully and intelligently to the exigen- MEqiCATED INHALATION. 365 (Cie^iof the disease and the condition of the consumptive patients. He accurately defines the benefit of this treatment, and points out its ob- jections and dangers. ., I could easily fill volumes with other historical references on the subject. But the foregoing are all-sufficient for my purpose. If any historical fact is capable of demonstraiion, I have demonstrated that the treatment of Consumption by " Medicated Inhalation" is an " old, familiar, long-tried, and thoroughly-tested practice." We have seen that in the leading hosphals of England, Germany and. France, and in long yeai-s of private practice, by men standing at the very head of their profession in their respective countries, this treatment has been tried; and that the trial has been full, complete and exhauAive, is attested by the ample recoi'ds in books, journals, and encyclopedias abounding in our libraries. Yet, after all, we are modestly asked to believe that the light of this treatment — this great medical millenni- um — has just dawned upon our benighted world ! .INHALATION NOT NEW TO AMERICAN PHYSICIANg. You have perhaps seen in the newspapers a very confident claim advanced that this treatmer^t was first introduced to the notice of the American public in 1851. . This claim has as little foundation as the one I have been e~xpositig. Inhalation has long been praflised by numbers of American physicians. But to show the special falsity of this assumption I would refer to a work entitled, > " A Practical Treatise on Medical Tnfuilation, with, numerous cases dewon^ atratins; the curative ■powers oj various remedies ivSronQhitis, Von-sumption ,and other diseases of the Respiratory' OrfcaTiSf 'embracing the opinions and experience of Rush, ScTidamore, Eberle, Mudoie, Crichton, 'Thomas, Corrig-an, Rama^Cy and others. By Edward Jenner Coxe, M. 'D." , . This work was published in Philadelphia as early as 1841, and contains a history of Dr. Coxe's practice. It constitutes a very full exposition of Medicated Inhalation, by an earnest but evident! v ho- nest-minded advocate, of the practicci ,. Dr. Coxe pursued the treat- ment in. his own practice for a number of years, and fully ^plored, audit may be said exhausted, its remedial capabilities. In this work may be found a clear description of the instruments to be employed, the remedies usedj the formulas for their preparation, and tha S65 MEDICATED INHALATION. proper modes for 'their administpatioti, the byMptoHis -which indicate the exhibition of particular medicines, what is the effect of the various specific medicinal agencies, when inhaled, &c., &c. This book may not be accessible to the general reader, and I therefore reproduce here the "Address t6 the Medical Profession" with which Dr. Coxe prefaces, his volume, in order that the utterly fraudulently character of the ' false pretence,' that this treatment is either of recent origin, or has been tecently introduced into this country, may be clearly seen. In this preface Dr. Coxe very modestly, and alnaost inade- quately, indicates the object and contents of the volume : " TO THE MEMBERS OP THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. The object of the lollDWing remarlfs upon Medical Inhalation is to collect ill one work the scauered observations of many writers opon the subject, thereby mdre particularly directing tfte atteiition of medical men to a plan of treating, coa=,umption, bronchitis, and other affections of the respiratory organs, which, although not possessing the merit of novelty, has antil the last few years been too much neglected. The vast importance of those diseases for the treatment of which this di- rect local application of remedies 'is peculiarly appropriate, has caused it once more to be brought into notice, and with such an accumulated mass of facts in support of its being assigned a very promineni and permanent place among^e Various plans ol treatment for many pulrtionic diseases'. Amoiig the different authorities who have proclaimed the curative powers of Medicaf Inhalation, no one has pursued it with such perseverance, or given to the profession so many well attested cases of its efficacy, as Sir Charles Scudamore, who.se reputaiiim and experience are alune sufficient to entitle it to the confidence and consideration of the profession. Hiswork and communications inseveralof theEngli.sh medical periodicals contain so much really practical information upon this sutjject, that I have thought the, interest of the profession and the benefit of mankind would be m'ost advanced by presenting the greater part of his observations in his own language, and I sincerely hope, as I really believe, that the success which he, as well as many others, and myself, have derived from this auxiliary mode of treatment, will prove equally great in the hands of other physicians. It may not be improper to remark, that I had derived all my ex.perience, arid written these remarks, befure I was aware of the existence of the valu- able obltrvatiims of Sir Chailes Scudamore and a majority of those whom 1 have consulted, consequently, the coincidence of views and results which will be found to exist, cannot but be considered an additiop^l argumentln favor of the curative powers of the direct application of remedies to diseases of the lungs. In consequence of not being engaged in the practice of medicinei MEDICATED iNHALATldJJ. 867 ray observations an;', eiperience have necessarily hessn limited j.firttily Cimviiiced, however, as 1 was, uf ilie unqueslionable value of Mt-diciil Inlia- KiiiuH in many diseases of ihe respi'alory organs, ii was willi ihe gioKlest ple.isure Ifounil Ihe aulhorily and experience of many medical men. well known lo ihe profession, could be addubed in siipportcf iis po>iiiveCUiaii've powers, and 1 ihinic 1 may with confidence asserl ihal ihese remarks will be found to contain all the information necessary lo enable medical nun lo pursue this highly interesting and important subject with advanwge. Although Medical Inhalation will not, and necessajily cannot, in all cases, succeed in effecting the utmost of our dcsilfes, it wi]', under Ihe mosl adveise circumstances, generally prove a valuable palliaiiiTe ; and but Mule, if any, doubt can reasonably be entertained of its coming into genural u>c, antl forming a new era in the treatment of consumption, bronchitis, and other diseases of the air passages. , C(mfidenee in the'real value of this remedial means, an ardent des'Ire to do all in tny power as a member Of flie proi'es^ion lo alleviate ihe snfl'ellhjfs of the silk, and eonlribute my humble eSbrtstolheiiilvancementof the mo.st •interesling part of the s-cienoe of medicine, that of curing disease, iiave been my sole rea.'on for appearing b=fore the public ; and I hop:; all inaccuracies of si\ le, or other defecLs, will be ovei looked by '.hose t.i whom 1 dedicate ihese remark.s, and prove a sufficient apology, if such be necessary, for endeavur- inp to bring more generally into notice the important suhjeel of Meilieal In- halation. EDWARD JENNER COXE. M. D. 23 f!lamp Street, New Orleans." It will be seAi what the plan of this work is. Tiiatplan is fully e&t- rieJ out. The author speaks enthusiastically of the tvestirient, and in reading the book, some allowance has to be ni;ide for the warm par- tiality of Dr. Gox, a partiality which a subsequent trial of the prac- tice by other phy.sicians ha& not shown to b*? quite deserved. Yet with this book before us, we cannot but feel" surprise that the public intelli- gence should have been insulted by a pretension that I nhalation, aS a sys- tematic mode of treatment, was first introduced to the notice of the people of this country in 1851, ten years after the publication by Dr. Coxe of the above work. Dr. Coxe himself confirms the absence of any novelty in this tTert'> > Mient, at the time he wrote. He says, (p. 8) — " Disclaiming any pretensioti to novelty in this direct local ap] liga- tion of remedies to the various diseases of the I'espiratory orgmS, my sole Wish is to endeavor to place beforp the piofes-sioh as nnitli testimony upon the subject as possible ; and, with that ^iew, I shall 368 MEDICATED INHALATION. draw largely from those -who have recorded the results of their ex- ■Derience with it." I may be permitted to add, that Medicated Inhalations have form- ed one feature of my own practice for at least iera years. NO NEW MEDICINES ARE BEING USED. If any should imagine that although this treatment has been thus fully tried, our modern " Inhaling Doctors" are nevertheless using new medicines, or new combinations of medicines, they are mis- taken. To make this apparent, I will name some of the principal remedies employed by the physicians above refeiTed to. I quote from their books the following : — Iodine, Conium, (Jxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Nitrous Gas, Sulphuric Ether, a great variety of Gums and Balsamic Kesins, Vapor of boiUng Tar, Creosote, Balsam Copaiba, Hydrocyanic Acid, Camphor, Ammonia, Balsam Tolu, Naphtha, Chlo- rine, Hyoscyamus, Papava, Acetate of Morphine, Lactuca, Belladonna, Digitalis, Colchicum, Opium, a gi;eat variety of Balsamic Herbs, Gal- banum, Yapor of Vinegar, Nitre, Strammonium, Lobelia Inflata, Ipe- sacuanha, Aleohol, Hydriodateof Potassa, Turpentine, Storax, Marsh- mallowfi. Rose Water, a great variety of Emollient and ^Narcotic Jlerbs, &c. I name them without .order or arrangemeat. In the books above-named the formulas for their preparation and administration are given. It should be ad(^ that, by all who have tried Inhalation, Iodine, Conium and Chlorine have been the principal medicines de- pended upon as curative agents, and these are the principal remedies employed now by the " Specialiste" in this city. But all the medicines ^above-mentioned were used in the course of the various experiments of the European physicians. They ranged through the whole field oi re- medies, and it is idle to pretend at this time that the Specialists have discovered or are using any new remedy or any new combinations of medicines.- So, too, there is nothing new being done by the Specialists in the mode or skilfuiiess of using these medicines. Years ago, patients w?re put into tight rooms, as they are now, and made to breathe an artificial atmosphere'; and years ago, nea,tly an4 conveniently con- sti-uctied in-strumente for inhaliijg, vapor, t^^9^JDpe^j(ubs^tially m nojr MEDICATED INHALATION, 369 used here by those pvetending to have invented the " Inhaler," were employed, in v\^hich the process of inhalation was brought completely within the control of the physician, and made perfectly convenient to the patient. For years the best physicians of Europe have employ- ed this treatment, carefully studying the condition of their patients, and nicely adjusting the strength and proportions and times of their inhalations to that condition. I Tkere is not one word of proof before the public, neither is it true, that any Specialist claiming to cure Consumption by Intialatibn alone has Originated or is employing any new remedy, or any old remedy in any new mode or proportion, or combination ; or preparing, adjust- ing, pr administering any remedy or remedies by inhalation in any manner that has not heretofore been fully tested by competent ex- periment. THE TRUE VALUE OF INHALATION, It rnay be iiiterestiilg to learn what virtue these leading physicians of the world, after making the ample trial of Inhalation indicated by the foregoing facts, ascribe to this mode of employing medicines. I ' give below, in their own language, the conclusions to which their large experience conducted them, and you will observe that they entirely confirm the views I have express'ed in relation to it, viz. : — that Me- 'dicated Inhalation constitutes a very valuable adjunct and assistant in the treatment of Inng disfeases, but cannot be relied upon alone to ' encounter these formidable maladies'. Says Sir JaUes Clark, before mentioned as one of the most cele- brated medical writers and practitioners in England, and before whom the whole practice of all Europe with this treatment had passed : — " When more' rational and just views of the pathology of Phthisis ' are generally entertained by the profession, we shall cease to hear it as- serted that it is to be cured by local applications -^by inhalation. We do not, however, condemn such "measures as useless ; on the contrary, we consider them valuable as palliatives, and of great service as ad- juncts to those remedies which are directed to amend the general health, and to correct the tuberculous diathesis. But we certainly ' (fi^protejibf any 16'cal rciSedies being TP-lied on as the principal 16* 370 MEDICATED INHALATION. means of curing the disease which depends upon a morbid state of the constitution. Such an error is founded on imperfect views of the real nature of tubercular phthisis, is productive of much mischief in, practice, and cannot be too strongly reprobated." 'Says Sir Charles Scddamorb, Who, the reader will recollect, de- voted himself to this practice a great number of years- : " I should consider it a waste of argument to advocate the propriety of treating phthisis pulmonalis in all its stages by a general method in combination with local i^medies by inhalation, such method comprehending the employment of suitable medicines." [Scudamore on Inhalation and Consumption, p. 16.] Again : "Disease of the lungs is, for the most part, more or less complicated with some error of other organs; and it would be contrary to good sense to pursue an exclusively local treatment." Again, in 1842, he says : " I never in important cases confine myself to the use of inhalation, but have recourse to all other things to which my judgment diiects me." Savs John Hastings, M, D., senior physician to the Blenheim st. Dispensary, London, in his work on Pulmonary Consumption, P- 89 : " A variety of volatile mattere have been inhaled from time to time in phthisis. That Inhalation is sometimes useful, cannot be denied ! it can only be regarded, however, as an adjunct in the treatment of Consumption." This was in 1846. Dr. Eliotson, a leading English physician and writer, said in 1844, with a full acquaintance with all that had been done by Inba- • lation, and after making thorough trial himself: " We sometimes lessen the irritation by making the patient inhale the vapor of vari- ous drugs. * * * The agents which have been chiefjy tried are, 1st, minute quantity of Iodine mixed vnth Hydriodate of Potassa ; and secondly, Chlorine. I have seen more mitigation with the Chlo- rine than the Iodine, but have never seen a case cured. I have used them both perseveringly, but I have never seen a case of phthisis cured by these means, and don't believe a case ever was cured." ' (Eliotson's Practice of Medicine, American edition, page S04.\ Sir John Forbes, before mentioned, a distinguished English phy- sician, in his translation of the work of Laennec, page 73, says : " In our preseiiit improved knowledge respecting the pathology of phthisis MEDICATED INHALATION. 371 pulmonalis, it is barely necessary to s»y that the pnopdsal to Cure tliis disease by such means, (inhaktion alone,) would now appear idle; * * * ^ sevei-e examination of all the trials made wi;h ihis agency leads to the conclusion that it is in chronic catarrh that tlifi practice has been beneficial. lis indiscriminate employment has btm injurious in true pkihisis ; while its limited use has been beue- Seial in many cases of chronic mucous catarrh." G^rniony. — Dk. Tott. — The experience in Germany wiih Inha- lation may be summed up in the words of Dr. Tott, who wrote, as I have stated, the article on Inhalation in that great work, the German* Encyclopedia of Medical Science, lie says : " Thfe Operation of Medicine through the lungs cannot be depended upon as certainly, Bor in so great or definite a degree, as through the stomach.'' France. — Laknnec. — After making full tiial of Inhalation in the leading French Hospitals, this great man says : " The same result, (cicatrising ulcers.) has been sought by blending different gases or vapors with liie air the patient breathes, and thus placing him in an artificial atmosphere. The httle confidence these merit is proved by tliD neglect into which they have fallen. * * * * In the same category may be classed the inspirations of different gases by the aid of a suitable apparatus." And then in regard to the necess'.ty Bf employing general treatment with suitable reinedies, he add? : " To attack the disease in the right manner it would probably bis necessary to be able to correct some unknown alterations in the functions of assimilation or of nutrition^that is to say, an alteration of the fluids." — [LUenn\? of life they have been traced through every period of existence up to adult age. Says the ^eat Lagnnec: "Experience too commonly proves to all practitioners that the children of phthisical parents are more frequently attacked by this disease than other subjects." Says Dr. John Swett, in his Treatise on Diseases of the Chest, p. 225 : "Hereditary influence in phthisis isa well established fact, and the degree of this influence has an im- portant practical bearing/' Not a medical writer can be found of any respectability who does not say substantially the same' thing. That the tuberculardispositionis constitutional, is n fact which has been posi- tively demonstrated. Tubercles, the same substance, the deposition and softening of which in the lungs constitute phthisis pulmonalis, have often been found in the lymphatic glands of the neck, the bronchi and the mesentery, in the lirer, the spleen, the kidneys, 'the bladder, the uterus, the' heart, the br,ain, and even in the structure of the bones. In the entire ranM of diseases there is not one more demonstratively constitutional in its character. And yet, in the face of all this, in or- der to frame a theory to match this local treatment of Inhalation alone, we are told that " the theory that consumption is a consti- tutional disease is false in fact.'" And now I here, repeat, and the reader should bear in mind, that the trentment by Inhalation alone, as practised by the specialists, is based upon a denial of the constitu- tional and hereditarycharacter of consumption! and that such de- nial is necessary to stlpport the system of treatment ! It may occur to the reader to inquire tvhy the specialist applies his doctrine only to consumption where it occurs after five years of age. The solution of this riddle may perhaps be tbund in the fact, that be- fore that age there is seldom intelligence enough to Use the Inhaler: A's this practice vfas not intended, therefore, :o be employed upon in- fants, it was not necessary to include them in the theory of "Inhaled Consumption." If this is the answer, it is only another evidence of the special inhalists' nice adjustment of their pathology to their the- rapeutics — their theory ix> their remedy. Another doctrine in' the learned medical creed of the^e pecialists is, that all disorders which may occur simultaneously with disease of the 383 MEDICATED INHALATION. respiratory organs are caused by snob disease ; and being so caused, they will disappear as these organs are restored to health. Thus, if we have dyspepsia, liver complaint in any form, disease of the heart, disease of the bowels or of the kidneys, any form of disorder peculiar to ihe female constitution, skin disease, scrofula, rheumatism, or what not, it is only necessary to use the m^icul inhaler, charged with iodine, conium, and creosote, to sweep from the lungs the mischievous obnirucilons, and this brood of ills, however numerous or complicated, will flee before it, as did the legendary reptiles from the glance of St. Patrick. Admirable ! Not. the slightest need of general treat- ment for even distinct and separate disorder ; of course not. Won- derful theory 1 Marvellous practice ! What a pity that physicians do not everywhere aim to throw their patients, sick with whatever disease, into ''inhaled consumption," and then hand them over tp the inhaliats ! ^gain, the Inhalists say, " that the inflamed and ulcerated mem- brane hning the air passages and lungs, so dplicate and sensitive is this tissue, will respond to, and receive an alterative local im- pression from medicines that are so attenuated by sfratioiii, that they can produce no perceptible effect upon an \ilcer any where else. They are met of course by the objection, that if this membrane is so highly sensitive, t,hen the inhalent that can thus affect the im« flamesd or ulcerous surface, will necessarily irritate the healthy por- tion. This objection would seem to be tolerably conclusive. Not, however, to the Special Inhalist. He is ready fqr it. Turning square- about, he insists that the pulmonary membrane is one of the most hardy tissues in the body^that the vapors inhaled produce no local effect upon it whatever, passing directly through it into the system ; and that, of couree, the mucous membrane is far less impressible than the fibrous, or even fibro cartilaginous tissues. He says " a mo- mentary inhala,tion of a poisonous gas will impregnate the blood of the whole body, but exert no deleterious influence upon the lungs." With what extraordinary intelligence the gasea of the Special In- halists must be endowed ! If they are poisonous, and likely to do mischief by stopping on or in the lining membrane, they hasten through, and hide away in the blood ; but if innoxious for evil, and are desired to halt on the surface, to take charge of an uloar there, MEDICATE!? INHAL«lTION. S83 they do so. Agiin, I say, marvello;i^ practice ! Is it not surprising thai ihs wliule mi'Jical faculty, and with them the people at large, have not hastened to throw themselves at the feet of teachers so lu- minous and consistent f But I dismiss the farther consideration of speculations, and theoiies so puerile and absurd. I have referred to them solely for the the purpose of making more evident the fraudulent character of medical practice based upon them. I would take the liberty of directing attention once moro to a system of treatment fonnded upon a rational visw of consumption — as baing a disease having its seat in the general constitutiop, one which- is often hereditary, but may from a variety of causes be developed in persons who have no trans- mitted taint i — a disease manifesting itself locally in the, lungs, and to successfully encounter which remedies addressed both to the gen- eral system and its local development in the lungs must be em- ployed. Here I close this brief exposition of Inhalation. Without ampli- fication or detail, 1 have merely glanced at such of the leading points involved in it as are necessary to remove the nibsk from dangerous medical iraj osition, and guard the consumptive invalid against the de- cep'lve allurements of medical speculators ; — such only as exhibit in it^ true light the fol'y of relying upon Inhalation alone, to the exclu- si6n of general and constitutional treatment, for the cure of the gravg and formidable diseases of the res'pi ;Vory organs. While doing this I have endeavored to impress the fact that Inhalation, when em- ployed jud ciously, within its legitimate range of remedial efficacy, and in connection with remedies addressed to the general system, has a true and positive value. It is haidly necessary to add; that the subjfect is one which im- msasnrably transcends- in importatice all considerations of a personal charactrr. Those who estimate it diffejently, may deem it a con- venient and fitting arena for personal antagonism and vituperation, P^'ticu'arly, those ,yr ho witness in this exposi the veil lifted from tht'ir well planned schemes of public imposition, can hardly be expect- ed to prscti ie the virtue of risignatioii, so f.tr j;s to refrain from vio- lent ebullitionB of rcsicntinenf ; and it sh«nM occasion bw surprise to 384' MfiDtOATEb liStHALATlON. others, as it certainly occasions no anno;^ance to me, that the foulest ■rials of their ficiinility are poured out upon myself. It is as true now as "when Hudibras wrote, that " The rogue ne'er feels the halter draw With good opinion of the law.' A YALUABLE BOOK GrlYM AWAY ! DR..S. S. FITCH'S SIX LECTURES UPON THE Diseases of the Chest, and the Laws of Life. Office of S. S. Fitch, 714 Broadway, N. T. I hare just issued a large edition of this book for substantially gratuitous distri- bution. It is now a work of S84 pages, handsomely bound in muslin, with 30 illus- trations. In it is fully ezplainod the system of practice by which t have been enabled tb treat, with entire success, Consumption, 'Asthma, Bronchitis and the various forms of throat diseaiie, Catarrh in the head and throat. Palpitation and other heart diseases, Sywepsia and Ijiver Complaints, and other chronic diseases. A full exposition is made in this volume of the treatment of lung diseases by ' MEDICATED INHALATION, as employed by me, in combination with general remedies ; with recipes of the medicines, accurate descriptions (with illnstrations) of tbo instruments employed, with all necessary directions, for professional or family use. The pretensions of those Who make claim to novelty in this treatment are exposed. The New^York Tribune says of fhis book : " We recommend this Admirable i^olnme to the attention of every Conenmptive. The importance of the subject, the general presumption that Consumption is incura- ble, and our confidence irt Dr. Kitch*s -position 'that in most cases it can be cured, and in all prevented, derived from a peiaional knowledge nod personal benefit in his su^gestion.q, induce us to do so." I will furnish this book to o.r for invalids at the nominal price of 25 cents, which is required to insure the good faith of the application. , Apply to S. S. Fitch, No. 714 Broadway, New- York, by letter, or personally. The postage on it is 13 cents. — In the book will be found directions for consultation with me, boih by letter and personally. SPECIAL NOTICE. — I am not, and have not been recently absent from this city. There is no one practising medicine elsevrbere, travelling or located, wbe has any connection w'ith me, or any right to use my name. Beware of all who make any such announcement. S. S. FITCH, M. D., Author of Six Lectures, Ac, Physician for Diseases of the Chest, Ao., No. 714 Broadway New-York ADVERTISING CIRCULAR. WHO IS DK. FITCHi The patient should have confidence in his physician — in his cotnpeteney Kad his integrity ; and the physician should deserve it. A fearful responsi- bility is assumed in attempting to adjust the disordered mechanism of the human frame. If the physician is -without skill, he thrusts his hand blindly among the complicated and delicate springs of life ; and except by fortunate accident, does a great, perhaps a fatal harm. If without integrity, he may make his patient his victim — protracting disease, that he may increase his gains. It is right, then, that the invalid, before he ventures his health and life in the hands of one who proffers him relief, should seek to know whether his solicited confidence can be safely given. In this view the reader will pardon the seeming egotism of inserting hero the following article, which appeared in one of our city papers a few months since : Metropolitan Character, of New York. — That our city is truly ^e metropolis of America, no one can doubt, if at all acquainted with its re- sources, and superiority in its magnificent hotels, naval marine, its fleet of ocean steamers, and its business, enterprise, and energy. Here the highest talent and acquirement find ample scope, and the largest remuneration. Science, literature, art, the drama, law, divinity,, surgery, medicine, parade their proudest names. We have at times proposed to introduce to our read- ers some of the names most distinguished in these several departments, many of whom, besides a local, have a world-wide renown, and whose reputation attracts thousands to be instructed, entertained, and benefited. Among them is Dr. S. S. Fitch. This gentleman is one of a line of celebrated phys- icians. His grandfather. Dr. Jabez Fitch, renowned for his piety, learning, and skill in surgery and medicine, was one of the surgeons of the Connecti- cut line during the Reyolutionary War. His father, Dr. Chauncey Fitch, was the first physician that settled in Plattsburg, in this State, and for the greater part of his life was one of the most successful physicians that ever practised medicine in America. In the great epidemic of 1813— an epidemio that swept away nearly ten per cent, of the population of the United States, he taught its easy and perfect cure, and among his numerous patients never 1 ADVERTISING CTRCUXAR lost a single case. Dr. S. S. Fitch is the third of this line, and was born in Plattsburg. He, after receiving an excellent academical and classical edu- cation, repaired to Philadelphia, at an early age, to complete his medical education. There he graduated in medicine, obtaining the highest honors of his class. He spent about ten years in Phila4elpMa, closely and carefully pursuing his studies, after which lie visited all the States of this Union, and many of the Indian tribes. In 1836, he visited Europe, and during six years much of his time was spent in the hospitals of London, Paris, and Italy. In 1842, he commenced delivering his celebrated lectures qjx the causes and cure of consumption and disease ; on the laws of life — showing, by obvious and easily understood r^les, how human life may be extended to ^t le^t a hundred years. His lectures won all hearers by their truthfulness, common sense, and.jitility. In 1846, Dr. Fitch visited this city, and published his lectures on these subjects, which met with wonderful success. They inspired confidence, joy, hope, and courage among their readers, and circulated largely both in this country and in Europe. These Lectures have passed through over twenty editions; between one and two hundred thousand copies have been already sold. To invalids, as well as those in the enjoyment of health, they prove a perfect guide ; and those who early adopt their teach- ings, and follow them, can not fall victims to that scourge of our climate- pulmonary oonsuinption. In this city Dr. Fitch has been consulted by over fifty thousand persons, of both sexes, for numerous and various diseases. He differs greatly from others in his view of a physician's duty, as he thinks every member of this important profession should prepare and administer his oVn medicines ; that unless he does this, he can not, though he may enjoy reputation, meet with the success he could attain by this means. He writes out an exact and careful account of every case that falls under his notice. These cases already exceed fifty thousand, filling more thian one hundred large volumes , all carefully written out. No record of such extent was ever made before by a private physician, and in this way he retains his experi- ence and daily adds to it. An examination of these volumes will show that of all those who place themselves under his care, nineteen out of twenty are restored to health. Dr. Fitch is at home from morning till night, every day, except the Sabbath. His consultations, at his house, are always free, as no charge whatever is made for examining any case for rich or poor. The diseases he treats are Consumption, Asthma, Bronchitis, Throat Diseases, Heart Diseases, Dyspepsia, Bowel Troubles, Piles, all Female Dis- eases, Liver Complaints, Affections of the Head, Skin Diseases, and all Humors and Impurities of the Blood, Scrofula, Injuries to the Complexion, &o., &c. Dr. Fitch resides at 714 Broadway, where all invalids will find him a most skillful, sympathizing, and generous physician. We think our friends who call on him will find this a true history of one of our most respectable men. 2 ADVERTISEMENTS. CONSULTATION. Office qf Dr. S. S. Fitch ^ Brother, 714 Broadway, N. Y. In treating pulmonary disease, a personal examination of the patient is desirable, but not absolutely essential. An intimate acquaintance with the syiilptoms which attend the various stages of the disease, enables the physi- cian to determine with great accuracy, from a full and minute statement of any case, the condition of the patient, so as to enable him to prescribe ad- equately and with success. A letter replying to the questions which will be found on pages x vi. aiid xvii. of this volume, will meet with prompt attention. Letters should be addressed to " Dr. S. S. Fitch, 714 Broadway, New York." Propessiokal.^Ii affords me pleasure to announce that I have asso- ciated with me, as an assistant in my pract ice, my brotBer, J. P. Fitch, whose acquaintance with the system pursued by me will enable him to aid me materially in affording that full and special attention to eaqji patient which is so essential to ^ive success to remedial treatment. DR. S. S: FITCH IS NOT ABSENT FROM HOME. I frequently receive letters of which the following is an example: — " Colon, St. Joseph Co., Mich., Dec. 1 1 , 1855. Dr. S. S. Fjtch: Dear Sir — I have been informed by a friend of mine, Mr. J. H. Culver, that you design spending this tnonth in Detroit. I wrote you directed to Detro"it, near two weeks agb^ and not having received a re- ply, I now write you again, directed to New York. 1 wish to kndw where I may find you between Christmas and New Vear's, and also for the first ten days in next month. »»»*♦** Yours, &c., W. F. BOWMAN." There are persons travelling in various parts of the country, imposing upon the country, by representing themselves as in some way profession- ally connected with me. One I have heard, calls himself my son ; others, as my partners or associates ; others, as obtaining instruments and medicines from me ; some, as "of" 714 Broadway; and instructing their patients to address letters to them through me or my office. The news- papers contain their advertisements so worded as to convey the impression that I am myself absent from home and travelling. Now, I desire to say very distinctly, that I have not been for the last ten years, and am not now, absent from the city of NewYork, for the purpose of lecturing or practising medicine. J am to be found at my office, 714 Broad- 3 ADVEETISEMENTS. way, New York, every day from 9 o'clock A.M. to 5 ?>'QloQk P M., Sun- iays excepted. . '- ■ ' . . ^ > I would further say, that there is no person travellingor located elsewhere, af whatever name, and practising medicine for whatever disease, upon what- ever plan ol' treatment, who has any professional connection with me or my office. There is no such person who has any right to use my name in any manner in connection with his practice, or to refer his patients to me or my office for medicine or advice, or to direct letters to be addressed to him at my office (714 Broadway, New York,) or to communicate with him through me, — no such person who is furnished by me with medicines or instru- ments. I would respectfully caution the public against all persons making any representations to the contrary. I would specially caution the public against any person, whether bearing the name of Fitch or otherwise, who represents that I have in any respect withdrawn from practice ; or that I do not, ots otcoam^ of age, leave my office to lecture, or treat patients. Such representations are false, and the man who makes them is attempting an'imposition. The active and pressing daily duties of a largejocal practice, and iiot obstacles arising from age, or from the want of vigor, render it inexpedient for me to absent myself from my present field of labor. One more caution : — Whoever may appear in any part of the country, re- presenting himself through Ite newspapers, or otherwise, as having at any time been associated with me in praciice, or as having had charge of my practice, at 714 Broadway, New York, is an impostor. I have employed copying, transcribing, and bookkeeping clerks, also clerks to assist in con- ducting, under my dictation, my voluminous correspondence. Some of these, 1 understand, are publishing themselves ta the world as having been prepared by connection with my oRi<-e, to treatpatients for pulmonary dis- eases. The only preparation they have consists in having performed the clerical services mentioned. I must not be held in any jnanner responsible for their practice or conduct, S. S. FITCH, A. M., M. D. December, 1855. A NEW WORK IN PRESS. HEALTH: ITS AIDS AND HINDRANCES. By S. S. FITCH, A.M., M.l>. Wp hsTe now in presB, imd shnU soon issue, n n w vorlt Ijy Dr. S. 9. Fitch, with thi! AbOT<^ (itl-, nnd vr..- are roiiQ!' lit it will jjruv. ex eu liu^'ly v.Juiible, oat only to t le yQwni* p'lyaici D, but i.lso to those wlio nre s eking for til ms Ivea lost hcnlth, iiD 1 ijj «^ho,