The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-09-17
SYMPTOMS OF CLTARRH.
BY DOCTOR FOSTER,
NOW PRAcTIcINo AT THB
PHILLIPS HOUSE, DAYTON.

II is apt in It's progress 10 become instru-
mental In causing the loss or impairment
of smell, taste, hearing, and 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 IL experienced In the nose, the edges
ofwhich are red and swollen, and which Is
stopped up sometimes on one side, some
times on the other, and occasionally on
both, rendering respiration through IL either
difficult or Impossible. This condition
is accompanied by a frequent desire to
sneeze and discharge of at first clear
acrid water, Afterwards Of a proftise thick
yellowish and extremely offensive matter,
This secretion becomes purulent and in
creased In qhantity as the complaint pro-
gresses, assumes an exceedingly fetid odor
and forms one Of the most characteristic
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-
tion, hawking, or scrapng for its removal.
As its passage into the throat is very much
facilitated by horizontal position Of the
| body, sleep is frequently disturbed by a
sensation of choking in consequence, and
many are obliged to 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, and the rest. assuming
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 a.
to embarrass respiration, therefore, fire.
quent efforts are required TO remove them,
either by forcibly blowing the nose or by
persistent hawking, a practice as Disagree
able 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, sometimes be found
bloody, fact which explains the force re-
quired for its dislodgment. 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.
The breath assuming an excessively fetid
and sickening odor, and becomes OCCASION
ally so offensive as to render the patient an
object of disgust to himself as 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
m tt,,,
| 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 on
taste. Occasionally, while blowing the nose,
q cracking or bubbling sound Is heard in
the ears, and hearing becomes quite thick
or stopped up, but returns suddenly, with
something like a swapping sound. This
phenomenon may be repeated several times,
until hearing does not return, but remains
permanently injured. In other cases hear
ing 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 descrip-
ton, materially increasing the distress OF
the sufferer.
Theeyesare aptto become weak, irritable.
and disposed 10 water on exposure to cold
and wind, or after the slightest exertion.
A pain, more or less acute, or distressing |
feeling of pressure Is 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 irrita-
bility and moroseness of disposition. The
stomach generally suffers more or less, and
becomes weak and irritable; the appetite
is capricious and nearly always bad in the
morning. In severe cases the system
becomes feeble and prostrated. This vi
manifested by disposition to drowsi4ess
and sleep, aversion to either phy1SS,aai S,aio,,a or
mental exertion, and a feeling 3" i"'is"et
and weakness.
Not unfrequenhg the system and wear !
either by deblent, or by travelling down
ing out thr producing throat affections
ware. ..1is and, finally, CONSUMPTION. Ii y
hE' be safely asserted that after heredita-
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 ofl q
heir severity depending upon constitution
| idiOsyncrasies and various external in :,
pepces. With some tho complaint con y
Hues for number OF years In a mild form :"
nj without causing any of the injurious I,
suits above described, while with others -
/ the worst effects are produced I'm A short =
ace of time, and cases apparently most %
lrmless may, through imprudent expo- N
re, additional cold, or unfayora6le 10
angos Of the weather, suddenly exhibit ra
the violence and malignity which char IN.
terize the severest ones.
With some persons this disease becomes i,ds
riodical, attacking them regularly at GER
In seasons each year, as In the early part ms
spring when the roses are In bloom, and "a
nee its name "rose cataTrh - or In mid
mmer during haying time, when il is
iOwn as "hay-catarrh." Some claim 10
able 10 predict the exact day and even
ur of the attack. They usually consider
emselyes entirely relieved of the difficult eer
during the intervals; but we have rea-
n to suppose that symptoms OF the com 1O7
amt are constantly present In some mild {
I'M or other, which are reused into activ- 10
by the odor peculiar to certain plants Z
IN which the atmosphere is impregnated 00O
ring the seasons mentioned. The conn {