Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-10

Extract from DR.. Lighthills work on Catarrh
and Kindred Diseases of the Mucous Mem
brans
The earliest, most prominent and char
acteristic features of Catarrh is discharge
from the head, consisting sometimes of
clear, acrid fluid, but oftener Of thick,
fetid, purulent, yellow or greenish, yellow
matter, which is usually secreted in e1ces-
sive abundance. and discharged through
the nostrils or throat, and frequently by
both channels.
The nature of this discharge varies in
different cases, and even in the same indi-
vidual, at different times. In some it is
copious and of loose or fluid character,
whilst in others it is very Viscid or gummy,
adhering to the diseased membrane with
glue-like tenacity, and removable only
with great difficulty condition more
particularly noticed on rising in the morn
ing, because, during sleep, the purulent
secretion hardens and aecumulates with
greater facility.
Again, the offensive matter concreles
into dry, hard masses or crusts, which
obstruct breathing, and are very difficult to
detach, their dislodgment often requiring
most violent efforts. Sometimes these in
crustations come away in small whitish
lump', or fragments of deep green tint,
but occasionally, broad and fiat casts Of
notable size are expelled, on which traces
of blood may at times be observed. This
condition is very liable to run on to serious
liberation, involving a loss of the bony
structure of the nose, and a subsequent
tiattening of that organ.
The nasal membrane IL thickened anC
coDgesied, causing the nose to be stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometimes OF
the other, and often on both, giving rise t.
disagreeable stnfy sensation in the head
and occasionally violent parcxysms o
sneezing.
A feeling of fullness, heat, irritation
soreness or pain is generally experiences
in the nostrils, near the root of the nose
as well as the upper part Of the throa
above and below the soft palate. A dis
tressing sensation of heavy weight or com
preston is usually complained of over tn
forehead, especially in the region imme
diately above and between the eyes. Some
: times the pain Is obstinately fixed in som
particular part, as in the temples, on th
! top of the head, at the back of the neck
or behind the orbits; and, occasionally
pain manifests itself in The face, of so sc
we're character that it is frequently mi:
taken for neuralgia.
The voice is generally affected, and be
comes hoarse, mufled, weak and uueveI
assuming a nasal character; or an ur
pleasant, shifting quality. Cough, {
1 variable severity, is not unfrequently on
of the symptoms and results of Catarrh.
The breath is tainted, and assumes, q
times, an exceedingly fetid and sickenin
odor. In some cases it becomes so revol
t ingly offensive as to render the sufferer q
object of disgust to himself as well as
u others.
The sense of smell is generally hluute
or entirely lost in Cstarrh, and simili
!, effect on taste may be occasionally o.
served. The eyes are apt to become irrit
bic, and disposed to water excessively q
q exposure to the cold or wind, and a sem
of WEAKNESS of sight is usually exPer
enced after slight exertions. Hearing b
comes frequently more or less impaire
and noises in the head very often add M
a terislly to the existing distress.
g The stomach generally suffers more {
It lesq, and becomes weak and irritable ; Il
= appetite is capriciou1, and nearly alwa.
# bad in the morning.
The patients often complain of lassiIul
IS and fatigue, and incapacity for eth
physical or mental exertions, and 8 Co
!, slant disposition 10 droWsiness and slee
The mental faculties are also sometim
slightly affected, loss of memory being n
, unfrequently experienced.
! Catarrh may prove fatal either BY lebi
itatiDg the system and wearing out Il
patient, or by travelling downward al
producing consumption. The fact b
been so repeatedly noticed that all exp
rienoad practitioners now look upC
Catarrh as one ofthe most frequent and il
portant causes of this complaint, but al
cording to our extensive observation,
, should always be regarded as a Premon
ton and one Of the very earliest mantle
tions of Consumption.