anything and everything that either will debilitate the constitution, or will interfere with or will impede the proper action of the lungs, will be the predisposing causes of this fearful and lamentable disease.
An ill, poor, and insufficient diet is the mother of many diseases, and especially of consumption: "Whatsoever was the father of a disease, an ill diet was the mother."
The most common exciting causes of consumption are slighted colds, neglected inflammation of the chest, long continuance of influenza, sleeping in damp beds, allowing wet clothes to dry on the body, unhealthy employments—such as needle grinding, pearl-button making, etc. 363. Supposing a youth to have spitting of blood, what precautions would you take to prevent it from ending in Consumption?
I should let his health be the first consideration; I should throw books to the winds; if he be at school, I should advise you to take him away; if he be in trade, I should cancel his indentures; if he be in the town, I should send him to a sheltered healthy spot in the country, or to the south coast; as, for instance, either to St. Leonards-on-Sea, or to Torquay.
I should be particular in his clothing, taking especial care to keep his chest and feet warm. If he did not already wear flannel waistcoats, let it be winter or summer, I should recommend him immediately to do so; if it be winter, I should advise him also to take to flannel drawers. The feet must be carefully attended to; they ought to be kept both warm and dry, the slightest dampness of either shoes or stockings should cause them to be immediately changed. If a boy, he ought to wear double-breasted waistcoats; if a girl, high dresses.
The diet must be nutritious and generous; he should be encouraged to eat plentifully of beef and mutton.
