Chlorosis has been sometimes mistaken for tubercular consumption. When the patient has been cured, it has been said she was cured of that disease. Thus it is that more persons are said to be cured of this dreadful malady than actually have been. Chlorosis, as a general fact, is by far oftener curable than consumption is. It is, in fact, generally curable if taken in season, which, alas! cannot be said of that most formidable disease, consumption of the pulmonary organs.
Causes.—The causes of chlorosis are as numerous as the causes of depraved health generally. Any thing which tends to lower the tone of the system generally, during the period at which chlorosis ordinarily comes on, may act as a cause, either directly or indirectly, of the disease.
I will here give you a case which may serve to throw some light on the subject.
A physician was called to visit a young lady of the city of New York, of a wealthy family, in which, the mother being present, something like the following conversation occurred:
Doctor.—Well, Miss, how are you to-day?
Patient.—Not very well, I am sorry to say.
D.—Do you attend school at present?
P.—Yes; I am at Mrs. ——’s seminary, in —— street.
D.—How long have you been there?
P.—Four years, including now and then a vacation of a few weeks.