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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2301, 28 April 1875, Page 2

New Treatment of Consumptive Patients.—M. Paguelin and Jolly, French physicians, have, by a series of intricate and patient experiments, demonstrated that while the globules of blood contain iron, the colouring matter of blood has none. Very important medical results must obviously spring from this fact. The success contiuues to bo remarkably sustained in the treatment of consumptive patients iv the hospitals of Paris, with "Koumys," or fermented marc's milk, so much in vogue among tho Tartar I tribes of Russia. However, it is generally prepared by mixing cow's and ass's milk. It resembles skim milk, has a slight acid aud piquant flavour, and foams like champagne. In small doses of three or four glasses a-day, it produces at first coldness in the stomach, then an agreeable heat, and lastly, intellectual excitement. Five quarts of it will produce a gayish kind of intoxication, accompanied by headache, and followed by sleep. In the course of some weeks of treatment tho body increases ncarty threefold in weight; but (his stoutness is transient. These effects are due to the carbonic acid, alcohol, nnd albumen contained in the milk. Koumys restores to consumptive patients, for whom it is alone prescribed, sleep and appetite; diminishes the cough, and destroys the fever. One to four bottles per day, over n period of six weeks, commencing by four glasses, between tho intervals of meals, with meat cither very undouc or quite raw, aud a little old wine, but never after the " koumys." Medical Discoveries,— Dr. Pictra Saud-a, of Paris, has drawn attention to the treatment of pulmonary complaints in general, and of phthisis in particular. Ho admits this disease, an affection of the blood, cnu be cured, not by any specific remed}*, but by a more studious attention to the ordinary health precautions — pure and frequently changed air, fortifying diet, moderate exercise, milk, and the employment of sulphuretted and arsenical waters ; emigration to mild climates iv winter, to mountaiu districts in summer, and tho recourse to hyposulphites, alkaline and earthy sulphites. Dr. de Mencourt, after au exhaustive examination of tho subject of scurvy, does not deny that it is epidemic, but of a form resembling no other epidemic ; that it is a great error to regard the afflicted as plague-striken, and so sequestrating him, when for his recovery all the conditions of normal life are necessary. Scurvy is purely a malady of nutrition, au emaciation of tho system, produced by very complex causes and varying circumstances, but capable of being prevented by (her use of animal food "as living as possible, 1 and of green vegetables uud a ration of lemon juice. Scurvy is unknown among the Trnppists, who live solely on vegetables.