Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-09
DR.. Hunter on Catarrh.


From the New York Medical Specialist
BY Catarrh, commonly called cold In the head,
Is meant an infiammatory affection of the mucous
memo rane lining the nose. This membrane ex-
tends downwards, lining also the throat, larynx,
wind-pipe and bronchial tubes. We breathe
through the nose; hence that part Of the mucous
membrane which lines the nasal passages first
receives injury from a sudden change Of tempera-
may contain.
Chronic Catarrh follows the acute form, and is
generally the direct consequence of leaving a
simple cold to cure itself 1T met with in several
FORMS In the first, we have merely discharge
OF yellow or straw colored mucus, which accumu-
iates In the posterior rares, above and behind
the soft palate, and is hacked and cleared out
from time 10 time during the day In the second
there are small sores formed on the inside of the
nose, and the secretions become dry and hard, re-
curing almost constant attention to keep the nose
Tree. In the third, false membrane is secreted
from the deceased lining, which the patient re-
moves from time to time. In the fourth, the Sc
creuons from the head drops down into the throat,
ana the patient is frequently observed to snuff up
liberated, and the discharge is thin yellow and
like pus In this form, too, .here is often loss of
smell, and the discharge has an offensive odor;
especially is this the when the ulcera on eats
through the membrane to the bone. Generally
during the summer months the active SYMPTOMS
OF chronic catarrh become mild, regularly return
ing, however, in an aggravated form on the APP
Unfortunately Catarrh is too often treated with
equal neglect by both physicians and patients
until 1t is lost sight Of in the disastrous conse-
quences to which gives rise. 1t exists In greater
or less degree, in all forms Of pulmonary disease
long before any manifestation Of disease Of the
lung structures present. 1t may be indicated only
by an increase Of the natural discharge from the
nose, or by a tenderness about the fauces, with
frequent disposition to 'hawk, and clear the
throat; but 1t is always present i'm some form as
the herald OF consumption Irritation never be-
gins In the lungs, thence extending upward to the
throat; but always in the mucous lining of the
nose and throat, from whence it progresses down.
wards to the lungs. Let this fact be ever kept in
view.
Lastly, Catarrh is caused by those scolds I'm the
head'' which become practically known to most
persons two or three times year; it is common in
children and young people, as well as in adult
larynx, rendering the voice feeble and hoarse in
speaking and singing; and, by the further extern
sion OF the irritation to the delicate tubes and cells
OF the lungs, becomes the great cause and direct
feeder OF consumption IT, therefore, we would
preserve the heath, and etfectualy guard the lungs
from disease we must begin 10y the removal of
Catarrhal affections.
TREATMENT.-C Chronic Catarrh like Asthma
ana Consumption, has hitherto had no remedy
1t remains stain and reproach on the page of
medicine. Nor has failure resulted from the want
OF means OF relief within our reach, or from the
seat of the disease the mali9nty of its nature:
for we can reach the diseased parts by all the
forces OF the Matcria Medca-soids, fluids and
gases-and the disease itself is only a simple
chronic inflammation Physicians have failed be-
cause they have not striven to succeed earnestly
and nationally. They have been generally salts
ned with squirting a little ,cdrm rater up the
nose, and in prescribing 90 akteratire'' by the
stomach b, which, of course, does no good Catarrh
Is rarely found as disease of the nose alone but
| is generally accompanied by more or less hoarse-
ness, showing that the irritation which exists in
greatest intensity in the nasal membrane also in
wolves the larynx and lining of the windpipe
we cannot, therefore, hope to remove it by apPli-
cations to the nose only. The course I have Dur-
sued with almost invariable success is as follows:
A mild astringent vapor is directed to be inhaled
TWO or three times day, from the inhaling nstru-
ment described in my treatise, the patient being
careful to exhale through the nostrls By this
means the diseased surface is acted upon in every
part.
In addition to the use of the inhalations. daily
shower the nosrils with a solution ada pied to the
condltlon OF the membrane, by d silver Showerinp
syringe, which have had constructed for the
purpose The extremity of the syringe is passed
into the throat, and then the curved part is turned
up behind the curtain of palate and Jet of the
solution thrown against every side of the poseror
mares at the same instant. Early in practice find
ing the want OF such an instrument, was in the
haolt OF using an elastic tube sealed at the ex-
| trelnity with wax, and perforated with small
holes, to this | fitted piston and used it as a
| syringe: There is neither pain inconvenience
| In making these applications. Even little chill
| oren submit to them from day to day, and get I'D
| from the chair laughing BY this simple treat
| ment, have been able TO break up the most in
veterate Chronic Catarrh in from four to ten
| weeks, and so generally successful has it been
| that doubt if it fail in one case out of an hun
dred, when properly and faithfully employed
Consumption has several stages 1t has first,
| or = forming" stage; a middle, or ''csn frnsd''
stage and last, or ''ntceratsdn stage The lungs
do not become Immediately stuffed with tubercles.
or crowded by foul ulcers 1t is only after months
| and oftsn years of irritation-of SLOW insidious
Progress-from the slight 'Cdtarrh': to the seated
"Bronchuis, from Bronchitis' to the first depo-
siton of little speck Of "tuJerculOus matter in
| single lobule, from the first dispositions of
tubercle to the filling up Of a whole lobe, or a
whole lung with this matter and its fostering and
burrowing among the delicate air cells until the
whole of the lung diseased becomes reduced to a
mass of hopeless disorganization that this dreaded
malady reaches the last and final stage The
error is too widespread among the people, and
! too general even among physicians, to regard
| consumption as 4 disease, marked not only by
'coHgh" but by the expe1toration Of .'pus," by
| 'hecttc Jertr," by might SlredtS,; and wasting
| OF flesh and strength. In other words to apply
the name Consumption only to the last stage Of
the disease. Were this otherwise, we should not
have expressions rs lit is only a catarrh;'' s.the
disease is all al the hrOat' or sit is only slight
bronchial Affection" Alas, there are are few who
| suffer from these affections, trfing and unim-
portant as they may seem. who do not, sooner or
later, fill consumptive's grave,