THE HYGIENIC TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION. 79 

 THE HYGIENIC TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION. 



By BENJAMIN WAKD RICHARDSON, M.D., F. R. S. 



THE progress of hygienic medicine in the last fifty years is the 

 medical fact of the present age, and the fact that will stand out 

 in boldest relief when the history of this period shall be written by 

 some future ^sculapian scholar. 



But, rapid and effective as this progress has been, the principles of 

 hygiene are yet in their infancy. We have learned to appreciate the 

 true value of hygienic principles in the prevention of diseases of the 

 epidemic type ; and the medical profession, throwing aside all selfish 

 recollections, has been the first to teach the practice of these princi- 

 ples and to prove their force and vitality. The next step in the way 

 of advancement is to demonstrate that the same principles are as use- 

 ful and as necessary in the treatment of actual disease as they are in 

 prevention. 



A great advantage in the hygienic treatment of disease is, that it 

 does not, or at least need not, interfere with sound and experience- 

 proved modes of treatment of a medicinal kind. The scientific physi- 

 cian finds, in fact, that there is always a consistent plan for combining 

 the medicinal and hygienic systems. He sees that the two systems 

 are one ; he sees further that the mere medicinal plan without the hygi- 

 enic is in all cases imperfect, and in some cases worse then imperfect. 



The practical details of hygienic medicine in relation to the treat- 

 ment of disease have, however, yet to be wrought out more fully. 

 This will be sure work, but slow. Necessarily slow, because it is hard 

 to give up old friendships in dogmatism ; while to effect a cure in a 

 sick man by fresh air alone, or diet, is infinitely less satisfactory to the 

 public than to assume to effect the same cure even by a bread-pill. 



It is vain, it is sticking in the slough of hopelessness, to pander to 

 these popular weaknesses ; for though they must die out, and, indeed, 

 are dying out daily, they will go the sooner if they are effectually 

 damped, and if something real and common sense is put in their place. 

 Scientke mutantur, et nos mutamur in Wis. There is a time when 

 medicines are invaluable ; but, if faith in medicines is to be retained, 

 the times for their administration, as well as their selection, must be 

 learned by knowledge, not by routine, and must be dictated by the 

 circumstances of the case, not by the caprice of the patient. The ex- 

 ecutive of medicine must be independent, if it would keep in the path 

 of truth and advancement. 



In such progress as has been made in the science of treatment by 

 medicines, it has been found useful to take up certain particular dis- 

 eases, and to observe in them, individually, the effects of particular 

 remedies. This rule will apply with equal force in considering and 



