Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-10
And all the various diseases of the Ear
Throat and Air Passages.
KMPToAis oF CATARRH.

Throat and Air Passages.
SYMPTOMS oF CATARRH.
The first sensation Is usually feeling
of dryness and heat in the nose, and fre-
quent inclination to sneeEing There is an
inability to breathe freely, as the nose be-
comes stopped up, sometimes on one side,
sometimes on the other
Soon clear, watery, acrid discharge
makes its appearance, excOriating the nos
trils, and edges of the lips, which become
red and somewhat swollen. After 3 few
days the discharge becomes thick, yellow
ish, extremely frequent, and continues to
be marked feature of the disease; and
source of much danger and the greatest
annoyance. After more or less time, it
becomes purulent, highly offensive, and as
sumes an extremely fetid odor. 1t is
usually so profuse as to require, when con-
fined to the nose, the frequent application
of the handkerchief or, if it drops into
the throat, which is more particularly the
case while the body is in horizontal po-
sition, constant expsotOratian, and some
times both.
Sleep is frequently disturbed by 8 senss-
ton of choking caused by the presence Of
the discharge in the throat. Owing to the
heat in the head, the watery part Of the
secretion often evaporAtes, and assuming
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. Tho accumulation of
these incruststions produces a feeling Of
discomfort, and nsTrows the nasal passages
so as to embarrass respiration. Therefore
frequent efforts have TO be made TO remove
them, either by forSibiy blowing the nose,
or by persistent hawking-G practice as
disagreeable 30 the one affected as it is to
those around him. After the removal,
that side of the incrusEation which adhered
to the mucous membrane will sometimes
be found bloody, a fact which explains the
force required for its dislodgment. During
sleeep these incrustatioRs accumulate more
rapidly, and the feeling is therefore most
uncomfortable In the morning. Sometimes
all efforts to clear the throat ara futile un-
til after breakfast or after something warm
is swallowed. Some patients state that
they are not successful until they have
swallowed some whisky or brandy. The
discharge, which is st first without smell,
assumes, in the progress of the complaint
an excessively fetid odor, the breath par
ticipstes in this, and becomes occasionally
so revOltingly offensive as to render the
patient an object of disgust to himself as
we'll as to others. liberation of the mu-
cous membrane of the nose takes place fre-
quently, sometimes even attacking the
bones, when small particles of that sub
stance will occasionally be found mixed
with the discharge. The accumulation of
the discharge, together with the thicIloned
condition of the mucous membrane
renders respiration through the nasal pas
sages very difficult, and oftentimes impos-
sible, necessitating respiration principally
through the mouth, a method very delete.
rious to the general health, but more par
ticulsrly SO to tie lungs, as will be shown
hereafter. The unpleasant noise produced
during sleep, known as znoring, originates
from the came cause. The voice looses its
musical quality, and assumes discordant
harsh, and nasal character; the sense of
smell becomes much impaired or entirely
lost, and the same effect, though less fire.
quent, is produced on the sense of taste
Occasionally, while blowing the nose, q
cracking or bubbling sound will be heard
in the ear, and hearing will be found
quite thick and stopped up, but return sud
denly with something like a swapping
sound. This phenomenon Is usually re-
peated until, at one time, hearing does not
return, and remains permanently injured.
Noises in the head of every conceivable
description will mako their appearance
and add to the distress of the sufferer, and
hearing may be lost so gradually that a
considerable degree Of deafness may exist
before the person is really aware of The
fact. The eyes are apt to become weak,
irritable, and disposed to water on expos
ure to cold and wind, or after the slightest
exertion. A pain, more or less acute, or
distressing feeling of pressure, is expert
enced 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 dis
tress in the head weakens the memory and
produces irritability and mcroseness of
disposition. The stomach generally suffers
more or less, is weak and irritable; the ap-
petite is capricious, ard is nearly always
bad in the morning. In severe cases the /
system becomes feeble and prostratsd, and |
there is an aversion or inability to either |!
physical or mental exertDn. Not unfre- I
Quently caLarrn proves IaLal, either Oy 0e- /
bilitating the system and wearing out the .
patient or by travelling downward and /
producing throat affections, bronchitis, and /
finally consumption. 1t may belsafely
asserted that after hereditary predisposi-
ton, catarrh is the most frequent and i'm
portant cause of this fatal complaint.
Catarrh has been considered an incurs-
bic disease, and on the strength Of that
supposition has been neglected by both
the profession and the public. As it is the
exciting cause in full half the cases of
Deafness, Drs. Lighthili have for years
past made its proper treatment their
special study, and have by their success
fully established the durability of this Of
fensive complaint.
DR.. LighthiI will remain at RusselFs
Forest City House. Cleveland, until Thurs
dsy evening, November 10th.