HOT WATER IN CONSUMPTION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3846, 14 November 1883, Page 4

HOT WATER IN CONSUMPTION.

(Chambers' Journal). A Canadian correspondent yvrites : — Noticing an extract from the World of Science, in yvhich a physician strongly recommends hot yvater, in place of tea or coll'ee, as a stimulant for the use of those requiring to study late at night, I yvould like to give my experience of it as a beneficial agent in consumption. Mrs If , one of a family a number of yvhoso members had died of consumption, yvas, after severe exposure to a snowstorm, seized with a serious cough and expectoration, mioompiinictl with iu>» nf flesh. Examination by a physician showed that one lung yvas seriously affected. Sho yvas Avholly confined to 11 or room, and everything that medical attendance aud

loving caro could do to mitigate her suffering Avas done, but ineffectually. Tho depressing night-sweats continued, together yvith loss of rest from repeated fits of coughing. Losing all faith in medicine, some six or eight months ago its use was Avholly abandoned, and tho use of nourishing diet only continued. About ten Aveeks ago, the patient's attention yvas directed to a noAVspapcr paragraph recommending hot yvater as a remedy for consumption. Feeling that littlo harm could ensue from its use, she determined to test it. At the moment of retiring, a large tumbler of hot yvater, in yvhich tho juice of lemon had been mixed to free it from nausea, yvas taken. In a few moments a gloyv of Avarmth Avould pervade the lungs, chest, Sec, quickly followed by the most refreshing sleep, yvhich would bo unbroken by any cough, and the patient yvould awake in the morning rested and strengthened. A few days ago she yvas afflicted yvith a fit of coughing, during which sho coughed up into her mouth a small stone about the size of a pca —formed of sulphate of lime, I believe, and usually considered a .symptom of the healing of a cavity iv tho lung. AY bother this marked improvement yvas duo to the use of hot water I. cannot venture to say ; but its beneficial influence in securing sweet sleep and exemption from coughing at night yvas so marked, that I would like some of your readers to test it Avith their consumptive friends, and give, through your Notes, the results of their experience.