The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-09-11
SYMPTOMS Of CETARRH.
By DOCTOR FOSTER,
NOW PRACTIoINa Az rnE
PHILLIPS HOUSE, DAYTON.
iAaI Al AhlEAk Fat J8li

insignificant rs II appcarsin It's first stages
IL rs apt IN It's progress To become instru-
mental IN causing the loss or impairment
oi SMELL taste, hearing. and sight and In
creating serious constitutional dcrange-
ments, not unfrequcntly terminating in
consumption. sF'
At the commencement of the malady. the
symptoms are those of an ordinary cold. A
leeiing OF Irritation, sensitiveness, heat or
pam Is experienced IN the nose, the edges
OF whicl are red and swollen. and which X
Stopped up sometimes on one side. some
times on the other, and occasionally on
DOLL rendering respiration through iteither
ulIncult or impossible. This condition
is accompanied by frequent desiPe TO
snecze, aud n discharge of, at first clear,
acrid water, afterwards Of profuse thick,
yellowish and extremely offensive matter
This secretion becomes purulent and in
creased in qhantity ms the complaint pro-
crosses, assumes AN exceedingly fetid Odor
and forms one of the most characteristics
features of the disease. and source of the
greatest annoyance and danger IL escapes
not only by the nose. but passes into the
throat, producing by its lodgment local
irritation, and requires frequent expectora-
ton, 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 to lie in scmi-recum-
bent position to obtain necessary repose.
Owing TO the Inflammation and heat in the
head, the watery portion of the discharge
often evaporates, and 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 a 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 fof'clbly blowing the nose or by
persistent hawking, a practice rs disagree
able to the one affected as it 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 dislodgmeut. During sleep
these incrustations accumulate more rap
idly, and the feeling is therefore most un-
comfortable in the morning. Sometimes
all Efforts TO clear the throat are futile un-
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. IA.s NH t Hftl ..
The breath assuming an excessively fetid
and sickening Odor and becomes occasion
ally so offensive ms to render the patient an
object of disgust to himself rs we'll 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 impossible, necessitating
respiration principally through the mouth
IA methodycry deletcrious 10 the general
health, but more particularly so to the
lungs Which become weak and irritable.
The voice loses its musical quality, and as
sumcs n dlscordaat, harsh, and nasal char
acter; the sense of smell becomes much
impaired or entirely lost, and the same ef-
feet, though less frequent, is produced on
taste. Occasionally, while blowing the nose
n cracking or bubbling sound Is heard in
the ears, and hearing becomes quite thick
or stopped up, but returns suddenly, with
like q swapping sound. This
may be repeated several times,
until hearing does not return, but remains
permanently injured. lii other eases hear
Ing is lost so gradually that n 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-
tion, materially Increasing the distress Of
the sufferer.
The eyes are apt to BECOME weak, irritable.
and disposed 10 water ON exposure to cold
and wind, or after the slightest exertion1
A pain, more or less acute, or distressing |
feeling Of pressure is experienced, oyer the |
eyes, aud sometimes on the top or back of
Lhe head and also pain in the face, closely |
neuralgia, for which it Is very
often mistaken. The distress in the head |
wenkens the memory and produces irrita- |
Dility and morOseness of disposition, The |
stomach generally suffers more or less, ana
becomes weak and irritable; the appetite
Is caprlcious and nearly always bad In the |
In severe cases the system |
becomes feeble and prostrated. This Is |
manifested by disposition 10 drowsiness
md sleep, aversion TO either physical or |
mental exertion, and a feeling of fatigue
md weakness.
Not unfrequently catarrh proves fatal,
,ither by debilitating the system and wear
ng out the patient, or by travelling dOwn-
ward and producing throat affections.
and, finally, CONSUMPTION. Ii
nay be safely asserted that after heredita-
y predispositiOn, catarrl Is the most
requent aud important cause Of this fatal
The symptoms Of catarrh vary consider
bly in different individuals the degree of
heir severity depending upon constitution
j idiOsyncrasies and various external in
luences. With some the complaint con
inues for Il number of years in mild form,
nd without causing any of the injurious
csults above described, while with Others
II the worst effects are produced in short ,
pace Of time, and eases apparently most
armless may, through imprudent expo
Imc, additional cold, or uniaV0rable I
hanges of the weather, suddenly exhibit
II the violence aud malignity which char a
cterize the seveTest ones.
With some persous this disease becomes
eriodical, attacking them regularly at cer-
lln seasons each year, as in the early part I
spring when the roses are In bloom. and
tmce its name 'rose catarrh y or in mid
lmlner during haying time, when it ia
nown ~ "hay-catarTh." Some claim 10
6 able to predict the exact day and even i
our OF the attack, They usually consider ;
lemselyes entirely relieved OF the dificul- :,
7 during the intervals but we have rea- \
IN to suppose that symptoms of the COM q
laint are constantly present IA some mild '
,rn, ntbpr which .tr,a rnt,snl f,,te y