94 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



strength, but a tepid cleansing bath, with the temperature from five 

 to ten degrees below that of the body. There is no occasion to stay 

 in the bath a moment longer than to obtain a free ablution ; then the 

 patient should rapidly but effectually dry himself all over with a rough 

 towel, and dress with the flannel garment undermost. 



The clothes of the patient should be scrupulously clean ; the under- 

 clothing should be changed every day. 



Rule IX. Abstinence from all Habits of Gross Sensual Indul- 

 gence is an Essential Part both in the Prevention and the Cure of 

 Consumption. — I need not particularize the vicious sensual indul- 

 gences to which many of human-kind habituate themselves ; for as sug- 

 gestive descriptions are better left unwritten for those who are igno- 

 rant of sensual indulgences, so for those who require to be forewarned 

 no such descriptions are demanded, since they know too much already. 

 In a word, I should say that, the grosser the sensuality indulged in, 

 the greater is the physical evil resulting from it. Let the consump- 

 tive, at least, bethink themselves what vices affect and prostrate most, 

 and then with strong mind and will give them up altogether. 



To those w r ho have charge of the young, no duty is so imperative 

 as that of carefully watching over the physical interests. Let these 

 make it their first care to prevent the tendency to sensual debasement. 

 In large schools, a little attention and firmness on the part of teachers 

 and governors, wdth the assistance of medical supervision, would obvi- 

 ate a host of life-long evils. 



Rule X. The Diet of Consumptive Patients shoidd be ample, and 

 shoidd contain a Larger Proportion of the Respiratory Constituents of 

 Food than is required in Health. — The appetite of consumptive patients 

 is very capricious, and daily grows more so if it be not sharpened up 

 by exercise. When the food taken is not applied to the purposes of 

 nutrition, it is better left untasted ; for otherwise it lies undigested in 

 the alimentary canal, and sets up a serious train of dyspeptic symp- 

 toms, nausea, and diarrhoea. Kind friends often, with the most pro- 

 voking and mistaken good-nature, thrust upon the consumptive relays 

 of the most improper food, because the necessity for nourishment is 

 so obvious. But the fact is that, when the lungs are acting indiffer- 

 ently, digestion can not go on actively, since, as Arbuthnot well ob- 

 served, respiration is " the second digestion." Hence the quantity of 

 food taken by the consumptive person shoidd be small at each meal ; 

 but the meals may, if the sensations of the patient require it, be more 

 frequent than in health. Of animal foods, mutton is the best. Fatty 

 and oily foods, which constitute the respiratory class, should predomi- 

 nate, and fresh butter, with bread, maybe taken almost ad libitum, so 

 long as it agrees with the stomach. Cream, too, is excellent, and the 

 luxury of curds and cream is very suitable. Milk, whenever it suits, 

 is advisable as a constant drink-food, and good cows' milk, new, an- 

 swers every purpose. There are, as far as I can gather from numerous 



