Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-07
DIR. HUNTER ON oArARRH.

Error OF WHG-Sr From the frequency OF Ca
arrhal affections forerunuers of genuine tubercuhr
consumption, the relationship between colds, coughs
and con sumption" is PROFESSIONALLY that of cause and
effect Too much attention cannot be given TO this fact
By "Catarrh," commonly called "a cold in the head,
is nfiammatory affection of the mucous men,
brane that lines the This membrane extends down
wards lining also the throat arynx, wndppe and bron
chia tubes We breathe through the nose hence that
part of the mucous membrane which lines the nasal
passages first receives injury from sudden changes oil
temperature in the air or from any irritating matter II
may contain.
The irritation may extend from the lining of the nose
to the frontal sinus; when we have :" PAIN over the
"roREHEAD" 1t may also extend through the lachryms
canals which convey the tears from the eyes, closing
them In that event the secretion Of tears Will be IN
creased and in consequence of the closing OF the tear
passages, will run over the cheeks.
Should the Catarrhal irritation extend to the throat
involving the fauces it is called "sORE THROAT II
the tonsls swell very much the disease is called QUNsY
| simple cold in the head may also proceed along the
eustachan tubes Of the ear; and cause DEAFNESS
or down to the stomach derangng digestion The most
common course of catarrh however is to creep insid
ously down to the lungs when is popularity known as
"coLD ~ CHEST and professionally by the name OF
! "BRoNCBITIsW
Chronic Catarrh follows the "acute" form, and is gen.
orally the direct consequence of leaving simple cold
to ITSELF 1t is met with in several forms In the
first" we have merely discharge of yellow or straw
colored mucous which accumulates in the posterior
mares, or above and behind the soft palate which is
"hawked" from time time during the day. In the
Second there are small formed on the inside OF
the nose and the secreons become dry and hard re-
curing almost constant attention keep the nose Free
In the third" false membrane is secreted from the
diseased lining which the patient removes from time to
time II the "fourh,' the secretion from the head
drops down into the throat and the patient frequently
observed TO "snuff up and ''hawk" Often the
membrane becomes liberated aud the discharge is then
thin yellow and like "pus" In this form, too there is
often loss of smell, and the discharge has an offensive
odor-e pecay is this the when the liberation eats
through the membrane to the bone. Generally during
the summer months the active symptoms of Chronic Ca
tarrh become mild regularly returning in an aggravated
form the approach Of winter. Those suffering from
Chronic Catarh are very subject to take cold and will
! have one or attacks every winter.
| more aggravated form of caarrh, depending on a
vice in the constitution or on acting impurity in
the blood is called Oz0na This form of catarrh is often
very rapid in its progress and malignant in its character
The mucous lining OF the is eaten by deep ucera
tons which rapidly involve the nasal bones and If not
arrested may destroy the roof of the mouth. For
tunately, however malignant o-od is comparatively
speaking disease while simple chronic caarrh is
common III this climate that few persons be said
to be entirely free from it, Now, the Importance of I'M
dersaudng the nature of catarrh, and of adopting
prompt for its cure cannot be too strongly
forced when it is considered that this disease is bu.
often the herald Of consumption. Consumption has
eral stages. II has first forming stage; middle
or confirmed stage, aud last or liberated stage
The lungs do not become Immediately stuffed with tuber
ces corroded by foul ulcers 1t only after months
and often years of irritation-oi slow insdious pro-
gress-irOm the "siight caidrrh to the "Seded IRON
chitis" from bronchitis" to the first deposition OF
little speck Of "tuJercious matter in single obue
from the first dispositions of tuberce to the filling up
of the whole lobe, whole lung, with this matter
and its fostering and borrowing among the delicate air
cells until the whole of the lung diseased becomes
duced TO a of hopeless disorganizaton-that this
dreaded malay reaches the last and final stage. The
too widespread among the people, and too gen
era even among physiclna, to regard consumption
disease marked not only by cough, but by the eXpec
torltion of pas by "hecc fever might sweats aud
wasting OF flesh and strength In other words they APP
ply the consumption only the last stage Of the
disease. Were this otherwise, We should not have TO
listen TO such expressions as ut is only a catarrh the
disease all in the throat only "a Light bronch
al affection Alas there few who suffer from these
affections trihing and ulmpOrtaut as they may seem,
that DO not or later till consumptives grave,
! Tomorrow shall give the treatment Of Clarrh.
iour obedieut servant,
RoHEEI HUSTER, NJ. D.,
No ., East 9Th street.
/ w. Yopv Anil go 1Stl