Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-23
tFor the Democratic Northwest.l
DIR. W0LFE'S
c ON on Sense.
LETTER Nv.

LETTER ".
EFFECT OF cATARRH ON THE UvULA AND
roNsILs-sYMPToMs Decentralization
OF FASHIONABLE TREATMENT-oUAcK
SURGERY coNDEMNED-CATARRH ADvAN-
CHG ON THE LUNGS
When Inflammation of the lining men,
brane of the cavaties of the nose becomes
chronic, the tractile power of the uvula
is lost, and the organ lengthens until it
touches the base of the tongue. This oc-
ours most frequently in persons of ane-
mic or scorbutic habits; still the most
robust can not claim exemption from
this condition if the disease has existed
long enough to exhaust the vital powers
of the parts involved. When the pal
ater has thus "fallen," it rests on the
base of the tongue and creates an almost
constant desire to clear the throat of an
offending presence. Harsh scraping
coughs, or chest efforts to 'clear away"
distractions in the air passages, become
frequent and tiresome, to obv late which
the patient will close the lips and make
efforts to swallow something that sticks
in the throat.
Now, it is not hard to understand that
the cause of this elongated uvpla is the
presence of catarrh in the back cham
bers of the nose. Knowing this, how alb
surd it is to cut it off with any hope of
removing the cause of the relaxation!
And yet this is the practice we see daily
employed by many who are ignorant of
any other treatment. Even upstart spe-
cialists practice this cruel quaokery, and
o,,t ofT ouorx, droopino, uuIo thau rnaof
In the light of reason and common sense
such mutilation is criminal, and a re-
proach upon the profession. There can
be no excuse for committing the barbara
ty, unless ignorance and indifference to
consequences are such. After this is
done the inflammation in the nasal cham
bers continues, and will extend to the
tonsils, the fauces, and finally the lungs.
We have but destroyed the sentinel that
apprised us of the presence of the enemy.
Immediately behind and at the base of
the arch of the palate the tonsils are To-
Gated, which in turn become infamed
and enlarged by the drip of catarrhal Sc
cretions from the posterior mares. Some
times these glands become 30 large as
almost to obstruct the air from passing to
the lungs or food from entering the
stomach. When this is the case the dis
ease is called quinsy, diptheria, or tonsi-
litis. But by whatever name it may be
known, it is the same old catarrh, jour
neying from the nose to the lungs, and
gathering new strength in each ew Or
gan it invades. If we look into the
throat now, we will see two red, f1eshy
balls, with rough and uneven surfaces,
protruding into and partially filling the
passage. At this stage of catarrh there
is always more or less disturbance of the
system, such as chills and fever alterna-
ting, headache, earache, or faceache.
AS the tonsils have become inf1amed
and Enlarged by the same cause that re-
laxed the uvula, it follows that the same
treatment should be common to both
and so it is, namely, to cure the catarrh
as the cause, when the effects will cease
But what is the fashionable mode OF
treating enlarged or indurated tonsilsi
Precisely the same as for shortening the
uvula. Cut them off, say our pl ofession
al Alexanders And if you do, you will
infiict an injury from which recovery
will be impossible. By subduing the in
fammation the tonsils will again contract
to their natural size, and become healthy
There is too much ambition on the part
of medical men to attain notoriety ir
this way. By a strange infatuation, &
false estimate of professional ability ii
attached to the use of the kife, no mat
ter what mischief it may do, or how un
skillfully it may be employed. do not
say one word against the practice of sur
gerry when it is right and proper to en-
ploy it; but when men glaringly incom
petent, seek notoriety by such work, it il
time to guard the public against the mis-
chief.
When the tonsils prevent air from
freely entering the windpipe, they be
come powerful allies in the development
of consumption. Thus uvulitis and ton
sllitis warn us of the approach of th'
dread disease.
Very respectfully,
N. B. WOLFE, M. y.
| LAG Smith ST., Cincinnati, o.
In referring to DR.. Wolfe, and hi
mode of treatment, the Eveniny Record
of Adrian, Mich, says: He is physician
of large learning and of twenty-five year
of successful practice in Cincinnati, il