, 1863-09-14
ECommunicatcd.J
Dr. James Hunter on Chronic Nrou.
ekllis,


To the Editor OF the Chicago Tribune:
S1n: Having pointed out those affections OF the
more, throat and larynx which 20 before and pre-
pare the way for disease Of tho lungs, now come
to speak Of chronic bronchitis the most common
form Of pulmonary disease. Chronic bronchitis
te local Inflammation Of the mucous membrane
lining the mir tubes, and il simply cata1rh Of the
lungs. It does not differ from catar1h Of the nose
In the effects It produces upon the mucous mem.
bzanc. ThickcntDg, enlargement Of: the mucous
ocles ard ulcelation takes place In the nir tubes
Of the lungs the same as In the air passages of the
nose, but the effect upon the health is ycy differ
ent in tie two cases. In bronchitis thIckenfnc OF
the mucous membrane diminlshcs the stxe OF the
air tubes and thortens tho breath. When TIM
losc ts obstIuctcd by nnhe althy eecrctions OF SO
charged by disease a to make 1t difficult tor ns to
breathe through tho ,nostrils, we can breathe
through the mouth. but when tho bronchial tubes
In the lungs obstructed or dtmtniahct in sizc.
Te @ can oily find relief bJ tho cure Of the bron.
:BToaehits, then, is disease OF the lining of tho
6Eonchia! tutes 1am!fying the substAncs Of the
tive to every external influence and is hence la
bic to become irrtattd by Sudden changes Of
weather, hy Impure M ar, By tue dne Particles OF
dont upon the wind iu dusty streets, by the hun
dred irritating causes which meet our breathing
IN almost every place. Tie most common cause
ofthe nose. re1t affecting the throat and larynx,
anl lastly involving the bronchial tubes. when the
dissose ts known As seated cold In the ehest,
Tho acute symptoms usually snbslde after q
short time,, but unless the patient IL properly
tIsatsd @ he does not rstutn to his former good
warmth III the hands toward evening, and cannot
take tho same c1crcfsc as usual without discover
Ing that he ts short Of b.cath." sti1l he is pref
II well. and: II the season be Summer, he may so
on until Fall without expceto1ation. But ns tic
Winter approaches he begins to cough, and the
expeetolatlou is found to be yellow. He may also
night sweats aud rapid loss Of flcsh In which case
he will probably dte before Spring, with all the
eymptem ms Of consumption. stl1l This is not con
sumption 1t all 1t is simply chronic cata1rh Of
It's very common fos Chronic Bronchitis to as.
sumo . mtldtr form. whea 1t is spoken Of as
as regularly Subsidies during tho summer; bnt at
every succeeding recurrence, 1t uanifests itself in
greater severity; and the recovery III the follow.
irg enMmer is not SO complete. This form of
Bronchitis II neglected. will surely destroy life
land, treated In the usnal manner, L Ia al lncu-
rab!s) as consumption itaelf The mucous
membrane, sooner or later, becomes altered In
ettueturt, and pours forth matter which has Ill
the qualities of pus. Hectic fever supe1venes,
and tie d1ease tends slo"l but suFe,to fatal
Another form Of Bronchitis is peculiar to mid
die life and old age. It is distinguished by the
saantity and ths ehataeter q the MISTER nnexpee-
the 6sy-one on awakentn: from a.cep In the
morning; The other In the e!enlng. There is con
siderable difficulty Of breathing While the paro1-
ysms Of coughing latt; but 1t pas1es or as soon
the lungs a.c fteed from the vfecid secretion. The
Intelt fe feeble tc may, however, live, and at
lend to light duties for several years. Bat tho
conntehance gradually assumcs 4 pale blush tint,
the body w1ttes, the blood becomes thin. aud
death cnsuc:, apparently from the constant drain
Kept up by ths discharge from the lurgs. Some
paltents die from exhaustion in Ire Or ak months,
but have known othets to survive for NJ many
yearb.
ehall in my next treat Of Dry Brouchitfs,
1ikeaae very prevalent in this country.
am, sir, your obcdlent servant,
JAMES HUNTER, II. D.,
Physician for Diseases Of Throat and Lungs,