Viv' I 1 ,>y ; H uiH v- ."■■«i;•;. t# ■»J ' < !W - /W.V *5 ".1 2» V !-**. ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY WASHINGTON Founded 1836 1 Section fl-T-C-Vv. Number £?1# U Fobm 113c, W. D., S. G. O. -10543 (Revised June 13, 1936) DUE TWO WEEKS FROM LAST DATE OPO 16—71341-1 f s SIX DISCOURSES ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LUNGS; AND CAUSES, PREVENTION, AND CURE OF PULMONARY CONSUMPTION, ASTHMA, AND DISEASES OF THE HEART ; ON THE LAWS OF LIFE; AND ON THE MODE OF PRESERVING MALE AND FEMALE HEALTH TO AN HUNDRED YEARS. WITH 27 ILLUSTRATIONS. BY SAMUEL SHELDON FITCH, A. M., M. D. " I yet may walk, as it appears to me, the rosy paths of life; and the energy and action that were once in these limbs, may again be mine. If so, I shall give ' honor to whom honor is due;' and if contrary to this, the earth should soon close over me, to the last moment of my life should I be satisfied that this is the way, and the only true way, to cure consumption."—Extract from Henry Peck's letter to Dr. S. S. Fitch. NEW-YORK: S. S. FITCH & CO., 714 BROADWAY. LONDON: L. H. CHANDLER, 66 BERNERS STREET. 185 3. \ '.'',' >.>\ A IV f F54fs Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by CALVIN M. FITCH, la the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. CONTENTS. Introduction....................................................P- xv Letter from Dr. Luther Brigham to Amos Binney, Esq................xvii " from Dr. Benj. H. West to Dr. Gardner....................... ib. " from R. R. Hinman, Esq., late Secretary of State of Connecticut, to Professor Kingsley, of Yale College.................... ib. " from R. G. Belt, M. D., to the Hon. Upton S. Heath, U. S. District Judge, Baltimore, Md....................................xviii " from J. Hubbard Graves, M. D., to Dr. Wm. D. Buck, of Con- cord, N. H.............................................. ib. " from E. Halley M'Coy, Esq. to Dr. S. S. Fitch.................xix " from John W. Collins, M. D., to Wm. Haslam, Esq........... ib. Questions for Invalids, writing for advice.........................■. xxi LECTURE FIRST. Uses of the lungs, and causes of consumption......................p. 19 Four great chambers in the human frame............................23 Skull.............................................................ib- Chest................................: ...........................23 Left lung smaller than the right.....................................25 Impossible to contract consumption when the air passes in and out of each air-cell.....................................................">• Consumption is caused by general or partial closing of the air-cells.....ib. Consumption a most curable disease.................................ib. Grand uses of the lungs---.........................................26 Uses illustrated...............................•.....................29 Pure air food of the lungs...........................•...............32 No books teach the true uses of the lungs.............................34 American Indians in native state do not have consumption.............36 Consumption a child of civilization..................................ib- Causes of consumption.............................................3' Mechanical causes.................................................3° Falling of the bowels...............................................^Q Viii CONTENTS. Effeminacy and debility cause consumption.........................p. 43 Hope antagonises the spread of consumption..........................45 Typhus fever—fever sores, scrofula, &c..............................46 Inhalipg dust, metals, &c...........................................48 Irregularities in diet—dyspepsia.....................................ib. Liver complaint—chronic diarrhoea—costiveness......................ib. Diseases of the throat...............................................49 Too much clothing to be avoided....................................50 Influence of climate on consumption.................................53 Catarrh—influenza.................................................56 Hereditary consumption............................................57 Spinal diseases ...................................................58 Pain in theside, kidney affections....................................ib. Gravel............................................................59 Injurious medicines—mercury, opium, emetics, blisters, and emetic tar- tar sores.......................................................60-1 LECTURE SECOND Prevention and cure of consumption.................................69 Diseases that cure consumption......................................ib. Diseases of the heart...............................................ib. Asthma cures consumption..........................................66 Swelled tonsils prevent consumption.................................69 Common cold cures consumption....................................71 Hysteria..........................................................72 Prevention of hereditary consumption................................73 Plain bringing up of children.......................................75 Effects of cheerfulness and exercise to prevent consumption............78 Dancing..........................................................80 Beds, and lying in beds.............................................81 Climate and light prevent consumption.............................81-2 Sea voyages, diet, regular sleep, employments........................84 Never neglect a coid...............................................85 Cold bathing, inhaling tube, braces, supporter........................86 Cure of pulmonary consumption.....................................88 Inhaling tube, how it acts.........................................90-1 Inhaling tube alone will not cure consumption........................94 How we know one has consumption.................................ib. Treatment to cure consumption.....................................,96 Bleeding, rarely advised............................................97 Counter-irritation, often injurious...................................99 CONTENTS. IX Diet......................................................* ....p. 99 Air, and changes of air............................................100 Effects of journeys................................................101 Sea voyages......................................................102 Warm climate....................................................103 Respirators—bad effects, when may be used..........................ib. Under what condition of the lungs may we hope fcr a cure of consumption. ib. First and second groups of curables..................................104 Third group curable...............................................105 Fourth group..................................................... ib. Fifth group.......................................................106 Asthma, causes and cure...........................................109 Heart diseases, causes and cure....................................110 Mineral, iron and sulphur waters................................115-1G Red Sulphur Springs in Virginia................................... ib. Hot mineral waters..............................................117 Throat affections................................................. ib. Cure of throat diseases, &c.........................................118 Consumption in children...........................................120 Hooping cough, measles, &c........................................ib. LECTURE THIRD. Truth, but one offspring............................................124 Asthma, Case I. Thomas Fengar....................................137 Spasmodic asthma. Case II. Miss Little..............................138 Case III. Mrs. Fernald.........................................139 Case IV. JohnH. McGiffin...................................140 Consumption— Case I. Miss Hawley........................................141 " II. Mrs. H. Gardner.....................................143 " III. Rev. L. D. Barrow ................................* -145 " IV. Mrs. Hurlburt.......................................147 " V. Master Geo. W. Roberts.............................148 " VI. Mr. Thaddeus Barnes................................150 " VII. Miss Angell.........................................151 "VIII. Miss Nickerson.....................................152 " IX. Rev. John Morris Pease..............................154 " X. Miss Redmond.......................................155 " XI. Grovner Noyes.....................................156 " XII. Mr. Moses Ely ......................................157 " XIII. Mrs. Dorcas T. Moore...............................159 * CONTENTS. Case XIV. Rev. RodolphusBard....................... ...p. 160 XV. Mrs. Sarah Louisa Burrett........................162 " XVI. Mrs. T. T. Dean.................................164 " XVII. Rev. R. Whitwell................................ib. " XVIII. Mrs. Chas. M. Brockway.........................ib. " XIX. Rev. W. H. Tiffany..............................165 " XX. Mr. William Wigram...........................166 " XXI. O.Thayer.Esq..................................167 " XXII. Ann D. Birdsall..................................171 " XXIII. Mr. Stephen B. Dodge...........................172 " XXIV. Mrs. C. B. Collins............................... ib. " XXV. Miss Elizabeth B. Lum...........................173 " XXVI. C. D. Petrie, Esq.................................175 " XXVII. Mrs. M.H. Valentine............................176 " XXVIII. CM. Murray...................................178 " XXIX. James M. Evarts.................................179 " XXX. Mary Ann Brooks................................ ib# " XXXI. Rev. William Livesey................,.....'*.'.' 180 " XXXII. Miss C. A. B.................................^182 " XXXIII. Catherine Ann Smith......................".."."."." 186 Conclusion................................................. # 2gg LECTURE FOURTH—to ladies only. Instances of longevity..............................................igg Female life should average 100 years, instead of 30...................191 Influence of female beauty on man..................................192 Health and beauty intimately connected.............................193 Symmetry of person, the foundation of all health and beauty...........195 Shoulder supporters...............................................29Q To form a fine beautiful chest.................................. 201 Habitual stooping to be avoided....................................204 Sitting posture....................................................205 Position of the chest in walking....................................o(n in bed..........................................208 Standing on one foot .......................................... 209 Tight lacing......................................................ib> How to form a clear and beautiful complexion.......................210 The teeth........................................................' ib Digestion........................................................211 Dyspepsia........................................................213 Articles of diet that injure the complexion.................... 215 CONTENTS. XI Gall-stones in the gall-bladder................................... .p. 217 Bad breath .......................................................218 Costiveness, its effects,-how to correct............................218-19 Kidney evacuations...............................................220 Periods suppressed—painful—termination of.......................221-2 Evacuations from the lungs........................................223 The skin.........................................................ib. Clothing, its effects, &c.—rules for..................................225 Effects of washing all over with cold water..........................227 To keep the feet in perfect health...................................230 Air and exercise..................................................231 Grand arts of the toilet among the princely and noble families of Europe.235 LECTURE FIFTH—to ladies only. Basket of the hips.................................................240 Symmetry of the internal organs of the body.........................242 Falling of the bowels— Effects on the lungs............................................244 Effects on the voice---........................................246 Effects on the heart, palpitation of...............<...............ib. Faintingfits.................................................247 Sinking, all gone at the stomach.....;..........................ib. Chronic diarrhoea—costiveness .... ............................248 Liver complaint...............................................ib. Pain in side, and breast, back, and spine........................249 Gravel.......................................................250 Piles.........................................................253 Pains in the limbs............................................254 Swelling of the limbs and veins...............................254-5 Incontinence of urine..........................................255 Stone in the bladder...........................................256 Worms......................................................257 Falling of the womb...............................................ib. Effects of dislocation of the womb.........................258-9-60-1 Fluor albus.................................................261 Barrenness................................................... ib. Miscarriages.................................................262 Floodings...................................................263 Abdominal supporters.............................................264 What a supporter should do........................................266 When abdominal support should be used............................268 adi CONTENTS. Symmetry of mind essential to health.............................p. 268 Case of Mrs. Kingsley.............................................269 Mrs. Howland............................................271 Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner....................................272 MissBeedom..............................................273 Letter from Mrs. Gibbs............................................274 From Mr. Fayerweather....................................... ib. From Mrs. Jenney and Mrs. French............................275 From Mrs. Taber............................................. ib. From Mrs. Smith............................................276 From Miss Mary Nutter.......................................ib. From Miss Waldron..........................................277 From Mrs. Vanness...........................................278 From Helen M. Lay..........................................279 From Harriet Cleaver....................................,___ ib. From W. V. S. Wordworth....................................280 LECTURE SIXTH—to gentlemen only. Cases of long-lived men...........................................287 Grand divisions of the human frame................................289 Manner of forming a fine chest....................................290 Proper carriage and position of the chest............................293 Bad effects of vicious position of the chest.........................„. 295 Position of the shoulders...........................................296 Remedy for round shoulders........................................298 Shoulder-braces...................................................jh How shoulder-braces should be made, and by whom worn............300 Man is intended to stand perfectly straight...........................302 Fine figures of savages.......................................... _ ^ Premature old age...............................................303 Position in bed....................................................304 Self-reparation of the body.........................................305 The stomach....................................................30g Progress of food after leaving the stomach............................308 Small and large bowels..........................................308-9 Costiveness.................................................. 3qo Bad effects of costiveness...................................... 3ig Depression of spirits...................................... 3|0 Jaundice.—Piles............................................ ^ A bad breath............................................... gjg Sea-sickness................................................ ^ CONTENTS. Sill Manner of curing costiveness....................................p. 314 Office of the kidneys and bladder....................................316 Skin and its offices................................................318 Bathing..........................................................319 Sponge bath, sea water............................................321 Effects of water upon weak eyes....................................322 Upon sore throat.................... ......................... ib. Upon weak and painful spine..................................324 Bad effects of artificial irritation over the spine......................325 Rheumatism......................................................327 Water cure.......................................................ib. Treatment of the feet..............................................328 Diet, not change too suddenly.......................................329 Exercise.........................................................332 Animal gratifications....................................-.........333 Symmetry of the internal organs of the body......................... ib. Effect of a rupture.................................................334 Of weakness of the abdominal belts.............................335 Of bleeding at the lungs.......................................337 Loss of voice, wheezing, palpitation...............................337-8 Breaking of the liver, and of the bowels..........................339-40 Piles.............................................................341 Gravel...........................................................342 Pain in the back, limbs, &c.........................................ib- Swelling of the limbs and veins....................................344 Abdominal supporter...............................................1b- Sleep, and beds....................,..............................345 Frame destroyed by seeking to do too much at a time.................347 The effect of vice upon longevity...................................348 Case of a cure of piles.............................................352 Management of scrofula, &c........................................1"- Letter from Kelita B. Townley to Dr. S. S. Fitch....................353 Instance of obstacles to the cure of consumption......................355 Interesting case of heart disease.....................................357 Asthma.—Case of Peter Stanior, Esq................................358 Reasons why the annual deaths in New-York city are 1 in 30 and in Philadelphia 1 in 45............................................360 1* TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Head of Henry Jenkins, (fronts title page.) A—Three views of the human skeleton............................p. 21 B—View of the skeleton of the trunk of the body......................22 C—View of the windpipe, lungs, heart, midriff, stomach, liver, gall bladder, large bowels, small bowels................................23 D—View of the windpipe, lungs, air-pipes, and air-cells, heart, and midriff..........................................................24 E—View of windpipe, gullet, and natural belts that form the walls of the abdomen........................................................26 F—Consumptive and non-consumptive figures........................37 G—Inhaling tube..................................................90 H—Asthmatic chest................................................67 I—Consumptive chest..............................................ib. Flora Thompson, at 150 years......................................191 K—Stooping female figure.........................................205 L—Front view of the abdominal supporter..........................264 M—Back view of do. do...............................ib. N—View of the figure and inside of the stomach.....................212 O—Side view of the midriff, stomach, large and small bowels, bladder, and womb......................................................243 P—Same parts fallen down ........................................ib. Q,—View of the liver and gall bladder..............................216 R—Falling bowels................................................336 S—View of the midriff, kidneys, ureters or water-pipes, large bowel, bladder, and womb..............................................251 Figure of Henry Francisco, at 134 years............................288 T—Injurious position of the chest..................................294 U—Posterior view of the brain, spinal marrow, and large nerves that go between the ribs and so to the arms and lower limbs................325 V—Heart and blood-vessels........................................343 INTRODUCTION. It is now about four and a half years since I published my " Six Lectures on the Prevention and Cure of Consumption," rogresses as the air cells are progressively obliterated. A portion of healthy lung will float on water; a portion pulmon- arily diseased, will sink in water. From vast observation and experience, I unhesitatingly assert that consumption is one of our most curable diseases ; and it is easier prevented and warded off than any hereditary disease to which we are inclined. 2 26 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND 1, Windpipe. 2, the Gullet, or pipe that conveys the food from the mouth to the stomach. 3—3, the belts covering the front of the abdomen. USES OF THE LUNGS. On a correct knowledge of the uses or functions of the lungs de- pend all correct views of their diseases, and of their treatment. It is well known that in all great pieces of machinery, both natural and artificial, we very often find one grand leading purpose, and then comes an important but subordinate purpose. In nature, let us consider the sun: its first grand purpose is to keep the planets in their places ; its subordinate purpose is to furnish hght and heat to those planets. In art, observe a watch : its first grand object is, by the move- ments of a pendulum, to mark the progress of the sun across the heavens. It might be a perfect time-keeper, with only this move- ment ; but in order to make it useful to us, that we may be in- formed of the progress of the sun, another subordinate movement CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 27 is added, by which hands are moved along a dial plate; thus counting to us the lapse of h»urs and minutes. Again : Lead two savages into a flouring mill; on leaving that mill, one may be supposed to ask the other its grand use. At once he replies, it is to separate the coarse and fine parts of that powder from each other. No, says the other, that is not the principal use of the mill; it is to crush the kernels of wheat into powder. The former, by only noticing a subordinate function, arrives at a very false estimate of the importance of the mill, or the magnitude of its operations. So with the lungs. It is one of the most singular facts con- nected with the history of the human mind, and the progress of knowledge, that from all time it has been known that the human frame is a machine, exhibiting everywhere most perfect mechanism ; yet no human being has ever asked, " What is the power that moves this machinery," or whence is derived the ability to con- tinue the movements of that machinery. One would suppose, that in the earliest dawning of knowledge this question would have been asked and answered. Why has not some one, long ago, stumbled upon it; so nu- merous are the facts that, like a finger-post, have ever pointed to it ? Nearly all writers upon the uses of the lungs make the chief use of those vast organs to purify the blood. Others allow, that they introduce a large quantity of oxygen into the blood. The blood, on arriving at the lungs, is of a dark color; and on leaving, is of a light vermilion red. This is owing to a loss of carbon, (coal,) thrown out of the blood in the lungs. Yet this loss is not more than could be separated by two glands half th« size of the kidneys ; and does not at all account for the vast size of the lungs, so disproportionate to this object. To purify the blood of this carbon, is only a subordinate function :—by dwell- ing so long on this, and making it nearly final, much of the darkness on this subject has arisen, with all its deplorable effects. What are the grand uses of the Lungs ? In 1827, whilst pursuing some investigations in Philadelphia, upon Nervous Influence, preparatory to my graduation thesis, I 28 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND discovered, what I conceive to be, the grand uses of the lungs, and their first great purpose. In those researches, I was led to ask, what it was that gave support and power to the nervous system. I traced this support to the lungs; and at once, and forever, to my mind, all darkness upon the uses of the lungs dis- appeared. If any one of my readers can tell me why we breathe harder in running up stairs, than in running.down, he can tell me what are the principal uses of the lungs. I have often asked this ques- tion. I never met but one person who made even an approximate answer. But what are the uses of the lungs ? I reply: They give to the human machine its power of action. This power exists in the atmospheric air; and the lungs are the medium by which, and through which, that principle which gives the human machine its living power is conveyed to it. The lungs have the same relation to the human machine that the water-wheel has to the mill it moves. The air is the same to the lungs that the water is to the wheel: shut off the water from the water-wheel, and it soon stops ; shut the air from the lungs, and they as soon stop, and all the system with them. Where there is no air, there is no action ; and the consumption of air in any living machine, is in the exact ratio of its size and action. It is most likely that, in all animals, the same amount of action requires exactly the same quantity of air. We see, in running up stairs, the lungs, before quiet and easy in their movements, at once double and quadruple 4heir action, and, if the exertion is long continued, are lashed into most aetive and even violent pan tings ; whilst not the least increase of action is observed in running down stairs—because there is no increase in the consumption of power, for no increase of power is required. Exactly in the ratio of the consumption of power, will be the action of the lungs and consumption of air. To illustrate this siibjjfct, allow me to present a few examples, fimiliar to you all. It is of vital consequence that we perfectly CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 29 understand the uses of the lungs ; do this, and they will become as playthings to us. USES ILLUSTRATED. The first example I will give you is that of the race-horse. Ask any stable groom upon what depends the value of the race- horse, and he will tell you, not on the swiftness of his heels, but upon his bottom, his wind, his lungs. Many horses could outrun Eclipse, at one mile, that would be dead on the course long before they could accomplish sixteen miles. This truth was known long before the days of Homer. If any man does not know it, get a broken-winded horse, and endeavor to urge him into speed, and he will soon know. The next example I will mention to you, is the difference in the strength of men and women. We all know that women are weaker than men, but why so I am not aware has ever been explained, nor can it be, except by 'reference to the uses of the lungs. The lungs of women are one- third smaller than those of men, as-an examination of their chests will instantly prove. In those two beautiful remains of Grecian sculpture, the Apollo of Belvidere in Rome, and*the Venus of Medicis at Florence, to which pilgrimages are made annually by thousands of admiring observers, this rule holds : the brenst of the Apollo measures three, the Venus two. These statues owe their value to their truth and fidelity to beautiful nature. It is written on the frame of woman, that she can never surpass man in physical strength; she conquers by her charms ; her lungs are a third smaller than his, consequently her physical strength is always less. Again: observe the difference in the strength of different men. Were you required to select the strongest man of your acquaint- ance, would you select a man with a flat thin chest, long neck, and narrow round stooping shoulders, or would you select a man with a wide, deep, round chest, and broad heavy shoulders. There can be but one answer. You would choose the man with large lungs, and you would not be disappointed. You would find his strength 30 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND in the exact ratio of his pulmonary developement, other things being equal. The difference in the strength of different men is immense, and the difference in the size of the chest forms a very striking character- istic in such cases. So of Northern nations : we find them always conquering South- ern nations, because of their superior physical strength, derived from larger lungs, from breathing purer, denser, and more nourish- ing air. Again : observe a man about to lift a heavy weight; as he stoops to raise it, his last act is to fill his lungs to their utmost expansion, and if a great effort be required, he does not suffer the air to leave his lungs until the feat of strength is accomplished. Another striking instance is in the use of the right arm. It is seen with all the inhabitants of this globe, that the right arm is preferred in its use over the left ; in other words, that all men are right-handed, as a general rule. Some very unsatisfactory reasons are given for this. The true reason is found in the fact, that the lungs give us the power of action, and that the right lung is larger than the left; hence it gives more power to the right arm. I have often seen the, right arm hang quite powerless at the side by exten- sive disease of the right lung. Very rarely we find persons left-handed. I believe in all cases where they are left-handed, the left lung will be found to be the largest. I have often had an opportunity of verifying this fact; so that being left-handed is not a matter of capricious or accidental choice in the infant, but is owing to the left arm being the strongest, because the left lung is the largest. This explains why it is difficult to make a left-handed child prefer to use the right hand, and thus become right-handed, when nature in its formation has ordained it otherwise, by making the left lung the largest—and thus the left arm the strongest. Take two brothers, one brought up in sedentary pursuits in the city, the other brought up and leading an active and laborious life in the country : after the lapse of a few years the brother in the country will be found to possess in a vast many cases double the CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 31 physical strength of the brother in the city, and not half as inclined to pulmonary consumption. We talk of the power of the steam engine, and are struck at its wonderful performances : but there is a power that laughs at the steam engine, and that is the power that is developed in the eagle. In him we see an animal that poises himself high in the heavens, and, almost with the rapidity of lightning, sweeps to the earth, and seizing a living animal of nearly or quite his own weight, flies away with him to the top of Mont Blanc. This is power acting upon mechanism. We know of nothing in man's art that will compare with it. Now what is peculiar in the eagle ? First, his lungs are as large as can be stowed in his body; secondly, the ah- is made to fill all his bones and quills, and finally is poured through the cellular tissue, and spread upon the living muscles, so that they may feed upon the air without the intervention of the lungs. In the case of the eagle, science says this universal diffusion of air in his quills and bones, &c, is to buoy him up in the sky. Not so ; for if you strike him in the sky, he falls to the earth as suddenly as any other body of the same weight and space. It is to give him more air to consume, as no lungs can be given him sufficiently large to give air enough to generate a power sufficient for the wonderful feats of strength he is called upon to perform. Many migratory pigeons that travel fifty miles an hour, that you can hold upon your hand, consume more ah* than some females. Again : go down the scale of beings, and take those animals who, for a greater or less period of time, suspend all action, and you find that the lungs consume little or no air at this time, as in the case of the frog imbedded in stone or clay, for indefinite periods, perhaps hundreds of years. So with the hibernating bear, who breathes scarcely once in several minutes. In all cases it will be observed, with no exception whatever, that in all animals the action of the lungs will be found to correspond exactly to the consumption of power; and, as I have before remarked, where there is no air, there will be no action. The importance of fully understanding this subject may be inferred, by knowing that the larger the lungs and the more perfect then de- 32 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND velopment, the less they are liable to pulmonary consumption. That the more they are exercised, the larger they will become ; that as we take active or laborious exercise, our lungs will be continually enlarg- ing ; and that on the contrary, indolence, want of exercise, &c, will render the lungs smaller. and smaller, until by absence of air the air cells then will close up and collapse their walls, as a bird folds up its plumage. By this we also learn that pure air, and even cold air, because more dense, is the best friend of the lungs, and should be resorted to with the greatest confidence, both to prevent and cure their diseases. Pure air is the food of the lungs, and diffuses through them, life, energy and activity, into the system. In the pursuit of any science, if many minds of equal power and endowment investigate a subject, and arrive at far different conclusions, diverging from each other like the spokes of a wheel, we may be certain they have started wrong; that their premises are erroneous. As for example, the hieroglyphics of Egypt. On many monuments, tombstones, obe- lisks and pyramids in Egypt, are observed numerous inscriptions, paintings, t larger than an ordinary fist, if so large. The weight of the arms, shoulders, &c, thrown forward upon the chest, causes it to collapse daily, unless resisted by most forcible and constant strong- breaths, or inspirations of air. To delicate persons, the least inclined to chest diseases, this position of the shoulders is one grand cause of consumption. In fact, any position of the shoulders, by which the weight of the arms is made to bear across the chest, or upon it, instead of hanging down, so as to draw the chest backwards, will contribute powerfully to diminish the size of the chest—press upon the lungs, and close the air cells—to prevent a free circulation of blood through the lungs, and thus tend to produce imperfect breathing, bleeding at the lungs, deposit of tubercles, and all the horrors and realities of consumption. (See Plate F.) It is for this reason that all mechani- cal employments that cause us to stoop forward will tend to injure the chest; in truth, every position forward of the erect is a producing cause of consumption. Who are those that contract these bad posi- tions ? I might at once say, all Americans over three years old, and vast numbers of Europeans. If there is any characteristic that would apply to the Americans, as a nation, it is round-shouldered. The habit CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION. 39 of contracting the chest, by stooping, is formed in multitudes at school, by sitting at low tables or no tables ; by sitting all in a heap, either in school or out of school, by not holding themselves erect, either sit- ting or standing.* It is a matter of habit in a great degree, in tailors, shoemakers, machinists, clerks, students, seamstresses, in fact, all whose occupation causes them to stoop at their work, or at rest, or at their pleasures, or amusements. (See Plates F, K, T.) Passing by the position of the arms, shoulders, and chest itself, another most fruitful cause of consumption is wearing the clothing too tight around the base of the chest, so as to diminish the size of the waist. Millions from this cause sleep in untimely graves. A great deal has been said and written against tight-lacing. It is not entirely peculiar to ladies. It occurs in both sexes. The effect, however, is deplorable in the extreme; it prevents a free expansion of the lungs, closes the air-cells of the lojjes of the lungs at their bases; impedes greatly the circulation of the blood, produces shortness of breath, hurried breathing, and extensive closing of the air-cells of the lungs, bleeding at the lungs, &c. Consumption usually begins in the top of the lungs ; but many cases occur when the waist has been greatly contracted, in which tu- bercles are first deposited in the bases of the lungs, and by their softenings produce one of the most intractable and incurable forms of consumption. • I once knew a lady, who, at nineteen, chose to have the smallest waist in the neighborhood. Small waists were then and there con- sidered by the young ladies as most desirable. She would lace her stays as tightly as she could wear them by day, and at night would sleep in them. Before going to bed, she would tie one lace-string to the bed-post, and holding the other, would throw her whole weight on the strings, so as to contract the chest very much; indeed, she soon had a perfect wasp or hour-glass shape. She was in no way predisposed to consumption. In a few months, from perfect health, she sunk away into a species of apparent consumption, and died a most awful death, from the dreadful throes and efforts to breathe which characterised the disease for some time before she died. Af- ter death her body was opened, when it was found that the liver, the 40 USES OF THE LUNGS, AND upper part of the stomach, the midriff, the heart, and lobes of both lungs, had all. grown together; and in Jihis way produced an untimely and fearful death. Great contraction of the base of the chest is a se- rious misfortune, as it utterly prevents a full development of the lungs; consequently they will always be weak, and disposed in such persons to consumption. A striking and almost demonstrative proof, that consumption is caused by want of expansion and exercise of the lungs, is found in the fact, that disease always begins first in those parts of the lungs least expanded and exercised, which are in nearly all cases the tops of the lungs ; whilst the bases of the lungs, that are usually much exercised, are rarely ever diseased until late in the progress of consumption. In some rare cases, either from rheumatism, pleurisy, or tight-lacing, the bottoms of the lungs are least exercised, and consequently first diseased. 'm Supposing the shoulder blades, shoulders, and all the chest to be in perfect symmetry, and to be well developed, and the base of the chest well expanded, also the air cells, in fact a perfectly healthy chest and lungs, there is another formidable enemy to them, arising from a re- laxation or weakness of the natural belts which cover the abdomen, by which free expiration of the air is prevented. There we have loss of symmetry acting on the floor of the lungs. • FALLING OF THE BOWELS. BV referring to Plates C and D, you will thereSee the lungs, heart, and liver, stomach, bowels, and midriff, all in their places in symmetry. You will notice the lungs are wedge-shaped, with their small ends uppermost; the heart weighing considerable, the liver weighing some pounds, and the stomach and large and small bowels, &c. The chest, you will see, is a basket of bones, (look at Plate A,) and open at the bottom, so., that on setting up the trunk of the body, all the organs incline f my restoration to health, I remain, with many thanks, yours, truly, " James M. Evarts." April, 1851, Mr. E. is well. CASE XXX. "Newark, N. J., Oct. 9, 1848. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : 4 " Dear Sir,—I am forced by feelings of gratitude to inform you of (lie effects of your medicines on me. My two sisters and a half sister died of consumption. The' last week in March, 1848, I was taken with cough and expectoration^ which continued five months, with many other bad symptoms, all warning me to expect the fate of my WO ON THE PROOFS OF THE departed sistere. In August last, I got your medicines and all your remedies. I used all faithfully, and now (Oct. 9th, 1848,) I am well of all cough. The salt rheum I have had is nearly entirely well, and I feel, by the mercy of a kind. Providence, that with care and your remedies and advice, I may long walk the lovely path of health. With many thanks, I remain yours, " Mary Ann Brooks." CASE XXXI.—Rev. William Livesey. "Warren, R. I., Nov. 26th, 1S45. " S. S. Fitch, M. D.: "Dear gir,—Youre of the 24th was received last evening; and I hasten to answer it, in, the best manner I can ; regretting, however, it had not come to hand some time ago. I would state here^ that when I first saw you, in February last, I was judged by my friends, and several eminent physicians whom I had consulted, to be in an advanced stage of consumption. The upper lobe of botff lungs had been diseased for some time ; the jight for nearly two years. I had a very distressing cough, and" rnpst of the symptoms 'attending that disease; a loss of strength, and great emaciation. After commen- cing ike use of your medicine, and following your directions, I began to amend. My cough abated ; night sweats subsided; I could deep well; gained my strength, and in a great measure my flesh.' I could preach once on the Sabbath,.without feeling any inconvenience- and sometimes twice, buj generally felt fatigued after. I thought Thy- self almost well ; §td think I should have been entirely so, if I had continued faithfully to usfi ydur remedies. But I must her* make a confession : as.I improved in health, I grew remiss in the use of the remed.es; and taking an agency, which necessarily took me away from home mjst of the time, I found it inconveinent sometimes, and ofcourse,i» a great^easure, left oflTthe use of the means. 'I™ ' tinned improving until about the lalf of September; when I took very severe cold, by putting on some^clotfcls that were damp Bv careful use of the means, I kept it from my lungs.and seemed to re- cover, but not fully^ and being from home, with a distressing pain a non- a a re- CURE OF CONSUMPTION. • 181 in my head, distress at my stomach and chest was induced to send to a physician for an emetic, which I unfortunately took. It was anti- mony, and operated but little, as an emetic, but severely as a cathartic; and, occurring in the night I nad frequent discharges of blood ; and it left me very much debilitated, with an entire loss of appetite. 1 took two Dover's powders of the doctor, to relieve the pain in my in- testines ; but these threw me into a violent paroxysm of asthma, and irritated my cough. I found, if I did not leave for home shortly, I should hardly get there. Returning, I took another cold, which set- tled on my lungs ; and what with loss of appetite, &c, I have since been running down, for three weeks. Weak, and thin of flesh, rest- less nights, and tearing cough, I almost despaired. Since taking a little tonic, in the form of elderberry syrup, I find mysejf better : my appetite improves; my cough abates ; and I feel more strength, and moreCTBouragement I think the emetic did me serious' injury, and will take some time to get over it. I have some of your medicines, which I am agaiij using. I have a little of the Nervine, of the Ex- pectorant and-the Pulmonary Balsam ; also some brown and^ yellow powders I do not use, which, you firet gave me. I have felt sp mnch better, for three or four days, that I begin to hope again that I may recover. « "I feel it a duty to give you the'above information, to clear you and your medicines from being in_any manner accountable for the failure of the cure in my case. " I have an aversion to my name appearing before the public, in almost any forirf; nevertheless, I have not the least hesitation in say- ing that, from my acquaintance with you, as far as I have been able " to form an pinion, I have the fullest confidence jn your,candor and integrity, as a man, and a gentleman ; and, as to your.jnode of treat- ment and prescriptions, for pulmonary diseases, I think them superior to any other I have "met with ; and Should 'fee^Tentire confidence, in submitting myself, or my friends^ to your"care, believing that,- if within the- reach of any remedies, youre would'be the njost efficacious in affording relief." I am, affectionately, youre, &c, *» " WrtiiAM Livesey. u N. B.—I should be glad to hear from, and receive any advice 182 ON THE PROOFS OF THE you may think needful; and, could I know where a letter would find you, in a month from this time, I would write you further particulars of my state of health. "• •*J* April 16, 1851.—I heard from Mr. Livesey this day. My im- formant saw him a short time since in good health, and discharging every useful duty connected with his profession. CASE XXXII.—Miss C. A. B. On the 27th day of January, 1847, I was called to visit a young lady residing about 70 miles from New York. Her father had re- tired from business in this city to a pleasant countiy village, for the benefit of his own health and that of his family. He wasj^asy circumstances and his children delicately brought up, and witrTall the care that affection and affluence could devise. The mother of the young lady had died of consumption, and also her two sistere. The last death occurred about one year previously, and was that of a twin sister. J'he young lady had been out^of health 15 months, but much worse the last 3 months, from which time she dated her great illness. She had a chill every morning, fever through the day, and profuse sweats at night. She expectorated one pint every 24 hours. She had not been out of the house for many weeks. Flesh and strength much wasted. She experienced much pain about her chest and in her lungs. .She had a very harrassing cough. He£ lungs were ex- tremely irritable, and the least change of air would produce a fit of coughing. # . 4 She had the assignee and advice of three experience *physicians ; they all coincided in opinion that her's was a case of true hereditary tubercular consumption, and that under no circumstances could she five longer Ipan two months, or until the first of next April, (now January 27th.) She had taken much medicine. On examination I found both her Rings ulcerated in the front upper lobes : under all the circumstance^ her case seemed almost hopeless. To her father, in her presence, and that of a considerable circle of sympathising friends, some of whim had gone up from?this city to be present and hear my M CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 183 opinion, I remarked, " I suppose if she gets well, you will all say she never had consumption." " No," said her father, " all the others were just as she is, and they died; if they had consumption, she has it, and there was never a doubt expressed of what -their disease was." One of her physicians was her uncle, a gentleman of education, ex- perience, and in extensive practice, 60 yeare of age, and one of the most agreeable, intelligent men I ever met. I was exceedingly pleased with his urbanity and intelligence. I explained to him very minutely what I considered her condition, and the plan of treatment and the medicines I proposed to use, and that I hoped she might recover. " Well," said he, " you talk very plausibly, but I have seen them all die. Her own aunt was my wife, and died of consumption. Her mother and two sistere died of consumption, and the last was a twin sister. I hope she may recover, but I do not believe you, or any one else, can help her." Her father and aunt, who were with her, and herself, were intelli- gent, cool, and judicious. All my views and directions were fully com- prehended and prepared to be carried out with the strictest care, and were so. The interest in this case soon became intense. I have never known as many invalids in one locality, as were at that time to be found within the limit of a few miles from this lady's house—consumptives, scrofulous persons, ladies indisposed or bed-ridden by womb dis- eases, rheumatics, heart affections, asthmatics, dyspeptics, dropsical and neuralgic cases, &c. Nearly every house appeared to have an invalid; a great many were entirely given up as incurable, all seemed to feel as if this young lady got well, they might hope for relief also. In a few weeks she began to improve, and by the firet of April, before assigned as the limits of her hfe, she appeared to be out of danger. • July following, found her perfectly well. I have told you the lungs give us the power of action ; now, although perfectly well, she could not walk over 100 feet without fainting. It required one whole year longer to produce a perfect restoration of the lungs to their full size and power, so that she was in all respects vigorous and strong. She has usually since called on me twice a year, but not for medicines, as she required none. In March, 1850, her aunt called on me, and told 184 ON THE PROOFS OF THE me that her niece was one of the healthiest young women she ever saw in her life—not any indisposition whatever in any respect April, 1851, she is still perfectly well. One would suppose that such a striking case and its perfect cure would have called forth the acknow- ledgment and admiration of her three attending physicians. The sickness and the cure could not be denied. Two years after she was perfectly well, her aunt said to Dr. B----, her uncle, and one of her attending physicians, who met me on my first visit to her, " What do you think of our niece, do you think she ever had consumption?" " Yes," he replied, " I do." " Well, do you think Doctor Fitch's remedies cured her ?" " Yes, I do, but it will not do for me to say any thing about it" !!! Medical men, is this the way to fulfil our high and holy mission, the mitigation of suffer- ing and cure of disease, by concealing cures when they are made. It availed but little in this case. I had between fifty and sixty patients from this one, and all got well, as far as I know, except two, one a case of dropsy, and one a case of very far advanced consumption, but was carried off by summer dysentery. "New-York. April 1, 1850. " Dr. Fitch : " Dear Sir—In October, 1846, I caught a severe cold, which pro- duced cough, with expectoration, pain in my right side and shouldere, and in about two months chills and fever, night sweats, and all the premonitory symptoms of consumption. Physicians of the highest re- putation attended me, from whom I received no benefit but was con- fined to the house, and rapidly growing worse, when one of your books was placed in the hands of my friends. Having had a great deal of sickness in our family, and that consumption, for my mother and two sistere died with that dreadful disease, we had tried all modes of # treatment, and all kinds of quackery, until my father was discouraged believing consumption an incurable disease; with this idea he was un' willing for me to see your book, but by some means I gained access to it, and after reading, it struck me forcibly that it was good common sense, and that your mode of treatment alone would relieve me You were immediately sent for, which was about the first of February and CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 185 after seeing me, you assured us that if I would persevere with your re- medies, I would get well. It is now more than three years, and I am perfectly well. I continue the cold bathing, which I consider a great preventive against taking cold. At the time you were called to me, phy- sicians assured my friends that I could not live until the first of April, and as my mother and two sisters died with consumption, the same fate seemed awaiting me. I believe if you could have treated them during their sickness, they would now have been living. I feel very grateful for your kindness and attention, and to the use of your reme- dies I owe my hfe, and wish to recommend them to all similarly affected. C. A. B." This case is known to hundreds. Any pereon who wishes to know the name of this lady, and her residence, and her highly respectable and extensive family connections in this city and Brooklyn, can do so by inquiring of Mrs. Harriet Jiles, No. 224 Adams street, Brooklyn, New-York. • As a specimen of feeling and experience, alas, too general! and in corroboration of Dr. Borrow's letter, I give the following: " Brooklyn Centre, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, April 1, 1851. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir,—I am sorely afflicted with bronchitis, and have been for the last five years. I ought to have visited you long ago, and should have done so, had I not listened to the doctors in this countiy. 1 have cut loose from them all, after having my fine constitution ruined by taking their remedies. In, God, my last and only hope is that I may receive help from your administration. I dare not take so long % journey until about the 1st of May next. Shall you probably be at your place in New-York about that time ? Be so kind as to inform me soon. Truly youre, Nathaniel Cheney." CASE XXXIII. I have before spoken of the excellent and almost miraculous effects of these remedies, in cases of children, often have I seen their com- 186 ON THE PROOFS OF THE plete restoration, when it was thought by physicians, parents, mothers, and friends, that they could not live five hours. This applies to whoop- ing cough, lung fever, asthma, long continued colds, and consumption. All thought that the subject of the following case could not five but a short time. I would say to parents, never despair if you can get my remedies. I say to physicians, if your remedies are so well adapted and perfectly compounded as to help and agree well with children, anybody may safely use them and with benefit. " Elizabethport, New-Jersey, April 8th, 1851 " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir,—You have requested me to write you the results of your treatment of my little daughter, Catharine Ann Smith. She is now eight years and a half old, always a most delicate child, much subject to croup, and frequent periods of dangerous illness. In September, 1847, she was attacked with symptoms of croup, a sore throat, and cough. Of this she improved a little, but the cough never left her, always pressed for breath, and very feeble, gradually failing, until in November, 1850, she began to raise blood, and continued raising it for three weeks. We consulted several physicians of respectability, but all with little or no benefit, and continually grew worse, with no pros- pect of cure. December 2d, 1850, I consulted you with no hope of cure. Doctors said she was too far gone—past cure. You did not give me great encouragement, still you gave me inhaling tube, medi- cines, and shoulder braces. The medicine and bathing, and wet cloth to her chest, all have worked well, apparently a perfect cure; she has not coughed at all in nine weeks past, and her breathing is perfect, flesh, strength, and all returned; she looked better in a few weeks than she ever did ; exposure even to wind or wet or cold does not give her any cold. If she takes cold she does not cough. Of course we cannot be too grateful, with many thanks for such rosy cheeks now. She could not have lived till this time if not helped. No one expected her to live for the last two springs. " Very respectfully youre, " Eliza Smith." CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 187 I will here answer a question often asked—how long does it take to cure a case of consumption ? The time of cure varies very much, some get well in one month, others take medicines two years before they are well. You should always bathe daily, all your life. Shoul- der braces, inhaling tube and supporter, should always be used, unless all traces of disease have long disappeared. Taking long full breaths many times, day and night, never should be neglected by the con- sumptive, or any one with a weak chest, throat or lungs, or who have ever had consumption. After using the medicines a few months, they may be left off a little, to see the effect of leaving off. If no relapse, you need take no more medicine. In general, take the medicines, one, or as many, or all, as you find beneficial. Once better, you are apt to get well by judicious perseverance. You never need fear a second attack of consumption, if you persevere in a faithful use of remedies and preventives. The same remarks apply to asthma, and most other diseases. Keep the medicines by you that you know to be useful, and use them when you need them. Do not suffer for want of them. I have now presented as many and great a variety of cases of cure as the limits of this discourse will allow. I could fill many volumes with such cases and lettere, but I have given enough for the fullest reference, and to convince and assure any impartial, honest, intelligent mind of the curability of consumption. I again most solemnly and emphatically repeat—I do not cure all cases. Of the unsuccessful cases, some do not use the remedies judi- ciously and perseveringly, and continuously ; others do not apply to them until all the recuperative powers of the system are destroyed; others, whilst using the remedies, continue all the causes that pro- duced the disease, so that the remedies do not triumph over the dis- ease, and all its originating and producing causes, acting together. Finally, there are some minds which do not seem to comprehend the scheme and reasons of the treatment, or from other causes are de- terred from confidence, and although they take the remedies, use them so hesitatingly, so partially, and so unskilfully, as to fail of suc- cess. This class of patients are often greatly endangered by receiving 188 PROOFS OF THE CURE OF CONSUMPTION. visits, or advice from physicians, who from interest or ignorance deny the usefulness of their remedies. CONCLUSION. With these cases, ladies and gentlemen, I conclude my lecture upon the proofs of the cure of pulmonary consumption. That some of you may believe, and many disbelieve, I have no doubt. Were you to ask for more cases, I could give you hundreds of others ;* but I have not time to read them to you; nor have you time to read them, were more placed in your hands. The cases are marked, important, and were not done in a corner. Should you feel any personal interest in their truth, it is the easiest thing in the world to verify or disprove the statements, by appealing to the pereons themselves, or to their friends. With these remarks, I leave the subject in your hands, hoping that, if you or any of your friends are attacked with pulmonary consump- tion, or are predisposed to it, that you will never despair either of its prevention or cure, but apply promptly to the means I have indica- ted, and thus save your own lives, or those of vour friends. r * I have now ninety-two volumes of manuscript notes of cases of my patients—all most minutely stated and carefully recorded, with their pro- gress and result, and alphabetted so as to be referred to in one moment. Never do I prescribe for any patient without recording the remedy given, and the reasons for doing so, whether it is the first or the twentieth prescription. I have now on my books twenty-seven thousand cases. I think the largest record of respectable private practice now existing. Other physicians see more hospital practice and the poor, but in respectable private practice, this I think, is the largest in America, recorded. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 189 DISCOURSE FOURTH. TO LADIES ONLY. On the mode of forming a fine Chest, a fine erect Carriage, and Walk.— On the manner of procuring a clear and beautiful Com- plexion, without art.— On the causes of Lung, Liver, and Stomach Diseases, in Ladies, and on Vie Cause of Female Diseases, with their prevention and cure ; and finally, on the best mode of obtain- ing perfect Symmetry of Figure, and of forming and fortifying the Female Constitution, so as to preserve Health and Beauty to the latest attainable periods of life. Ladies : It always gives me the greatest pleasure to address you on the important subject of health. It is a most painful fact, that, from a multiplicity of causes, some of which will be enumerated in this dis- course, the length of female life is greatly abridged in this country. In fact, multitudes of ladies are cut off in the very beginning of adult hfe, and by a variety of agents, whose influences and injurious effects can be entirely obviated; and some of the most prominent of these, instead of being instruments of destruction, as they now are, may, by a little knowledge, be converted into instruments of the highest good. The duration of female life ought to equal that of males ; but, in many sections, it would seem to be less. In the southern States, a vast many men, who attain to 45 or 50 years of age, in that time lose two, and some four wives. The human frame is a machine, or the trunk of the body may be said to be a box, full of machinery. The operations and life of this machinery is capable of continuing a great many more years than it usually does. It ought to move always one hundred years, and may go on to one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty years, and probably more. To prove this to be true, I have only to present to 190 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. you cases of pereons who have lived to that age. God is not unjust and partial; he has not made one to live one hundred and sixty years, whilst another cannot live more than twenty or thirty. No, we are all made alike ; and if cut off prematurely, it is, probably in nearly all cases, our own fault. I believe that if any lady dies much short of one hundred yeare, it is the result of accident, and not incidental to old age. The machine needs only to be kept in repair, and it will continue its operations and life to a vast many years, and with age, the full enjoyments of life. The Countess of Desmond died in England some years ago, at the age of one hundred and forty years. Her age is well authenticated by official papers. Margaret Forster died in Cumberland, England, in 1771, aged one hundred and thirty-six yeare. Flora Thompson died at Nashua, in North Carolina, in 1808, at the age of 150 years. A great number of persons attended her funeral. A woman died at Knoxville, Tennessee, in the year 1835, aged one hundred and fifty-four years. She was a German woman, that came to this country, and was sold in North Carolina for her passage from Germany. It was a custom in those days for poor emigrants in this way to pay their passage, by being articled, or indentured, or hired out, for a longer or shorter period, until their passage was paid. By these papers, she was known to have been thirty-five years old when she arrived, and to have lived one hundred and nineteen yeare after. Flora Forbes was living in the Highlands of Scotland, a short time ago, at the age of one hunched and twenty-five years, and I believe is still living. She witnessed the battle of Culloden in 1745, and was then twenty-seven years old. There is a woman now living in Norfolk, Virginia, in good health, who is one hundred and twenty-two yeare old. There was living, six months ago, in the city of Moscow, in Russia, a woman who was one hundred and fifty-seven years old. She had had five husbands. A German woman died in Moyamensing, a suburb of Philadelphia, Penn., in August, 1850, at the age of 111 years. Molly Perry, residing in Marion county, Kentucky, is now in good health, at the age of 112 years. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 191 FLORA THOMPSON, Died at Nashua, in North Carolina, in the year 1808, aged 150 years. In the United States, there are many persons at present living who are over 100 yeare old. These cases, and a vast many more I could adduce, show conclu- sively that the female frame is made to endure a vast many more years than it now lasts: that, in place of dying, as multitudes do, at twenty-five to thirty, they may live to one hundred yeare ; that the female life, in place of thirty yeare, ought to be and might be one hundred years. You that are frail and delicate may see, by the ages othere have attained, how much you may hope for. If you carefully pursue the means which are actually known to operate effi- ciently in supporting your health and constitution, you may attain to very old age. 192 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. There is another reason why ladies should preserve their health, because with health you may always preserve your beauty. Health and beauty are almost synonymous terms; you can hardly have one without the other. Good and perfect health, in many cases, confers beauty, or, at least, good looks and attractions. With very few and veiy rare exceptions, and those arising from accident, God has always traced upon your frames the most exquisite lines of beauty. He has formed you to be the most beautiful of all his works. The angels, in their most resplendent beauty, as fancy and poets and painters embody them, take your forms, and fully fill up all that the imagina- tion can create of angelic beauty. What do you suppose is the grand stimulus to man in all his fatigues, his exposures, his dangers, his toils, and his privations,—in the field, in the workshop, in the camp, —on the stormy ocean, by night, by day, even facing the cannon's mouth ? What cheers the student in his long nights of study, wasted by untiring toil ? What sustains the mariner in his long and perilous nights at sea ? In fine, what sustains man in all his innu- merable exposures and employments, sacrificing his ease, and often his life ? It is his love of you—your channs are his attraction and undying stimulus,—his love for his mother, his sisters, his wife, his daughters. There is a gulf fixed by the Creator between the male and female mind, which nothing can pass until both meet in their future angelic state. It is impossible for the female fully to compre- hend the male mind, and it is impossible for the male to comprehend the female mind; both will remain distinct whilst in this state of ex- istence. Each sex can comprehend its own mind. All men know that woman is the centre of all that is charming and lovely ; no place is attractive to us that is not graced by the presence of woman ; you form the ornaments of our houses, our streets, our churches, and all peaceful and pleasant assemblages. To adorn you, man traverses all the earth, bringing home diamonds and rubies, and pearls and costly gems—he seeks the plumage of the most rare birds—he devises stuffs of the softest texture, and of the richest and rarest colore. He lays all at your feet, and finds in your acceptance and your smiles, and blandishments, his happiest rewards. A smile from you soothes the face of care, and wipes the perspiration from the brow of toil. In DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 193 fine, without you, the world would become a desert, and man a brute. Man rules by strength—woman controls by her charms. Hence, there is a high, moral duty that the female owes to her family, to her country, and the world; that is, to preserve her charms —to keep the flowers of her own loveliness from fading—to preserve to her latest days all the splendors and realities of her beauty. Care- lessness on this subject has blighted all the hopes of thousands of ladies, and made a wreck of happiness in many families of the best expectations. This happens in too many cases, where the female is altogether unconscious that it is to herself that these ills are owing. In a multitude of cases, for want of attention to the most obvious principles of health, a wife may reduce her husband to despair, and her house to want,—converting what should be a residence of plea- sure, to a hospital for the sick. A daughter may, in default of a httle knowledge, induce her own untimely death, and fill her fathers house with never-ending sorrow. For these reasons I address you on the subject of health, excusing myself for calling 3^ou together, with the hope that I may give such directions to your views of it, and its best mode of preservation, as will clothe you to your latest days with the highest adornings of beauty, and continue your lives to at least one hundred yeare in an uninterrupted holiday of glowing health. Health and beauty I use as synonymous terms. When I use the word health, I might use the word beauty. It is impossible for a lady to have beauty without health, and next to impossibility to have health without beauty, or at least attractiveness. To ensure a continuance of health, and with it life and beauty, it is necessary to have health every day,—not to suffer broken health a single day. Recollect, your frame is a machine, and made on the principle of mechanics As far as it has ever yet been explored, it is« found to be mechanically formed, and to act everywhere on mechani- cal principles. To ensure its continuance in health, and its life, it is indispensable that each part should have its own perfect bearing, and its own proper place. No wear or tear should be allowed in one place more than another. You should see, and be certain, that the duty or office of each part should be properly and certainly per 9* 194 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. formed,—that no deficiency or excess exists in the doings or functions of any organs, or part of the machinery of your frames. Let no part suffer, or act too httle, or too much. As a reward, perfect and long- continued, and uninterrupted health, will result to you. By moderate practice, you will experimentally learn that all the organs of your body are your servants,—you may make them playthings, to do your bidding at your pleasure. By a little precaution, and the application of a little well-timed knowledge, you may prevent the anguish of disease, and cure it if it takes place. You may preserve your healths under nearly all circumstances of luxury, and affluence, and ease, or of exposure, privation, fatigue, or misfortune. To ensure the entire expression of health, and with it, and by it, the nearest approaches to perfect beauty, you should possess a fine figure, always at your com- mand,—a fine carriage of your head and person, and an elegant elas- tic step and walk, brilliant eyes, clear complexion, the rose and the lily in just proportion, and equally blended and perfect,—teeth of a pure shining white,—luxuriant and glossy hair. Of these you can be the possessore. If already in broken health, the use of such means as actually exist, and faithfully pursued for a longer or shorter period, will usually restore you to health and beauty. The female frame is made, as I have before told you, to last in full strength a great number of yeare. In order to this, every part of it should have its perfect mechanical bearing. It is composed of a great many parts, each part must occupy its natural and appropriate situa- tion. Each bone—each muscle, must be in its proper place. All the great organs, as the lungs, the heart, the stomach, the bowels, y the ab- dominal belts that enclose and form the walls of the abdomen. Now then, if these belts, or walls, become relaxed, or pushed out, the effect 244 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. is to cause, on standing up, a dislocation, or dragging down, more or less, out of their places, of the lungs, heart, stomach, liver, bowels, womb, ovaries, and back passage, producing the following effects, more or less aggravated, as the abdominal belts are more or less re- laxed, taking every degree of mischief, from slight inconvenience to instant death. (See Plate P.) Effects of a relaxation or giving way of the abdominal belts upon the lunys. The firet effect is to take way from the floor of the lungs their sup- port, and they drag downwards, causing wheezing breathing, short- ness of breath, asthma, a hacking cough, great difficulty, when stand- ing up, to fill the lungs with air, a sense of great weakness and wear- iness under the collar-bones, a strong inclination to bring forward the shoulders upon the chest, and to stoop, on standing or sitting,—a feeling of hollowness or emptiness at the top of the chest, great diffi- culty to get the breath, on walking fast, or on going up-hill, or up- stairs, or on any sudden exertion,—running is impossible. Bleeding from the lungs is another effect of falling of the bowels, and relaxation of the abdominal belts, or coverings. I have often witnessed bleeding from the lungs in these cases. Another effect, in many cases, is a collapse, or closing all up of the air-cells of the upper parts of the lungs, and a shrinking up of the tops of the lungs, and thus allowing a deposit of tubercles, and formation of pulmonary con- sumption. Tall, thin ladies, with hardly any development of abdo- men, are very often subject to falling bowels, when very few would imagine it possible. In proof of this, I have once before mentioned the stoppage of the progress of consumption when a lady is in the family-way, and its most rapid progress after the child is born. This leads me to remark, how carefully a consumptive lady should be supported, on getting up, after the birth of a child. I will men- tion two or three cases of consumption produced by falling of the bowels. In September, 1843, I was requested to see a young married lady, for consumption. I found a tall, elegant young lady, who had been very delicately brought up; had been ftiarried thirteen months. At DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 245 the end of ten months, she gave birth to a daughter, and seemed doing extremely well. Three weeks after the birth of her child, she was allowed to leave her bed without sufficient support, and went fifty miles to visit her mother. The want of support to the bowels allowed the lungs to drag down; bleeding from the right lung began. I saw her twelve weeks after this, in the last stage of hopeless con- sumption. In those females who have never borne children, the ab- domen may remain very flat, and yet the bowels fall down more or less ; but with ladies who have borne children, the abdominal belts become then enormously stretched and extended. After child-oirth, they usually, in a few days or weeks, return to a smaller size, but rarely as flat as before. Woe to the unfortunate consumptive mother who, after child-birth, is allowed to rise too soon from her bed, or is not perfectly supported when she does get up, In a great many cases of weak ladies, the abdominal belts never go back, to be small and flat, as they ought to be ; and from the birth of a child, or a miscarriage, they date ill health ever after. Nearly all cases of bed- ridden ladies are made so from this, cause. In September, 1844, I visited a lady at Glastonbury, Ct. who had a child eighteen months old. The mother could never sit up afterwards. At the end of one year, she fell into consumption, and was in its last stages when I saw her. • In April, 1845,1 was called to visit a young lady, at Providence, Rhode Island. She was extremely beautiful, and inclined to be fleshy. Soon after her marriage she travelled with her husband through several of the western states, and during the journey rode seventy miles in a stage, on a very rough road. On returning to Providence she soon found herself unable to walk, and had been con- fined eleven months to her bed and room. The morning of the day I saw her, she was taken with bleeding at her lungs. She told me the journey to the western country, and especially the stage-coach, travelling over the rough roads, seemed to shake and jar her inside almost to pieces, so that she had never recovered from the fatigue of the journey. Had her bowels been well supported, all these dreadful effects of her journey would have been entirely prevented. She had never been in the family-way. I think nearly one-third of all con- 246 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. sumptions in females are induced by falling of the bowels, and thus leading to a dislocation and dragging down of the lungs. WEAKNESS AND LOSS OF VOICE FROM FALLING OF THE;; BOWELS, OR WEAKNESS OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS. Weakness of voice, and, at times, total loss of voice, arise from re- laxation of the abdominal belts and consequently falling of the bow- els. In;;this case, the lungs do not fill, the wind-pipe is dragged down, and weak voice and sore throat are the consequence. The pereon cannot sing or talk long, or read aloud, or speak in public, without excessive fatigue, and very soon cannot speak at all, unless relieved. A great many females and female teachers, who stand long and talk much, from weakness across the abdomen, lose their voices, become hoarse, take a sore throat, and if not relieved, are soon forced to leave their occupation. In March, 1845, I was consulted in Providence, Rhode Island, by a very accomplished lady, who was a teacher in a large school, but for four months past had been forced to leave her school, because of sore throat and great weakness of voice. She called on me, and asked me if I could relieve her in four days, because, if I could, she could return to her school at that time. I had the extreme pleasure, by God's blessing, to restore this lady to her school in four days, and to good health in a short time. (See letter of Mrs. Kingsley.) PALPITATION OF THE HEART. Several causes may produce palpitation of the heart. One of these is falling of the bowels, &c. On taking much exertion, or walking, or sitting long in church, or being in a crowd, if weak across the bow- els, palpitation of the heart will come on in ladies of all ages. In July, 1844, I was consulted at Weathersfield, Connecticut, by two ladies, for palpitation of the heart, from which both suffered greatly. One was a married lady, mother of eleven children ; she was short and very fleshy. The other was a young single lady, about seventeen years old, tall and very thin. Both had palpitation from the same cause, and both were cured by abdominal support. DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 247 FAINTING FITS. Many ladies, more especially young ones, are liable, on taking much exertion, to be suddenly overcome and to faint; also, to faint in church, or in a crowd. This, in nearly all cases, is produced by abdominal weakness. The heart is not well supported, and readily stops its ac- tion for a short time. This explains why a lady faints on standing, walking, or sitting up, that never faints whilst lying down. SINKING, ALL GONE AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH, FROM FALLING OF THE BOWELS. Many ladies, and especially those who stand much, experience a most distressed and sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach—a feel- ing of being all gone there, a place which seems quite empty, and which nothing will fill. Eating a full meal will, for a short time, usual- ly stop this feeling, but it soon returns, and the lady feels as if she had eaten nothing, and a faint, exhausted feeling, takes away all her spirits, or ambition to do anything. She experiences a sense of great weakness at the pit of the stomach, and a disposition to stoop. Stoop- ing, at first, seems to relieve her a little, and she stoops more and more, until nearly bent double. I saw a tall lady, a few months ago, who began stooping, as I have said, and continued the habit until she was bent nearly double, bending from her hips so as to carry her head and chest and abdomen as low as her hips, producing a most distress- ing deformity. In other cases, the lady feels as if cut in two at the pit of the stomach. At other times this weakness or sinking feeling is ex- perienced in the side, either right or left, or both. If this weakness occurs on one side only, the lady will stoop more or less to that side. This great weakness and sinking at the pit of the stomach and sides, is usually much aggravated on walking or lifting, or on taking any active exercise. The lady is soon obliged to lie down, to recover her breath and strength. At other times the weakness is felt in front opposite the hips, below the middle of the stomach, and at times it is felt in the chest, under the collar-bones or about the throat. All this is often relieved or perfectly cured by abdominal support. I have witnessed and cured a great many cases of this kind. This weakness at the pit of the stomach often leads to dyspepsia or 248 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. indigestion of the food. The food often, after eating, lays very heavy; feels a load; at other times the stomach bloats, and the lady feels as if she could not breathe. At other times the food sours in the stomach sooner or later after eating, and many kinds of food cannot be eaten. In others, in a longer or shorter time after eating, distressing pain is felt in the stomach. CHRONIC DIARRHOEA. In some cases, falling of the bowels from a relaxation of the abdomi- nal belts, will produce a constant diarrhoea or looseness of the bow- els, more or less urgent, which in many cases induces great debility. The stomach participates, more or less, in the weakness, and the food badly digested passes into the bowels and ferments there, causing flatulency and looseness. A vast many of these cases are helped or cured by abdominal support. COSTIVENESS. In some cases, falling of the bowels causes them to be extremely sluggish, and acting veiy slowly indeed, so as to seem almost as if dead; often having no passage for days together, and frequently a rumbling and moving of wind in the bowels, a bloating of them, &c, &c. Costiveness is usually very much helped, and often entirely cured, by abdominal support LIVER COMPLAINT, CAUSED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS—(see Plate Q.) The liver is very heavy and solid, and strongly inclines to drag down, and fall low in the abdomen, if the abdominal belts are not strong and firm. I have known one case of a pereon who had very weak bowels. By riding on horseback, without having proper ab- dominal support, the liver broke partly in two, and the person died in a few hours. This remarkable case I shall relate in my discourse to gentlemen. Jarring, and dragging down of the liver, will always, more or less, disturb it and often causes it to secrete a great deal of bile; at other times, very little; at other times, the natural position of the liver is changed, and the bile does not get out of the gall-bladder DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 249 and fiver as readily as it should do, and gall-stones are formed in the gall-bladder, thus producing jaundice, and almost every form of liver complaint. All these causes should receive our earliest attention; and if any weakness of the abdominal belts is suspected, abdominal support should at once be employed. PAIN IN THE SIDE AND BREAST, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. A vast many cases of pain in the side are caused by weakness and relaxation of the abdominal belts. Pain in the breast is also pro- duced by the same cause. I have witnessed such a vast number of cases of this kind, that I think two-thirds of the instances of pain in the side and breast in ladies arise from a falling of the bowels. When pain in the breast, or either, or both sides, is occasioned by weakness of the abdominal belts, and consequent falling of the bowels, it is rare- ly much helped by blistering, or setons, or issues, or sores, but is con- stantly apt to return in a short time after being stopped by any of these remedies. In those cases, the only permanent cure is derived from abdominal support. I have cured cases of pain in the side, of many years standing, after repeated bleeding, blistering, setons, emetic tartar sores, &c, had entirely failed to remove the pain. In fine, where the abdominal muscles, or belts, are much relaxed, or dragged down, all their upper ends, or attachments, are more or less liable to pain, and at times all over them. WEAKNESS, PAIN AND HEAT IN THE BACK AND SPINE, PRODUCED BY WEAKNESS OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS, AND DRAGGING DOWN OF THE BOWELS. By looking at Plates B and A, you will notice, that for a consider- able distance the small of the back has no ribs going from the spine, by which it is strengthened, but that it consists of one column of moveable bones, and the ends of a considerable portion of the ab- dominal belts are tied to it; so that iu this way the spine of the small of the back is obliged to bear up all the contents of the abdomen. In a straight pereon, who does not stoop much, this weight is but little; but in a person who stoops much, and whose abdominal belts are re- 250 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. laxed, it is greatly felt, producing great pain in the small of the back, that may extend up the spine, to the neck, causing heat in the spine, and soreness, and every symptom of a true spinal disease, in its earlier and milder forms. Abdominal support in all these cases is required. I would here remark, that the abdominal supporter should perfectly relieve the spine, and not bear on it, or cover it, or heat it at all; but the pads should go up on the ribs, and down on the hip bones, so as to completely relieve the spine of any pressure or swaddling whatever. Some of the worst spine diseases I ever saw, were produced by pads of trusses, and supportere, resting in the small of the back, and press- ing on the spine. GRAVEL PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS, &c. By looking at Plate S, you will see the position of the kidneys; each side of the spine, just above the point of the hips, and behind all the other contents of the abdomen. You will notice, also, two pipes that go, one from each kidney, forwards and downwards, behind the floating bowels, and down into the basket of the hips, to the back of each side of the bladder. These pipes, five to eight inches long, cany the water from the chamber of each kidney to the bladder. Now, then, when the floating bowels roll downwards, they often fall upon these pipes, and close them, more or less, so that the water is prevented from passing into the chambers of the bladder. This throws it back into the kidneys, and soon fills up the kidneys. The water usually has salts, and earths, and acids, &c., which it holds very lightly in solution. These salts, when the water stands for any length of time, soon separate from it, and fall down. This you can daily see in the chamber-vessels. These earths, in a short time, will glue together, and form masses, more or less large, from the size of grains of fine sand, to lumps that weigh several ounces. At times, all the walls of the chambers of the kidneys, and the pipes that cany the water from them to the bladder, are encrusted over with this sand. When this earthy matter .is in the form of fine sand, it is called gravel. If it cements into masses larger than small peas, it is called stone. The pipes that carry the water, from the kidneys to DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 251 PLATE S. Kidneys, Ureters, Large Bowel, and Womb. 1,1, the Midriff, or floor of the Lungs. 2, 2, the Kidneys. 3, 3, the Ureters, or pipes that carry the water from the Kidneys to the Bladder. 4, the upper end of the straight Large Bowel, or back passage through the Basket of the Hips. 5, the Womb. 6, 6, the Ova ries (see page 242). 7, the Bladder. the bladder, are called the ureters ; they have no popular name, that I have ever heard of. When the ureters are obstructed, and the water thrown back into the kidneys, its earliest effect is to cause great heat in the small of the back, and, at times, great soreness each side of the spine, just above the hip. Sometimes almost feeling as if in the hip, and even lameness in the hip will at times take place. If only one pipe is obstructed, one kidney only will be affected. Gravel is one of the most painful diseases to which we are liable. Some- times pieces of stone will pass from the kidneys along the water-pipes to the bladder, and, if large, usually causing the most distressing and insufferable pain of which we are susceptible. The sufferer then ia 252 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. said to have fits of gravel. More usually, the gravel passes in the form of white and red sand, which in a short time falls down to the bottom of the chamber-dish, or rests on its sides. Along with the sand, more or less, is often seen quantities of thick, soft, soapy-look- ing matter, or mucus, that also settles to the bottom of the dish. At times the water is very thick, and scanty; at other times, for longer or shorter periods, the urine is nearly white, and very much of it, and its quantity causes great weakness in some ladies; occasionally great heat and scalding are felt in passing water, and a frequent in- clination to do so, and sometimes, but rarely, the water cannot be retained but a short time, or passes off involuntarily. Sometimes the water is brown or dark colored, and has a bad smell, and stains the linen. Gravel occurs in all ages and conditions, from infancy to extreme age. Frequently sudden stoppages of the water occur, and none passes for hours, and even clays, causing horrible pain and great danger. Gravel, in some ladies, produces, if much aggravated, the most distressing weakness and fever in the small of the back, so as wholly to prevent walking, and to confine the lady to her bed for months, and even yeare. In July, 1845, I was consulted at Fall River, in Massachusetts, by Mrs. Mary F. Gardiner, (see her letter, # Case III.) : she had been confined to her bed four months, unable to walk or stand, nor could she rise from bed without assistance; in fact, having to be lifted entirely out on a sheet. She had fall- ing of the womb and bowels, and, with it, very bad gravel. She had consulted several eminent physicians, without obtaining relief. I gave her her remedies, and saw her twice. In three months, she was perfectly cured. Gravel is easily cured; in some per- sons, it requires a pereeverance in the use of suitable remedies for several months. It is a dangerous disease for consumptive persons, as I have mentioned in another place. I do not recol- lect ever to have met a case of gravel, however aggravated, that I did not cure, when my remedies were faithfully used, and per- severed in for a sufficient length of time. Having now referred to most of those diseases in the trunk of DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 253 the body, that at times arise from falling of the bowels, induced by relaxation of the abdominal belts, I will proceed to notice some diseases of the organs or parts in the basket of the hips. The first of these I will notice is, PILES. The disease called piles has its seat at or near the lower ex- tremity of the back passage. Rarely does it extend up the pas- sage more than one or two inches. I am disposed to think that piles, in nearly all cases, arise from falling of the bowels. By referring to the plate S, you will see that the large bowel, just as it enters the basket of the hips, is tied to the back-bone, and all its course through the basket of the hips is straight and smooth, and tied nearly its whole length to the solid bone : it is called the straight bowel, and forms the back passage through the basket of the hips. The bowels, when they fall down, in a great many cases, fall directly upon the large bowel, where it is tied to the back-bone, and by pressing upon it prevent the Wood from re- turning up the large bowel. You will understand in a moment how this can, and does take place, by tying a piece of thread tightly around the finger ; in a short time you will notice that the end of the finger swells, and is soon almost ready to burst. Should you allow the string to remain long on the finger, blood would be seen oozing out from under the nail, and inflammation and a dread- ful sore would be the consequence. Exactly in this way piles are produced.'" Should a pereon have any humor in the blood, such as scrofula or salt rheum, it might settle on the part affected by the piles, and in such a case would greatly aggravate the piles, and make them vastly worse than they otherwise would have been. Ladies in the family-way are often cruelly afflicted with piles, because the womb falls on the upper part of the back pas- sage, and prevents the return of the blood, as I have before ex- plained. Piles are a very disagreeable disease, and often are so bad as to greatly injure health, and in this way predispose to con- sumption. At times, great quantites of blood will be poured out, so that the sufferer is threatened with death from this cause. Most dis- 251 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. agreeable itching is often produced. I have never yet seen a case of piles I could not cure. It may be cured temporarily, for months, or even yeare, by an ointment or by internal medicines ; but a perma- nent cure is perfectly insured, by perfect abdominal support. Piles should always be cured, and not allowed to break down the general health, and thus lead to other diseases. Very rarely is any operation required. Both internal or blind piles, and external, arise from the same causes. FALLING OF THE LARGE BOWEL Falling of the large bowel, or back passage, at times takes place, and is most unpleasant and frequently very dangerous. I have known one most distressing death from this cause, in a single lady of thirty- five years old. The bowel will, at times, fall very much out of the body. A perfect cure is obtained by proper support. In severe cases, ointments are also required for a short time, to give strength to the bowel, so that it will stay up in its place, also baths. PAINS IN THE LIMBS, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. The bowels falling down, will often press upon the great nerves that go out of the basket of the hips, and so down the lower limbs, &c. (See Plate V.) I was consulted, two years ago, by a middle- aged lady in Connecticut, for most distressing pains in her limbs, oc- curring on walking or standing long, or sitting for any length of time. Occasionally these pains were all but insupportable, obliging her to lay down, and have the limbs rubbed for hours together, before the circulation would return, and the pain leave the limbs. She was cured in less than one week by abdominal support. SWELLING OF THE LIMBS, AND, MORE OR LESS, DROPSY IN THE FEET, BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. By referring to Plate V, you will see the large veins that come up from the lower extremities, and pass through the walls of the abdo- men. Now, when the abdominal belts are relaxed, and the floating DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. 255 bowels fall down, they occasionally fall upon the large veins that come up from the lower limbs. The effect of this obstruction, even when slight, in some persons, is to cause greater or less swelling of the feet and legs. This is partly the reason why the feet of a great many ladies swell, on standing or walking for any length of time. I was consulted in August, 1844, by a lady in Weathersfield, Connecticut, on account of great swelling of her feet and ancles, that occurred on standing or walking for any length of time. She was perfectly, and entirely, and permanently cured in a short time, by wearing an abdo- minal supporter. SWELLINGS OF THE VEINS, OR WHAT ARE CALLED VARICOSE VEINS. The same causes that produce swellings in the ancles and feet, &c, will, in some ladies, though more rarely, produce swellings, greater or less, of the veins of the legs and feet. The veins, in some pereons, in place of being the size of a knitting-needle, or a little larger, attain the size of a large goose-quill, and become hard, and run together in knots, .feeling to the fingers like bunches of worms. These swellings are disagreeable, and at times dangerous. Instances have been known of these vessels bursting, and the persons bleeding to death. Abdo- minal support is useful in the early stages. BAD SORES ON THE LEGS, &c. At times, very large, obstinate, running sores will occur on one or both ancles, or feet, or legs. These sores arise from the same cause, in a great many cases,—which is a stoppage of the blood ascending through the abdomen. These sores can always be cured by suitable remedies, joined with abdominal support. INCONTINENCE OF THE URINE, Or Inability to retain the Water for any length of time, from Falling of the Bowels, &c. By referring, for one moment, to Plate S, you will see how easily, in some cases, the bowels may fall down, so as to press upon the bladder, and, in this way, make the bladder tender and irritable, and 256 DISCOURSE TO LADIES ONLY. so reduce its size that it can hold veiy little water, thus obliging the sufferer to pass water every few moments, or causing it to pass off in drops, or suddenly, in an involuntary manner, and stimulus to action, owe their origin to one or other of these divisions. On their harmony with each other, very much depends the continuance of life. To have all these organs in full develope- ment, no one outstripping the others, nor acting at the expense of the others, is a grand desideratum, and forms the basis of health, and lays a sure foundation for longevity. I have in previous lectures referred to the uses of the lungs. Allow me again to remark, that pure, healthy air is their natural food,—that they strive for the air, and continually pant for it—that no pereon can have good health for any length of time, unless he breathes pure, wholesome air, and a plenty of it; and hence the exceeding value of a change of air to the sick, to invalids, and to pereons worn down by continued labori- ous occupation. It is for this reason that a change of air will often do more for sick and worn-out pereons, than all the medicines in the world. MANNER OF FORMING A FINE CHEST. I have, in my lecture upon the uses of the lungs, remarked that the chest is a basket of bones, so constituted and framed as to be most remarkably under the government of the will, and, totally unlike DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 291 any other bony cavity of our bodies, it can be enlarged or dimin- ished at pleasure. (See Plates A and B.) The first and natural mode of enlarging, the chest, is by breathing, by inhaling the air. The lungs, I should say, are air-bags, hung up on each side of the chest, and folded into cells comparable to the honey-comb, and capable of being immensely expanded, or correspondingly contracted. The largest lung may be made to hold a gallon, or so reduced as not to hold one gill. Now, the larger the lungs, and the more air they can receive and digest, the stronger and healthier they will be. They will also enjoy an exemption from disease, almost exactly in the ratio of their large and full developement. These changes in the lungs would, of course, produce corresponding changes in the basket that en- closes them,—the chest becoming broader, larger, and fuller. No one should be afraid of the air, but consume as much of it as possible, by taking long breaths ;—draw in all the air you can. Make a practice, many times a day, when in pure air, and especially when in pure, cold air, to suck in all the air you can, and, in this way, strain the chest open to its utmost dimensions, and hold the air in the chest as long as you can, and blow strongly upon it, not allowing it, however, to es- cape from the mouth until forced to do so. Should the person be of a stooping figure, or of a contracted, narrow, stooping chest, let him, on rising from bed in the morning, and as many times during the day as he pleases, draw in the air as long as he can, and fill the chest to its utmost capacity ; now hold in the air, and throw back the head and neck as far as possible, and, at the same time, throw back the arms and shoulders with sudden jerks, as if to tear the shouldere from the back of the chest, at the same time retaining the air in the lungs. If the lungs are kept full of air during this exercise, on throwing back the head, neck, and shouldere, the air in the lungs becomes an elastic cush- ion, that acts powerfully on the inside of the chest, lifting the ribs and breast-bone outward, upward, and backward, and, in this way, rapidly enlarging the chest, and greatly assisting to give it full size and per- fect symmetry. This exercise of the chest should be practised on rising from bed, and repeatedly during the day. Another great assistance in forming a large chest, is to habituate ourselves always to speak or sing from a 292 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. full chest,—that, is, when singing or speaking, we should never sing or speak from a half-filled chest. We should always remember, that the vocal organs, in singing or speaking, are placed in a proper posi- tion, and then a current of air is more or less forcibly dashed upon them from the lungs, and that the strength of the tones and the power of the voice depend upon the volume, the density, and the momentum of this current of air. Now, any speaker, or singer, who attempts to speak or sing from a half-filled chest, will soon greatly injure his vocal organs ; his voice will become weak, his throat become irritable and inflamed, his windpipe injured, the upper part of his chest become flat and contracted, and much pain at the top of the chest: to these, sing- ing and speaking is a great injury ; but to those who always, when singing, or speaking, do so from a chest well filled with air, these ex- ercises rapidly enlarge the chest, and give great power and firmness to the vocal organs. I met, two years since, a young gentleman, who, alone, and unassisted, gave a concert in a large hall at New Haven, in Connecticut. He told me that, originally, he had a very small, contracted chest, and was a teacher of the piano forte ; neces- sity compelled him to become a teacher of vocal music; but his chest was so narrow and contracted, and his voice so weak, that he almost despaired of being able to accomplish singing ; yet, by practising as I have mentioned, and inhaling the air, his chest began rapidly to expand, so that, in three years, his voice acquired a power and com- pass that enabled him to pronounce words so as to be heard dis- tinctly one mile. His chest was one of the largest I ever saw. Pereons who pursue a sedentary occupation, and students and scho- lars, besides taking long breaths while sitting, should, at least once or twice an hour, rise up from their seats, walk about the room for a few moments, and fully and thoroughly expand the chest, and throw the shoulders off of the chest, as I have before directed. Those per- sons who have very considerable weakness about the chest, and more or less pain, should commence these exercises kindly and carefully, and gently habituate the chest to gradual changes, so that it will become freely and fully enlarged, without occasioning pain, or pro- ducing any inconvenience whatever. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 293 THE PROPER CARRIAGE AND POSITION OF THE CHEST. The next step to the possession and continuance of a fine chest, is to learn to cany it well, and choose such a position for it as never to allow it to fall forward. In this respect, there is a most astonishing difference between the Anglo-Americans and the Europeans. The latter, as a general rule, have straight, erect chests, whilst the Anglo- Americans most commonly have stooping, flat chests. In walking, dancing, and all pedestrian exercises, the chest should be kept per- fectly erect, and rather falling backwards ; at the same time the head and neck should stand plumb to the spine, not in a stiff and formal way, but in an easy and graceful manner, which habit will soon enable us to do. In sitting on horseback, or in a carriage, the chest and per- son should, at all events, be kept perfectly straight, and not allow the head, neck, chest, and spine to be bent and crushed forward, like the half of a hoop, as we may notice every day. The drivers and conductors of coaches, in England, are usually among the straightest men we meet, and consumption is very rarely met with among them. They usually sit perfectly straight and erect. In this country, I have been repeatedly consulted by stage-drivers, in confirmed consumption, brought on, or at least strongly predisposed to it, by sitting in a contracted, bent position while driving their horses. Pereons pursuing sedentary occupations, such as clerks, stu- dents, watchmakers, and men pursuing sedentary and otherwise light occupations, boys at school, PLATE U. Posterior view of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, and Nerves that go to the arms and lower limbs. Some physicians are constantly on the stretch for spine diseases. Upon the least pain in the back, it is at once subjected to the ordeal of a severe examination ; strong pressure is made upon every part of the spine, and even pounding the spine, to see if a tender spot can be de- tected anywhere. Now, I am disposed to think that tender places can be found upon the spine, in this way, in more than half the peo- ple we meet, at the same time that no spine disease whatever exists. But some physicians, upon finding a slightly tender place upon any part of the spine, immediately announce spine disease, and recom- mend the most excruciating tortures known to us, such as excessive blistering, cupping, and, above all, horrid tartar emetic sores. The truly robust and healthy can bear this without great injury ; but the nervous, the feeble, and the delicate pereons are veiy apt to be over- come by it. In June, 1845, I was consulted at Nantucket, Massa- chusetts, by a lady who suffered considerably from female complaints 326 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. and weakness of her spine. She told me that, seven years before, at the recommendation of her physician, she took a very powerful tartar emetic for a slight pain in her stomach. She vomited for twenty-four houre, which greatly wrenched her back, so that she could scarcely straighten herself for nearly two days. Some time during the second day, her physician called to see another sick pereon in the house, and also spoke to her. She told him that the emetic vomited her very much, and had given her a lame back. The physician said at once he thought she must have the spine disease. On examining her spine where it had been nearly wrenched off, he found some tender- ness, and told, her she had a spine disease, and urged immediate measures for its cure. To effect this he gave her a box of strong tar- tar emetic ointment, directing her to spread a plaster about the width of three fingers, to extend from the root of the neck to the lower extremity of the spine, to be snugly applied, saying to her, that the longer she kept it on the better, even all night if she could bear it. Her sister told me, that by midnight the very bedroom seemed heated by the heat from the sufferer's back. She, however, wore the plaster until the doctor came the next morning, and removed it. Her sister told me, that on taking off the plaster, the whole length of her back presented the appearance of a cullender, the skin being per- forated by a great many holes, eaten by the emetic tartar. The lady did not walk again for three years ; but at last, by laying aside all medicines whatever, Nature gradually and slowly so far triumphed over the skill of the physician", that, at the end of six years from the time of using the fatal plaster, she was able to walk in the street For one year before I saw her, she had been able to take short walks out of doors. The physician was one of the oldest and most respec- table in Nantucket. The lady had enjoyed fair health all her life before. In almost every case of disturbance about the spine, a towel, or piece of cloth, dipped in cold water, or cold salt and water, or even warm water, if cold is rejected, and laid on at bed-time, and fas- tened upon that part of the spine, so as to remain there all night, will, in nearly all cases, in a short time entirely cure the disturbance about the spine, and that without occasioning any debility, suffering, DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 327 or prostration whatever. In addition to this, the spine should be smartly rubbed, and washed with cold water, every night and morn- ing. RHEUMATISM. Warmth is generally recommended, and warm applications, in the cure of rheumatism ; and most people would say at once, that warmth would prevent it,—and this, no doubt, is to a certain extent true. But it is best prevented by keeping up an equal and vigorous health. Nothing does this better than the rules I have pointed out, and, in addition, wash the body all over with cold water every day. The shower-bath, plunging-bath, and sea-bathing, may be used by every- body at their pleasure; but for convenient, general, constant, and universal use, I think the sponge-bath far the best, unless we except sea-bathing; and, as a preventive of rheumatism, I consider the sponge-bath far the best,—this, however, will depend more or less on each individual's experience. In the cure of rheumatism, after it is actually present, I know that pouring cold water upon the parts affected is one of the best remedies. I have known some cases of old, obstinate rheumatism, where the patients were reduced to their crutches, and become perfect cripples, to be completely restored to health by rubbing the parts thoroughly, and pouring cold water upon them every day. WATER CURE. I will say a few words here upon water cure, in general, for con- sumptives. As far as my information extends, I think the water cure alone for consumptives is a total failure, as regards a cure. Fever and night sweats, and many bad symptoms of consumption, are often alleviated by the water cure, whilst the disease itself is not arrested, and in many cases hardly retarded at all, and never cured. I have witnessed many cases of feeble, delicate consumptives, with very little blood in them, subjected to the rigors of the water cure, besides re- quired to take or attempt exercise far beyond their strength ; and, in addition to this, attempting to live on food not suitable to them, dis- pensing with meat, salt, &c, until, in a few weeks, vitality is all- 328 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. most soaked and starved out of them. Vigorous persons, and those abounding in humors, will often find great benefit from the water cure. Pereons with congested lungs or very short breathing, or heart disease, or extensively palsied, should never go under water much, as it may be fatal to them soon. I have witnessed three such cases of immediately fatal consequences. In old pereons, more or less par- alyzed, I have noticed the worst effects from the water cure long con- tinued. The intelligent water cure physician, will take great care to dis- criminate between rheumatism and palsy,—between a, person lame or crippled by rheumatism or palsy. In the last, as far as I know, water may do great harm, employed extensively as may be done at a water cure establishment whilst in rheumatism it is often of great benefit. TREATMENT OF THE FEET. I cannot leave this subject without adverting to the proper man- agement of the feet. It is almost indispensable to health and lon- gevity that we take plenty of exercise. One of the very best of these is walking out of doors as well as within. But if our feet are not in good order, this important exercise cannot be taken, nor will the sym- metry of the body be perfectly preserved, if we cannot walk, or can- not walk well. The feet are mostly affected by corns and enlarge- ment of the joints, &c. One of the best things to prevent corns and enlargement of the joints, provided the boots or shoes are properly fitted, is, at least once a week, to put the feet in hot water, and this should be excessively hot, as much so as can be borne. I usually recommend to my patients to put the feet in hot water once a week, keeping them in the water from fifteen to thirty minutes, and adding hot water every few minutes: to the water you may add salt, wood ashes, sal-seratus, or soda, as you choose. On taking the feet from the water, they should be rubbed perfectly dry, and scrape off the thick parts of the skin made soft by the hot water. The skin should be made as thin as possible. Most pereons will find that this will keep their feet in good order. The hot foot-bath is a most excellent thing for the general health; for colds and pain anywhere, it is ex- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 329 cellent, and does not forbid washing the feet in cold water every day. The hot foot-bath should always be taken at bed-time, and the next morning the feet washed thoroughly in cold water, and daily washed in cold water. Persons in consumption, with night sweats and feeble, should not use a hot foot-bath much, as it often reduces their feeble strength very much. DIET. I have mentioned to you that the reparation of the body, and sup- plying the waste of its substance, is a duty that devolves upon the stomach, and all those parts engaged in the process of digestion. It is of great importance that the food be taken at regular intervals, and that it be such as agrees with the system. On the subject of diet, what kind of food we should eat, and how much, very discrepant rules have been laid down by authors and lecturers. At one time we have a crusade preached against all meat, including fish, flesh, and fowl; at other times, the war has raged against tea and coffee ; and now it runs against every description of stimulant, from pure brandy down to the mildest family home-brewed beer. On these subjects, I look upon it as dangerous to run entirely against the experience of all past generations, and especially on the subject of our eating. Violent and sudden changes in our diet, especially if engaged in exhausting occupations, I consider as very dangerous. Generally speaking, I be- lieve the experience of every nation, for centuries past, on the subject of eating, to be a very fair guide to each nation. To exemplify what I mean, and to exhibit the pernicious effects of sudden changes in our food, I will mention one case. A few years ago, a regular war was set up in Massachusetts and elsewhere against the use of meat as an article of food. Everything in the shape of fish, flesh, or fowl, was attempted to be repudiated. Lecturers, men learned in medicine, and most eloquent, stood forth to vindicate the ex- clusive use of vegetables, and to announce to the thunder-struck people, that all kinds of meat were in their veiy nature deadly poison, and the cause of almost all our diseases. Under the term meat, was included all fish, and every species of shell fish; all flesh meat, fresh or salted ; all fowls, and all game; in fact, everything that had ever possessed 330 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. animal life. Expeiience of a thousand yeare was at once cast to the moles and the bats. Rumor carried something of these great discoveries in diet to Andover Theological Seminary. The students of this re- nowned institution summoned to their halls a gentleman who was a very learned physician, to enlighten them on the important subject of diet. Several persons have described to me the effect of these eloquent lectures, and something of the doctrines taught. One old sea-captain told me that he attended all the lectures. The number he represented to me as being incredible, and " as for eating," said the old man, " he left us, as wholesome, nothing to eat but the pav- ing-stones upon the sea-shore." This is no doubt very hyperbolical, yet it is certain that the bill of fare was greatly abridged. Mr. Farley, the very worthy keeper of the students' eating-room, told me, that at the conclusion of the lectures the committee on diet had a meeting, the result of which was to direct him to discontinue, henceforth and forever, from their table, all meat of every sort. "Why," said Mr. Farley, " we have pork and beans on Monday, shall I not continue that salutary dish ?" " No," said they, " nothing but the simple beans." Mr. Farley at once told his wife he should dine by himself, for his expeiience of fifty yeare and upwards was decidedly in favor of flesh as an article of diet. One young theological student, of rather herculean proportions and western growth, expressed to Mr. F. the greatest regret that he had ever tasted of a mouthful of meat in his hfe ; saying,—" that he believed, if he had not done so, he might have anticipated a tolerably long life ; but," added he, " what I have done was from ignorance, and never will I taste meat again while I five." The vegetable diet commenced eight weeks before the end of the term, and was kept up in its greatest rigor for those eight weeks. Such was the disastrous effects upon the health of the stu- dents, that Mr. Farley told me he believed that its continuance four weeks longer would have broken up the school. As it was, about thirty young men lost their healths; nearly all of whom became dys- peptic, and several sunk into consumption. The herculean young man was one of the sufferers: his head and nervous system became so much affected, that he could not possibly study. After trying a change of air, and every means to regain his health, he found it im- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 331 possible to continue his studies, so following " the star of empire," he wended his way west, to Michigan, where he is now a useful farmer. The school re-assembled at the expiration of four weeks, and then the committee on diet having somewhat the fear of vegetables before their eyes, ordered more meat than had ever been known before. Here and there a solitary instance can be found of a person well sustained by vegetable diet only; but in general, meat, in moderation, is everywhere considered a salutary article of diet by those able to procure it. The amount of food required to be eaten by adults, must always be determined by the waste of the substance of the body when in health. The amount of this waste depends on the greater or less degree of exercise and labor. Outdoor exercise and out-door labor causing more waste than in-door labor and exercise. The appetite of a pereon in health and regular habits is a very fair criterion of the amount of food required to supply the waste of the substance of the body. This amount every pereon should eat, and no more, so that all human beings will vary, more or less, in the re- lative quantity they eat; and the same individual will differ from himself, in proportion as the amount of his labor and exercise differ. In general, a varied and simple diet is the best, consisting of pure, wholesome food. No rancid meat or butter, no spoiled vegetables, or the flour of bad grain, should ever be tasted. One of the great se- crets of the health and longevity of the noble families of England, France, Italy, Germany, and, in general, of all Europe, is owing to the great care in the quality and selection of the articles composing their food, its sufficiency, its variety, and in its preparation and cook- ery. There is no laying down rules of diet that will suit every one, either in kind or quantity. I recommend indulging in every variety of food that we find is not absolutely pernicious. For kind, be guided far more by experience than by precept; and for quantity, be go- verned, in moderation, by the requirements of a well-regulated appe- tite ; but be sure that all the food you eat is perfect in its kind. Above all things, avoid taking up notions or crotchets upon the sub- ject of diet; should you do this, you will soon find the tone of the stomach impaired, and the variety of food you could otherwise eat greatly abridged. In general, the mass of mankind follow a correct 332 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. experience on the subject of diet. Never indulge in gluttony, as ex- cesses in eating are often very dangerous. I knew a young officer of the U. S. Army enjoying excellent health, who was killed by an ex- cessive supper. I believe nearly all cases of persons found dead in their beds, who have retired in apparent health, may be traced to some error in diet. I will leave the subject to the judicious experience of every one. I think the substitution of coffee, in lieu of milk, for our children, to be very pernicious indeed. No scrofulous person should drink much coffee. No consumptive, no asthmatic, no dyspeptic, no person with heart troubles or head troubles, or costive, nervous or diarrhoea, or liver complaint, or bilious, or troubled with any humor, rheumatism, or neuralgia, or kidney troubles, should ever touch coffee. Let it alone. If you can have pure black tea and pure cocoa, or chocolate, from which all its oil has been perfectly and completely removed, you may Use them if they agree with you. Children under fifteen years of age never should drink coffee, at the most only once in a week, and then very sparingly. Milk is best for them. EXERCISE. I have told you that the human frame is a machine. Now, this machine, like many machines of human invention, suffere greatly by continued, repose. Every day, when in health, exercise should be ta- ken sufficiently to excite, in moderation, every part of the body. For this purpose, we may adopt walking, riding both on horseback and in a carriage, nearly every species of rural labor, and many kinds of in-door labor, pureued in moderation. Dancing, both for males and females, is one of the finest exercises of which we have any know- ledge. It is one of the oldest known to us, and one of the best. Taken in the open air, it is better than in-doore ; but either in or out of doors, when accompanied by the harmony of music, it at once dis- sipates the tedium of life, excites, in high activity, the circulation of the blood, exercises every part of the body, and vivifies the whole nervous system. I do not speak of the dissipation of dancing—far from it; I only speak of it when practised in moderation, as an ex- ercise. For the delicate, the sickly, and the sedentary, it is invalu- DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 333 able, and may be practised every day, and at all seasons of the year, and, of course, in all weathers. All the outdoor athletic exercises practised by men are valuable in promoting robust health, and may always be taken, when circumstances will allow. ANIMAL PLEASURES—PROPAGATION OF THE SPECIES. Perhaps there is no subject upon which a lecturer can speak that is more delicate than this, which I have referred to as the third great object of the human machine. Every man knows his own history and his own peculiar excitements. All that I will say, is, that exces- sive indulgence in secret vices, animal passions, and unbridled lusts, is apt, especially if indulged in when young, to destroy the nervous system, frequently producing affections of the spinal marrow and brain, and early insanity, and premature death. At its best, it often breaks down all the powers of the* system, destroys the voice, and in- duces dyspepsia, throat disease, and pulmonary consumption. Later in life, these excesses produce imbecility and premature old age. In all these respects, study purity—sin not against your own body—in- dulge in the refined enjoyments of marriage—and from these sources you will receive no impediment to the continuance of health and the attainment of long life. Extinguish the burnings of passion in the sacred delights of marriage, and you will find the most noble and exquisite pleasure in the society of your wives and the love of your children, towards whom you should be a Providence, Protector, Pro- phet, and Priest. SYMMETRY OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF THE BODY. Extreme gratification is always conferred upon me when I have an opportunity of addressing a body of intelligent and reflecting meri)—men of mature age, who can take up the subject on which I lecture, dispel all crudities and hyperboles, and treasure up the teach- ings, noticing if their application is pernicious or useful, and thus, by observation and experiment, determine what is false and what is tru \ and ever after retaining and diffusing whatever is true and important. 334 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. In the early part of this lecture, I spoke to you on the importance of preserving the external form of the human machine in perfect sym- metry, keeping the head and neck, the shouldere, the chest, the spine, limbs, &c, all in the admirable perfection of their natural formation, when no deformity has been introduced by art, by incorrect habits, &c, &c. I now come to speak to you of the symmetry of the internal or- gans of the body. I mentioned to you, that symmetry was the very key of health ; that the human system is a machine put together and acting upon mechanical principles ; that each part has its appropriate bearings, every part being constructed to a symmetrical arrange- ment. These remarks applying to the external form of the person, also apply with equally great force to the internal parts of the body. I believe that all diseases proceed from two causes only : one is loss of symmetry, either in size, position, function, or integrity; the other is from poison. The human person may be likened to a box or trunk. Now, suppose this trunk, the person, to be laid flat upon the back, we should then find the bottom and sides mostly solid, whilst the top or covering of the trunk would be solid only at one end, across the chest, whilst the lower part of it is covered with elastic belts. Now fill this trunk full, as it is laid flat on the back, and set it up on end, we shall find that every thing inclines to settle down to the lower part, and press against the elastic belts ; now, unless these belts are extremely firm, they will become relaxed or stretched, and allow the different parts of the inside of the body, more or less, to fall down out of their places. On examining the trunk of the body, we find the lungs, the heart, with the blood-vessels, air-pipes, &c, besides some small glands, filling up the whole chest. These parts possess considerable weight. The chest is a basket of bones, entirely open at the bottom, or its only floor is a loose, fleshy, moveable curtain, that floats up and down between the chest and abdomen. At the top of the abdomen, towards the left side, and stowed up against the loose floor of the chest, we find the stomach, that, when full, with its contents, weighs several pounds. We find, also, the liver, at the top of the right side of the abdomen, a solid, heavy mass of several pounds weight. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 335 Beneath these, we have the large bowel, which, with its contents, is very heavy, and besides these the caul, and the small bowels. All these, in some large persons, weigh fifty or sixty pounds, or even more. Now all this immense weight, checked only by slight fasten- ings, is at last fully supported by the abdominal belts, by the belts that cover the front of the abdomen, which take their origin or in- sertion from the lower edge of the breast-bone, from the lower edge of all the short ribs, from the back-bone in the small of the back, and from the upper edge, all around the basket of the hips. (For a view of these belts, and their situation, see Plate E.) Whilst in perfect ^ health, and whole, these belts keep all the different parts of the inside of the body fully and snugly up to their places ; but when broken anywhere, very promptly, we see the bowels gushing out, and drag- ging everything inside out of its place; and if any way considerable, the individual can neither stand nor walk. This is exemplified in the case of ruptures. I once knew a sturdy blacksmith who had an im- mense rupture, and wore a truss. While the truss was well adjusted and kept the bowels in their place, he got along tolerably well; but if the truss moved out of place, great quantities of the bowels would instantly glide out,—at once causing loss of strength and faintness, leaving him no resource but to throw himself flat on his back, when the bowels would stop falling down ; he would then have to push the bowels back into place, and adjust his truss so as to keep them up, when he could at once go about his business. Now, from a mul- tiplicity of causes, although there will be found no open space through the abdomen, yet the belts covering it become stretched or relaxed, and do not keep the internal parts of the body in their places; and in this way, the stowage of the internal parts of the body, and all the internal organs, experience jarring, and settling downwards, producing a condition I shall denominate FALLING OF THE BOWELS. Now, the falling of the bowels occasions a vast amount of sickness, of which, when I speak, will be mentioned as caused by falling of the bowels, whilst the falling of the bowels is, itself, produced by re- laxation, or stretching, or weakness of the abdominal belts. (See 336 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. PLATE R. Plates O, P, and R, and notice all the different organs of the body there.) As you see them in their places, you will observe how readily their forms will incline them to fall downwards, which, if they do, will produce some or all of the following diseases of the system, depending on the extent of the relaxation of the belts, and falling of the bowels; at one time producing some one of the symptoms in only a slight degree, and at other times causing the most terrible effects, and cer- tain death. I will now mention some of the effects produced by this upon the large organs. Firet, the effect of falling of the bowels UPON THE LUNGS. By looking at Plates D and C, you will observe that the lungs are wedge-shaped. Their points, or smallest portions, are highest up under the collar-bones, whilst their heaviest and largest parts are lowest, and rest on the floor of the chest, and greatly incline to drag downwards. It is entirely indispensable to perfect health of the DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 337 lungs, that the bowels be well kept up, so that there shall be no un- natural falling down of the floor of the lungs. The effect upon the lungs of the falling of the bowels is to cause a sense of extreme weak- ness and sinking feeling at the top of the chest. The breath enters the lungs, and seems to be lost—the sufferer being unable to fill up the top of the chest; and thus, as I said in my chapter upon the causes of pul- monary consumption, if any part of the lungs is not kept well expand- f ed, it lays the foundation for pulmonary consumption, so that falling - of the bowels is a very frequent cause of consumption ; and the lungs being allowed to fall downwards, engorgement of the top of the lungs, or a secretion of tuberculous matter there, will rapidly take place. BLEEDING AT THE LUNGS Often arises from a falling of the bowels; the top of the lungs being so dragged down, that the blood does not circulate well through them. The sense of weakness at the top of the chest, and of being all gone there, causes the person to stoop very much, and to bring the shoulders forward. I never attempt to cure pulmonary consumption without using means to have the bowels well brought up to their places, and thus have the floor of the lungs well supported. A. great many con- sumptions arise from falling of the bowels, particularly in delicate pereons. WEAKNESS AND LOSS OF VOICE, AND DISEASE OF THE AIR-PIPES, PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. It will be very obvious to you, that if the lungs are not well filled with air, that their dragging down will bear heavily and at once upon the small air-pipes, the windpipe, and the organs of the voice, so that one of the earliest effects of falling of the bowels is to produce weakness, and even loss of voice; the voice at times becoming hoarse and husky, and weak, falling to a whisper. Talking or reading aloud occasions great exhaustion, a soreness in the throat, dryness and heat in the windpipe. The efforts to speak greatly strain the windpipe. Public speakers are, in this way, rapidly driven from their desks, and their usefulness destroyed. Many of these broken-down men, I have restored to usefulness by the aid of few medicines, and giving perfect 15 338 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. abdominal support, so that the lungs should be well lifted up, in order that no dragging down of the windpipe, or vocal organs, can take place. Some clergymen, who are sagacious observers of themselves, I have known to cure all weakness of voice in themselves, by inventing and applying support to the abdomen. To permanently cure weak- ness of voice, and disease about the windpipe, I deem it indispensa- ble to have the abdomen perfectly supported. SHORT BREATH, AND DIFFICULT BREATHING AT TIMES, May be said to be an universal accompaniment—indeed, they are among the first symptoms or indications—of falling of the bowels. Short breathing in men, especially after the middle period of life, panting upon any inconsiderable exercise, and for these reasons great difficulty in walking fast, whilst running and dancing are nearly im- possible, and next to impossible to lift a heavy weight. In April, 1845, I was consulted at New-Bedford, Mass., by a man who was a resident of Westport, Mass. He owned and resided" upon a small farm, but was unable to do any labor whatever. Hjs lungs were very much affected, bleeding at the lungs, cough, &c. He had not been able to do any work for four years, and was not able to stoop down and raise up a 4 lb. weight. He was in consumption. His was an aggravated case of falling of the bowels. I gave him suitable remedies for his lungs, and an abdominal supporter. I saw him in July following. He walked four miles on a warm afternoon, to see me. He told me he was in perfect health, and could lay stone wall fifteen hours in a day. In October, 1846, he informed me, by letter, that he continues in fair health. PALPITATION OF THE HEART, And disturbance of its functions, are very often produced by falling of the bowels, even stoppage of the heart and fainting, when the per- son falling, or being laid down, the heart resumes its action. I have often witnessed apparent heart-disease cured simply by an ab- dominal supporter, but usually medical remedies are required. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 339 SINKING FEELING, AND ALL-GONE AT THE PIT OF THE STOMACH. This is one of the most common symptoms of falling of the bowels; an extreme sense of exhaustion, as if there was a large empty space in the stomach, that nothing could fill. The food, upon eating, seems to pass away and to leave the same hollow, empty feeling. This is par- ticularly the case with men who stand a great deal at a work-bench. I was consulted in April, .1844, at Springfield, Mass., by a tin-worker, who told me that he had suffered this distressed feeling about the pit of the stomach for six yeare. He supposed it was occasioned by standing so continually at his work, which was no doubt the case. I gave him his remedies. The second ■ day after, his wife called to see me, with a message from her husband, saying, that he had not spent such an agreeable day for six years as the firet day that he had used all my remedies. All the functions of the stomach are more or less impaired by falling of the bowels; and the person feels at that point as if cut in two, and is greatly disposed to stoop. INFLUENCE OF THE FALLING OF THE BOWELS , UPON THE LIVER. The weight of the liver is so considerable, that, unless the abdo- minal belts are very firm, it is apt to fall down, more or less, out of its place, sometimes so as to obstruct the bile-ducts, inclining, partially, to induce jaundice, and to stop the regular passage of the bile from the liver. When the falling of the bowels is excessive, the effect upon the liver is, at times, deplorable, as it may become very much dislo- cated, and even torn, so as to produce fatal effects. I have no doubt but that inflammation of the liver is very often produced by its not being well supported. To prove this, I will give one example. A few yeare ago, a gentleman visited Saratoga Springs for his health. He had a diseased liver. He recovered his health very rapidly. At the end of four weeks, proposing to return home, he started on a hard- trotting horee. The gentleman rode eighteen miles the first after- noon, and, at the dusk of evening, stopped at a tavern, disposed of his horse, and immediately retired to bed. The next morning he 340 LECTURE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. was found dead in his bed. His body was examined by Dr. Steele, of Saratoga, when it was found that his liver had been recently healed of ulcers, and that the old and new portions of liver, by the hard trotting of the horse and consequent jarring and falling of the liver, had been torn apart, causing a considerable loss of blood, that flowed into the cavity of the abdomen, and produced death. Proper ab- dominal support would have entirely prevented this. BREAKING AWAY OF THE BOWELS THEMSELVES, BY RELAXATION OF THE ABDOMINAL BELTS. I have repeatedly witnessed cases where the large bowel has been torn out of its place, more or less, from lifting heavy weights, or from excesses in exercise, or accidents, or severe straining of the bowels. In these cases, weakness and pain are apt to continue a great many years. I was consulted at Worcester, Mass., by a tall, delicate young man, who, by walking many miles on a very hot day, had caused a very severe dragging down of the liver and breaking away of the bowel at its great turn in the right side. (See the situation of this bowel on Plate C.) He had great heat, and smarting, and weak- ness in the. side, inability to walk far, and unable to perform any hard labor. I witnessed another case where this bowel was broken away in front, and another in the left side, causing a great deal of pain, weakness, and debility. After continuing a year or two, the sensation is that of hopeless debility in the affected part. One case I witnessed where the pain and suffering had continued for thirty yeare. All these cases were promptly cured by a few suitable medi- cines and perfect abdominal support. A relaxation of the abdominal belts and falling of the bowels will often produce great weakness and debility in the bowels themselves. This leads, in many cases, to HABITUAL COSTIVENESS. At other times, the very opposite state of the bowels will be pro- duced, and the patient will suffer greatly from a chronic diarrhoea. Both of these states of the bowels, so opposite to each other, it is well known often arise from the same cause,—that is, debility and want of tone in the bowels, which are produced or greatly aggravated by DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 341 a relaxation of the abdominal belts. Suitable medicines and abdo- minal support will usually effect a speedy cure. UMBILICAL HERNIA, Or rupture at the navel, I have repeatedly cured, by the use of the abdominal supporter. PILES. This disease, which gives trouble, disquietude, and suffering, pro- ducing very severe illness in some persons, I believe is nearly always caused by falling of the bowels. By referring to Plate S, you will notice that the large bowel, just as it becomes straight, is tied to the centre of the back part of the basket of the hips, and passes through it to go out of the body. Now, when the bowels fall down, they are exceedingly apt to fall upon the large bowel, where it is tied to the back-bone, pressing it, more or less, hard against the bone, and thus preventing the return of the blood from the lower portion of the large bowel. Piles may be greatly aggravated by the condition of the liver, by scrofula, or by a humor in the system, and by costiveness ; but I believe the grand producing cause is almost always a falling down of the floating bowels upon the straight bowel, after it is tied in its place to the bone, as it commences to become straight, &c.; and upon this condition »of things will result the various kinds of piles, as blind piles, bleeding piles, external piles, &c, all produced by the same cause, that is, the bowel is so obstructed above, that the blood which enters it cannot return, and hence results this disease. In nearly every case, this is relieved and often cured by removing costiveness, and using a suitable ointment. But for a radical and permanent cure, support is usually required to lift the bowels up to their place. I have had the pleasure of curing a vast many cases of piles, and do not recollect to have ever failed doing so, where the patient fol- lowed my directions. By tying a string around a finger, you will notice how soon the end of the finger will begin to swell, and jr*- 342 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. if the string is kept on any length of time blood will ooze out from under the nail; precisely in the same way piles are produced, be- cause obstruction prevents the return of the blood. GRAVEL PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. In another place I haje spoken to you of the cause of gravel in the bladder, as occasioned by the urine being long retained in it. I then explained to you the situation of the bladder, the kidneys, and the pipes that convey the water from the kidneys to the blad- der (for a view of which, see Plate S.) Now, when the bowels fall downwards, they are exceedingly apt to fall upon the pipes that convey the water from the kidneys to the bladder, and thus obstruct the passage of water from the chamber of the kidneys, so that it deposits its earths, salts, and acids in the kidneys, thus producing gravel in these organs in a great many persons, causing a great deal of heat, pain, and weakness in the small of the back. Sometimes the affection will be confined to one kidney, which is shown by pain and heat on one side only. At times, gravel in the kidneys is not only produced, but other diseases of the kidneys, inflammation, ulceration of the kidneys, &c. To cure these, requires suitable medicines and abdominal support. PAIN AND WEAKNESS IN THE SMALL OF THE BACK, WITH THREATENED DISEASE OF THE SPINE. By referring to Plate S, you will see that the abdominal belts are tied to the back-bone, in the small of the back, and that where it is quite weak and unsupported. Now, when the abdominal belts become relaxed, and the bowels sway down considerably, they pro- duce severe pressure upon the spine of the back, this very soon renders the back so weak and painful, that much difficulty is ex- perienced in walking, and great weakness is felt over all the lower parts of the body, so that in some persons the water will pass off in- voluntarily and they may become perfectly impotent. All this is re- lieved by a suitable supporter, and by such medicines as give strength to the spine. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 343 PLATE V. Heart and Blood-Vessels. PAINS IN THE LIMBS PRODUCED BY FALLING OF THE BOWELS. I have often witnessed great pain in the limbs produced by falling of the bowels upon the large nerves that go out from the basket of the hips to the lowrer extremities. In September, 1844, at Bristol, Conn., I was consulted by one of their most enterprising men, on account of very great pain he suf- fered in the lower limbs, which was so great as to threaten to deprive him of all power to pursue his farming occupations. He was quite astonished when I told him I thought it proceeded from a falling down of the bowels, and that I thought he could soon be cured, as he had began to despair of all relief. Having taken a great deal of medical advice and medicines, and used many remedies without the least benefit, I had the pleasure of relieving this gentleman in one 344 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. week, by a few medicines and supporting the bowels. I beheve nearly or quite all similar cases would yield to the same treatment. SWELLING OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. By looking at Plate V, you will have a view of the large blood- vessels that go down out of the basket of the hips to the lower extre- mities, and also a view of the large vessels that return from the lower extremities through and into the basket of the hips, to go to the heart. Now, when the bowels fall downwards, they are very apt to press upon these large blood-vessels, and obstruct the return of the blood, causing swelling of the lower extremities, and an obstructed circulation of blood in them, and a sensation as if the limbs were asleep. At times so intense is this feeling as to become veiy dis- tressing indeed. Even coldness of the feet and legs will often arise from this cause. Swelling of the large veins of the legs and feet is often produced by falling of the bowels. All may be cured by abdo- minal support. ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER. Many instruments have been invented and used to support the bowels. We should recollect that the object of a supporter is to raise up the bowels to their place, and keep them there. Some abdominal supporters are objectionable, because they press flatly against the bowels, and do not lift them up more than they press them down, and thus sometimes aggravating instead of relieving the disease for which they are employed. Other supporters are objectionable, be- cause they swaddle up the hips, and prevent free walking. Others are so formed as to press upon the spine of the back, thus occasioning some of the worst cases of spine disease I have ever seen. Othere are made to be stiff and rigid without any elasticity, not allowing any movement of the bowels after they are once put on. Othere, again, act more upon one side of the person than the other, having a spring upon one side and a strap upon the other, and in this way preventing an equal action. Othere are most inconveniently cumbersome and weighty, or produce far too much heat. Now, all these objections are perfectly unnecessary in a good supporter. The instrument I DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 345 employ for supporting the bowels is made of steel springs, weighing only a few ounces, and perfectly elastic, and prepared with suitable pads, so as perfectly to support and lift up the bowels. The pads at the back do not touch the spine or go very near it; nor do they touch the small of the back, but rest upon the short ribs above, and the hip-bones below, so that while the bowels are perfectly supported and kept in their places, the spine of the small of the baci is completely relieved from any pressure. The springs do not g« round, or press upon the hips, but rise on both sides above them, so that no obstruction whatever is experienced from them in walking, in working, in dancing, or in any kind of exercise. By the elasticity of the springs, and their easy but effectual pressure, no chafing or suffering is produced anywhere, yet the bowels and the back are per- fectly supported, whilst the instrument, yielding to every movement of the body, seems perfectly ahve, and keeps all the parts in sym- metry. After being worn one or two days, its presence gives no incon- venience whatever, and is remembered only from its constant support. It is worn with the pleasure of a well fitted glove. I scarcely need re- mark, that it is not necessary to wear the supporter in bed; it is not worn next to the pereon, but over some part of the clothing. (See Plates L and M.) If from any cause the bladder is much inflamed, the abdominal supporter cannot be worn until this inflammation is relieved, when it may be most usefully worn. SLEEP AND BEDS. I look upon sleep as one of the appetites. It is most eminently connected with all those organs that repair the waste and exhaustion of the body, allowing them perfect liberty to exercise their restora- tive functions, whilst when perfect, it lays at rest all those organs which, when in action, exhaust the system, or waste the substance of the body. Hence the limbs, the senses, the brain, are all at rest in perfect sleep : and so is the whole nervous system, except those parts of it that give action to the repairing organs, which never sleep, and are chiefly the lungs, heart, blood-vessels?; stomach, bowels, kidneys, the skin, the liver, and the appendages of these different pnt3. Con- sidering sleep as an appetite, we find that like hunger, it comes to us, 15* 346 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. when in health, at those times when the waste or exhaustion of the body requires it. As the waste or exhaustion of the body differs in every individual, so, like the food, there is no laying down any rules to determine the amount of sleep that any individual requires ; and he must be governed by a well-regulated appetite for it. Laying upon soft downy beds much of the time, is very apt to produce effeminacy and loss of strength. As a general principle, our beds should be rather hard than soft, and more or less elastic, if possible. Straw, hair mattresses, &c, make excellent beds for the warm and temperate periods of the year, and in winter feather beds are often employed to advantage. In Italy I saw most excellent mattresses for beds, that were made by preparing the outer covering, or husks, or shucks, of the ear of Indian corn. These, on being combed or split into fine threads, serve to form most delightful mat- tresses. Too much clothing should never be employed in bed, yet every pereon should be warm and comfortable while in bed, but not so warm as to be kept in a state of perspiration. The time for sleep is, by the universal consent of all nations, allotted to the hours when the sun is below the horizon. In very hot countries, the people sleep more or less in the day-time. The loss of sleep, and the dissipation of late hours, are usually found highly pernicious. Early rising is re- marked to be an almost universal habit of old people. To this I have never met with but one exception. This gentleman was seventy- seven yeare old, and indulged in sleep to rather a late hour of the morning. CONCLUSION. I have now detained you, gentlemen, as long as your patience or my time will permit. I could introduce other subjects, or enlarge each one upon which we have spoken, to a full discourse, and so am- plify and exemplify the subjects as to swell them to an indefinite ex- tent ; but I forbear, contenting myself with throwing out the ideas, and leaving to your expeiience and intelligence the task of supplying what I have omitted. I again repeat to you what I have before said, that few die of old age until after one hundred years, and many, very DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 347 many, have hved far on towards two hundred years. All may five to reach the utmost verge of longevity, provided accidents do not oc- cur—diseases are obviated, and premature exhaustion of the system does not take place from our own war upon it. In order to attain to long hfe, we must have health every day. Excesses of all kinds must be avoided. The symmetry of the body, both external and in- ternal, must be preserved. We must study the capability of each part of our system, and over-work or exhaust no part. In this coun- try, many suffer most from over-exertion, not allowing their systems time for self-reparation. Our systems can bear much, and live on, but there is a limit to their powers of endurance, beyond which they cannot pass. The amount that can be safely accomplished differs in each, yet the weak often endeavor to emulate the strong, and crush their own systems by their excessive labors. This is strikingly exem- plified in many of our schools of learning. What one there accom- plishes in two years with ease, another, to do it with safety, requires four years. Yet emulation, or supposed necessity, prompts the last one also to finish the task in two years. Now the midnight oil is con- sumed ; now the taxed brain reels under its efforts; now the nervous system begins to falter; now, the organs of reparation, faithful friends to those who treat them rightly, lose their power to supply the waste and exhaustion of the system, and veiy soon the brain, the lungs, the heart, the stomach, or the bowels, one or all, cease their wonted healthy action, until the human frame, like a noble ship, that instead of resisting the elements and making them subservient to her pur- poses, yields to their blows, deviating from her course, and is driven madly and rapidly forward to destruction. This is the fate of millions, not only of students and scholars, but those of every occupation. Everywhere pereons may be found, who, for a while, do two days' work in one; but in a short period the machine breaks down, and the imprudent person becomes an invalid, or is cut off in the midst o/ his days. I will repeat to you, tax no organ beyond its powers; preserve all, and life will roll on, in a smooth, unbroken current, until a century is marked upon the dial of our years. If any of you discredit what [ say of excesses upon the human machine, go and survey all the 348 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. operations of machinery of human invention, and ask the keepers how long will last a piece of machinery driven beyond its powers \ And again, ask how long would the same machine endure, when only required to do a reasonable duty, when promptly repaired on discov- ering the slightest defect, and always judiciously preserved ? The answers will fully satisfy you that what 1 have said of the human ma- chine is correct. Study, as you value life and health, a just equilibrium between rest and exercise, between repose and labor, between repa- ration and exhaustion, and between the supplies and waste of the system, and never tax any organ that is in a state of disorder or de- bility. No animal can endure as much as man. The care that is bestowed upon a favorite horse, if extended to ourselves, would give us good health. THE EFFECT OF VICE UPON LONGEVITY. One word more, and I will conclude. Allow me to speak of the effects of wickedness, vice, and immorality upon longevity. It is a very interesting fact, and a very curious one, and to my mind a very strong argument, that the same mind that dictated those precepts of morality which we find enjoined upon us in the Old and New Testa- ments, was also the framer of the human machine. This curious fact is, that everything laid down in the sacred volumes of the Old and New Testaments, as vice, is most strongly and strikingly opposed to longevity, and most fully justifies the expression of the inspired penman, " that the wicked shall not live out half their days." On the contrary, all the virtues enjoined and recommended in those sacred books are most strikingly conducive to long life, to length of days, to longevity. I speak this to you, gentlemen, not as a moral preacher, but as a physician, as an observer of those agents which destroy or shorten life, or which promote and continue it. Now, we will take those three great purposes for which the human body was formed. In the firet place, the mind, in order to its full development and high- est attainment, requires unruffled tranquillity; this will prevent its destroying the frail brain by which it acts. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 349 Notice the effects of— And on the contrary, th Anger, Kindness, Jealousy, Confidence, Remorse, Peace, Hatred, Love, Envy, Good will, Covetousness, Generosity, Revenge, Forgiveness, Despair, Hope, Profanity, Reverence, Fraud, Integrity, Fear, Courage, Thieving, Honesty, Cruelty, Compassion, { Contentment, Discontent \ Patience, L Cheerfulness, Grief, Resignation. Now let any pereon reflect upon the state of mind produced by any of those vices, the excitement of the brain, and the tendency of this excitement to produce apoplexy, fever, inflammations, &c. How many lives have been lost by sudden fits of anger, or burets of passion. How often the heart itself has been buret by a fit of anger. I have known a pereon reduced to a perfect skeleton by a fit of remorse, and with it every symptom of rapid dissolution, and the same person restored to good health in an equally short time, upon obtaining for- giveness for the crime that had occasioned the remoree. Again, we have seen fear turn the hair perfectly white in twelve houre. The effects of these different vices or passions are to break up the human machine, and suddenly cut off life. Even profane swearing is calcu- lated to produce an undue excitement of the system. So that all these too much excite or depress the functions of the brain, and thus remove that organ, and the nervous system, far from that repose and tranquillity necessary to health and longevity. Run the eye over the list of virtues, and notice how beautifully and sweetly they harmonize 350 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. with all the functions of the system. They produce perfect peace to the whole human machine. When I read the moral law, found in God's Holy Word, for Man's guidance, and then contemplate the laws that govern the human frame, I am forced to exclaim the same mind dictated them both ; so perfectly congenial are they to each other, that no human being can break God's moral laws without injuring himself. The keeping of those laws is always beneficial to the human system. Again, let us notice the vices which concern those organs that effect the reparation of the body. We find them to be- Opposed are— Prodigality, Economy, Indolence, Industry, Gluttony, Temperance, Drunkenness. Sobriety. I have repeatedly had occasion to remans to you the effect of these vices upon health and longevity. All of them are most fruitful causes of early death. What is more prolific of disease, or shortens life sooner, than gluttony, drunkenness, and excesses ? As for indolence, it produces a very rust of all the organs of the system, and contri- butes greatly to shorten life. Again, look at the opposites of these, temperance, sobriety, prudence, industry, and economy, and see how perfectly they are adapted to the well-being of the system, and how indispensable they are to long life. Look at the third great division of the purposes of the human frame. Notice the vices— Opposed to these are— Impurity, Purity, Fornication, Restraint, Lust, Virtue, Adultery. Chastity. The sword has slain its thousands, but these vices have slain their millions. Go to the gallows, to the state prison, to the murderer's grave, to the resting-place of the suicide, to the hospitals for the in- sane, to the residence of the outcast, and they will tell you, in words DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 351 not to be mistaken, the effect of these vices. The diseases engendered by them are among the most terrible the human machine suffere. It is out of my power now to tell you the number of deaths annually arising from these vices. But, taking the whole habitable globe, the number is absolutely incredible, and contributes greatly to shorten human life. On the contrary, see how peculiarly friendly to the hu- man machine is chastity, purity, and virtue. No triumph can be greater than that of the ardent man over his passions. And this triumph greatly contributes to lengthen his days. Let me also say, that, in general, all our vices unite together, and contribute to strength- en each other, and whether few or many, they are always at war with the peace and health of the human machine. All of them contribute largely to shorten human hfe. It is another curious fact, that none of these are so incorporated with the system as to be uncontrollable or out of our power to prevent, and cannot be said, in any respect, to form a part of the human machine in any way; they being entirely under the control of the will, and, whenever present, exist as abuses, none of them ever being committed involuntarily, we must always consent before we do them. Again, all the virtues unite together and support each other. Each triumph we make over any vice, power- fully strengthens our virtues. All the virtues contribute to the well- being of the human machine, and give a mighty preponderance to those elements that strengthen and-fortify it, contributing to confer upon it immunity from some diseases, and assist to bestow upon it great length of days, even the days designed in its orginal formation, which I believe to be from one to two hundred years. I said that I had noticed these facts in relation to virtue and vice as a physician. Allow me now to add, that I delight in them as a Christian. They assist much to strengthen my belief, that when, that change comes to me, and will come to us all, ray eyes will then be opened to that other state of existence, whose glories and grandeur are heightened by the feehng that there can be no change except from glory to glory, and whose great endowments are health, purity, and immortality. 352 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. CASE OF A CURE OF PILES. In July, 1843, at Troy, N. Y., I met the subject of this case. He was afflicted with most distressing piles, and was of a very scrofulous habit I then soon cured his piles by medical treatment He was, a little time before, forced to lay for weeks upon his back, being una- ble to walk, stand up, or do anything for any length of time. After I prescribed for him, he remained well until the next March, when his disease returned upon him so as to greatly impair his strength. In April, 1844, I gave him an abdominal supporter, which soon worked a radical cure. Copy of a letter from Mr. John B. Whiton to Dr. S. S. Fitch. "Weathersfield, Dec. 11, 1844. "Dr. S. S. Fitch: " Dear sir,—In reply to your inquiries, I will inform you that I was afflicted with most distressing piles for about three years. In July, 1846, I met you at Troy, New-York. I was at that time, and fre- quently before, so reduced that I could not do any business, could not ride, and hardly walk. My usefulness was entirely destroyed ; you relieved me by medicines. "In March, 1844, I was again attacked, and suffered very much from piles, so as greatly to impair my general health. The first of April, you gave me an abdominal supporter, which in a short time per- fectly cured me. I have now been well ever since. I feel most grate- fully obliged to you, and cannot but most confidently recommend your supporters to all persons who may be troubled with piles, as, in my opinion, the only radical mode of cure. John B. Whiton." MANAGEMENT OF SCROFULA, &c. Case of Kelita B. Townley. In August 1845, I visited several of the springs in Western Vir- ginia, and among othere the celebrated Red Sulphur Springs. My object in visiting these springs was to observe their effect upon the consumptive. On my return, I stopped at Lynchburg, Va. I there DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 853 saw the subject of these remarks, one of the most distressed men I ever saw. He was one of the proprietors of the " Lynchburg Virgin- ian," (newspaper.) He had been sick about five yeare, and for the last year had been confined to his bed and room all the time, and in despair had left off taking any medicine. He had a large sore upon the left hip and another upon the left thigh. The left leg, from the knee downward, embracing the whole of the left foot, toes, &c, ex- cept the sole, presented the appearance of a raw blistered surface, and felt in every respect as if it had been recently blistered. From every part thus affected, constantly oozed out a burning watery liquid, that produced constant heat in the parts, with great smarting and burning, giving the whole leg the sensation of suffering from a terrible burn. I saw him early in September, '45. In the latter part of September, I received a letter from him, which is sufficiently explicit without any farther comments. I have again and again cured cases of running scrofula in persons, who, after trying every remedy in their reach, and suffering for yeare, had considered themselves hopelessly incurable. I should say, that I consider scrofula as comprising in my opinion scro- fula or king's evil, and all skin diseases whatsoever, all comprised un- der the term "a humor," differing because located on different tissues, and requiring different medicines, but originating from similar, or near- ly similar causes. Copy of a letter from Kelita B. Townley to Dr. S. S. Fitch. " Lynchburg, Va., 11 mo. (Nov.) 19, 1845. " Respected friend :—Thy letter dated * Portland, Maine, 7th Nov. 1845,' was received on yesterday. It will, no doubt, be gratifying to thee to learn that I have left my bed and my room. I am now going about; however, as the body is covered with new skin, it is of course quite sensitive, consequently the action of the air, &c, causes some suffering. There is still, too, some vestige of the disease, causing occasionally some irritation. My leg, which was principally disordered at the time of thy visit to me, is disposed, since I have commenced walking about, to swell. Inwardly I feel better than I have felt for 15 yeare. It is proper to say that I have, from early life, been affficted with a bronchial disorder. At one time it 354 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. was very severe, and it may be that it had a hurtful influence over my lungs. At this time the bronchitis is much improved, and I am inclined to think that, except an asthmatic affection, my lungs are not much disordered. I have had, and perhaps I have now, a good constitution, not in any organ impaired by my age, which is 48. My habits through life have been temperate, and if I may be permitted to lay aside modesty, virtuous. However, it is proper to remark that my occupations through life have been sedentaiy, and that I have over-labored both mind and body. " Unto thee I am indebted, no doubt, for my present improved condition of health. What I ought to say on this point language fails me. Gratitude, inexpressible gratitude, is due to thee from my- self and my family. John says the thing was providential. By-the- by, I must inform thee that when thou proposedst to give me medi- cines, I felt a strong opposition to taking any. I had been in the hands of the best physicians included in this part of the state, and at the time of thy visit to me, my disease was upon me with great and increasing severity. A physician, in whom I had great confidence, said to me, Take no more medicine—for his opinion was, that my disease was not under the control of medicine. The advice of this doctor was that I should visit the springs. Fortunately for me, my mind as well as my body was weak when thou wast here. I gave myself up to my wife and John, and yielded to their entreaties as to taking thy medicines. If this letter should elicit from thee additional views in regard to my case, please to communicate them to me ; also, if thou think any addi- tional remedies essential, please to send them. Thy prescriptions shall be strictly attended to. Under any circumstances, don't fail to write me immediately on the receipt of this. If thou hast no objection I should prefer to keep up a correspondence with thee several months. " Thy friend, Kelita B. Townley." November, 1846,1 was again favored with a letter from Mr. Town ley, which speaks for itself: "Lynchburg, Va., 11th month (Nov.) 4th, 1846. Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Respected friend,—I was happy to receive thy letter of the 26th DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 353 ultimo. I have not written to thee for upwards of ten months. About the 1st of the current year, I wrote to thee two lettere, to which I received no answers. Presuming that thou wast out of reach of my letters, I thought it unnecessary to write to thee any more till I should hear from thee. "Under the administration of thy prescription, my health continued to improve till I was able, about ten months ago, to resume business. The cure was truly gratifying and astonishing to myself, my family, and my friends. Some time during the summer, I got very wet, which increased a bronchitis, under which I have been laboring for 25 yeare. I was consequently confined about three weeks. With this exception, I have been regularly engaged at business for upwards of ten months. " However, the disease eczyma occasionally makes its appearance in a mitigated form. At present my whole system is more or less under the influence of it; but not so much so as to give me much uneasiness. " For several months I did not take any medicine. Recently I have commenced drinking the hemp tea. I have an ample supply of thy pills, but the purple drops ace exhausted. I should hke very much to get some more of the drops. " John, the servant, is still with me. If we can serve thee in any way, it will afford us pleasure. " Thy friend, respectfully, Kelita B. Townley." April, 1851, Mr. Townley is still in good health. LNSTANCE OF OBSTACLES TO THE CURE OF CON- SUMPTION. The following letter I received after the "Discourses on Consump- tion" had gone to press, but as it graphically portrays the perilous condition of the consumptive, I have presumed to introduce it here. The writer of these two letters, Alexander G. Smith, is a young in- telligent farmer. He was taken with a bad cough, followed by bleed- ing from the lungs. He bled for twelve days. All hope of rehef or cure was given up, when, as a forlorn hope, I was applied to by one of 356 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. his family. The use of my remedies resulted in his perfect cure. He now acts the philanthropist, in persuading all the consumptives in his region to use the remedies pointed out by me. His bitterest op- ponents are physicians. The consumptive, if he has the least hope of cure, must reject all counsel from most old school physicians. I beg of them not to apply to me until they have come to the firm conclusion to do so, as any other course will usually be fatal to them. Do not long delay this conclusion. Rarely am I applied to, until the patient has been sick one year, and often two and-three years, and more; and too often when the lungs are nearly destroyed, and the general health utterly prostrated. " North Salem, West Chester Co., N. Y., March 4th, 1850. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir,—I wish to give you a statement of the excellent effects of your remedies in my case. I was taken with a cough, in July, 1849s, that continued until I called on you on January 15, 1850, at which time, I had had night sweats and fever. I also bled from my lungs twelve days, with pains in my chest and right side, distress in my stomach, kidneys deranged, pain in small of my back, not able to labor at all. My friends thought I must die. By faithful use of the inhaling tube, shoulder braces, and abdominal supporter, and your excellent medicines, I soon began to get well. In two weeks, all cough left me, and my chest got better. I am now all but per- fectly well. I can attend to light work, without any bad feelings. My. strength has returned. I of course most highly approve of your medicines. Alexander G. Smith." " Purdy's Station, April 18, 1851. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir,—I feel it my duty to write you occasionally. Persons are often calling upon me for information concerning you and your treatment. Yesterday Mr. Clark Lee, of Lewisburg, Westchester Co., N. Y., came; the day before (the 16th,) his brother-in-law consulted you concerning his sister, (Lee's wife,) and received your remedies. DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 357 They wished me to see the medicine, and give them some information concerning the effect. I rode through the storm seven miles, and re- turned, in order to do it. I found her brother-in-law, Mr. Stephen McCole, has all confidence in you and your treatment. She has been handled precisely as I was; is no worse than I was, and must have relief soon. Her physician came in while I was there; he said he had no confidence in you, in short he tried to discourage her all he could. I told them all what you had done for me ; also that I was willing to be put under oath, together with others, and that I would willingly swear that I did firmly believe that you, Dr. S. S. Fitch, saved my life, for which I shall ever feel grateful. I instructed her in regard to the medicine. Her physician prescribed for her, but her brother may prevail. The physician will do all he can against you. You would do well to write to her. I wish I had some of your Guides to give those who call on me for your address, and to enable them to s.tate their case correctly. " I have just received a letter from Mr. Braden, which I shall en#bSfl. Several for miles around have heard of the extraordinary cure effected in me. " I am well and hearty, able to do a day's work ; not been so well for many years ; and you, and you alone, through the blessing of God have done it, for which I shall ever esteem you. I have not taken any medicine since October last. All communications to me direct as before to Purdy's Station, Westchester Co., N. Y. " Yours, truly, Alexander G. Smith." .INTERESTING CASE OF HEART DISEASE. This young man had been treated by many physicians. " Albany, New-York, April 22, 1851. " Dr. S. S. Fitch : " Dear Sir,—Yours of 15th was duly received, but indisposition prevented me answering it before. My son's case is briefly this : Re-» peated and very severe attacks of inflammatory rheumatism during a couree of seven yeare, had finally settled about the region of the 358 DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. heart, leaving him in a most deplorable condition. In the spring of 1848, he was entirely prostrate with what we supposed to be quick consumption. He had a bad cough, raised much matter, and his breathing was so short and distressing, that we had frequently to fan him to prevent his complete sinking away. Feeling much alarm we called in one of our most eminent and scientific physicians, who ex- amined his case carefully, sounded his lungs, and thus perfectly enclose each block with houses, or high walls. Usu- ally, as the city advances, the whole block is built up, so that the city is studded off by the streets into detached forts, oblong or square The square blocks when all built up usually give about twenty to twenty four houses to a block, each house of course having its own necessary, &c. From the time the last wall is closed up, the interior of these blocks is never ventilated, or drained, except through the doors and windows of the surrounding houses, unless the walls are broken down for rebuild- ing or by fire. In a great many cases the blocks are not square, but still the lots are the same, and the blocks equally closed. In building the houses, as the lots are so shallow, compared to their width, and hav- ing no outlet back, and no drainage or ventilation, it is very rarely that any wing is built from the main house into the yard or garden to DISCOURSE TO GENTLEMEN ONLY. 363 the rear of the lot. To remedy this, and to give a dining-room, -A * ^ :#! » r- .*jt»>.i