Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-07-03
CATARR Rh.

The term Catar-h Is applied to a peculiar
disorder yf the nostrils and adiacent parts,
which prevails to an alarming extent, and
Of vsTy sns
| feature is a morbid discharge from the
head, varying In Its nature at different
times.
In some there Is an almost constant dow
| of clear, acrid fuid, but oftener an Offensive,
purulent or muco-purulent, greentsh yell
/ low matter is secreted, which sccumulates
| in the nostrils or drops into the throat,
necessitating its frequent removal BY blow
| ing the nose or expectoration. and often by
both processes. sometimes patients feel as
though their whole head was In statt of
| rottenness, so great is the amount Of matter
| discha harged and so foetid IL Its oder. The
dropping into the throat Of the morbid
matter from the head, and as recumbent
position naturally favors the flow down
ward, his rest is frequently disturbed from
this cause. Many sufferers are Obliged 70
/ lie with the head verv much elevated in
order TO sleep with some degree Of comfort.
In Others. tough, viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the pal
ate. In the passage between the throat and
head, adhering TO the parts with gluish
tenaoity. Its iodgment embarasses respira-
tion and creates a sensation OF irritation
and uneasiness In the affected locality.
g.ves rise To constant and almost irresists.
Bile desire to relive the discomfort By draw.
ing the mucus into the throat so rs TO eject
1t by the mouth. Thss practice, popularly
known as hawking" is charscterfstic OF
catarrh, and proves as embarrassing to the
one affected as !. is disagreebie 70 those
Again the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane In the
shape Of dry hard concretions, which are
discharged BY way Of the nostrils or throat
In some cases these incrustations accumu-
late to such an extent a. to form regular
plug In the nose. which obetructs breathing
and produces serious discomfort: 30
firmly do these incruststions adhere to the
point OF attachment that their re noval
| usually requires the most violent efforts
net unfrequently they have TO be torn from
the membrane. Occasionally solid cast
of notable size is expelled. on which there
are generally traces Of blood, but In some
| cases the cast presents tubular appear-
ance, being of exact shape OF the nasal
cavity. This condition is indicative of uls-
bony structure OF the nose and produce
| su bsequent fiattening OF THAI organ.
Gases are occasionally met with In which
| . thick, viscid, slimy secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
putrefies. giving rise to y stencil which 10
really overpowering. and sufficiently fetid
TO poison the atmosphere Of whole room.
and there are otheas tn which all the secre-
causing an unpleasant feeling Of dryness,
heat and feverishness in the head and nose
"a condition popularity known as "Dry
Cstrrrh."
cavities OF the bones OF the forehead and
face, giving rise to a distressing sensation
of heavy weight or compression over the
forehead. especially in the region above
and between the eyes. and to feeling OF
fullness. heat. irritation. soreness or pain
In the nostrils near the root OF the nose, as
well as In the upper part Of the throat,
above and behind the soft palate. Some
times there is pain obstinately fixed In some
particular part, as In the temples, on the
top OF the head, at the back of the neck. or
behind the orb bids, and, occasionally, pain
manifests itself In the face OF so severe
character that tits frequently mistaken for
neuralgia.
The breath is always tainted and at times
assumes an exceeding fBtid and sickening
odor. In some cases It becomes so revolt
ingly offensive Is u render the sufferer an
object of disgust to himself as well az to
others
The nasal membrane is thickened and
eongested, causing the nose TO be stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometimes on
one side. sometimes ON the other, aud often
on both, giving rise to disagreeab BILE stuffy
sensation In the head, and occasloning TO
violent and prolonged psroxysms OF sneez-
Ing.
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky,
or of a nasal character, displaying q sort oil
snifing buality. 0itentimes thero Is a con
tinuous hoarseness and discordanee. There
Is also a sense of irritation In the throat,
and frequent attempts 70 clear the parts OF
phlegn, producing the sound hem" more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain Of an uncomfortable feeling OF
fulness, or a choky sensation In the throat,
and In others of a distressing and almost
constant dryness. for the temporary relief
of which they have To swallow frequently.
Others again, speak Of q constant bad or
nauseous taste In the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or
less and become weak and irritable; the ap-
petite is capricious and nearly always bad
In the morning. The patient is languid,
unable to perform mental or physical Ia Dor
with the usual facility, is nervous, de-
pressed in spirits, At times fearful, timid,
sleep; the memory weakened and perma-
nent impairment seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morhidly sensitive 10 unfsyorable infiu-
ences, and In spite OF the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, so
that at last breath Of wind upon the lining
Of the nose or throat becomes productive Of
a cold. and gives rise to serious disturb
snees OF the respiratory organs. Thus the
patient is subject TO frequent aud repeated
colds, each attack aggravating the disease
by giving II q new impulse and involving q
larger extent than its predecessor. In this
gan to organ. invading the throat lar
ynx, trachea and bronchial tubes un-
til. encroaching further and further, II
reaches the nner ramincatlOns of the
bronchi, when but a slight impulse is re-
quired to send IL 10 tae lungs. eetarrh may,
and often does, affect other organs In the
body, especially those containing mucous
mem mbrsne. such as the stomach, bowels,
kidneys, etc.
Thus catarrh becomes the starting point
Of consumptive development. the disease
being eventually transmitted 10 the lungs,
both by nervous connection aud continuity
OF surface
So frequently has this fatal course been
noticed that all those who are thoroughly
conversant with the subject now look upon
catarrh as premonition and one of the
very earliest manifestations of consump-
ton.
Every case OF catarrh is durable II prop