CONSUMPTION. 141 



air cells and nerve fibers. Oxydation is lessened, nutri- 

 tion is interferred with, and vitality is brought to a 

 low ebb. Page 136 states that the lungs were the 

 other avenue by which nature may purify the blood; 

 but elimination by this route is lessened, and inflamma- 

 tion increased in proportion to the changes described. 



The amount of connective tissue overgrowth is al- 

 ways in proportion to the amount of inflammation and 

 septic blood. Contraction may continue until the 

 lungs are only one-half or one-third their natural size. 

 If inflammation and swelling are severe enough the 

 tissue will be destroyed so rapidly that one or more 

 abscesses may form, or gangrene may result. 



The description of the natural lungs as given, the 

 septic blood with the formation of irritants producing 

 a low form of inflammation as described, and the- 

 changes produced by such inflammation actually oc- 

 cur and constitute what is called "the regular old- 

 fashioned consumption." The result is perfectly na- 

 tural, it could not be otherwse. Every doctor of exper- 

 ience and every pathologist knows this to be true. 

 These changes take place very slowly, that is why con- 

 sumption is such a slow, lingering disease ; that is why a 

 man with consumption may live five, ten or twenty 

 years and sometimes die from other causes. And as 

 already stated this is no more or less than a slow form 

 of pneumonia or chronic inflammation of the lungs. 

 The danger is increased by the irritation produced by 

 dust as met with in mills, factories, stone quarries, iron 

 works, etc. To prove this we have only to remember 



