Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-03
THEORYOF MEDICATED INHALATION.
DRS. HUNTER d RAMSAY
on
MIC n.

To II EDITORS or TIE LEADER Gentle
men In considering the causes which grad
ually undermine the strength of the lungs
and produce consumption, we shall begin
with colds, as these are, of all causes, the
most important. When we are exposed to
1et feet. to drafts of air, to sleeping in damp
sheets, or to insufficient clothing, a sense of
chiHiness is experienced, followed by oppres-
sion of some of the organs of the body. This
is a cold. 1t may be slight and soon pass
off, or severe and end in inflammation.
Much depends on the Importance of the
part on which it falls, for a cold always
manifests itself in some organ, and any or
gan may be its seat.
We distinguish colds by the parts affect
ed. Hence we have a cold in the head, or
influenza a cold in the nose, or catarrh a
cold in the throat, or quinsy a cold in the
chest, or bronchitis.
By a cdtarrh is meant a congested m in
famed condition of the mucous membrane
lining the n~Ostrils, generally produced by
colds, but often caused by dust and other ir-
ritating matters in the air. We breathe
through the nose, hence its mucous mem
brane is more liable to injury than any other
part from sudden changes in the tempera-
ture of the air, nj from irritating impuri-
ties floating in it. Ia nine cases out of
every ten the first indication of our having
taken cold is a sense Of stu6fng in the nose.
The mucous membrane swells until it com
pletely closes the passage. This is acute
catarrh, of all affections the most common
and the least regarded. Most persons have
two or three such attacks every weary, but
rarely think it necessary TO do anything for
its removal.
GroHicscatarrh follows the acute form, and
is the direct consequence of leaving a simple
cold in the head to cure itself. After a longer
or shorter time the patient finds that, al
though the difficulty of breathing through
the nose has passed off, there still remains
q slight discharge OF yeAOU mucous. This is
chronic oatarrh. On looking into the nose
we now find the membrane th~ickened, red
der han in health, and often liberated,
Chronic catarrh occurs in several forms. In
the simplest'form we have merely an accu-
mutation of yeiLOto or strdW-colored mucous in
the posterior mares above and behind the
palate, which the patient haI0ks out from
time to time during the day. In the second,
small sores form in the nose, and the secre-
ton becomes dry, requiring frequent atten-
ton to keep it free. In the third, a false
membrane forms IN the nOstrils, which the
patient removes from time to time. Not IN
frequently this membrane is bloody, where
it has been torn from point. of liberation
within the nose. In the fourth the secre-
ton is thin, and drops down into the throat
whenever the patient throws back his head,
or forcibly snu6S up the air. When the
alterations are considerable, the secretion
becomes puruient. There is, too, often loss
Of smell, and, when the liberation has eaten
through the membrane TO the bone, the dis
charge has an ofeHsiUe Odor.
Catarrh occurs at all ages, being found in
young children and in old age. Those suf-
fering from it are much more liable to take
cold on slight exposure. 1t is much worse
in the autumn aud winter than during the
warm months of summer. The best season
for its successful treatment is the summer,
because there is less liability to relapse from
taking fresh colds.
GzENA is only another name for a very
bad form of chronic catarrh of the nose, oc-
curing in an unhealthy constitution. When
the health is injured and the vitality of the
system is broken down, all local diseases are
liable to assume an aggravated character.
Not unfrequently Gzena is produced by q
vitiated state of the blood. From whatever
cause it arises, it is a most serious affection,
for if it be not arrested it will assuredly go
on to the destruction of the bones of the
nose, and may end fatally.
We are your obedient servants,
DRs. HUNTER & RAMSAY,
Physic' ans for Diseases Of the Throat and
Lungs.
NorE.-Drs. Hunter & Ramsay, at the re-
quest of their numerous friends and patients
in Cleveland, have opened an Office at Euclid
Place, Euclid Avenue.