difficulty in swallowing, and even that is better. Pulse sixty-seven." I had for some time ceased to regard this energetic young lady as a patient, when she announced a new ailment, a difficulty at periodic times: "I walked two miles every day, and every thing was going on well, until one evening after walking very fast, I sat awhile with a friend, in a room without fire, in November. The weather was chilly and damp; was unwell, suppressed had a chill and incessant cough for several hours, ending in something like inflammation of the lungs." These things were remedied, she now enjoys good health and is engaged in the active discharge of her duties. This last incident is introduced here to warn every reader, especially women, against all such exposures at all times, most especially during particular seasons. Such exposures, as sitting in rooms without fire, in the fall and spring, after active walking, have thrown stout strong men into a fatal consumption; and it is not at all to be wondered at that delicate women should lay the foundation of incurable disease in the same manner. I will feel well repaid for writing these lines, if but here and there a reader may be found to guard against such exposures. Our parlors and drawing-rooms are kept closed to the air and light for a great portion of the twenty-four hours, and unless the weather is quite cool there is no fire in them. Thus they necessarily acquire a cold, clammy dampness, very perceptible on first entering. A fire is not thought necessary, as visitors usually remain but a few minutes; but when the blood is warmed by walking in the pure air and the clear sunshine, it is chilled in a very short space of time, if the person is at rest, in the cold and gloom of a modern parlor, especially as a contemplated call of a minute is often unconsciously extended to half an hour, under the excitement of friendly greetings and neighborly gossip. There can be no doubt that thousands every year catch their death of cold, to use a homely but expressive phrase, in the manner above named. Young women, especially, cannot act thus with impunity. Men perish by multitudes every year by exposures of a similar character; walking or working until they become warm, then sitting in a hall or entry or a cold counting-room; or standing still at the wharf or at a street corner; or running to reach a ferry-boat until they begin to perspire, and then sitting still in the wind while the boat is crossing. It is by inattention to what may be considered such trifling little things that thousands of valuable lives are sacrificed every year. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, (950) from Washington City, complained of Uneasiness at throat, caused by repeated colds; late hours, hot rooms; Cough most of mornings-dry, tickling, hollow; Bloody, streaked expectoration, six months ago; Breathing oppressed, if sit or stoop long; Take cold easy, in every way; Throat has various feelings, tickling, heavy aching, raw, dry, from palate to depression; Swallowing a little difficult at times; Voice not much affected; Headache, costive bowels, piles occasionally; Pain about shoulder-blades and at their points; Soreness under both ribs sometimes; Pains in the breast-more of a soreness from the top of the breast-bone to the pit of the stomach; Have been ailing fifteen months; Father, mother, sister, uncle, aunt died of Consump tion. OPINION. You cannot have Consumption now: you are decidedly threatened with it. With proper attention, persevering and prompt, you may ward it off effectually, and live to the ordinary term of human life to those of your occupation. It is my opinion, that without this care, you will fall into settled disease within a year. In two months, this gentleman called to see me for the first time. His lungs were working freely and fully, over the natural standard; pulse seventy-two; appetite good; bowels regular. I did not think he required any particular medical advice; and it is my present belief, that with proper attention to diet, exercise, and regular habits of life, his health will become permanently good. (952.) Took a severe cold last winter, which left a severe cough. Every morning the breast feels sore, until stirs about some. Pain in the left side, running through to the left shoulder blade, and between the shoulders; pain in the breast-bone, and in the centre of the left. breast. Chief complaint is pain in the chest, left side, and a constant raising of frothy, thick, tough, and yellow matter, with frequent hawking, hemming, and clearing of the throat. Age 22. OPINION. Your ailments are all removable by diligent attention to the directions I may give you. I very much hope you will spare no pains in carrying them out most thoroughly. You certainly have not Consumptive dis ease. He called upon me some months afterwards, when I saw him for the first time. He had nothing to complain of; pulse sixty; his lungs working freely and fully, being considerably above the natural standard; and as far as I know, he continues well to this day. (973.) "Am officer in a bank. Was at a fire during Christmas, seven months ago. Used my voice a great deal; began to be hoarse; very much so by morning. This lasted a week, and went off; but in three weeks there appeared to be something about the palate which wanted to come away. Throat seemed inflamed, and ever since then have had a clogging feeling in the throat, that does not affect my voice, unless I read aloud, when I soon become hoarse. Two days ago, spit up a spoonful of dark blood; never before or since. I have a binding sensation across the top of the breast, and three months since had a pain up and down the breast-bone. Have used iodide of potash; have had the throat pencilled, and then sponged with nitrate of silver, without benefit-pulse, one hundred and ten." OPINION. Yours is a throat ailment, at the entrance of the windpipe, not as low down as the voice organs. There is very considerable active inflammation there. Your lungs are a little weakened, nothing more; the pains in the breast are not serious at all, and I see no obstacle to your entire recovery. I received letter after letter from this young gentleman, stating that no perceptible benefit seemed to fol low what I advised. He was encouraged to persevere, and finally his symptoms began to change, and then disappeared; and in two months from his first consultation, he wrote me to say that he had steadily improved; pulse, permanently at sixty-five; expressing his obligations, &c. This case shows strikingly the advantage of perseverance. A CLERGYMAN (844.) Wrote to me for advice in reference to a throat complaint. I prescribed, and had entirely forgotten the circumstance, when the following letter was received: : "I began to follow your directions on the 4th day of May, not quite three months ago, and have adhered to them strictly ever since. I am evidently a great deal better. I have lost no flesh; although it is summer, my weight has not varied three pounds since I wrote to you; it is now one hundred and forty-nine pounds. My tonsils are diminished, and give me no uneasiness, except in damp weather. From my throat, which is now generally perfectly comfortable, I am continually bringing up a pearly substance. Sometimes it is perfectly clear, and like the pure white of an egg. But this is a mighty change. At first, I could not talk five minutes in the family circle. My throat was constantly tickling and burning; so that a mustard plaster, which took all the skin off my neck in front, was a comfort; but now I can talk as much as I wish, read a page or so aloud, and am almost tempted to sing a little." On the 9th of March, a distinguished clergyman, young, and of great promise, made to me the following statement: "Unusual circumstances compelled me to perform an immense amount of clerical labor, the work |