Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-15

This is chronic affection Of the mucus mem
brsne Of the nostriIs or the throat, originating in
Irritation or infsmm alton. and attended By more
or less discharge. 1t is one of the most common,
most disgusting, and, finally. most destructive of
diseases incident to the variable climate of our
northern latitude.
In its early stages Cstsrrh often fails to attract
the patients attention, 50 insidious is its ap-
preach This is an unfortunate Circumstance,
because the most favorable period for tretlment
is thus uaimproved. and because of the peculiar
disposition of this disease to extend upward to the
frontal sinuses, backward through the Eustachian
tubes to the middle ears and downward through
the larynS, trschis. bronchia to the sir cells
of the lungs.
The discharge from the affected part is at first a
clear fluid, which may escape observation, unless
It chance to be of more than usually scrid char
acter As time sots on, this gives place to q fluid
that is thicker, and of yellow or yelowish green
color and still later this may be succeeded by thick
fakes or scales.
In sll the more advanced stages the discharges
are generally Of an offer.ive odor, causing great
annoyance to ones friends aud to the patient
himself while his sense of smell remains. This
annoy sncs from the odor becomes almost beyond
endurance, hen, sometimes happens the deli
cate bones of the nose become dsea,ei.
some cases early assume ;he character of Dry
CstaIrh. There is then feeling of uneasiuess.
heat and stiffness in the nostris, which are often
zone both of them) closed by thick ening of the
mucous membrane, and thrs 3 di ffculty of breath
ing bee mes 8 prominent sJ N ptom.
On examining the nostrils in chronic Catarrh
with Instruments specially sdapted to that pur-
rsse f nd its lining membrane thick ckened and OF
deeper color than IN health. There are seen
little peints Of liberation, upon which the secre-
tin becomes hardened and forms crusts. When
tLese are picked of. the diseased surface is irri
ts,ed and often bleeds protussly.
In each case Of Catarrsh the prominent symp-
disease e1terd-. II this be upward there may be
pain and between the eyes, obstruction of the
Iaehryma ducts, causing the tears to flow over the
checks, and. possibly, ophthalmis. If backward,
there will be thickening of the walls OF the Eus-
tsehisn tubes and consequent tendency to their
obstruction, Inflammation of the middle ear, buz-
zing sounds in the heal, and Impairment of hear
Ing When the e1tep sion is down ward the voice
becomes hoarse or whispering and unmanagable;
cough comes on, with exrectoratien AMI emacia
uon to te followed, too often, b. Consumption and
death
diseased, not only is the Onen-iveness Of the
breath increased but there is liability to serious
personal deformities, among which is hattening Of
the nose.
The swallowing ~ catarrhal secretions deranges
the functions of the s.omsch, causing indigestion
snd less OF appetite Debility, psleness,
headache. and disturbance Of mind sosn follow.
In some instances the mental affection is one Of
irritability, the patient being unduly annoyed by
all the little perpIexities of life. In others the
prominent feeling is that Of melancholy or depres
sion Of spirits, VIXEN the invalid no hope
for himself and none for his affairs.
ADusien has been made to the extension Of Ca
tarrh by continuity Of surface along the natural
.ir-na..ases 70 ,hs spbstauce OF the luugs, TINS
causing Consumption and death. In this con-
nection it should also be remembered that the air
every breath of it, poisoned by exhalstiens from
the foul secretisns ef the diseased surface. By
such air the blood cannot be properly purihed
and made nt to impsrt healthy vigor in its IN
ending circuit to al ard every part of the animal
mechanism. One would suppose that this con
siderati-n alone would uffcient to induce
every person thus afflicted to make early spplics
tion for relief.
The treatment OF CatsrrA is In part constitu-
noraI, whereby the energi, of the whole system
are called to aid in e1pelling its destructive en-
.my II is in part local. whereby the dice barge is
made less offensive diminished, and hr ally arrest
ed. Whereby the liberated surface is healed and
re,torec 10 its normal condition.
nr, sysnDE