Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-03
DIR. lIGHTHILL


On the Symptoms of Catarrh.
The first sensation is usually feeling o:
dryness and heat in the nose, and a frequent
inclination to sneezing. There is an inability
to breathe freely, as the nose becomes stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other.
Soon clear watery, acrid discharge makes
its appearance, excoriating the nostrils, and
edges of the Alps, which becomes red and some
what swollen. After few days the discharge
becomes thick, yellowish, extremely frequent,
and continues to be marked feature OF ne dis
ease, and source Of much danger and the
greatest annoy ance. After more or less time,
it becomes purulent, highly offensive, and as
sumes an extremely fetld odor 1t is usually
SO profuse as 10 require, when confined to the
nose, the frequent application Of the handker-
chief, or if it drops into the throat, which is
more particularly the case while the body is in
horizontal position, constant expectoration,
and.sometimes both.
Sleep is frequently disturbed by a sensation
of choking, caused by the presence of the dis
charge in'the throat. Owing to the heat in the
head, the watery portion of the discharge often
evaporates, and assuming a condition of solid
ity, is deposited upon the membrane OF the
nose and upper part of the throat in the shape
ton of these demonstrations produces a feeling Of
discomfort, and narrows the nasal passages so
as to embarrass respiration. Therefore, fire..
quent efforts have to be made to remove them,
either by forcibly blowing the nose, or by per-
sistent hawking-a practice as disagreeable to
the one affected as it is to those around him.
After the removal, that side OF the incrustation
which adhered to the mucous membrane will
sometimes be found bloody, fact which ex.
plains the force required for its dislodgment
During sleep these incrustations accumulate
more rapidly, and the feeling is therefore most
uncomfortable in the morning. Sometimes all
efforts to clear the throat are futile until after
breakfast or after something warm is swal-
lowed. Some patients state that they are not
successful until they have swallowed some
whisky or brandy.
The discharge, which is at first without smell
assumes in the progress OF the complaint an
excessively fetid color, the breath participates
in this, and becomes occasionally so revolving
ly offensive as to render the patient an object
of disgust to himself as well as to others. Ul-
ceration of the mucous membrane Of the nose
takes place frequently, sometimes even attack
ing the bones, when small particles Of that
substance will occasionally be found mixed
with the discharge. The accumulation of the
ton Of the mucous membrane, renders respira-
ton through the nasal passages very difficult,
and oftentimes impossible, necessi tating res
piration principally through the mouth-a
method very deleterious to the general health,
but more particularly SO to the lungs, as will
be shown hereafter. The unpleasant noise
produced during sleep, known as snoring,
originates from the same cause. The voice
loses its musical quality, and assumes dis
oordant, harsh and nasal character; the sense
of smell becomes much impaired entirely
lost, and the same effect, though less frequent,
is produced on the sense OF taste. Occasionally,
while blowing the nose, a cracking or bubblng
sound will be heard in the ear, and hearing
will be found quite thick and stopped up, but
returns suddenly with something like snap
ping sound.
This phenomenon is usually repeated until
at one time, hearing does not return, and
remains permanently injured. Noises IN the
head of every conceivable description will
make their appearance and add to he distress
of the sufferer, and hearing may be lost SO
gradually that a considerable ee of deaf
ness may exist before the person is really
aware of the fact. The eyes are apt to become
weak, irritable, and disposed to water on ex-
posure to cold and wind, or after the slightest
exertion. A pain, more or less acute, or dis
tressipg feeling of pressure, is experienced
over the eyes, and sometimes on the top or back
of the head, and also pain in the face. closely
resembling neuralgia, for which it is very often
mistaken. The distress in the head weakens
the memory and produces irritability and
moroseness Of disposition. The stomach gen.
orally suffers more or less, is weak and irri-
table; the appetite is capricious, and is nearly
always bad in the morning. In severe cases
the system becomes feeble and Frustrated, and
there is an aversion or inability to either phys
ical or mental exertion. Not unfrequently
catarrh proves fatal, either by facilitating the
system and wearing out the patient, or by
travelling downward and producing throat
affections, bronchitis, and finally consumption
1t may be safely asserted that after 'reditary
predisposition, catarrh is the nlo frequent
and important cause Of this fatal complaint.
DR.. LIGHTHILL can be consulted at the
EBBITT HOUSE, Washington, from Monday
morning, February 90. until Saturday evening,
March 5, on Catarrh, Deafness, and all diseases
80 boL md ;ry -fa1R aosStx