Every one individually protects himself best from consumption by a methodic habit of washing with cold water, cold rubbing and baths. River and sea baths are generally of excellent results; short shower baths with cool water lasting 20–40 seconds are to be applied later on; they do not only harden the skin but excite deep inhalations and exhalations and in that way act as gymnastics of the lungs. More direct is the action of muscular exercise, such as gymnastics, riding horseback or bicycle, driving, skating, rowing, etc. The carriage of children must be regulated, the drooping forward of their shoulders must be corrected by strengthening the muscles of the back and shoulders by means of dumbbell and other exercises.
All this must still be observed in the future. On the other hand above all the numberless remedies will be dropped that have heretofore been applied as presumably specific remedies for consumption.
Creosote, which was so much praised at its appearance a few years ago and still applied, because of the non-existence of a better remedy, will be dropped into obliteration and with it Guajacol which was just getting to be the "fashion".
All the various inhalation methods that have matured in later years will disappear from the picture plane as far as this has not ever now happened.
The medical remedies, which were given for the torturing cough, for hemorrhage of the lungs, sweats etc., will in most cases be superfluous after this. Hemorrhages will now and then still be experienced as the same may set in unexpectedly.
The diatetic cures with whey, koumiss, grapes etc. will retain their importance and also the bathing resorts will be hunted up by patients as formerly.
The owners also of special institutes for curing pulmonary consumption need not despair with the idea that they will not be needed in the future. On the contrary, those needing cure will flock to them in all the greater numbers, as they now know that they certainly will be restored to health within a definitely limited time.
The other forms of Tuberculosis.
Of the other forms of tuberculosis laryngeal consumption is very often combined with pulmonary consumption. It is estimated that this is true of at least one-fourth of all cases of pulmonary consumption.