Henry Congreve

“ There are two distinct kinds of Asthma—one of which is denominated nervous or convulsive—the latter is not the disorder so prevalent in this country as the former. The true Asthma is a laborious breathing, wheezing, sense of suffocation, attended by anxiety, cough, and mucus expectoration. It is very frequent; and no disease is more distressing to the patient.
Asthma is a disease which usually attacks elderly people; and those who are subject to it, have frequent returns—for all the methods in common use are calculated only to promote relief in the present fit, not to produce a lasting cure. ”

“ A Cough is too frequently slighted, because it is common; but if the danger attendant on this apparently unimportant affection, were known, and the remedy applied in time, much mischief would be prevented. In young persons especially, Coughs are often the forerunners of Consumption; and in those who are far advanced in life, though not in the same degree liable to this dangerous consequence, the complaint will become habitual and confirmed, and of course most troublesome and distressing. ”

“ By reckoning some diseases incurable, and others as past the period of cure, physicians only enact a law of negligence to exempt their own ignorance from discredit and infamy in the eyes of posterity. ”

“ When we consider the size and peculiar construction of the lungs, their perpetual motion, the chemical process going on in them, and their exposure to the action of contaminated air, or sudden changes in its temperature, it can be no matter of surprise that Pulmonary Complaints are so frequent; and the lungs, not possessing the same natural powers of removing diseased structure, or of mutation as other parts of the body, we may account for their fatal termination from the want of application of proper auxiliaries, as counteractives. ”

“ Hoarseness is not only a very distressing and painful complaint, but often extremely obstinate, and very difficult to cure by the customary means. A sense of roughness in the throat, with frequent attempts to clear it, is generally the first and most early symptom of the disease. It is attended with, or succeeded by irritation of the larynx, exciting a hard and dry cough, hoarseness of voice, with a sense of tightness across the chest, and sometimes with soreness and pain upon breathing deeply, or coughing. ”

“ This interesting young lady had the best attention the faculty could give: no expense was spared—she was sent to London, and had advice of eminent physicians, but to no effect. The ecstasy of her parents, on once more beholding their only daughter again restored to health, to the astonishment of all who knew her, after the consultation of the faculty to no purpose, may be conceived, but cannot be expressed. ”

“ If, in the course of medical research, any discovery is incidentally made, which offers to society the most important benefits, humanity appears to demand that it should be unreservedly communicated to the faculty, for the welfare of mankind: but, having devoted a considerable property and time in the conducting a series of experiments, totally unconnected with the customary routine of medical practice, in the completion of the discovery, the Author conceives that he is warranted to expect some remuneration by its sale, as a compensation for his labours. ”

“ The cases which do terminate fatally are, doubtless, very numerous; and, therefore, the natural conviction deduced from that circumstance is, that wherever diseased lungs make their appearance, all hope of recovery is extinct, and the patient has no alternative but to prepare himself for his exit. Yet, none can deny that recoveries have been effected under the most fearful circumstances, even when solid masses of tubercle have been ejected, or spat up, by which the character of the disease has been most decisive. ”

“ AND HOOPING COUGH, TO WHICH CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY LIABLE.
Although Catarrhs, or Colds, are the most common of all disorders, there are few which are less understood, or have called forth a greater diversity of opinion. Persons of a phlegmatic temperament, delicate constitution, and relaxed habit of body—and those with long necks and narrow chests, or who indulge in warm apartments and beds—who rise late, and take but little exercise in the open air—are most liable to the complaint. ”

“ By recourse to these means, the lengthened fits of Asthma will be prevented; and if the disease be established in the constitution, a due perseverance with the remedy will effectually eradicate every symptom.
With regard to the course of life of the asthmatic—great care should be observed to choose a proper air; experience will soon point out what air is best, and no certain rule can be definitely given. Where the patient breathes most easy he ought to reside. He should lie with his head high, and not be too much encumbered with bedclothes; must avoid a stooping or a leaning posture ”

“ The sea air is, of all others, the purest—and on that account, better calculated generally, for the purposes of breathing, in weakly persons. In all air there is more or less of that principle which is essential to life ”

“ The phenomena of Asthma arises from increased excitement of the branches of the eighth pair of nerves, distributed over the larynx, and the internal membrane of the wind-pipe, and bronchiæ, brought on by a certain condition of the atmosphere, probably with respect to electric matter: for, opposite states of the air, with regard to its temperature, density, or humidity, do not disorder asthmatic subjects, so much as easterly or north-easterly winds. ”

“ All the information, needful to exhibit to the sufferer the dangers frequently arising from the neglect of what is called a common cold; and of the means whereby its course may be nipped in the very bud, and its more direful effects removed in its latent stages, and other matter of general importance is advanced; which, while it becomes a friendly beacon to warn him of danger, will at once point to a safe and salutary, and not less certain than salutary remedy. ”

“ This Cough is known by the peculiar hoop which is descriptive of the disease. Children are most commonly the subjects of this complaint, and especially those who are teething; but it sometimes attacks those advanced in life. It comes on with a slight difficulty of breathing, thirst, rapid pulse, hoarseness, Cough, and all the symptoms of common Cold. This disorder, if not nipped in the bud, gradually increases; and about the second or third week, assumes its peculiar characteristic symptoms. The expiratory motions, peculiar to coughing, are made with more rapidity and violence than usual ”

“ Without under-estimating the importance of morbid anatomy, we must observe, that when it is carried to the unwarrantable length of introducing such paralysing and disheartening scepticism into medical science, it is productive of extensive and serious practical evils that counterbalance the benefits which would otherwise result from it. ”

“ Such negligence of the means of healing, by the remedies which are sent by the immediate hand of Providence, and rendered most abundant and common, and the substitution of others of a more doubtful, and often highly injurious, character, evinces a love of change, not simply to promote a greater benefit, but to render the art of healing more complicated and obscure. ”

“ But another case occurs, the invalid complains precisely of the same symptoms: he has cough, expectoration, wheezing in the chest, and difficulty in breathing—he gradually falls away in flesh, and the hectic fever increases. Palliatives are resorted to, as in the former case, not to cure, which is considered impossible, but simply to alleviate his suffering—he also dies. On inspection, the lungs are found generally sound; no tubercles are discovered; but there is found to be an ulcerated spot of more or less extent in the bronchial membrane. ”

“ Exercise is generally beneficial when the degree is proportionate to the strength of the patient, without producing fatigue, and in a pure atmosphere, remote from large cities or towns, in situations not exposed to winds, especially the north-east. The exercise should be in the open air on horseback, the greater part of the day, in fine weather—if the strength will permit; and a nourishing diet of new milk, farinaceous preparations, animal soups, and solid animal food twice a day. ”

“ The natural perspiration is, in a great measure, retarded by the obstruction of the cutaneous pores; and the abundant humours, which should have passed off through the skin, lodge in the internal surface of the throat and lungs, where, by their quantity and acrimony, they create a constant tickling and wheezing, with a peculiar painful and distressing sensation; and the lungs, by endeavouring to dislodge the accumulated matter, become subject to a state of inflammation, with a harassing Cough, as the natural result. ”

“ All diseases of a pulmonary character should be treated by remedies possessing a combination of emollient, pectoral, and mildly expectorant qualities, capable of inciding and discharging the offending matter, which impedes the free action of the lungs, and highly aggravates the complaint. A remedy has for many years been employed in these cases, embodying the before-mentioned properties, which, when mixed in honey, is so pleasant that children take it with avidity. ”

“ The predisposing causes of this complaint are too numerous herein to detail, but the disease generally commences by a cold, taken in the winter season, which brings on at first a common cough, that from neglect settles on the lungs. The lungs become gradually and increasingly obstructed, inflamed, and ulcerated; a slow fever attends the latter stages of the disorder, when the case imports the existence of considerable danger. Those of a delicate structure and weakly habits, between the ages of 16 and 25, are most liable to this disease. ”

“ No person, however, need suffer a Cough to fix upon him, if he will have timely recourse to this medicine; but if either by neglect or ignorance of the remedy, or other remedies, it has become habitual and confirmed, the use of this specific for a short period, twice or thrice a day, with an occasional dose of some gentle opening medicine, will complete the cure. This course must not be omitted by young persons especially, because, if the Cough in its early stages is neglected, Consumption will inevitably be produced. ”

“ Before we concede to the morbid anatomist, that an ulcerated or diseased lung is necessarily incurable, we demand, by what direct method can that assertion be proved, that tubercles, once existing in the lungs, cannot possibly be absorbed during life, and the healthy texture again restored? ”

“ When any person afflicted with hoarseness is going into company where his conversational powers will be unavoidably called into action, it will be advisable to take a dose of the Balsam, incorporated with honey; and again renew it, should not the first relieve him—which relief he would in vain endeavour to obtain by violent efforts—such efforts, without the use of this remedy, would only add to the existing evil.
Speaking with ease and clearness, is agreeable to every one ”

“ In consequence of the excitement of the nerves of the larynx, &c., the respiratory muscles, particularly those which perform the functions of expiration, become affected by spasms, whereby the free admission of the irritating air into the lungs is promoted. This is manifest by the excessive paroxysms, very similar to that which ensues on an attack of Asthma, which immediately follows an artificial irritation, the membrane of the larynx. ”

“ It would be incompatible with the design of this pamphlet, and perhaps superfluous to enter minutely into a description of what Asthma is—especially as no disease shows itself more distinctly. The individual, occasionally attacked by wheezing, difficulty of breathing, and tightness of the chest, need not be assured that he is asthmatical; but it will be a source of consolation to inform him, that his case is really curable, by this valuable medicine, as experience in the worst cases has amply confirmed. ”

“ The delicate, and those who are susceptible of colds, should avoid exposures to draughts as much as possible, and the change from heated apartments to cold atmospheric air. On the first appearance of cough, they should have immediate recourse to the Balsam before recommended, to deterge the lungs from the obstructing matter—which matter impedes a free respiration, irritates and occasions cough, and ultimately produces the disease. ”

“ Various and contradictory are the opinions of medical men, as to the hectic fever, which is symptomatic of the disorder, being a primary disease, and some absurd notions have been advanced in support of their statements. ”

“ It will be a source of consolation to every anxious mother, that this valuable compound which operates so beneficially in Coughs, is also equally excellent in Hooping Cough; indeed, its balsamic, pectoral, expectorant, and emollient properties, render it peculiarly adapted to eradicate the worst stages of the complaint, for the reasons before advanced. It may be given in the quantity of a tea-spoonful, three or four times a day, in honey, or on lump sugar, as the urgency of the case demands. The contents of a 2s. 9d. bottle, seldom or ever fail to develope its specific qualities in such cases. ”

“ An invention is as much the property of its proprietor, as the estate he purchases or inherits. Society has a right to enjoy the advantage of his toil and skill—but, surely his labours have an equal claim on their patronage in return. The Public are sufficiently enlightened in the subject of medicine to be aware that the opposition which secret preparations have experienced from this quarter (though there are many exceptions to be made) arises entirely from interested motives, and they will decide accordingly.
Of Hoarseness, arising from Cold. ”

“ The coldness and moisture of the atmosphere, or in other states of the air, not perceptible to the senses, but which impede and check the insensible perspiration of the skin, or cutaneous surface, are the chief and prevailing exciting causes. ”