Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-31

State of Michigan. Also member of the
College OF Physicians and Surgeons of On.
tario; for three years assC ciate physician OF
the Chicago and Cincinnati Throst and
Lung Institute; for fifteen years, and still
proprietor of the Detroit Throat and Lung
Institute; and for several years pro rletor
of the Ontario Pulmonary Institute and
Health Resort at Toronto, ontario. Over
10000 eases treated by US during the past
nineteen years.
ON ASTHMA.
1t is n common error to suppose every
disease which is attended by oppressed
breathing to be Asthma or Phthisic. We
have shortness of breath in Consumption
Bronchitis and Pneumonia, just as we do in
Asthma, only that in these diseases it is al
ways present. whereas in Asthma it occurs
in paroxysms.
Asthma is a spasmcdic disease of the
lungs, which manifests itself in periodic at
tacks or "fts " 1t comes on suddenly aud
is attended with great difficulty of breath
ing while it lasts, but when the attack Ii
over the patient breaths almost as well as in
health.
The Asthmatic fit may come on at any
time, day or night, but most commonly oc
ours after midnight and before morning
The patient is suddenly awake ned by diff
ficulty OF breathing a feeling OF weight oi
constitution of the chest. IL feels as though
it were bound. He sits up in bed, pants oil
gasps Tor breath, and III bad cases, calls fol
the doors and windows to be thrown open
Precipitation stands cut in large drops on
the forehead, the face looks haggard, the
lips are livid, the extremities cold, and the
heart beating violently.
Perso n, badly afflicted with the disease
are, dunng the fit, insensible to everything
save the desife for air have known them
to rush to the open window and hang ovel
the sill for hours in mid-winter, utterly re
gardless OF the cold. The feeling is pre-
cisely that OF pending suflocation. and the
poor sufferer endures tor time all the ag
ony OF drowning or slow strangulation.
But happily for the patieLt his confidence
never deserts him. He feels that it will
soon be over, and then he will get relief
After longer or a shorter period, accord
iug 10 the severity of the case-generally a
few hours-the iightness, al the bottom Of
the chest relaxes, the breathing becomes
deeper, the patient can speak and cough
without difficulty, and begins to expectorale c
freely. At length, worn out by the intens
ity of his suferings, he falls to sleep and
the attack is at an end.
names given to different forms Of this
disease Emphysema is another and more
inyeterate kind of Asthma. while Hay
Fever or Rose Cold is peculiar variety OF
Asthma which occurs at certain season oil
the year. Each of these forms of disease
differs somewhat from the Others In symp-
toms, but practically these distinctions ere
of very little value. IL does not matter to
the patient which form of Asthma he has
since his sufferiDgs are the same in all. In
one case the expectoration becomes yellow,
and we call it bronchial. In another it is
light and we call it dry. When he coughs
up clear water, with white froth on the
surface, we say he has Humoral Asthma.
In Nervous Asthma there is very little ex-
pectoration of any kind. Hay Fever always
begins as crying cold in the head or infiu-
enza, and a Gear water ruas from the nose
and the ewes before the Asthma fit comes
OH. In Emphysema the expectoration is
generally thick, and continues so In the in
terval between the fits. while the shortness
OF breath is increased on the slightest sx-
ertion.
There is no rule which can be said to be
uniform in Asthma. In one person the
disease will entirely pass off after single
attack, and remain well for weeks. In an
with only short intervals between them,
and then the patient escapes for q longer
period in some fits occur regularly at
stated times. Some athmatics breathe beat
in the city, while others cannot pass night
in town without suffering an attack. Que
prefers low land as q place of residence,
and another can only sleep on high ground.
A particular exposure OF a room VIII often
make difference, and l have known peo-
pie who could sleep on one side OF the
street and not on the opposite. The smell
OF hay, roses, and even OF the stable,
with many is sufficient to bring on arox-
ysm Some cannot drive behind horses, or
endure cat in the same room.
All this must seem strange and almost
absurd to those who know nothing of the
disease by experience. but those who are
afflicted witn 1t understand the matter. So
sensitive are some people that they cannot
enter drug store where ipecacuanha Is
kept without experiencing an oppression in
breathing.
Asthma depends more ON atmospheric
causes than other lung diseases. The mu
Gus membrane is morbidly sensitive to
any change in the air, in the excess or def
cheney of its zone-in the presence Of smoke
or dust; on the temperature, humidity, OF
even impreenance with the delicate frag.
rance OF flowers and plants. Few people
have any idea of the powerful influence ex
erted for good or i'll by what we 1nhale. The
air is the great source from whence we con-
tract most diseases and 1t is only by employ.
ing it as the carrier OF remedies that many
of them can be cured. This is peculiarly
the G Sc with all diseases of the afr passages
and lungs, of none more SO than asthma.
1t is a foolish conceit OF many people to
not get Consumption. The truth is the
very opposite. they are more liable to
fall into Consumption because they have
Asthma. Another idea is, that Asthma It.
self is not dangerous disease, and yet the
prove to all who read them that great num-
bers lose their lives every year.
Without courage and perseverance, moth
ing is curable. But with these, aided by
proper and skilful treatment, Asthma can
be cured even after the lungs are extensive
ly diseased.
The asthmatic sufferer therefore, should
lose no time in having this tearIble disease
eradicated from the system before it is
forever ''too late"
Our Eastern friends should not depen
upon climatic Influences alone, for herein
lies the fatal mistake. Nearly every case
requires positive medical aid. so as to be-
come rid OF the offending matter-the con-
solidated portions of the lungs--so as to give
nature an opportunity TO heal them.