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of Harmony, to prove its fovereign influ ence over the mind;--that it is the true oblivious Antidote, the Nepenthes of the Gods to heal a wounded fpirit,--to exalt the foul above low-thoughted care, and lap it in Elyfium.

SECTION

SECTION XI.

Of a Confumption; its Nature, Treatment and Method of Cure.

BY

Confumption is meant a univerfal wafting of body, generally occafioned by the decay of its vital parts, particularly

the Lungs.

The lungs are two delicate fpungy bo̟dies placed on each fide the heart in the cavity of the breast: They are chiefly made up of air-vessels and blood-vessels, intended by nature to answer the double purpose of respiration or breathing, and of mixing fresh chyle with the blood.

Before the act of refpiration commences, as in the Infant, during its nine months abode in the womb, only a third part of its blood can circulate through the com preffed Lungs; but as foon as it is born, they are blown up with air, and then the whole

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whole mafs paffes freely through their numerous blood-veffels. Hence it follows, that whatever interrupts refpiration, and hinders the free play of the Lungs, will occafion an accumulation of blood in their fubftance and difpofe the patient to confumption, by creating Inflammation, Ulceration, or Spitting of Blood.

Although breathing, under certain circumftances, as I have fully fhewn in another place*, is not effential to life, because the infant before birth difpenfes with the want of it; yet being once begun, its continuance is abfolutely neceffary. Thus the Heart and Lungs unite their power, and labour with inceffant and unwearied efforts to keep the human body alive; even fometimes for the tedious period of a hundred

years.

As the ftomach converts aliment into Chyle, fo the action of the Lungs changes that fluid into blood: This is more effectu

Lecture introductory to Midwifery, 3d edition, p. 2.

ally

ally brought about, by the air-veffels and blood-veffels being clofely interwoven with each other; from which the blood will be compreffed and agitated between two contrary forces, viz. that of the Heart driving it through its veffels, and of Air which rushes into the Lungs every time we draw breath.

From this previous knowledge, it will be more evident, that those who have weak Jungs which cannot freely tranfmit both blood and air, must become emaciated and confumptive; for then the Chyle will not be fufficienrly enriched to nourish the body; and their tender veffels will continually be on the stretch by the force of circulating blood and infpired air.

Hence also will appear the innumerable inconveniences they must fuffer from viciffitudes of weather, the various degrees of heat and cold, or moisture and dryness of the air to which they are continually exposed.

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Intemperance in eating and drinking, or the excess of anger are also dangerous to the confumptive, by increafing the blood's motion, which will lay an additional stress on its weak veffels, efpecially in the last inftance, where the voice at the fame time is often exerted with uncommon power, and confequently when the air-veffels and blood-veffels will be violently overftrained. The regulation of the paffions, as well as temperance, and pure air, are therefore all of the greatest moment to fuch as are inclined to inward decay.

Our climate in Britain, from its fituation as an Island, is extremely unfavourable to confumptive habits. The quick tranfitions from heat to cold, and fudden changes in the temperature of air, as to its moisture and drynefs, are not to be endured by delicate conftitutions without very fenfible injury.

Such is the great and manifest influence of weather on human bodies, that we conftantly

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