Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-08-11
CATARRH,
Its symptoms, Rational Treatment,
and Positive Cure


Its symptoms, Rational Treatment,
and Positive Cure
Statistics show that ever one hum
dred thousand persons annually die
in this country of Consumption, and
there is the highest medical authori-
ty for saying that with fully one
half, If not two thirds of this num-
Der, the disease first commences as
Catarrh in the nose or head, the next
step being in the throat or bronchial
tubes-lastly the lungs. Mental inn
beciiity and insanity are also among
the frequent results of this prevalent
disease. Catarrh, then, although
usually considered trivial affair, is
really one of the most serious diseases
to which humanity is liable not be.
cause it is dangerous in itself, but be-
cause of the fatal and dreadful mala>
dies to which it gives rise.
An eminent medical writer says:
Thousands are dying in the morn
ing of life, with consumption, who
can look back q few months to time
when it was nothing but Cdtdrrh.-
Neglected when a cure was possible,
it has steadily transformed the feat
ures of health and youth into the
dull, van listlessness of premature
age, While the hacking cough, the
torrent of blood gushing from the
lungs, or facilitating night sweats
proclaim significantly, that it is now
too late, and that q neglected Cutarrh
Ends IN the grace"
In consequence of frequent attacks
of acute Catarrh or cold in the head
as ii is usually termed, the mucous
membrane of the nose and air passs-
ges of the head become permanently
thickened, the mucous follicles or
glands diseased, and their functions
either destroyed or very much de.
ranged. Although Chronic Catarrh
is most commonly brought on in the
manner above stated, it sometimes
makes its appearance as sequel and
result of typhoid fever, scarlet fever,
measles or other eruptive fevers. In
the early stages of the disease the pa.
tent may be annoyed with only a
slight dropping in the throat" as
many express it, the amount of dis
charge from the air passages of the
head at this stage of the disease being
only slightly in advance of health
In some cases the discharge is thick,
ropy and tough. requiring frequent
and strong effort in the way of
hawking, blowing and splitting to re-
move it from the throat, where it
frequently lodges. In other cases or
in other stages of the same case, the
discharge is thin, watery, acrid, irri-
tating and profuse. The nose may
be stopped up from the swollen and
thickened condition of the lining
mucous membrane, as to necessitate
respiration through the mouth, givs
ing to the voice a disagreeable nasal
twang. From the nature of the con.
struction in this condition, it is USE
less for the sufferer to endeavor 10
clear the passages by blowing the
nose, which only tends to render
bad matter worse, by increasing the
irritation and swelling of the already
thickened lining membrane. The
swelling of the mucous membrane
does not, in all cases become SO great
as to cause obstruction to respiration
through the affected passages. In
some cases the patient suffers from
headache great portion of the time
or may experience dull, heavy dis
agreeable fuilness. or pressure la the
head, with confusion of his ideas,
which renders him unfit for business
especially such as requires deep
thought and mental labor. Memory
may be more or less affected, and the
disposition of those who are other
wise amla Jle, is often rendered irrita-
BILE or morose and respondent. The
mental faculties suffer to such an ex-
tentin some cases as to result in inn
becility or insanity.
The sense of smell is in many cases |
impaired and sometimes entirely lost
and sense of taste more or less affect |
ed. Habitnal cold feet, pain and
soreness in different parts of the sys-
tenn, lassitude, drowsiness and gener-
al debility are symptoms which are
common to some stages Of the dis
ease. Hearing may be more or less
affected. The eyes may be weak and
sometimes suffer from attacks of con-
jestion or inflammation, and the pa
tient Is heard to complain of having
caught cold in his eyes," Vs. .~..
The secretion which is thrown out
in the more. advanced stages of
Chronic catarrh, Becomes so acrid,
unhealthy and poisonous, that it pro-
duces severe irritation and infiam>
nation, which are followed by ex.
eorition and liberation of the delis
cate lining membrane Of the delicate
air passages in the head. Although
commencing in the lining membrane
the Lucrative process eats away, and
gradually extends in depth until it
frequently involves all the compo-
nent structures, of the. nose-cartil-
ageland bone, as well as fibrous It's
snesd Astthe liberation eats its way
up a3nongt he small bones. the dis
charge generally becomes prcfuse.