The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-09-29
SYMPTOMS OF GETARRH.
NOW rRAcTIcINd At THE
PHILLIPS HOUSE, DAYTON.

CATARRH is n disease Of the mucous mem
brane OF the nasal passages and those cayi-
ties of the head communicating with them.
Insignificant as It appearsin It's first stages,
it Is apt In Its progress to become instrn-
mental In causing the loss or impairment
OF smell, taste, hearing, aud sight, and In
creating serious constitutional derange-
ments, not unfrequently terminating in
consumption.
At the commencement of the malady, the
symptoms are those of an ordinary cold. A
feeling of Irritation, sensitiveness, heat or
pain Is experienced IN the nose, the edges
of which are red and swollen. and which "a
stopped up sometimes on one side, some
times on the other, and occasionally on
both, rendering respiration through lteither
difficult or impossible. This condition
Is accompanied by frequent desire to
sneeze and a discharge Of at first clear,
acrid water, afterwards of prolise thick,
yellowish and extremely Offensive matter.
This secretion becomes purulent and In
creased In qhautity as the complaint pro-
crosses, assumes an exceedingly fetld odor
and forms one of the most characteristic
features of the disease, and u source Of the
greatest annoyance and danger. II escapes
not only by the nose, but passes into the
throat, producing by its lodgmcnt local
irritation, and requires frequent expectora-
tlon, hawking, or scraping for its removal.
As Its passage into the throat Is very much
facilitated by n horizontal position Of the
body, sleep Is frequently disturbed by a
sensation Of choking IN consequence, and
many are obliged 10 lie in semi-recum-
bent position to obtain necessary repose.
owing to the Inflammation and heat In the
head, the watery portion of the discharge
often evaporates, aud the rest. assuming n
condition of solidity, Is deposited upon the
membrane of the nose and upper part of
the throat In the shape of crusts or hard
ened Jumps. The accumulation of these in
crustations produces feeling of discom-
fort, and narrows the nasal passages so as
to embarrass respiration, therefore, fire.
quent efforts are required TO remove them,
either by forcibly blowing the nose or by
persistent hawking, n practice as disagree
able to the one affected as 1t Is TO those
around him. That side of the incrustation
which adhered to the mucous membrane.
will, after its removal, sometimes be found
bloody, a fact which explains the force re-
quired for its dislodgment. During sleep
these incrustations accumulate more rap
Idly, and the feeling IL therefore most I'M
comfortable In the morning, Sometimes
all efforts TO clear the throat are futile nm
Til 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 slckening odor, and becomes OCCASION
ally so offensive as to render the patient an
object of disgust to himself as well ms 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 oftentlmes impossible, necessitating
respiration principally through the mouth
"a method very deleterious to the general
health, but more particularly so to the
lungs which become weak and irritable.
The voice loses its musical quality, and as
sumes discordant, harsh, and nasal char
acter; the sense of smell becomes much
impaired or entirely lost, and the same eff
feet, though less frequent, Is produced Oh
taste. Occasionally, while blowing the nose,
a cracking or bubbling sound IL heard in
the ears, and hearing becomes quite thick
or stopped up but returns suddenly, with
like II swapping sound. This
may be repeated several times,
until hearing does not return, but remains
permanently injured. In other cases hear
Ing Is lost so gradually that a considerable
degree of deafness may exist before the
person Is really aware of the fact. Either
condition Is often accompanied with noises
In the head of every conceivable descrip- |
ion, materially increasing tho distress of
.he sufferer.
Theeyes are apt to become weak, irritable, |
md disposed to water on exposure TO cold |
md wind, or after the slightest exertion.
A pain, more or less scute, or distressing
ceiling of pressure Is experienced over the |
yes, and sometimes on the top or back of
he head aud also pain In the face, closely |
neuralgia, for which II Is very |
,ften mistaken. The distress in the head |
weakens the memory and produces lrrlta-
Iillty and moroseness of disposition. The
tomach generally suffers more or less, and /
becomes weak and irritable; the appetite |
: capricious and nearly always bad In the
morning. In severe cases the system
becomes feeble and prostrated. This is
by disposition TO drowslness
nd sleep, aversion TO either physical or
mental exertlon, and a feeling Of fatigue
nd weakness.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal,
ither by debilitating the system and wear
hg out the patient, or by travelling DOWN
yard and producing throat affections.
and, finally, CONSUMPTION. 1t
nay be safely asserted that after heredta-
y predisposition, catarrh Is the most
requent and important cause of this fatal
omplaint.
The symptoms of catarrh vary consider
bly, in different individuals, the degree oil
heir severity depending upon constitution
/ idiosyncrasies and various external in
uenccs. With some the complaint con-
nues for a number of years In mild form,
nd without eanslng any of the Injurious
nsults above described, while with Others
II the worst effects are produced IN short 4
pace Of time, and cases apparently most t
armless may, through imprudent expo =
are, additional cold, or unfaVOrable
nanges Of the weather, suddenly exhibit
Il the violence and malignity which char ,
cterlze the seyerest ones.
With some persons this disease becomes
eriodical, attacking them regularly at eer-
lin seas0ns each year, as In the early part
gDrinp when the rO9ee nra In hloats. aud ! :