The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-01
FOR A FEW DAYS
Attic
Sherwood House,
Evansville, Ind.


cavities Of the head communicating wit
them. Insignificant as 1t appears in II
first stages, IL is apt In its progress TO be
come instrumental in causing the loss c
impairment OF smell, taste, hearing, AM
sight, and in creating serious constitution
al arrangements, not unfrequently ter
minating in consumption.
At the commencement OF the complaint
THE symptoms are those or an ordinary
cold. A feeling of irritation, sensitive.
ness, heat, or pain Is experienced in the
nose, the edges ofwhich are red and swell
en-, and which is stopped up sometimes on
one side, sometimes on the other, and oe-
easionally on boths rendering respiration
through it either difficult or impossible.
This condition is accompanied by ire
quent desire, to sneeze, and q discharge OF,
at first. clear, acrid water, afterward Of a
profuse, thick, yellowish, and extremely
offensive matter This secretion becomes
purulent and Increased In quantity as the
complaint progresses, assumes an exceed
ingly fetid odor, and forms one OF the most
characteristic features of the disease. and
source of the greatest annoyance and
danger. 1t escapes not only by the nose,
but passes into the throat, producing, by
frequent expectoration, hawking, or scrap
ing for its removal. AS it's passage into
the throat is very much facilitated by
horizontal position of the body, sleep is
frequently disturbed by a sensation of
choking Ina consequence and many are
Obliged TO lie In a semi-fecnmbent position
to obtain the necessary repose. Jlai
Owing to the Inflammation and heat in
the head; the watery portion of the DIS
charge often eyaporates,l and the rest, as
Stunning condition of solidity, is deposit
ed upon the membrane of the nose aud
upper part of the throat in the shape of
crusts or hardened Jumps. The accnmula-
ton of these incrustations produces feel
ing Of discomfort, and narrows the nasal
passages so as TO 'embarrass respiration
Therefore, frequent efforts are required to
remove them. either by foreibly blowing
the pose or by persistent hawking, prac-
tice as disagreeable to the one affected as
IL is TO those around him. That side of the
incrustation which adhered to the mucous
membrane, will, after its removal, sOme-
times be found bloody, a fact which ex-
plains the force required for its dislodg-
ment. During sleep, these incrustations
accumulate more rapidly, and the feeling
is, therefore, most uncomfortable In the
morning. Sometimes all efforts to clear
the throat are futile until after breakfast,
or after some stfmuiant has been swallow
ed. liberation of the mucous membrane
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 sickening odor, and becomes occa-
sionally so offensive as to render the pa
tient an object of disgust to himself as well
as TO others. ~ ..i-
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 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 irri-
table. The voice loses it's musical quality.
and assumes a discordant, harsh, and nasal
character; the sense of smell becomes
much impaired or entirely lost, and the
same effect, though less freq uent, is pro-
duced on taste. Occasionally, while blow
ing the nose, cracking or bubbling
sound is heard In the ears, and hearing
becomes quite thick or stopped up, but re-
turns suddenly, with something like q
swapping sound. This phenomenon may
be repeated several times, until hearing
does not return, but remains permanently
injured. In other cases hearing is lost so
gradually that 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 description, ma
terially increasing the distress of the suf-
ferer. ht
The eyes are apt 10 become weak, irrita-
BILE, and disposed to water on exposure TO
cold and wind, or after the slightest exer-
ton. pain, more or less acute, or dis
tressing feeling OF pressure IL experienced
over the eyes, and sometimes on the top
or back OF the head, and, also, pain in
the face, closely resembling neuralgia,
for which IL is very often mistaken. The
distress in the head weakens the memory
and produces trrilabiltty and moroseness
of disposition. The stomach generally
suffers more or less, and becomes weak and
irritable; the appetite is capricious, and
we're cases the system becomes feeble and
Frustrated. This is manifested by dispo-
sition to drowsiness and sleep, an aversion
TO either physical or mental exertion, and
feeling of fatigue and weakness.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal,
either by facilitating the system and
wearing out the patient, or by travelling
downward and producing throat affec-
lions, bronchitis, and finally consumption.
1t may be safely asserted that after hered-
itary predisposition, catarrh is the most
frequent and important cause of this fatal
| complaint.
The symptoms of catarrh vary consider
| ably in different individuals, the degree OF
| their severity depending upon constltu5
| tional idiosyncrasies and various external
With some 81 The in miId
| form, and without causiAg any OF the IN
| furious results above described, while WIN
| Others all the worst effects are produced III
| emily mosL harmless, may, through impru-
dent exposure, additional cold, or unIa-
v0rable changes OF the weather, suuuenly
evtnce Rll the violence and malgnfy
J which characteriEes the severest ons&.