The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-03
FOR A. FEW DAYS
f80Ii1 ATgHE Il .0I
Sherwood House,
Evansville, Ind.

H. " &GHAS " IA1es AhGhs
CATARRH is q. disease OF the mucous
membrane Of the nasal passages and tlioe'
cavities of the head communicating wit
them. Insignificant as II appears in Il
first stages, IL is apt In its progress to b.
come instrumental In causing the loss
impairment of smell, taste. hearing, am
sight, and in creiting serious constitution
al derangements,. not unfrequently ter
Initiating in consumption. tNnA, .Hti
At the commencement Of the complaint
the symptoms are those Of an ordinary
cold. A feeling OF irritation, sensitive
ness, heat, or pain IL Inexperienced in the
nose, the edges OF which are red and swoll-
en-, and which il stopped up sometimes on
one side, sometimes on the other, and oc-
easionally ON both, rendering respiration
through IL either. ditficult or impossible.
This condition IN accompanied by FREE
quent desire 20 sneeze, and discharge Of,
at nrbt. clear. acfid water, aftsrward of
profuse, thick, reliowish, and extremely
offtsnal veg matter. This secretion becomes
purulent and Increased IN quantity ms the
complaint progresses. assumes an exceed
ingly fetid odOr, and forms one OF the most
characteristic features OF the disease, and
a source OF the greatest annoyance and
danger It. escapes not only by the nose,
hut passes into the throat, producing, by
its Judgment, local irritation, and requires
frequent expectoration, hawking, or scrap-
ing for It's removal. AS its passage into
the throat IL very much facilitated by a
horizontal position of the body, sleep Is
frequently disturbed by d sensation OF
choking IN consequence, ana many are
Obliged TO lie In a seitii-yecumbent position
TO- obtain the necessary repose.
Owing ia the infiaIpmatlon and heat in
the head. the watery portion or the dls-
charge often evaporates, and the rest, as
Stunning a condition OF solidity, IN deposit
ed upon the membrane of the nose aud
upper part OF The throat IN the shape OF
crusts CIR hardened Jumps. The accumula-
ton OF these lncrustations produces a feel
Ing OF discomfort, and narrows the nasal
passages so as to embarrass respiration
Therefore. frequent efforts are required TO
remove them. either by forcibTy blowing
the nose or by persistent hawking. prac-
tice as disagreeable 10 the one affected as
IL Is TO those around him. That side OF the
incrustatlon which adhered 20 the mucous
membrane, will, after It's removal, some
times be found bloody, q fact which ex-
plains the force required for its dislodg-
menb During sleep, these incTustations
Accumulate more rapidly, and the feeling
| IL, therefore, most uncomfortable in the
morning. Sometimes all efforts TO clear
the throat are futile until after breakfast,
or after some stimulant has been swallow
ed sulceratioa OF the mucous 'fnembfane
| of the nose takes place frequently. some
| times attacking the bone, when small par
ticles OF this substance will occasionally
be found mixed with the discharge.
The breath assumes an excessively fetid
and aiclKening odor, and becomes occa-
gfonally so offensive an to render the pa
tient an object Of disgust to fhiEnsei as well
| as 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 oftentimes hnposaibiep neeessitating
respiration principally through the
mouths method very deieterious to the
general health but more particularly 80
TO the lungs, which become weak and irri-
table, The voice loses its musical quality,
and assumes a discordant, harsh. and nasal
character; the sense OF sTnell becomes
much impaired or entirely lost, and the
same effect, though less frequent, il pro-
duced ON taste. Occasionally, while blow
ing the nose, a cracking or bubbling
-sountss is@ heard sin@tlesears,a and hearing
becomes quite thick or stopped mp, but re-
turns suddenly, with something like a
swapping sound. This phenomenon may
be repeated several times, until hearing
does not return, bat remains permanently
injuked.a In other cases bearing isiost 50
gradually that considerable degree OF
deafness may exist before the person ID
really aware OF the fact. Either condition
N often accompanied with noises in the
head OF every conceivable description, ma.
terially increasing the distress OF the spf
ferer 90 asn 49,. tac ha at
H. The eyes are apt to become weak, irrita'
lsble, and disposed to water on exposure 70
cold and wind, or after The slightest e1er'
tion. A pain, more or lesN acute, or o dis,
tressing feeling OF pressure N experience
over the eyes, and sometimes on the tgI
or back Of the head. and aisp, paain ha
for which " isyery often mistaken. IN
4 distress in the head weakens the memory
Of dispositIon. The stomach generally
suffers more or less, and becomes weak ant
irritablel the appetite Is capricious, ant
nearly always bad IA me te Ia a so
FRUSTRATED. This is manifested by q dispo
sition to drowsiness and sleep. an aavegslol
to either physical or menta! exertion, anc
q feeling OF fatigue and weakness.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves lietal
either by facilitating the system an.
4 wearing out the patient, or py traVeinl
downward and producing throat aIee
!, lions, bronchitis, and finally CONSUMPTION
IL may be safely asserted That ait ~ heIe S
| itary predisposition, catarrh is the mos
frequent and Important cause OF TINS iata
complaint. -.
The symptoms OF catarrn WY ny vTnslue !
their severitt depending upon constltu
tional idiosyncrasies and various externa
influences.a With some the complain
A continues for a number of years In q mill
Is form and without causing any OF the In
II furious results above described, while wit
l. others all the worst effects are produced
d short space of time, and, cases appar
entity most harmless, may through lfnprC
81 dent exposure, additional colo, or unta
lA | Vnrahln cha naa OF the Weather. Ruddenl