CONSUMPTION. 201 



kind of exercise for the not over-weakened invalid. Even when it is impossible to 

 io-t riu'ht away from home, there is no occasion to stay in-doors. Anthony Trollope 

 in one of his novels: -"Most of us have recognised the fact that a drum 

 of spirits will create that a so-called nip of l>randy will create hilarity, or at least 

 alaernv, and that a glass of sherry will often 'pick up' and set in order the 

 prostrate animal and mental faculties of the drinker. But we are not sufficiently 

 alive to the fact that copious draughts of fresh air of air fresh and unaccustomed 

 will have precisely the same effect. We do know that now and again it is very 

 :al to 'change the air;' but we consider that to do that with any chance of 

 advantage it is necessary to go far afield ; and we think also that such change of the 

 only needful when sickness of the body has come upon us, or when it threatens 

 to come. We are seldom aware that we may imbibe long potations of pleasure 

 and healthy excitement without perhaps going out of our own country ; that such 

 potations are within a day's journey of most of us, and that they are to be had for 

 half-a-crown a head, all told." When nothing else can be done, sitting out in the 

 open air should always be insisted on in a garden, on a balcony, or even at an open 

 window. Anything is better than remaining shut up in the same room from morn- 

 ing to night. Of course, in taking exercise a certain amount of discretion is 

 necessary. We heard of a man who, on being told that riding was beneficial, hired 

 a horse and galloped about till he was so exhausted that he did not recover for 

 a fortnight. Exercise should be carried to a point short of producing fatigue. 



The bath tepid or warm in cold weather, cool in the summer should be used 

 daily, or at least twice a week, and should be followed by free friction of the skin. 

 Flannel both vest and drawers should be worn, but several layers of such covering, 

 often seen, especially among the lower orders, are useless. The neck and chest should 

 always be covered, and the growth of the beard and moustache in men encouraged. 

 Women should avoid low-necked dresses, and should always be prepared with a shawl 

 or cloud to throw over the shoulders even in going from one room to another through 

 an exposed lobby. 



In ordinary cases of consumption there is not the slightest occasion for the 

 patient to keep his room, but still it is very important that the sleeping apartment 

 should be properly ventilated. The great thing is to get as much pure ah- as possible 

 consistent with warmth and the absence of draughts. There should be no curtains 

 round the bed, an open fire should burn in the room during the winter, and the bed 

 should be placed in a position free from the direct draught between the fire and the 

 door or window. Only a moderate temperature should be permitted, so that when 

 in lied the patient does not feel cold. In summer, good ventilation should be secured 

 by letting down the windows for an inch or so at the top. At the Hospital for 

 Consumption at Brompton the wards and galleries are kept, winter and summer, at 

 a uniform temperature of a little over 60. The policy of this system is open to 

 question ; and in the opinion of many competent judges the patients would do better 

 if the temperature were considerably reduced. 



The climatic treatment of consumption is a subject of the utmost importance. 

 Eaeh case must be -decided on its own merits, and we can do little more than lay 

 down a few general principles. In selecting a suitable climate the chief points to be 



