t all. Horseback exercise was even regarded as hazardous, and
other forms of exertion had not been urged, or, that I could learn, so
much as recommended.

I was anxious to meet her physicians, that I might communicate my views
and feelings directly to them; but as this was not convenient I gave
such directions as the nature of the case seemed to require, requesting
them to follow my advice till the arrival of her physicians, and then to
lay the whole case before them. My advice was, to reduce the temperature
of the sitting-room as low as possible, and yet not produce a sensation
of chilliness, and to have her sleeping-room absolutely cold, taking
care to protect her body, however, by proper covering. I also
recommended exercise in the open air, such as she could best endure; and
withal, a plain, unstimulating diet.

What was done, I never knew for many months. At last, however, I met
with a neighbor of the family, one day, who told me that the young
woman's physicians entirely approved of my suggestions, and that by
following them out for some time, she partially recovered her wonted
measure of health.

Whether she recovered entirely, I never knew. The far greater
probability is, that she remained more comfortable through the summer
and autumn, but that the injudicious management of the next winter and
spring reduced her to her former condition, or to a condition much
worse. People are exceedingly forgetful even of their dearest rights and
interests. They may, perhaps, exert themselves in the moment of great
and pressing danger; but as soon as the danger appears to be somewhat
over they relapse into their former stupidity.

There is, however, much reason for believing that consumptive people
might often live on many years beyond their present scanty limit, could
they be made to feel that their recovery depends, almost wholly, on a
strict obedience to the laws of health, and not on taking medicine. If
Miss H., by strict obedience, could recover from a dangerous condition,
and enjoy six or eight months of tolerable health, is it not highly
probable, to say the least, that a rigid pursuance of the same course
would have kept her from a relapse into her former low and dangerous
condition?

It is in this way, as I suppose, that consumption is to be cured, if
cured at all. It is to be _postponed_. In some cases it can be postponed
one year; in some, five years; in some, ten, fifteen, or twenty; in a
few, forty or fifty.