Litchfield enquirer., 1864-02-04
ON cATARRH DEAFNESS.


 And all the various diseases of the Ear Throat
 and Air Passages.
 Symptoms of Catarrh,
 Tho first sensation is usually feeling of heat and dryness in the nose, and frequent inclination to sneeEing. There is an inability to breathe freely, az 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 lips, which become red and some- what swollen. After few days, the discAasge becomes thick, yellowish, extremely frequent, add continues to be marked feature. of the disease, and source of much danger and ths greatest annoyance. After more or less time, it becomes purulent. highly offensive, and as- sumes an extremely fstid odor. It is usually so profuse as to require, when confined to the nose, the frequent application of the handker- chief, or, if 1t drops into the throat, which is more particularly the case while the body is in a horizontal position, constant expecto ra tion, and sometimes both.
 Sleep is frequently disturbed by 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 secretion often evaporates, and assuming condition of solidty, is deposited upon the membrane ef the nose and upper part of the throat, in the shape of crusts of hardened Jumps. The ac- emulation of these incrustaticns :produces feeling of discomfort, and narrows the nasal passages so as to embarrass respiration. There fore, frequent efforts have to be made to Te- move them, either by forcibly blowing sse nose or by persistent hawking-a practice as disagree .ble to the one affected as 1t is to those around him. After the removal, that side of the fncrustation which adhered to the mucous membrane will sometimes be found bloody, fact which explains the force rcqnr- ed fyr it's dislodgment During sleep these in- crustations accumulate more rapidly, and the feeling is therefore most uncomfortable in the morning. Sometimes all efforts to clsar the throat are futile until after breakfast or after something warm is swallowed. Some patients say that they arc not successful until they have swallowed some whisky or brandy. The discharge, which is at first without smell, as- sumes in the progress of the complaint an eX- ceasiyely fetid odOr, the breath participates in this. and becomes occasionally so revoitingly offensive as to render the patient an object of disgust to himself as well as to others. Ulce- ration of the mscoGs mem brane of the nose takes place frequently, sometimes even at tacking the bones, when s,lall particles of that substance will occasionally be found mix with the discharge. The accumulation Of the discharge, together with the thickened condi- ton of the mucous men, brane, renders rsspl- ration through the nasal passages very diff cult, aud oftentines impossible, recessitating respiration through the mouth-a method very d.leterious to the general health, but more particularly so to thes lungs, as will be shown hereafter. The unpleasant noiEe pro- duced during sleep. known as snoring, origin .tes from tlle same cause. The voice loses 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 frequent, is pro- duced on the sense of taste. Occasionally, while blowing the nose. cracking or bub bling sound will be heard in the Gar. and hear ing will be found quite thick and stopped up, but ~return suddenly with something like Q snapping 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 de- scription will make their appearance and add to the distress of the sufferer. and hearing may Ce Is,sI sr~d"e..o 4ini -cnnxiderae!a degree of deafness may exist before tho person is re- ally aware of the fact. The eyes are apt to become weak. irritable, and disposed to water on exposure to cold, and wind. or after the slightest :xertion. A paia. more or less acute, or distressing feeling of pressure, is expert ehced over tn. eyes, aad 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 wcakens the memory and produces irritahili;y and moroseness of disposition The stomach generally suffers more or less, is weak and ir. ritablc; the appetite is capricious, and is near ly always bad in the morning. In severe ca scs the system tecomes feeble and prostrated, and there is an aversion or inabilt ty to either physical or mental exertion. Not rafrequent- ly catarrh proves fatal, e:ther by facilitating the system and wearing out the patient, or by travelling downward and producing throat affections, bronchitis, and ana!iy consumption. It may be safely asserted that after hereditary predisposition. catsrrh is the most frequent and important cause of this fatal complaint.
 Catarrh has been considered su incurable dis ease. and on tho strength of that supposition has been neglected by both the profession and the public. Az it is the exciting cause in full half the cases of Deafness, Drs. Lghthill have for years past made it's proper treatment their special study, and have by their success fully established the curability of this offensive com plnint. That this is no mere assertion. will be readily .comprehended by the annexed testi- moniaas from highly respectable parties who have been under their care.
 TaaAiysaouia1s