The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English Part 139

BRIGHT'S DISEASE.

This affection may appear in either an acute or chronic form. The acute form is frequently a complication, or sequel of scarlet fever, diphtheria, cholera, typhoid fever, erysipelas or measles, and is frequently developed by intemperance. The acute form of the disease is very rapid in its progress, often destroying life by uraemic poisoning--the retention of urea in the system.

The symptoms of the acute form are diminution or suppression of urine, dry skin, chills, thirst, pains in the loins, and a general dropsical, puffy condition of the system, especially manifesting itself in the earlier stages under the eyes, but gradually showing itself in the oedema, or swelling of the feet, and lower extremities generally. Unless promptly relieved, the patient dies of coma (stupor), or from convulsions. No person should be so rash as to attempt the treatment of this dangerous affection without the aid of the best medical skill that can be procured.

IT IS THE CHRONIC FORM OF BRIGHT'S DISEASE that we propose princ.i.p.ally to discuss in this article. True Bright's disease of the kidneys is an insidious and most fatal form of organic disease.

We venture to a.s.sert that less than one per cent. of those who imagine they have "Bright's," have this disease at all. We find that most of those who, as one of our Faculty puts it, _insist upon having_ Bright's disease, base their "diagnosis" upon the ever-changing condition of the urinary secretion, and especially upon the copiousness of the deposit; whereas, in true Bright's, deposits of any kind are rarely met with.

Perhaps the form of deposit most commonly mistaken for Bright's disease, is that known to medical men as the _urates_. When the urates are in excess they form a heavy pinkish deposit of a flocculent nature within from five to thirty minutes after the urine has been pa.s.sed--that is, after it has been pa.s.sed sufficiently long to cool. To prove that the deposit is urates, heat the specimen to the temperature of the blood, when the deposit in question will disappear. Excess of urates has now been definitely traced, in the majority of instances, to functional torpidity of the liver.

Another common form of deposit is that in which the reaction of the urine, instead of being acid, as in health, is either neutral or alkaline, and in which the earthy phosphates are precipitated for this reason. The earthy phosphates, when thrown down by a neutral or an alkaline condition of the urine, appear as a heavy white deposit, which, though usually devoid of clinical significance, is certainly calculated to frighten timid patients who read of the "terrible ravages of Bright's" in the advertis.e.m.e.nts of various popular "kidney cures." To prove that the precipitate is phosphatic in its nature, add a few drops of vinegar and it will disappear; whilst, if, after the vinegar has been added, the specimen be brought to the boiling point, not only both the urates and phosphates remain in solution, but there is only one single substance known to pathological chemistry that can form a deposit under these conditions--and that substance is alb.u.men, which, if present in quant.i.ty, is always indicative of serious disease.

The papers are filled with the plausible but unwarranted statements of the manufacturers of various "kidney cures," who anxiously desire that every one should be impressed with the idea that all their troubles arise from kidney disease in order to sell large quant.i.ties of their medicines. In many cases the unfortunate patient is rendered much worse by the use of remedies that are not suited to his condition, and which will not cure the real trouble with which he is affected.

Daily we are consulted by persons in whose cases these errors have been made. In reality, true Bright's disease is not a common affection, and nine out often individuals who think that they suffer from it, or the early stages of the trouble, in fact have something more curable. In some cases it is an affection of the liver, which forces an excretion of unnatural salts by the kidneys, and thus renders the urine acrid and irritating, or they may be suffering from some other disease, such as a deformity or enlargement of certain glands, as the prostate; unnatural position of the organs, as with women who suffer from weakness, the uterus pressing forward on the bladder and urethra, and thus showing every evidence of disease in the urinary ca.n.a.l. It is as common for persons to suffer from deformity of the urinary ca.n.a.l as from misshapen limbs, or from noses and ears not of proper size and proportion.

The urinary ca.n.a.l, from the bladder outward, is narrow and delicate. Any disease or injury therein is liable to result in gradual contraction, which may be manifested long years after the cause has been forgotten, or has disappeared. These affections, to the inexperienced, or the physician who is not particularly alert and cautious in his diagnosis, are liable to cause error, and he will p.r.o.nounce a given case Bright's disease, when in reality there is some simple cause for the irritation of the urinary ca.n.a.l, and the pains in the kidneys, etc., all of which frequently result from a slight damming up of the flow of water, and the prevention of free expulsion from the system of the salts of which the body is relieved by the kidneys. They cannot work under pressure. When, from any cause, the flow of water is checked, and, as it were, dammed up so that a slight pressure is put upon the kidneys below, their secretion is most materially interfered with, and the many trains of symptoms that usher in disease of the kidneys, appear.

The true, and only sure way to relieve these conditions, as can be understood by any one, is to remove the real cause. The use of any medicine that stimulates the kidneys to an irritable action, under such pressure, is to be avoided, as it only makes the trouble worse, increases the amount of water that is dammed up, and results in more serious manifestations of const.i.tutional disease; whereas, by merely relieving the choked outlet, the flow of water becomes free, and the kidneys are speedily restored to their natural condition. This is well ill.u.s.trated by the following:

Case 113,396.

As recorded at the Invalids' Hotel. L.C.K., farmer, age 41, married. For a period of nearly ten years, as a result of slight injury, he had suffered from cloudy and unhealthy-looking water, with some burning on pa.s.sing it; frequent calls to urinate; swelling of the limbs, loss of energy and strength; headache, etc.; gradually there appeared severe pain in the back, at times recurring with a sense of fullness in the abdomen. For a period of nearly eight years he had been constantly treated by physicians at his home, all of whom had investigated his case. He had made several long journeys to consult the manufacturers of a much-advertised "kidney cure," who, after pretending to examine his urine, scientifically (none of the proprietors are physicians), a.s.sured him that, without the shadow of a doubt, his disease was Bright's, and that he might be cured by their "kidney cure," which was for sale at all drug stores. For a period of eighteen months he steadily took this "cure," which, he states, he is sure aggravated his disease, as, although his sufferings at times were less, he felt that he was not improving in the least, and that his disorder was not being properly controlled.

His home physician went with him on several occasions, consulted with the owner of the proprietary medicine, and was equally mistaken in his diagnosis. After consulting many doctors, all of whom a.s.sured him they could give him treatment that would prolong his life somewhat, and make his condition comfortable, but that no treatment would affect his cure, he was induced, by reading our article, heretofore referred to, to consult us. A very thorough examination of the case was made, which resulted in finding two contractions of the urethra, which admitted only the smallest sized probe, and which, necessarily, prevented the free flow of the urine. These were speedily removed, when, much to the surprise of his family physician, who accompanied him, over thirty-seven ounces of fluid were drawn from the bladder. This gave him immediate and perfect relief. The pains and aches in the region of the kidneys, the weakness and tenderness, and the many other uncomfortable symptoms with which he was troubled, all disappeared. From a feeble and irritable invalid, in a few weeks he was converted into a happy and cheerful man. The symptoms of congestion and irritability of the kidneys gradually disappeared, and in thirty days after visiting us he writes that he feels himself entirely sound and well. This gentleman states that he will be pleased to correspond with any one who wishes to learn the particulars of his case, and his full name and address will be furnished to any inquirer.

Bright's disease when fully established is characterized by degeneration of the kidneys. Submitted to examination, after death by this disease, these organs present various appearances. Hence, the degeneration that characterizes the disease has been designated as waxy degeneration. Some pathologists contend that the disease consists of several different renal maladies, all of which, however, agree in the one ever-present symptom of a more or less alb.u.minous condition of the urine.

As to the causes of kidney disease, it may be said that any thing which will give rise to a greater or less degree of congestion of the kidney will induce either a temporary alb.u.minous condition of the urine, or a true Bright's disease of the kidneys. Suppression of perspiration, by exposure to cold and wet, want of cleanliness, deficiency of nutritious diet, liver disease, certain poisons in the system, as of scarlet fever, measles, erysipelas or diphtheria, taken in conjunction with sedentary habits, bad air, excessive mental labor or worry, may each occasion an alb.u.minous urine, and finally result in Bright's disease, but of all causes that appear to produce this disease, none are so prolific as intemperance. A scrofulous diathesis, or habit of body, may strongly predispose to the disease, and chronic kidney disease frequently follows acute rheumatism and the practice of masturbation. In some instances the chronic form of Bright's disease follows an acute attack, but is more often developed slowly and insidiously without any known cause.

THE SYMPTOMS of this fatal malady generally appear so gradually that they excite but little or no concern until it has reached its more advanced and dangerous stages. Frequently, a puffy, watery or flabby condition of the face, particularly under the eyes, is the first symptom noticed, and the patient may observe that his urine is diminished in quant.i.ty. The urine is sometimes abundant, but generally more scanty than in health, is acid in its reaction, and generally of a low specific gravity. The countenance is generally somewhat pale and bloodless, which, taken with the dropsical condition of the system, and the constant alb.u.minous condition of the urine, points the expert specialist to Bright's disease of the kidneys. Various circ.u.mstances and conditions may give rise to the temporary presence of alb.u.men in the urine, and, although alb.u.men may be temporarily absent from the urine even when Bright's disease exists, yet this is not common. There are certain indirect symptoms which point clearly and almost unmistakably to the presence of this disease. These are deep-seated pain or weakness in the back, gradual loss of flesh, red, brown, or dingy urine, more or less drowsiness, and as the disease advances, a smothering sensation, or difficulty in breathing, with dropsical puffiness or swelling.

Occasional attacks of nausea and vomiting are common; pains in the limbs and loins, which are often mistaken for rheumatism. Irregularity of the bowels is also common. The skin becomes harsh and dry, not perspiring even under active exercise. Sometimes these symptoms are years in their development, being very obscure at first, and in some cases the disease has been known to prove fatal without the patient having experienced any extraordinary symptoms. With those whose systems are enfeebled by want, intemperance, exposures or disease, as scrofula or syphilis, the first symptoms usually observed will be a frequent desire to urinate, occasional attacks of diarrhea, flatulency, dropsical swelling of the face, especially under the eyes, and afterwards of the extremities, paleness and increasing debility. Stupor, apoplexy and convulsions are the forerunners of a fatal termination.

Microscopical and chemical examinations of the urine are the only reliable means of diagnosis, and should be often repeated. (See Urinary Signs, in Appendix.) As alb.u.men is often present in the urine without the existence of Bright's disease, it is impossible, except by the aid of the microscope, to distinguish true Bright's from other affections of the kidneys. In both purulent urine, and that containing blood, alb.u.men will be found by the usual tests, but in smaller quant.i.ty than in Bright's disease. Alb.u.men, with disintegrated epithelia, hyaline, and large granular casts, as well as waxy casts, are peculiar to, and characteristic of, this disease.

In the treatment of this malady, our specialist's experience has been very great, and attended with marvelous success. Of course, after the substance of the kidney has degenerated and broken down, and become destroyed to any great extent, a cure is impossible. But that we now possess remedies of great value, and specific power over this terrible disease, we have the most positive evidence in the remarkable success attended in its treatment. Most cases that are curable can be managed successfully at a distance, the necessary medicines being sent either by mail or express. Our specialists have cured many in this way who were so bloated from dropsical effusion as to weigh twenty-five to forty pounds more than usual. In our Sanitarium, where we have had the advantage of our Turkish baths and other appliances, we have cured some cases in which the removal of the dropsical effusion reduced the patient's weight sixty pounds.

We cannot, In conclusion, too strongly condemn the general resort to strong diuretics so often prescribed by physicians for all forms of renal maladies, but which, by over-stimulating the already weak and delicate kidneys, only aggravate and render incurable thousands of cases annually. Not less harmful are the many advertised "kidney cures,"

"kidney remedies," "buchus," and kindred preparations. They all contain powerful, stimulating diuretics, and, while they may appear for a short time to do good, invariably render the case worse and far more difficult to cure. The cases of Bright's disease reported cured by these preparations are cases of far less dangerous maladies, made to appear, by exaggerated accounts of them, as true Bright's disease. The use of these general, ready-made or proprietary remedies in any case of true Bright's disease is hazardous in the extreme. In no disease is there greater necessity for treatment nicely adapted to the exact condition of the patient (which should always be carefully ascertained by microscopical and chemical examinations of the urine) than in this. As it is a disease that runs a slow course, there is always time to send samples of the urine for examination by expert specialists, and no other physician than a specialist of large experience should be entrusted with the treatment of a malady so dangerous in its character, and in the diagnosis and treatment of which general pract.i.tioners commit such frequent, and often fatal, errors. (SEE TESTIMONIALS.)

DIABETES. (POLYURIA AND GLYCOSURIA.)

There are two essentially different varieties of this disease, one of which is called _Diabetes Insipidus_, or _Polyuria_, and the other _Diabetes Mellitus_, or _Glycosuria_. The first is characterized by an increase in the amount of urine excreted, and yields readily to proper treatment. The second is characterized by the presence of sugar in the urine, and under ordinary treatment often proves fatal.

The _causes_ are obscure, and are therefore not very well understood by the profession.

SYMPTOMS. A notable increase of the quant.i.ty of urine excreted is the first symptom which attracts the patient's attention. Frequently, several quarts, or even gallons, of urine are daily excreted, and it is paler than natural. The patient experiences extraordinary thirst, and has an almost insatiable appet.i.te, though at the same time he loses flesh and strength. The tongue may be either clammy and furred or unnaturally clean and red. The bowels become constipated, and a peculiar odor is observed in the patient's breath and exhales from his body. The skin becomes harsh, dry, and scurfy. There are dizziness, headache, dejection, la.s.situde, and not unfrequently blindness, caused by cataract, is developed in one or both eyes. The intellect is blunted, and, as the disease progresses, the emaciation and debility increase, and pulmonary diseases develop; or, perhaps, an uncontrollable diarrhea sets in, and the patient dies from exhaustion.

In this disease, as in Bright's, we have many medicines that produce specific curative effects, enabling our specialists to treat it with greatly increased success. The disease is readily diagnosticated, or determined, by chemical examination of the urine, so that we have been enabled to treat this cla.s.s of cases very successfully at a distance, and without personal examinations. Great attention should be paid to the diet in these cases. It should be highly nutritious, but anything of a sweet or starchy nature must be avoided.

The following articles are wholesome and afford sufficient variety, viz.: of animal food--beefsteak, game, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, cream, b.u.t.ter; of vegetables--spinach, dandelion greens, turnip tops, watercresses, lettuce, celery, and radishes; of drinks--tea, coffee, claret, water, brandy and water, beef-tea, mutton-broth, or water acidulated with tartaric, nitric, citric, muriatic, or phosphoric acid.

The _forbidden_ articles are oysters, crabs, lobsters, sugar, wheat, rye, corn or oatmeal cakes, rice, potatoes, carrots, bests, peas, beans, pastry, puddings, sweetened custards, apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, currants, etc., also beer, sweet wines, port, rum, gin, and cider. (SEE TESTIMONIALS.)

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. (CHRONIC CYSt.i.tIS.)

This affection, also called _catarrh of the bladder_, is an inflammation of the mucous lining of this organ. It may occur at any period of life, but it oftenest appears in the aged, and is usually a.s.sociated with some obstruction to the flow of urine.

CAUSES. It may be due to colds, injuries, irritating diuretics, injections, extension of disease from the kidneys or adjacent organs, intemperance, severe horseback riding, recession of cutaneous affections, gout, rheumatism, etc.; but it more frequently results from stricture of the urethra, enlarged prostate gland, gravel, and gonorrhea. It is also caused by an habitual retention of the urine, and sometimes results from masturbation or self-abuse.

SYMPTOMS. There is an uneasy sensation in the bladder, and heaviness and sometimes pain and weakness in the back and loins. The urine is scanty, and, although there is a desire to void it frequently, it is pa.s.sed with difficulty. If allowed to stand, it deposits more or less mucus, which is sometimes mistaken for s.e.m.e.n. As the disease progresses, the quant.i.ty of the mucus increases. It is very viscid, and adheres to the sides of the vessels, so that if an attempt be made to pour it out, it forms long, tenacious, ropy threads. Sometimes the quant.i.ty of mucus is so great that on exposure to cold the whole ma.s.s becomes semi-solid, and resembles the white of an egg. The excreted urine is alkaline, acrid, exhales a strong odor of ammonia, and soon becomes exceedingly fetid.

Sometimes the urine becomes so thick that great difficulty is experienced in expelling it from the bladder. Nocturnal emissions, impotency, and loss of s.e.xual desire are apt to ensue. Occasionally there will be a spasmodic contraction of the bladder, with straining and a sensation of scalding in the urethra, and sometimes the patient is unable to urinate.

When ulceration occurs in the progress of the disease, as it is apt to in its advanced stages, blood will occasionally be seen in the urine. In the advanced stages of the disease the system becomes greatly debilitated, emaciation supervenes, with hectic fever, nervous irritability and, finally, death.

TREATMENT. A strict observance of the rules of hygiene is essential to a cure. We must ascertain the cause if possible, remove it, and thus prevent it from perpetuating the disease. The various causes and conditions involved in different cases demand corresponding modifications of treatment; hence, it is useless for us to attempt to teach the non-professional how to treat this complex disease. We have succeeded in curing many severe cases without seeing the patient, being guided in prescribing by indications furnished by microscopical and chemical examinations of the urine. (See Urinary Signs in Appendix.) In fact, nearly all cases can be cured at their homes, and without a personal examination being made. In the worst cases, we have found it best to have our patients at our inst.i.tution, where we can wash out the bladder with soothing, healing lotions, and thus make direct applications to the diseased parts. (SEE TESTIMONIALS.)

GRAVEL.

When the solid const.i.tuents of the urine are increased to such an extent that they cannot be held in solution, or when abnormal substances are secreted, they are precipitated in small crystals, which, if minute, are called _gravel_. Another cause of the precipitation of these salts is a stricture of the urinary ca.n.a.l which, by interfering with the free expulsion of all the fluid from the bladder, results in the retention of a portion, which gradually undergoes decomposition. Salts from the urine are thus precipitated in the same way that they are thrown down in urine which is allowed to stand in a vessel. Any one can ill.u.s.trate this, by allowing a small quant.i.ty of the urinary secretion to stand for a few days either in an open or a closed bottle. Soon a white, flaky deposit will be observed, which will become more and more dense, and finally fine grains will be seen precipitated at the bottom of the bottle.

Similar grains, lodging in the folds of the bladder, gradually increase in size, by the precipitation of more salts around them, and ultimately become a source of much irritation. When of large size, they are termed _calculi_ or stones. When these formations occur in the kidneys they are termed _renal calculi_; when in the bladder, _vesical calculi_. There are several varieties of gravel, each depending upon different conditions of the system for its formation. The two prominent varieties are the red, containing uric acid, and the white, or phosphatic, gravel.

SYMPTOMS. When the deposits are in the kidneys, there is pain in the back and loins, occasionally cutting and severe; sometimes it darts down the course of the ureter to the bladder, and extends even to the thighs.

When the deposits are in the bladder, there is a frequent desire to urinate, with a bearing-down, straining pain; also a cutting or scratching sensation in the urethra during micturition. In the male, intense pain is often experienced at the end of the p.e.n.i.s. When the urine is voided in a vessel and allowed to settle, a gravelly deposit is seen, generally of a red or a white color, and the particles varying in size.

TREATMENT. These urinary deposits indicate a general derangement of the system, as well as a local disease. Nutrition is imperfect and some of the excretory organs are not properly performing their functions, or, perhaps, some portion of the body is being too rapidly wasted. Very frequently we find these gravelly formations as the result of a rheumatic or a gouty diathesis. It is also a well-known fact that torpidity of the liver throws an excessive amount of work on the kidneys. These organs then, in part, perform the function of the liver, and hence unnatural activity is required of them, and the secreting of such substances as uric acid, which precipitates readily and gives rise to severe irritation of the urinary ca.n.a.l.

In order to treat these cases rationally and successfully, it is first necessary to ascertain by microscopical and perhaps chemical examinations, the character of the deposit. By such an examination, the exact condition of the system which gives rise to these abnormal products may be definitely determined, and the remedies to be employed indicated. As the non-professional are not qualified to make such examinations, it would be useless for us to suggest specific treatment for the various forms of this affection.

Samples of the urine may be sent to us with a brief description of the symptoms experienced, and the proper medicines to cure can be returned by mail or express. Our specialists are treating, with uniform success, large numbers of cases in this way. (SEE TESTIMONIALS.)

STONE IN THE BLADDER.

Few affections to which the human flesh is heir are more painful than this terrible affliction. The cutting operation heretofore required to remove it, is considered one of the most dangerous operations that the surgeon is ever called upon to perform.