Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-11
DR.. Hunter on Sore Tbroa,.

III
From the New York Medical Specialist
Sore Throat is general term used TO designate
| several forms OF disease Of the mucous membrane
OF 'he fauces, and also Of the mucous glands scat
occtsoned by a cold, there is simply redness and
ught Pufhness Of the membrane, which subsidies
after few days, and leaves the parts affected I'm
thelr former condition. This occurs 20 most
persons during each winter, but is thought Of
iittie consequence as scarcely 20 deserve aiten-
uon Not so In reality however, for each attack
leaves an increased Inability 10 recurrence, and
lays The foundation Of Chronic diseases. IL Is
Imperative that all these cases should be prompt
y treated by the use Of warm emollient inbala-
uons from a proper instrument the tubes Of
Mmch are capable Of directing large volume of
vapof into the throat without effort the part Of
| the patient
But simple sore throat does not always termi-
naIe THIS satisfactory manner. All the unpleasant
symptoms gradually disappear, leaving the pa
tlent, as be supposes, in perfect health: but soon
ne becomes conscious Of an harrassing utilization.
producing desire, two OF three times a day, to
clear the throat. This, probably, is not percep-
tible to himself, but is noticed by his friends
After some few months this disposition increases,
and Is attended by desire to swallow, the patient
feeling something Ito use a familiar phrasel
sticking in his throat -
On looking into the throat under these circum
stances, examinations of various sizes will be seen
studding the membrane, and causing IL to appear
rough and uneven At times, these exist in irreg-
ular patches, but commonly they reg uar !n
shape, and each granulation is distinct. Should
larynx also become involved, and then we have a
huskinsss Of the voice, with frequent and vexa-
tious attempts TO clear the throat At these times
a thick. sticky kind Of uncors Is forced of with
considerable difficulty.
In the treatment Of Chronic Sore Throat the
usual recourse TO bleeding, purging, alternatives
and counterirritation, only weak ens the consftu-
ton, and renders the malady more inveterate
Gargles, too, are Of little value In defiance Of
such means the irritation proceeds slowly, but
surely towards the lungs, till at last tie sufferer
Is mt
sore throat to a confirmed consumption. The
condition Of the mucous membrane IN sore throat
10 precisely similar TO that of the mucous men,
brane OF the nose in Chronic Catarrb, and the
same treatment 10 applicable 10 both diseases
Astringent and soothing inhalations are employed
three or four times day, for fifteen minutes at
ume. On being supplied with proper prescrip-
tons and the inhaling instrument, the patient is
able to use them at his own house. In addition
TO the inhalations, the Pharyngeal Showering
Syringe which ] contrived for this purpose, be-
comes a valuable assistant. With this instrument
l am able, in the most delicate manner posi- bic
to make application 70 every part Of the fauces
without the pain produced by the common pra,
tce OF pressing a sponge against the infismed
SUFFICE. There is no suffering 0ccasioned by these
applici tions, and under this simple and diIect
treatment, this disease. 81 great an afaiction 60
thousands, Is cut short In from 10 three months
and oftener in half that time
When this disease s z htly noticed at the begin
ming aud soon acquired, has passed, as IL invari
ably does when not arrested. Involving the bror-
chial tubes. applications TO the throat ALWAYS fail
unless conjoined with Alternative and astringent
| inhalations No solid liquid medicine ever
| finds its way below the division of the windpipe
and rarely more than two and a half three
inches below the epiglottis. The disease below
the lowest point 20 which applications are ever
| made by the whalebone and sponge, is by far the
most serious; and yet here, when rely on thesr
applications alone, il proceeds through its several
| sages as certainly as though no treatment were
adopted 10 arrest 1t. This is no imaginary picture
Nearly one half the coEsumptvc cases under nv
care have been previously treated for diseases If
the throat by application Of "Nitrate Of silver
and as they assure the, not only without benefit.
but with decided increase of their MANY diseases
| At the present moment, have several Patients
| suffering from clearly marked consumption, who
1 attribute their disease of the lungs 10 burning
| their throats. These facts mentioned. not 60
| much to censure this treatment. as 10 illustrate
| the failure and disappointment which must al
ways occur when the diseased surface is not fully
| reached by the remedy employed, and this con
slider to be impossible by any other means than
inhalation.
10 diseases Of the throat and this error is kept up
by the folly Of medical writers in using the term
not In its proper, but in its popular Specification
1 Recent books issued from the American press
have assisted, i'm no small degree TO perpeiuate
this error. bronchitis is a disease of the brou
chial tubes. which ramify in every direction
| through the substance Of the lungs. Bronchitis
| Is, therefore, a disease Of the lungs and until
| those who use the term 10 designate diseases Of
the throat can discover bronchial tubes I'm the
throat, they VIII ind IL difficult 10 Justify so gtCa
a perversion Of the common sense Of the term
In conclusion, think IL necessary 70 state f,,r
the information Of the numerous parties who have
addressed me on the subject, that il Ia necessa
ny for patients residing in the country or in dis
| tdnt cities TO undertake long, tedious and eH
pensive Journey TO avail themselves Of the ad-
vantages of Inhalation All that is requisite is p
careful description If the symptoms of the case
either written by the patient himself or by bis
attending physician, whose cooperation in al
mlnistsrlng the treatment and in making its
effects am most happy to have on all occasions
L