National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-01-08

Among the list OF chronic diseases which Affect
| the human frame Catarrh il the one most preva-
lent, most ofensiv most productive Of discomfort
and most liable to . variety OF dangerous and dis
tressing complications.
Thousands are annually fastened to a prema-
ture grave from its.pernicious effects and doubt
thousands are at this moment slowly perishing
under its fatal influence ignorant Of the cause Of
their declining health. It was, in fact, the de-
structive influence Of tiis disease and its alarming
prevalence that first attracted the writer's stten-
ton, and it is with pardonable pride that refers
to the fact Of having been the first physician who
made this disease = special study, and originated
system Of treatment calculated to effect radical
and permanent cure.
Catarrh manifests itself by discharge from the
head. varying In Its nature in different cases, and
even in the same individual at different times, 1t
may be . thin, colorless, acrid fluid, 4 glary,
ssarch-like substance; generally, however, Il Is .
thick. purulent, or murco-purulent matter, either
greenish-yellow or deep green tint, occasionally
streaked or .necked with blood. So copious and
offensive is the discharge in many cases that the
| patient feels Is though the whole head was in
state Of corruption.
Much ofthe discharge passes backward into the
throat collects IS a tough, viscid phlegm behind
and above the soft palate, in the passage between
the throat and head, creating constant and al
most irresistible desire to obtain relief by 'hawk-
ng,'' characteristic practice Of catarrh, and
embarrassing to the affected as it is dsagreea-
BILE to those around. Often the phlegm is so tena-
cious that the most persistent and exhaustive eff
forts fail dislodge it until some food or stmulant
| is swallowed.
Again the offensive matter deposits itself in the
nasal cavities in the shape Of dry, hard crusts,
which, in some cases, accumulatesto such an ex-
tent as to form regular plug obstructing breath
ing and producing serious discomfort. This condi-
ton is indicative of liberation, which in time may
destroy the bony structure Of the and produce
| its subsequent nattening.
The breath Is always tainted, and sometimes is
revoltingly offensive to render the sufferer an OBJ
ject of disgust to himself well to Others and
occasionally met with in which the stencil
| is really overpowering, and sufficiently fetid to
| poison the atmosphere Of whole room. Thus a
person affected with Catarrh lives continually in an
inhsles poisonous efnuvia with every breath.
In many cases the nose is stopped up, sometimes
| ON one side, sometimes on the other, and
| often on both, giving nse to disagreeable
! ''stufy'' sensation in the head, accompa-
| MED by occasional violent and prolonged
paro1ysms.of sneezing. Again distressing feel
ing of fulncss compression is experienced above
the face, forehead or temples, on the top or
back Of the head, sometimes Of severe a charac-
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 is continual hoarseness, aecompa-
MED by more or less cough, excessive debility and
ernaciatJon JnSaad ins so,,a inaf.ncea tho loss NJ
flesh is so considerable and progressive to sug-
gest the existence Of tubercular 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 one Of the most frequent causes Of deaf
ness. Scarcely any afflicted with this disease
for any length Of time retains a normal acuteness
Of the hearing power. With some the hearing
suffers at first only by spells, while in others the
hearing grows indstinct without the appearance Of
| any premonitory symptoms, the deafness increas-
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 anguid, unsbe
to perform mental physical labor with the usual
facility, is depressed In spirits, and inclined to
drowsiness 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 AZ
fected from the slightest causes that atlast
breath: ofwind upon the lining OF the throat
becomes productive of cold and gives rise to ser
GUS disturbance of the respiratory organs. The
patient is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each aggravating the disease by giving 1t
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 lurgs ard produces Consumption. II would
indeed be . blessing to humanity IL every one
would learn and remember the lesson which ex-
perience teaches us daily, THAT TO NEGLECT THE