Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-11
EAR AND THROAT.
DR.. LIGHTHILL ON THE SYMPTOMS
OF CATARRH..

| OF CATARRH.
The first sensation is usually feeling
Of dryness and heat in the nose, and free
inclination to sneezing. There is an ina
bility to breathe freely, as the nose be-
comes stopped up, sometimes on one side,
sometimes on the other.
Soon clear, wstery, sorid discharge
makes its appearance, exooristing the
nostriIs and edges Of the lips; which be-
come red and somewhat swollen. After q
few days the discharge becomes thick, yell
lOwish, extremely frequent, and continues
to be a marked feature Of the disease, and
a source of much danger and the greatest
annoyance. After more or less time, it
becomes purulent, highly offensive, and
assumes an extremely fetid odor. 1t is
usually 80 prOfuse as to require, when
confined to the nose, the frequentapplication
of the handkerchief, or if it drops into the
throat which is more particularly the case
while the body is in horizontal position,
constant expeotoration, and sometimes
both.
Sleep is frequently disturbed by sen
satiOn of choking, caused by the presence
of the discharge in the throat. Owing to
the heat in the head, the watery portion
of the discharge often evaporates, and as
suming condition Of solidity, is deposited
upon the membrane Of the nose and upper
part Of the throat in the shape of crusts
or hardened Jumps. The accumulation of
these incruststiOns produces feeling of
discomfort, and narrows the nasal passa-
ges so as to embarass respiration. There
fore, frequent efforts have to be made to
remove them, either by forcibly blowing
the ncse, or by persistent hawking
practice IS dissgreoable to the one affect
ep IS it is to those around him. After the
removal, that side Of the incruststion
which adhered to the mucous membrane
will sometimes be found bloody, fact
which explains the force required for its
dislOdgment. During sleep, these inerus-
thtiorH accumulate moro rsPIuly, ana the
feeling is therefore more uncomfortable in
the morning. Sometimes all efforts to
clear the throat are futile until after
breakfast or after something warm is
swallowed.
Some Iatients state that they are rot
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 revoltingly
offensive as to render the patient an object
If disgust to himself as well as to others.
liberation Of the mucus membrane of the
nose takes place frequently, sometimes
,ven attacking the bones, when small par
icles Of that substance Will occasionally
'e found mixed with the discharge. The
accumulation Of the discharge, together
With the thickened condition Of the mu-
ious membrane, respndersirstio en-
through the nasal passages very difficult,
md often times impossible, necessitating
aspiration principally through the mouth,
method very deIeterious to the general
leslth, but more particularly SO to the
ungs, as will be shown hereafter. The
UNPLEASANT noise produced during sleep,
.nown as snoring, originates from the
anne cause.
The voice loses its musical quality and
ssumes a discordant, harsh, and nasal
hsracter; the sense of smell becomes
luch impaired or entirely lost, and the
anne effect though less frequent, is pro-
uced on the sense OF taste. Occasionally,
'hile blowing the nose, cracking or .
ubbling sound will be heard in the ear.
nd the ring will be found quite thick and
topped up, but returns suddenly with
'mething like a swapping sound. This
henomenon is usually repeated until, at
ne lime, hearing does not return, and re- y
Isins permanently injured. Noises in the
cad OF every conceivable description will
AXE their appearance and add to the dis
ess Of the sufferer, and hearing may be
ct SO gradually that considerable de-
rec Of deafness may exist before the .,
srson is really aware Of the fact. The "
7es are apt to become weak, irritated, and b.
spOsed to water on exposure to cold and
ind, and after the slightest exertion.
A pain more or less acute, or g distress
g feeling of pressure, is experienced +.
Ter the eyes, and sometimes on the top "
hack of the head, and also pain in the
ee, closely resembling neuralgia, for n
hich it is very often mistaken. The dis
ess in the head weakens the memory
ID produces irritsbility and moroseness
disposition. The stomach generally
ffers more or less; is weak and irritable; 4
e appetite is weak and csprioious, and is
iarly always bad in the morning. In
we're cases the system becGAes feeble
ID prOstrsted, and there is an aversion
inability to either physical or mental tn
ertiOn. !
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal, :
her by debilitating the system and wear
g out the patient or by travelling down.
Ird and producing throat affections,
onchitis, and, finally, consumption. 1t
" be safely asserted that after heredi- =
~ predisposition, catarrh is the most
,quent and important cause Of this con. =