Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-24

This Is o chronic Affection Of the mucus mem
brane ey the nostrils or the throat originating in
Irritation CT infsmmati and attended by more
or less discharge. 1t is one Of the most common,
NEST disgusting, and, finally. most destructive OF
diseases incident to the variable climate of our
northern latitude.
In its early stages Catsrrb often fails TO attract
the patients attention, 30 insidous is its ap-
proach. This is an unfortunate circumstance,
because the most favorable period for treatment
thus usimproved. and because of the peculiar
disposition of this disease to extend upward to the
frontal siruses, backward through the Eustachian
tubes to the middle ears, and downward through
the arynx, trachia, and bronchis to the air cells
Of the lungs.
The discharge from the affected part is q. first
clear fluid, which may escape observation, unless
II chance to DO Of a more than usually scrd char
seter. As time goes on, this gives place to fluid
that is thicker. and of yellow or yeloEIsh green
dakss or scales.
IL all the moro advanced stages the discharges
are generally Of an Offensive odor, causing great
annoy ance to ones friends and to the patient
himself while his sense Of smell remains. This
annoy ance from the odor becomes almost beyond
endurance, when, as sometimes happens, the deli
cate bones of the nose become diseased.
Some cases early assume the character Of Dry
Oatarrh. There is then a feeling Of uneasi ness,
heat, and stiffness in the nostrils, which are often
ione or both of thep) closed by thickening of the
mucous membrane, and thus q difficulty Of breath
ing becomes q prominent syro ptom.
On examining the nostrils in chronic Catarrh,
with instruments specially adarted to that pur-
pese we find its lining membrane thickered and Is
q deeper color than in health. There are seen
little points of liberation, upon which the secre-
ton becomes hardened and forms crusts. When
these picked of. the diseased surface is irri-
tsted, and often bleeds protusoly.
In each case of Cstarrah the prominent symp.
toms are determined by the direction in which the
6sease extends. If this be upward there may be
pain over and between the eyes, obstruction OF the
lschrymal ducts, causing the tears to flow over the
there will be thickenng of the walls Of the Eus.
tschian tubes and consequent tendency to their
obstruction, inf animation of the middle ear, buz.
zir g sounds in the head, and impairment of hear
ing. When the extension is down ard the veice
becomes hosrse or whispering and unmsnagable;
cough comes on, with expectoratien and emacia.
ton to be followed too often, by ption and
death
In cases where the bones OF the nose become
diseased, not only is the ofensiveness Of the
breath increased but there is liability to serious
personal Geformities, among which is fatteuing OF
the nose.
The swallowing Of catarrhal secretions deran ges
the functions of the stomach, causing Indigestion
and less Of appetite Debility, paleness, lasstude
headache, and disturbance Of mind sosn follow
In some instances the mental affection is one OF
irritabiliy, the patient being unduly annoy ed by
sl the little perpIexities Of life In others the
prominent feeling s that of melancholy or depres-
sion Of spirits, when the invalid can see no hope
for himself, and none for his affairs.
tsrrh by continuity of surface along the natural
air passages to the substance OF the lungs, thus
nectiOn 1t should also be remembered that the air
which enters the lungs OF . catarrhal patient is,
every breath Of 1t, poisoned by exhalations from
the foul secretiens ef the diseased surface. By
such air the blood cannot be properly purified
and made Ct to impsrt healthy visor In its I'm.
ending circuit to all and every part Of the animal
mechanism. One would suppose that this con-
alteration alone would Dc sufhcien to induce
every person thus afflicted to make early applisa
ton for relief.
The treatment Of Catarrs is in part constitu
uonsl, whereby the energies Of the whole system
ere called to aid in exDellins its destructive en-
envy. 1t is in part local. whereby the discharge is
made less offensive diminished, and finally arrest
ed, whereby the liberated surface 10 healed and
restored to its normal condition.