Practical observations on the inhalation of various vapors and powders in diseases of the air tubes and lungs / by Wm. M. Cornell.

  • Cornell, William Mason, 1802-1895.
Date:
1850
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the inhalation of various vapors and powders in diseases of the air tubes and lungs / by Wm. M. Cornell. 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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    INHALATION OF VAPORS AND POWDERS. I have for some time contemplated writing a somewhat extended article on this subject, believing, as I do, that more benefit may be de- rived from inhalation, than has yet been experienced. Inhalation of va- pors and gases, through the air tubes, to the pulmonary mucous tissue, has been more or less practised from the early ages; but several reasons may be assigned why it has not been attended with more favorable re- sults, though, as will appear in the sequel, benefit has followed its adop- tion. In some cases, the articles inhaled, or breathed, have not been of a character to be beneficial ; in others, the instruments for inhaling, or breathing the substances or vapors, have been of so clumsy a kind, that the thing could not be properly done ; and lastly, it has, generally, not been done at all, till the diseases had assumed so grave a character that no human means could arrest them. These are good reasons for the results not having usually proved favorable. I shall refer to several methods of breathing various atmospheres, gases, powders, &c, in consumption, catarrh, croup, asthma, and other diseases of the air-passages. It is well known that Dr. Beddoes recommended breathing an atmosphere of factitious airs, and Sir Humphrey Davy seems to have concurred in the same opinion. The former, also, ad- vised patients threatened with, or laboring under, phthisis, to have a communication made from their rooms, to cow-houses and stables, for the purpose of breathing the warm air of such places ; and, when threatened with this disease myself, twenty-five years since, a physician of no small celebrity advised me to keep about cows, oxen and horses, as much as possible. Nor do I even now imagine this advice was given without some reason for it, as there is undoubtedly a mildness and warmth of atmosphere about such places, very grateful and healthful to the shivering, hectic invalid. But I believe it would be much better to breathe such an atmosphere by going into it, than to admit a current of air from these places into a tight room or bed-chamber. The vapor of tar was once highly recommended, as being very bene- ficial in phthisis. Its balsamic powers were said even to heal ulcers in the lungs. Drs. Mudge, Crichton, Paris, and others, all advocated its use. But still, it has ceased to be used. It is, however, quite proba-