Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-23
DR.. Hunter on Bronchitis.
LETTER NO. 3.


Having in my last letter considered the symp-
toms and treatment Of Catarrh, l come now to
speak Of Bronchitis.
The organs of respiration comprise not only the
lungs. which lie within the chest, but also tho
windpipc which conveys the air from the throat To-
the lungs. The throat or Fsucss In the cavity
seen below and behind tho curtain Of the palate
From tho center Of the palate hangs the Uvdla.-
On either side Of the entrance into the fauces
two glands called tho Ton-is. The windppe 10
TINT tube through which the air or breath passes
to and from the lungs. IL commences in the
throat at the root OF the tongue. and extends down
to the lungs where il divides into two branches.
one entering the right, the other the left lung
These branches again suh-divide into innumerabe
smaller tubes which ramify in every direction
through tho substance Of the lungs, and finally
terminate IN little clusters or cavities which are
formed around their extremities like grapes around
their stem These are the "Bronchisl Tubes"
and the lair cells" The upper portion of tho
windpipe is called the Larynx-the lower
part the Trachea. This very briei outline of
the anatomy will render what follows more in
telligible
Now these several and distinct parts are all lin
BILE to disease We take cold and it settles
the mucous membrane Of the nose causing Ca,arrh
lit settles on the mucous membrane of the fluces
it is simple Soro Throat. IL the tonsis become
affected it Quinsey. II it extends to the Larynyx
then wc have Laryngis-the disease from
which Washington died. And whom it penetraes
still deeper yet combining itself to the mucous mem.
branc of the bronchial tubes which ranify the
lungs it is called Bronchits-a disease prevailing
to n frghfnl extent among all classes; and yet,
perhaps the least Understood OF all diseases in its
nature aud consequences.
| The term Bronchitis has hitherto been common
| " applied to disease Of the throat, and medical
| writer's have too often confirmed this popular
ror. The reader will bear in mind that the Bron-
chiul tubes rot the throat. but in the lungs.
| 4 - A. L
Of disease OF the lungs. and not of the throat.
! The vital Importance Of this distinction will be
seen when VIC come 10 discuss it's proper treat
ment
| BronchiGs, then. is disease of the lining or
mucuous membrane OF the bronchial tubes ramify
ingtho substance OF the Lungs This lining or mem.
hrnne is very sensitive to external or foreign in
| nuence, and il hence liable to become irrita-
ted by sudden changes Of weather, by imnure mir,
! by the fine particles of matter which fill the nt-
| mosphere of workshops or float upon the wind
| in dusty streets-by the hundred irritating causes
which meet our breathing in almost every place
rh. irritation, from whatever cause, leads to in.
| nnmaton Of the membrane, deranges its healthy
action. changes the character Of it's secretous, aud
sets up n train OF symptoms to which we apply the
| name BroachHis
/ In Clroac B,onciiGs thereis sometimes slight
rver towards evening. The patient experiences
a shortness OF breath on exercising, and has II
,lisht but continued sense of oppression in the
chest. The cough and expeGtoratiOn may diminish
~ entirely disappear during the summer but
immediaclyshow themselves again on the Ieurn of
winter when the approximations become lncreas
| ed aud often yellow. Hectic fever may then
per,enc. with night-sweats and rapid wasting If
the flesh aud strength and the patient dies with
all the symptoms of Pulmonary Consumption.
1t is very common to meet this disease, in II
mllder form, in persons, who speak OF it as n
winter cough" 1t comes on each winter, aud "a
lp,1 ,Ia.
rry succeeding recurrence 1t manifess itself in
greater severity aud the recovery in the
following summer il not 30 complete. This
form of bronchitis. if neglected, will MS surely
destroy lite land, treated in the usual manner 1t
- of curable) consumption itself. Thc mu-
| ruous membrane, soOuer or later, becomes al
'ered in structure. and pours forth n matter which
has oil the qualities of pms. Hectic fever super
venos. and the disease tends slowly but surely to
fatal termination.
Another form of Bronchitis ia peculiar to mid
die lifo aud old age. 1t IL distinguished hv the
quantity and the character Of the matter exprc.
torated. Usually there are two fits Of coughing
IN the dny-one on awakening from Sleep in the
morning; the other in theseyening, There is CON
Siderable difficulty Of breathing while the parox-
vsms OF coughing last but it passes as rs
tho lnnrs are freed from the vscid secretion.-
The patient is feeble; he may, however, live,
and attend to light duties for several years. But
the countenanco gradually assumes palc
,hne md dsath ons,ss ann..an,. c.",,, ~
slant drain bent m Inv ,hp d;sot.rr. r. ',o ,o
Q lnn,s S'r,s n,,;art. a;s f., 'i'i' e s"o
nr six mon,hs. hut We h"ya rnnwn ".%a" ;" N, .
Tive for m6nv years.
Id ~, p,"n,h;,;s" MN " WI. u'seaSe' cal,
Drv R,1.h;,;s nnn;.. IS hr;o c'a;ac'er W
: ,endsd hv tb;cl";ns "f, I,o",' aun'ma.,"n AZ
Inv which ths air tnhss a,a d;n;aNrs, ae"o''"';
,Iso in tho se,ro,;an If danaa =, s'Ae anu
" w N''" VI uc',sc, Rautinious klhd