The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-10-16
SYMPTOMS or GATARRH.
By DOCTOR POSTER.
NOW rRAcnCISG ATThE
iULr .Ta aHTe
PHILLIPS HOUSE, DAYTON.


brane OF the nasal passages aud those cavi-
ties Of the head communicating with them.
insignificant as II appcarsin Its first stages.
it Is apt In its progress to become instru-
mental In causing the loss or impairment
of smell, taste, hearing aud sight, aud in
creating serious constitutional derange-
ments, not mfrequently terminating in
consumption.
At the ecommcncemcnt of the malady, the
symptoms are those of an ordinary cold. A
feeling of irritation, scnsitivencss. heat or
pain is experienced In the nose, the edges
of which are red and swollen. and which Ia
stopped up sometimes on one side. some
times on the other, and occasionally on
both, rendering respiration through it iteither
difficult or impossible. This condition
Is accompanied nv frequent desire to
sneeze. and a discharge of at first clear,
acrid water, afterwards of a prolnse thick,
yellowish and cXtremely offensive matter.
This secretion becomes purulent and in
creased in quantity as the complaint pro-
gresses, assumes an exceedingly ietid odor
and forms one of the most characteristic
features of the disease. and n source of the
greatest annoyance and danger. II escapes
not only by tho nose. but passes into the
throat, producing by its lodgmcnt local
irritation, and requires frequent eX pectora-
l.
As Its passage into the throat is very much
facilitated by II horizontal position of the
body, sleep is frequently disturbed by a
sensation Of choking In consequence. and
many are obliged to lie in scmi-recnm-
bent position TO obtain necessary rcpose.
Owing to the Inflammation and heat in the
head, the watcry portion of the discharge
oiten cVapOrates, and the rest. assuming
T. 4,
membrane of the nose and upper part of
the throat In the shape OF crusts or hard
ened humps. The accumulation of these in
crustations produces n feeling of discom-
fort, ana narrOws the nasal passages so Us
to embarraSs respiration, therefore, fire.
quent efforts are required to remove them,
either by forcibly blowing the nose or by
persistent hawking, practice as disagree
able to the one affected rs 1t Is to those
around him. That side of the incrustaton
which adhered to the mucous membrane
win, after It's removal, sometimes be found
bloody, a fact which explains the force re-
qulred for its dislodgment. During sleep
these incrtstatinns accumulate more rap
idly, and the feeling is therefore most UNI
comfortable in the morning. Sometimes
all Efforts to clear the throat are futile un-
I'll after breakfast or after some stimulant
has been swallowed. liberation of the
mucous membrane of the nose takes place
frequently, sometimes attacking the bone,
when small particles of this substance will
occasionally be found mixed with the dis
Charge.
The breath assuming an excessively fetid
and siCkening odOr, and becomes OCCASION
ally so offensive as to render the patient an
object of disgust to himself as well rs to
others.
The accumulation of the discharge, to-
gether with the thickened condition of the
mucous membrane, renders respiration
through the nasal passages very difficult,
and ottentimes impossible, necessitating
respiration principally through the mouth
"a method very delcteriOus to the general
health, but more particularly so to the
lungs which become weak and irritable
The voice loses It's musical quality, and as
sumcs u discOrdant, harsh, and nasal char
lcter; the sense of smell becomes much
impaired or entirely lost, and the same eff |
feet, though less frequent, Is produced on
taste. Occasionally, while blowing the nose, !
a cracking or bubbling sound is heard in |
The ears. and hearing becomes quite thick |
Dr stopped mp, but returns suddenly, with |
like swapping sound This !
may be repeated several times, |
until hearing does not return, but remains |
injured. In other cases hear |
ing Is lost so gradually that considerable |
degree of deafness may exist before the |
person Is really aware of the fact. Either
Is often accompanied with noises |
IN the head of every conceivable descrip- |
ion, materially increasing the distress of
lie sufferer.
The eyes are aptto become weak. irritable. |
md disposed to water on exposure to cold /
md wind, or after the slightest eXcrtion.
pain, more or less acute, or Il distressiugl
ceiling of pressure is experienced over the
'ycs, and sometimes on the top or back of
he head and also pain in the face, closely
resembling neuralgia, for which it is very
Dtten mistaken. The distress in the head
yeakens the memory and produces irrita-
Dility and moroseness of disposition. The
tomach generally suffers moie or less, and
becomes weak and irritable; the appetite
5 capricious and nearly always bad in the
morning. In severe cases the system
'ccOmes feeble and prostrated. This is
manifested hy disposition to drowsncss
nd sleep, aversion Ia either physical or
mental eXertion, and Il feeling of fatigue
nd weakness.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal,
ither by debllitating the system and wear
ng out The patient, or by travelling down Ii
fafu anu UfuuucllR throat dliptttOUR,
and, finally, CONSUMPTION. It'll
lay be safely asserted that, after heredita-
y predispOsition, catarrh Il the most
requent and important cause of this fatal
omplaint.
The symptoms of catarrh vary consider
bly, in different individuals, the degree orl
heir severity depending upon constitutions
I idiOsyncrasics and various external in
aences. With some the complaint con
hHes for number Of years in mild form, (
nd without causing any of the Injurious ,
nsuits above described, while with Others !
II the worst effects are produced In a short (,
pace Of time, aud eases apparently most
armloss may, through imprudent expo :
are, additional cold or unfayorable /,
hanges OF the weather, suddenly exhibit J
Il the violence aud malignity which char
cterize the sererest ones.
With some persons this disease becomes
criodical, attacking them regularly at cer- y
lin seasons each year, rs In the early part o
spring when the roses are ia bloom, and I
enee It's name arose eatarrh :" or in mid s
immer during haying time, when il Is d
nown as "hay-catarrli." Some claim TO :
D able 10 predict The exact day and even
our Of the attack. They usually consider
iemselyes entirely relieved OF the Difficult ,
/ daring the intervals but we have rca-
IN 20 suppose that symptoms of the COM I
- Il