Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

CONSUMPTION.

DR. OWEN PAGET’S CURE,

Dr. Owen F. Paget, of Fremantle, is on his way to America. He is convinced that he has found a cure for consumption, and intends having it thoroughly tested by the world’s famous specialists. The subject is dealt with by Dr. Paget in an article published in the Australasian Medical Gazette, under the title of “Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Other Disorders, or the Fruits of the Incapable Nose.” He says that it is reasonable to expect of Nature a nose capable of dealing with natural conditions. In other words, are there natural phenomena akin to, say, the dust in mining ? “This aspect of the question was first pointed out to me by Mr Richard Hamilton, president of the West Australian Chamber of Mines, who asked whether people living in such places as the Sahara Dessert had miners’ phthisis. I did not know ; but this reminded me of a conversation, admittedly in French, with a Russian professor of geology, who said that the sand plains of Australia were formed by winds. It such is the case, and the nose is not a filter, all the kangaroos should have died off years ago from fibrosis of the lungs. Surely it is clear that Nature has supplied the nose to prevent such occurrences, and when, at Mr Hamilton’s request, I examined men of over 70, who had been working as miners 55 and more years, my belief was enhanced. The normal nose is apparently as well able to deal with artificial conditions as natural phenomena. The men examined were each an object lesson in some point or another, but attention will be confined to one only—his was

the west job ou tbe mine, namely, to clear out the dust flues. This man, aged ahovt 3°, °f a naturally poor, mental and physical develop* meht, was said to work with a handkerchief over his mouth, so that almost of necessity he breathed through his nose. On examination, the hairs of the nostrils were clothed with dust, the right side of the septum anterior to the turbintae bones had fragments of conglomerated dust stuck to it, the left side had a considerable cake covering the same portion. The dust was obviously easily detachable by gently blowing the nose. The other cases showed the hairs clothed with dust, the septum apparently clear. In only one case, that of a man with an enormous cavernous nose, did it appear as if the dust reached the turbinates. All cases examined denied having suffered from or having been treated by a medical man for disease of the nose. In effect, what seems to take place is this: A slow inspiration deposits a certain quantity ot dust inside the nostril, and an abrupt expiration blows it out again. The interlacing of the hairs and general configuration of the nostril must surely produce a spiral, rather than a direct, flow of air into the anterior choanae. The importance of whether geologist dust is deposited anterior to the turbinate bones is very great. Until I had examined these men, it seemed an almost insurmountable difficulty to prevent miners from having hypertrophied turbinates. To all appearances there is no need to fear such a result, except in the case of the too roomy nose. In such noses the currents are probably too still and expiration too little felt. If this be so, it affords an explanation of the possibly more frequent occurrence of sinus disease in the spacious nose. If it is correct that snuffmakers wear handkerchiefs over their mouths, then it is probable that particles ot a definite and even light specific gravity are stopped by and ejected from the facial part of the nose in an almost unconscious fashion. But it is palpably absurd to suppose that such is the case with microbes. These beings are too buoyant and minute lor such a gross method. When a person enters an atmosphere laden with tubercle bacilli these are deposited on and disposed of by the turbinates. Toxins are absorbed and the opsonic indices raised. In other words, the nose is a superior automatic vaccine syringe. It is possible for me to bring forward personal and other experiments in favour of this, and try to laboriously prove my hypothesis. Such a method is unscientific ; the prool lies in the experience of others. The sources of error are so enormous that it is only collective wisdom that can be accepted as truth. Bui let me point out what can be said in its favour.” (1) It explains the vitality of the Jews, who can live in environments fatal to other races. Of this I have had experience as medical officer to a dispensary in Soho. (2) It is consonant with the structure of the nose. For the front, the mechanical filter to remove impurities liable to injure the delicate structure of the vaccine producer. Behind, in the naso-pharynx, the excess of lymphoid tissue as a reserve force. (3) It gives a reason for the excess of lymphoid tissue in the naso-pharynx at that time of life when protection from zymotic disease is most urgent.

(4) It confirms the popular opinion that a well-set-up nose is a sign of virility. (5) It justifies the existence of Luschka’s tonsil in adult life. {6) It visualises how the poor man’s brat outstrips the rich man’s darling. (7) It elucidates how neglected children thrive so well.

(8) It verifies the fact that when different people enter an infectious room some are smitten and others not.

(9) It makes the pinched nostrr of the consumptive a “propter hoc” rather than “post-hoc” circumstance.

(10) It explains how miners at over 80 are at work, and others dead in two years. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the offspring of the incapable nose, which is most olten in its turn produced by foolishness. The nose is the filter of the lungs, and a regulator of disease. If anatomically and physiologically satisfactory, it is capable of preventing pneumono-konio disorder.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19140514.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1245, 14 May 1914, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
998

CONSUMPTION. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1245, 14 May 1914, Page 4

CONSUMPTION. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1245, 14 May 1914, Page 4

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert