The Portland daily press., 1872-01-29

frbe following we extract from a little
hook on Chronic Diseases, by r. PlEhoE,
NJ. D., of Buffalo, N. Y. Our ri,, readers ,oalt o,
receive this intereiting and useiul h..v .',,n 10
post paid, by enclosing one postage Stump
the doctor.
SyMproMs-In the early stages OF or, the us
a sliobt dronping in the throat,' as many
avnrsss n he amount of discharge from the
a;r nassages of the head at this stage of the
disease being only slightly in excess of health.
In some cases the discharge is thick, ropy
and tough, requiring frequent and strong Ell
fort in the way of hawking, blowing and spit
ting to remove it from the throat, where IL
frequently lodges. In other cases, or IN otner
stages of the same case, the discharge Is tnlh,
watery, acrd, irritating and protuse. Inc
nose may be stopped up from the swollen
and thickened condition of the lnlnS ihu-
cous membrane, so as to necessitate respn-
alton through the mouth, giving 70 the VOICE
disagreeable nasal twang. Inc disease
sometimes assumes n dry form, there peihg
very little or no discharge. In some cases
the patient suffers from headache great
portion of the time, may experience dliii
heavy, disagreeable tulness or pressure IN
the head, with confusion of his ideas, which
renders him quite unilt Tor business es
pecially such as requires deep thought anu
mental labor. Memory may be more OF less
affected, and the disposition OF those VINO are
otherwise amiabe is often rendered lrritaDie,
or morose and respondent. Ihe mental iac-
ulties suffer TO such extent IN some cases as
to result in insanity. The sense OF smell Is
in many cases impaired, and sometimes en-
tirely lost, and the senses of taste and hear
ing may be more or less affected.
The secretion which is thrown out in the
more advanced stages of Chronic Catarrh be-
comes so acrid, unhealthy and poisonous,
that it produces severe irritation and itfiam-
nation, which are followedby excoriation and
liberation of the delicate lining membrane
of the air passages in the head. As the ui-
ceration eats its way up among the small
bones the discharge generally becomes pro-
fuse and often excessively fetid, requires the
frequent use of the handkerchief, and rem
ders the poor sufferer disagreeable both to
himself and those with whom he associates.
Thick, tough brownish incrustations or hard,
ened Jumps, are many times formed in the
head by the evaporation OF the watery portion
of the discharge. These Jumps are some
times so large and tough that it is with great
difficulty that they can be removed. They
are usually discharged every day or two, but
only to be succeeded by another crop. 1t is
painfully unpleasant TO witness the ravages
of this terrible disease, and observe the ex-
tent to which it sometimes progresses
Holes are eaten through the roof of the
mouth, and great cavities excavated into the
solid bones Of the face, and in such cases on
ly the best and most thorough treatment,
both local and constitutional, will check the
progress and fatal termination of the dis
ease 81.
Only few of the large number ofsymp-
toms which have described as common to
the different stages of Catarrh will be likely
to be manifested at one time in a single case.
Although they are all common to the disease
in some of its stages, yet thousands of cases
annually terminate in consumption or in
sanity, and end in the grave, without ever
having manifested one-halfof the symptoms
above enumerated. &#n rrs
AS the disease progresses, or frequently in
its earlier stages, the throat is apt to become
affected. 1t becomes dry, sore or raw, ol
studded with very small ulcers, which, as
seen through the mouth, look like small pim-
pies or ''canker sores,' for which they are
often mistaken. The voice may be more OF
less affected, especially on exposure to cold
or over-exertion, and attacking cough is not
unfrequent. Creeping along the continuous
lining mucus membrane of the air passages,
the disease gradually extends to the larynr,
and by the same process of extension the
bronchial tubes, and lastly the substance Of
the lungs in their turn, are diseased, and
Bronchitis and Consumption firmly estab-
lished. Tightness in the chest, with diff
cuty of breathing, soreness, darting sharp
or dull heavy pain, or prickly distressing
sensation, accompanied with more or less
cough and eXpectoratiOn, are evidence that
the bronchial tubes have become affected,
: and should admonish the sufferer that he is
no,c standing upon the stepping-stone to
Consumption, over which thousands annu-
ally tread in their slow, but sure, journey to
the grave.