, 1863-01-16
lcommunicated.l =:
DIR. Hunter on tho Treatment or
Chronic Bronchitis.

lconmunicated.l q:
DIR. Hunter on tho Treatment of
Chronic Bronchitis.
To The Editors Of the Chicago Tribune:
GENTLEMEN: In addition to the varieties Of
Chronic Bronchitis described In my last letter,
there are several Others which are Of lees import
ance, because less common in their occurrence.
OF these, there ia a kind Of Plastic Inflammation
Of the bronchial mucous membrane, which is
characterized BY the formation Of false mcm-
brane OF false lining to the air-tubcs Paticntscx
perience great Distress from want Of air. because
in all such cases the aizo Of the tubes throuph
which they breathe IL diminished. I have known
patients to c1pectorate at one time portions of
this false membrane, shaped just like the tube
fntn which 1t ca1ne Of more than an inch In lcuetb
Again, We have the very opposite Of that form Of
bronchitis Of which have just spoken, or an en-
laFgement (di1ation) Of the tubes. This occurs in
several FORMS The bronchial tubes Of one lob. or
OF a scho@s lung, may be dilas<d throughout their
entire length, OF swollen out toward their exfrtm
sfae*, or alternately contracted and iFated along
their course
Lastly, the mucous membrane lining the bron.
chial tubes Is liable to reration* and these often
-secrcte 1s:1n1snt matter resembling the pus ex-
perforated in confirmed consumption, where the
*@e AA4~ 1e<A* " t1Het& tA0E{E&t kNutGQ.
none but the physician who has carefully observed
the eputa Of pulmonary inyalds can detect the tif
ference, and get It is most desirable that 1t should
always be detected for the life Of the patient often
hangs upon this one question: Does Me matter e.
perforated indicate simply liberation Of Tie n.u.
eo"smemorone, Or the breaking dorn Of tbs rub:
stance ef lungs and the formation ef a fu9er-
eulous eotify$ =.
Let ns now pass to the consideration Of treat
mcnt:
II you have read carefully what have said on
the seat OF bronchitis viz: that 1t is .cIhsy the
lungs, you will readily understand how inadcouate
1of Its cure must be any remedy which does not
penetrate the lungs as deeply as the disease itself
Applications Of nitrafd Of sIzeer to the throat are
utterly useless, since they do not reach the foun
tain Of the evil. Here you see the consequence of
miscaling disease. Your physician informs Won
that your affection is Bronchstls, and etrairhtway
5ou submit to the cruel torture Of having caustfc
applied every second or third day to your throat.r
II the unnecessary suffering you thus undergo
were the only consequences which sprung from it.
II Would be Of less Importance, but the disease
within your lungs is all tho time gaining drmer
hold-thc mucous membrane fs becoming 1nIek.
entd, and the smaller bronchial tubes closed up
These instructions 60 on decreasing until sufficient
air cannot be drawn through the airtubes to pro-
dace the change In the blood from csaous to ori<
rial It is the object Of respiration to change the
blood from dark to a bright red color This
change ia produced in tho lungs by the ait wa
breathe and cannot occur unless 1t ia received In
sufficient quantity. When considerable obstruc.
tons exist IN the bronchial tnbes the ear5onwhich
constitutes tho impuriy Of the blood is not wholly
removed, out part Is retained and sent again |
through the s5stcm-impeding the circulation, ir-
fluune INC brain and nervous syetem, and derang.
ing digestion. Under this condition Of the blood t
tnbercles are deposited in the lungs. There ia no
warning given Of the fearful change which is tax
ing place. Without pain, without cough. without |
expectoratton, the eccd Of this most insidious and
mortal disease fe Gown, and soon brings forth Its
fruit In the melancholy changes which marx the |
progress o. Consumption. Thus Consumption
arises as consequence Of neglccting or naltreat-
Ing Bronchitis, by placing reliance on applications
to the throat or palliatives through the stomach,
It isa grand destderatum, In the treatment Of ALL
diseases. to get the remedy direct to the organ or
part affected We use Washes injections, blisters.
purgatvcs, and so forth, this principle. Inpul-
uonary diseases the samc rule holds good; but
how arc VIC to apply It: We cannot use solids or |
fluids, for this is an air cavity. No; but by ipha1
alton We can reach, thoroughly and naturally all
diseases situated within the airtubcs and cells Of
the lungs. +.:'
:. What, then, is inhalation: Tho word itself
merely means the act Of inspiring, Or drawing In
breath. In medical parlance, It means 4 mods of
administering medicines BY breathing them. Thus
We eay, 4 inhale u medicine. as VIC would say.
takea mcdIcineft-the difference being stu,plv
that one IL inhaled or brcathed while the other is
We are thus explicit In order to show
that ALL medicines inhaled into the lungs arr not
alike, any more than all medicines taken into tbe
stomach; Rndhenee, that the benefits to be derived
nom inhalat1ous must depend upon the experience
and eki1l Of the physician who presc1lbcs them. I
should have deemed this explanation unnecessary,
but foz the fact that many who writc to me regard
ing the treatment appear to hare got the erroneous
fdca thAt lnhalation,'' instead Of being simply
mode Of practice, administration Of remedies il
conc specific remedy, alike applicable to the most
opposite forms Of pulmonary disease To make It
SUCH is to degrade 1t to the base Level Of quackey
1t eau never be honestly employed without ful
knowledge Of all the symptoms and pceuliarltses
of each caee; and the adaptation OF the remedies
accordingly.
The first object Of treatment is to cleanse, the
afrfubes Of the lungs by e1pecso.ant. 1nhalat,ous.
aaTing obtained this object ne next seek to a11sy
The irritation on which the secretion derends-to
soothc and heal the fnaamed surface. The manner
u administering medicines By inhalation in B1on-
:hitis, ia as fo1lows The Inhaler which is made Of
glass, and holds about pint OF auid, IL half filed
With cold, Int or warm water according to the na.
uro Of the case. The medicines prepared for A |
lose are then ordered, and the patient directed to
nhafc gently, but deeply, into the lungs, being
:arefnl to expand tho chest well without straining
u Violence The husd being ncdicated, thoroughly