An essay on the lungs : ascertaining their true functions to be contrary to the present adopted opinions ; and leading to a treatment of consumptions, and other pulmonary diseases, which promises more success than has been experienced heretofore ; in a series of numbers / by John Christopher Stroebel, physician in New-York.

  • Stroebel, John Christopher.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the lungs : ascertaining their true functions to be contrary to the present adopted opinions ; and leading to a treatment of consumptions, and other pulmonary diseases, which promises more success than has been experienced heretofore ; in a series of numbers / by John Christopher Stroebel, physician in New-York. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    cording to seasons and latitudes. But to the hu- man species this property cannot be ascribed. Na- ture does not support this standard degree of tem- perature. This doctrine is far from being correct, and the reverse is often experienced, not only in the same climate and the same season, but also in the same place and day. I am therefore fre- quently under the necessity of admonishing my consumptive patients, not to trust to nature for the support of a salutary temperature, but to be at- tentive and employ art, and shift their dress two, or even three times a day, according to circum- stances ; e. g. if a patient is recommended to take an early walk or ride for the sake of exercise : the morning may happen to be cool, he therefore ought to be so dressed as to feel comfortable ; at noon it may be warm or sultry, he ought to dress again in garments more thin and light; a thunder-storm may arise in the afternoon, and in the evening a north-west wind may blow: on this change it would be very imprudent not to change his dress. It. is true we are enabled to live under a variety of climates, and pass through the vicissitudes of seasons ; but not without the support which art gives, can we enjoy life, health and comfort. It is by means of houses, fires, clothes and bedding, that the standard of healthy temperature can be maintained. The inspiration of cold air, it was supposed by many, would produce more heat than the inspira- tion'of warm air, because cold air, containing more matter, holds also more oxygen in a certain bulk. This conclusion is not applicable to respiration; for by the time the air arrives in the cells, it is of the temperature of the lungs, whether it may have been hot or cold when it passed the fauces. It re- quires several inspirations, to propel the air to the