Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-09-22
CArARRH.

Tho term Cgtarrh is applied to a peculiar
disorder Of the nostrils and adjacent parts,
which prevails to an alarming extent, and
isPIoductive Of very serious consequences.
feature is a morbid discharge from the
head, varying in its nature at different
times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
of clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco purulent, greenish yel-
low matter Ia secreted, which eccumulates
In the nostrils or drops into the throat,
necessitating its frequent removal by blow
both processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their whole head was In a state Of
r0ttenness, so great Is the amount of matter
discharged and so fetid is Its odor. The
patient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat or the morbid
matter from the head, and as recumbcnt
position naturally favors the flow down
ward, his rest is frequently disturbed from
this canse. Many sufferers are Obliged to
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 aud above the soft
palate in tine passage between the throat and
head, adhering to the parts with gluish
tenacity. Its lcdgment embarasses respira-
tion and creates sensation OF irritation and
uneasiness in the affected locality, which
gives rise to constant and almost irresisti.
Bile desire to relive the discomfort by draw
II by the mouth. Thss practice. popularity
known as '.hawking," Is characteristic OF
catarIb, and proves as embarrassing to the
one affected as IL Is disagreeble to those
around him.
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 Jumps or fragments of deep green tint.
In some cases these incrustations accumu-
Ia q IN al n Of a = In n az
plug in the nose. which obstructs breathing
and produces serious discomfort. So
firmly do these inerustatiens adhere to the
point of attachment that their re noval
usually requires the most violent efforts !;
not untrequently they have to be torn from
the membrane. Dec lsionalls O 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 ulc-
Grafton, which. IN time may destroy the
bony structure OF the nose and produce
subsequent fiattening OF that organ.
Cases are occasionally met with la which
thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane OF the nasal cavities and then
putrefes, giving rise TO a stencil which Is
really oyefpowering. and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of q whole room,
ana there are otheas tn which all the secre-
lions OF tho membrane are suspended,
causing an unpleasant feeling OF dryness,
heat and feverishness In the head and nose
"a condition popularity known as "Dry
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities of the bones of the forehead aud
face, giving rise to 4 distressing sensation
OF heavy weight or compression over the
forehead. especially In The region above
and between the eyes, and TO feeling OF
fuilness. heat. irritation. soreness or pain
In the nostrils near the root Of the nose, as
we'll ss In the upper part OF the throat,
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 orbifs, and, occasionally, pain
manifests itself in the face Of so severe
character that II is frequently mistaken for
neuralgia.
The breath Is al ways tainted and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
oior. In some cases 1t becomes so revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object Of disgust to himself as well as 10
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
eongested, causing the nose to be stop.
ped up, sometimes on one. side, some
both, giving rise to q disagreeable stuffy
sensation In the head, and oeeasioning to
violent and prolonged paroxysms of sneez
ing.
OF a nasal character, displaying sort OF
snifing duality. 0itentimes there Is CO n
tinuous hoarseness and discordanee There
liz also sense OF irritation in the throat,
aud frequent attempts to clear the parts OF
phlegm, producing the sound Them" more
or less for. IDLY. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling OF
fulness, or a choky sensation in tAe 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 a constant bad or
nauseous taste In the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or
less aud become weak and irritahlei the APP
petite Is eaprieious and nearly always bad
In the morning. The patient is languid,
unable to perform mental or physical labor
with the usual facility, is nervous. de-
pressed in spirits. at times fearful, timid,
agitatcd and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep; the memory weakened and perma-
nent impairment seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidiy sensitive TO unfavorable iniiu-
ences, and In spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes. so
that al last breath Of wind upon the lining
of the nose or throat becomes productive OF
cold. and gives rise to serious disturb
ances of the respiratory organs. Thus the
patient Is subject to frequent aud repeated
colds, each attack aggravating the disease
by giving 1t new impulse and involving a
larger extent of surface than Its predecessor.
In this manner the difficulty spreads from
organ 70 organ, invading TIE throat lar
til, eneroaehing further AND further, 1t
reaches the finer qualifications of the
bronchi, when but slight impulse is re-
quired to send It totae lungs. Cstarrh may,
body, especially those containing mucous
membrane. such as the stomach, bowels,
kidneys, etc.
Thus catarrh becomes the starting point
being eventually transmitted 70 the lungs.
both by nervous connection and continuity