National Republican., 1876-12-09

By DIR. HARTLEY.
73e TENTH STREET.
Among the list OF chronic diseases which affect
the human frame Catarrh is the one most preva-
lent, t,most offensive, most productive Of discomfort,
and most liable to variety Of dangerous and dis
tressing complications. 3.
Thousands are annually has,enei to . prems-
ture grave from its pernicous effects and no doubt
thousands are at this moment slowly perIshing
under Its fatal influence, ignorant OF The cause OF
their declining1health. It was, 4. fact, the de-
structiye influence CT tiis disease ana Its alarming
prevalence that first attracted the writer's atten
tion and it is with pardonsple pride that refers
to the fact of having been the hrst physician who
made this disease special study, and originated
system of treatment calculated to effect radical
and permanent cure. .ts -.
Catarrh manifests itself by discharge from the
head varying in Its nature in different cases snd
even in the same individual at different times, 1t
may be thin, coioriess, acrid fuid or sglary,
starch-like substance; generally, however, Ills
thick. purulent, or murco-puruieut matter, either
sreenish- yellow or deep green tint Occasionally
stresked or ..hecked with blood. So oopious and
offensive is the discharge in many cases that the
patient feels as though the whole head was in q
state Of corruption. @ -r .a. r-. 10 s.,-5sI -
Much Of the discharge passes backward into the
throat or collects as tough, viscd phlegn behind
and above the soft palate, in the passage between
the throat and head, creating constant and al
mostirresistible desire to obtain relief by 'hawk
Ing,'a practice characteristic OF catarrh, and as
embarrassing to the affected as 1t is disagreea-
Bile to those around. Often the phiegm is so tena-
cious that the most persistent and exhaustive eff
forts fail to dslodge it until some food or stimuant
is swallowed. ~. r....f ... r.. .. .-r.1 .-.'--f
Again the offensive matter deposits itself in the
nasal cavities in the shape Of dry, hard crusts,
Il.
tent as to form regular plug, obstrusting breath
ing and producing serious discomfort. This condi-
ton indicative of liberation which in time may
destroy the bony structure of the nose and produce
its subsequent hattening.
The breath is always tainted, and sometimes is 50
revoltingy of. nsive to render the sufferer OBJ
joct OF disgust to himselfa well to others, and
cases are occasionally met with in which the stencil
is really overpowertng, and sufficiently fetid to
poison the atmosphere OF whole room. Thus a
person affected with Catarrh lives continually in In
impure atmosphere Of his own surrounding, and
inhsles poisonous efauyia with every breath.
In many cases the nose is stopped up, sometimes
on one side, sometimes On the other, and
often on both, giving rise to a disagreeable
''stufy'' sensation in the head, accompa-
MED by occasional violent and prolonged
paro1ysms.of sneezing. Again distressing feel
ing Of fulness or compression is experienced above
and between the eyes, pain manifests itself In
the face, forehead or temples, or on the top or
back ofthe head, sometimes Of go severe q charae-
ter that it is mistaken for neuralgia. The sense of
smell is generally blunted entirely lost and taste
may become similarly affected.
The voice is husky or of nasal character, while
oftimes there Isl continual hoarseness, accompa-
MED by more or less cough, excessive debility and
emacaton. Indeed, in: some instances the loss OF
flesh is so considerable and progressive as to sug-
gest the existence Of tpbereular disease, and not
few cases Of Catarrh that have come under my
notice have been regarded as consumption, and so
treated BY unwary or inexperienced practitioners.
catarrh is Of the most frequent causes Of deaf
ness. Scarcely any one afflicted with this disease
for any length of time retains normal acuteness
! of the hearing power. With some the hearing
suffers at first only by spells, while in Others the
hearing grows indistnet without the appearance of
any premonitory symptoms, the deafness inereas-
ing gradually until all useful hearing is lost.
Noises in the head OF every conceivable description
often add materially to the existing distress.
As the disease fastens itself upon its victim, one
after another of the vital powers give away. The
patient loses flesh and strength is languid un,ble
to perfornimenta physical labor with the usual
facility is depressed in spirits, and inclined to
dlowsiness and sleep; the memory is weakened and
its permanent impairment seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane becomes morbidly sensi-
tive, and in spite of the utmost care becomes af
fected from the slIghtestcaus that atlast
breath Of wind upon the lining Of the throat
becomes productive ofa cold. and gives rise to ser
Gus disturbance of the respiratory organs. The
patient is subject to frequent and repeated colds
each one aggravating the disease BY giving It new
impulse, and attacking larger extent of surface
than its predecessor. In this manner the Catarrh
spreads from organ to organ, until 1t finally reaches
the lungs and produces Consumption. 1t would
indeed be a blessing to humanity 81 every one
| would learn and remember the lesson which ex-
perience teaches US daily: THAT TO NEGLECT THE
PROPER TREATMENT OF CArARRH Is TO DIE WITH
| CONSUMPTION.
That the timid and disappoIntedmay feel the ut
most assurance and confidence in the skill ard good
f.ith Of DR. HARTLEY, he generously offers to at