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DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 373
or cold hands and feet ; panting and palpitation on run
ning up stairs; purulent expectoration; hectic fever;
diarrhoea ; swelling of the ankles ; atrophy ; marasmus.
Cheerfulness and hope of recovery
symptoms, and generally present unless there is dys
are remarkable
pepsia.
There are cases of on consumption, going to a fatal
termination, in which most of the characteristic symp
toms are wanting.
The causes of consumption have been already refer
red to ; but some are too important to over pass here.
The hereditary causes, I am certain, are more than all
others, among which are a bad diet, with flesh or stim
ulants, and amative excess, or irregularities. All the
causes of scrofula are causes of consumption. In the
individual the same causes develop, certainly, and prob
ably produce,
the disease. None are so liable to it as
those who have wasted their lives in masturbation or
sexual excess. The two causes of this, as of all dis
eases, are exhaustion and impurity. The causes
which especially affect the lungs, such as tigh't lacing,
are all causes of disease.
bad air, irritating substances,
Its access 'is hastened by frequent colds, exposure to a
damp, cold atmosphere, cold feet, and all causes which
tend to irritate, inflame, or congest the respiratory sys
tem.
Whole families die of consumption ; it is developed
in many persons who are subjected to the same causes,
or who live in the same habits ; it is possible that con
stant proximity may produce
ditions and tendencies;
disease is truly contagious. 32
similar constitutional con
but I have no belief that the