Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-29
EAR AND THROAT.
DR.. LIGHTHILL ON THE SYMPTOMS
OF CATARRH.


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 a clear, wstery, sOrid discharge
makes its appearance, ezOOriating the
nostrils and edges of the lips, which be
come red and somewhat swollen. After q
few days the discharge becomes thick, yell
lowisb, extremely frequent and continues
to be g 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. It is
usually SO profuse as to require, when
confined to the nose, the frequentspplicatiOn
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 sem
sstion of choking, caused by the presence
of the discharge in the throat. Owing to
the heat in the head, the wsIery portion
Of the discharge often evaporat,s, and az
suming condition Of solidity, is deposited
upon the membrane Of the nose and upper
part of the throat, in the shape of crusts
OF hardened Jumps. The accumulation of
these inoruststions produces a feeling of
discomfort, and nsrrOws the nasal pssss-
ges so as to embarsss respiration. There
fore, frequent efforts have to be made to
remove them, either by fcrcibly blowing
the nose, or by persistent hawking
practice as disagreoable to the one affect
ep as 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
disIodgRent. During sleep, these inerus-
tstions accumulate more rapidly, and the
feeling is therefore more uneomsv. s.-',,e
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 not
successful until they have swallowed some
whisky or brandy. The discharge, which
is ct first without smell, assumes in the
of the complaint, an excessively
fetid color, the breath participates in this,
and becomes occasionally so revoltiDgly
offensive as to render the patient an object
of disgust to himself as we'll as to others.
liberation Of the mucus membrane of the
nose takes place frequently, sometimes
even attacking the bones, when small par
ticles Of that substance Will occasionally
be found mixed with the discharge. The
Of the discharge, together
with the thickened condition Of the mu-
cOus membrane, respndersiratio en-
through the nasal passages very difficult,
and often times impossible, necessitsting
respiration principally through the mouth,
method very deleterious to the genersl
health, but more particularly SO to the
lungs, IS will be shown hereafter. The
unpleasant noise produced during sleeII
known as snoring, originates from the
same cause.
The voice loses its musical quality and
assumes a discordant, harsh, and nasal
character; the sense of smell becomes
much impaired or entirely lost, and the
same effect though less frequent, is pro-
duced on the sense OF taste. Occasionally,
while blowing the nose, cracking or
bubbling sound will be heard in the ear,
and the ring will be found quite thick and
stopped up, but returns suddenly with
something like a swapping sound. This
phenomenon is usugily repeated until, at
one time, hearing does not return, and re-
mains permanently injured. Noises in the
head Of every conceivable description will
make their appearance and add to the dis.
tress Of the sufferer, and hearing may be
lost so gradually that considerable de-
gree Of deafness may exist before the
person is really aware Of the fact The
eyes are apt to become weak, irritsted, and
to water on exposure to cold and
wind, and after the slightest exsrtion.
A pain more OF less acute, or distress
ing feeling of pressure, is experienced
over the eyes, and sometimes on the top
or hack 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 mOroseness
Of disposition. The stomach generally
suffers more or less is weak and irritable;
the appetite is weak and csprieious, audis
nearly always bsd in the morning. In
severe cases the system becomes feeble
and Frustrated, and there is an aversion
or inability to either physical or mental
exertion.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal,
either by debilitating the system and wear
ing out the patient or by travelling down.
ward and producing throat affections,
bronchitis, and, finally, consumption. It
may be safely asserted that after heredi-
tary predispOsition, cstarrh is the most
frequent and important cause of this COM
plsint. ap25R2