CONSUMPTION OF THE LUNGS. 



24:5 



af a blood-vessel, which, being so situated in the wall of a cavity as to 

 be deprived of support of the indurated pulmonary substance, yields 

 to the pressure of the blood and finally bursts. In these cases of 

 pneumorrhagia the patient either rapidly bleeds to death or else suffo- 

 cates, the trachea and bronchi becoming filled with blood, thus cutting 

 off entrance of the air into the lungs. The occurrence of pneumotho- 

 rax, which we shall describe in detail hereafter, is a more common 

 cause of death than haemorrhage, as are also secondary degeneration of 

 the kidneys, intestinal phthisis, tubercle of the bowels, pneumonia, 

 pleurisy, and other acute diseases. 



TREATMENT. The treatment of consumption has made great ad- 

 vance since recognition of the fact that the disease depends, as a rule, 

 upon inflammatory action, and is only now and then due to neo- 

 plasm. This view of the case has not led to the introduction of any 

 new remedies for consumption, but it has enabled us more definitely 

 to establish indications for remedies already long in use, so that by 

 their methodical application, better results have been attained than 

 were formerly gained at a time when consumption and cancer were 

 regarded as equally incurable, and were somewhat similarly treated. 



Prophylaxis against consumption requires, in the first place, that, 

 when an individual shows signs of defective nutrition and a feeble con- 

 stitution, especially if already he have given positive evidence of un- 

 usual delicacy, with a tendency to diseases which result in caseous 

 products, he should be placed, if possible, under influences calculated 

 to invigorate the constitution, and to extinguish such morbid ten- 

 dency. 



Delicate children, especially such as are born of consumptive or 

 otherwise decrepit parents, should not be suckled by their own moth- 

 ers; still less ought they to be reared artificially on "pap," but should 

 be confided to good wet-nurses. After weaning the child, let its diet 

 consist almost exclusively of cow's milk, instead of the customary pap 

 of meal or bread, and after it has done teething let it eat a little meat. 

 This diet must be kept up throughout the whole period of childhood, 

 whenever there is any indication of glandular enlargement, moist cuta- 

 neous eruption, or any other so-called scrofulous affection, or even 

 when they merely give evidence of a so-called scrofulous habit. It is 

 better to prescribe the exact amount of milk the child must take (after 

 drinking which it may eat what bread, potatoes, or the like, it pleases), 

 than merely to warn the parents in general terms against the immoder- 

 ate use of bread and potatoes. When the child has drunk milk enough, 

 the other food will do no harm. The common direction, that a " child 

 shall not eat dry food," is wrong. It is better that it should chew and 

 eat its bread dry, so that the amylum which it contains may be prop 



