Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-21
Symptoms of Catarrh in tho head.
PART OF AN ADDRESS BY C. W. SCOTT, MD.

gence, m1Smanagement, con2tltutlOnal
predisposition, low and enfeebled state OF
the system, hereditary or scrofulous faint
Of the blood, or other unfavorable circum.
stances, runs into chronic Inflammation
OF the mucous or pituitous membrane lin
in,y the nasal cavities, frontal, sinus, pos
terror mares, and if neglected extends
down into the air-passages and lungs
The first sensation is usually feeling of
drynsss and heat in the nose and throat,
and person will have frequent inclina-
tion to sneezing, especially in the morn
ing. It is very difficult at times to
breathe through the nose, as it becomes
stopped up; first on one side, then on the
other. 1t is usually attended with q
mucus discharge of various character, col
or, and consistency, sometimes
thick and offensive, at others thin
and acrid. The discharge is quite
+! frequent, and continues to be mark
ed feature of the disease, and source OF
much danger and the greatest annoyance.
TSers is often pain and heaviness across
the forehead and upper part of the nose,
sneez,ug and raising of mucus from the
throat. 1t is sometimes so profuse rs to
REQUIRE almost constant application of the
handkerchief to the nose, or if 1t drops in
tie throat, which is generally the case, in
ly ing down or throwing the head back, a
co Instant coughing, and sometimes both.
1t is usually worse in cold and changeable
weather. and better when it ID dry and
warm.
Sleep is often disturbed by sensation
of choking, caused by the accumulation
of mucus in the throat Owing 10 the
heat 10 the head, the mattery portion OF
the discharge evaporstes and assuming
condition of solidity, is deposittd upon
the mucus membrane lining. the moss anu
upper part of the throat, in the form o,
crusts and hardened Jumps. The liquio
that flows from the nostrils makes the
eyes tender, irritates the nose and fills
the throat and windpipe, causing cough
ing and. if long continued, the Consump
ton. The accumulation of these inerust-
atoms produces feeling of discomfort,
and narrows the passages so as to emb ,r-
rass respiration. liberation of the mucus
membrane of the nose sometimes takes
place. The discharge which at first is
without smell, assumes, rs the dryness
advances, AN excessively offensive odor-
The breath participates in this, and be-
comes at times so revoltingly offensive as
to render the patient an object of disgust
TO himself and, friends. The accumula-
ton of the discharge, combined with the
thickened condition of the mucus mem
brane, renders breathing through the nose
YER difficult, and sometimes impossible,
neoessl Eating respiration principally
through The mouth-a method very
deleterious to the general health, but
more particularly to the lungs Often,
times the voice loss Its sweet musical
quality and assumes discordant' harsh
aud nasal character.
In health the glands and L. Nsmorahes OF
the head seerete fluid to keep os inoalh'
nose, and eyes moist. AS / beA aee re-
marked, from cold, debility and Nner
causes, it becomes obstructed, in whl "S
case this liquid is secreted too copiously,
and causes pain in the eyes, cough ,drowzi-
ness and emaciation, and from the diseased
action Of the membrane the sense of smell
becomes partly or entirely lost, and the
same effect, though less frequent, is pro-
duced on the sense of taste.
Occasionally, while in the act OF blow
ing the nose, q cracking or bubbling noise
will be distinctly heard in the ear, and
hearing will be found quite thick, and
suppressed, but returns suddenly with a
swapping sound. This is often repeated,
until, at one time, hearing does not return,
and remains permanently injured.
Disturbances in the head of every de-
scription will make their appearance and
add to the distress of the sufferer, and
hearing may be lost so gradually that q
degree may exist before the
person ia aware of it. The eyes become
weak, irritable and disposed TO ,Eater on
exposure to cold and wind.
a pain more or less acute, or distress
ing feeling of pressure is experie nced over
the eyes, and often in the top ar ID back of
the head, and n pain in the ace nearly
neuralgia, for which it is often
mistaken. The distress in the head causes
loss OF memory and irritability and mo-
roseness of disposition. In time the
stomach gives out, becomes we ak and irri-
table. In severe cases there is loss of APP
petite, especially poor in the MORNING
The system becomes feeble and FRUSTRATED,
and there is an aversion or inability to
either physical or mental exertion. Not
oatarrh proves fatal, either
by facilitating the system and waa ring
out the patient, or by producing tn roat
affections, bronchitis. and finally consu mp
tion.
IL may Dc sateiy asserted thaC al Tor
hereditary predispositiou eatarrh is / he
frequent and important cause of this fat al
The symptoms of catarrh vary eonsid u
erably in different individuals, and tina
degree oftheir severity depends upon con-
,titutional peculiarities and various ex-,
.ernal influences. With some the COM
plant continues for number of years in
mild form, without causing any Of the ,
INJURIOUS resalts above mentioned while
n some GASES the worst effects are pro- +
iuced in u short time; and cases that we Il
hink are most harmless, may, through /
mprudent exposure, additional cold or
changes of the weather, sud
lenly exhibit all the violence and mr. l.
ignity which characterize the severe; 1t
ases.
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