Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-15
CATARRH.

CATARRH.
The term Catarrh is applied to peculiar dis.
order OF the nostrils and adjacent parts, which
prevails to an alarming extent, and is product
i've of very serious consequences
The most prominent and characteristic fea-
ture is morbid discharge from the head, vary.
there is an almost constant flow of clear, acrid
fluid, but Ofuener an offensive, purulent, OF
muco-purulent, greenish-yellow matter is Sc
creted, which accumulates in the nostrils OF
drops into the throat, necessitaGng its frequent
removal by blowing the nose or eXpectOration
and often by both processes. Sou Ietimes pa
| tients feel as though their whole head was in q
state of rottenness, SO great is the amount OF
matter discharged and SO fetid is its odor. The
patient is greatly annoyed by the constant drop
ping into the throat of the morbid matter from
the head, and as recumbent position natur
ally favOrs the flow downward, his rest is fre.
Queutly disturbed from this cause. Many suffer
erf are obliged to lie with the head very much
elevated In order to sleep with some degree
of comfort.
In others, tough, viscid and offensive phlegm
collects behind and above the soft palate, in
herring to the parts with gluish tenacity. Its
Judgement embarrasses respiration and creates
sensation of irritation and uneasiness in the
and almost Irresistible desire tor to relieve the dis.
comfort by drawing the mucus into the hroat,
SO as to eject it by the mouth. This practice,
popularly known as hawking" is Char aoter:
the one affected as it is disagreeable to those
around him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and de.
posits itself on the membrane in the shape OF
| dry, hard concretions, which are discharged by
way of the DOstrils or throat in Jumps or frag.
ments of deep green tint In some cases
| these incustratiOns accumulate to such an ex.
tent as to form regular plug in the nose
| which obstructs breathing and produces serious
discomfort; So firmly do these incrustationt
f,t thnv 0tv Nk,,I
moval usually requires the most violent efforts
not unfrequently they have to be torn from the
| membran Occasionally solid cast of nota.
BILE size is expelled, on which there are general
iy traces Of blood, but in some cases the cast M
presents a tubular appearance, being of exact
shape of the nasal cavity. This condition is in
troy, the bony structure of the nose and produce
a subsequent fiattening of that organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which a
thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the mem
brane of the nasal cavities. and then putrifies,
giving rise to stencil which is really overpow-
ering and sufficiently fetid to poison the atmos-
phere OF whole room; and there are others in
which all the secretions of the membrane are
suspended, causing an unpleasant feeling of
dryness, heat and teverishness in the head and
nose-a condition popularly known as DRY
The disease speedily extends to the air cavi-
ties of the bones of the forehead and face CIV
ing rise to distressing sensation of heavy
weight or compression over the forehead, espe
ciaIIy in the region above and between the
eyes, and to feeling of fullness, heat, irrita.
ton, 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.
Sometimes there Is pain Obstinately fixed in
some particular part, as in the temple, on the
top of the head. at the back of the neck, or be-
hind the orbits, and occasionally pain mani
tests itself in the face of so severe a character
that it is frequently mistaken for neuralgia.
The breath is always tainted and at times as
sumes an exceedingly fetid and slckening Odor.
In some cases it becomes so revOltingly often
sive as to render the sufferer an object OF dis.
gust to himself as well as to others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and con-
gested, causing the nose to be stopped up, some.
times on one side. sometimes on the other. and
often on both, giving rise to a .disagreeable,
stuffy sensation in the head, and occasioning
violent and prolonged paroxysms of sneezing.
The voice is weak, indistinc ct and husky, or of
a nasal character, displaying sort of shifting
hoarseness and discordauce. There is also
sense OF irritation in the throat, aud frequent
attempts to clear the parts of phlegm, produc-
ing the sound men," more or less forcibly In
some cases patients complain of an uncomfort-
able feeling of fullness, or chOky sensation in
the throat, and in others of distressing and al.
most constant dryness for the temporary relief
of which tney have to swallow frequently.
Others, again, speak of constant bad or nause-
GUS taste in the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or less,
and becomes weak and irritable, the appetite is
capricous, and nearly always bad in the morn
ing. The patient is languid, unable to perform
mental or physical labor with the usual facility,
is nervous, depressed in spirits at time es fearful
timid, agitated and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep, the memory weakened and permanent
impairment seriously threatened.
The mucuous membrane soon becomes NOR
bidly sensitive to unfavorable Influences and in
spite of the utmost care becOm es affected from
the slightest causes, SO that breath OF wind upon
the Innings of the nose or throat, becomes pro-
ductive of a cold. and gives rise to serious dis
turbances Of the respiratory organs Thus the
patient is subject to frequent and repeated
colds, each attack aggravating the disease by
giving it a new impulse. and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In this
manner the difficulty spreads from organ to
gan, invading the throat, larnyx, trachea and
further, it reaches the finer IamifcatiOns of the
bronchi, when but slight impulse is required
to tend it to the lungs Catarrh may, and often
does affect other organs in the body especially
those containing mucous membrane, such as
the stomach, bowels kidneys, etc.
By the employment of proper inhalations and
Compound Oxygen treatment in the form of
medicated yapor (not steam or spray we are
able to produce immediate and direct action
upon the diseased surface in the larnyx and
the nasal passages, for air will find its way
into the remotest and intricate cavities, where
it is utterly impossible to make fluid applica-
tiOns. By thtse means etery case ccn be cured
practice can use the remedies at homs as we'll
as at our Office, and which will cause no incon-
venience or hindrance from business whatever.
have seen so many Of these cases cured that
do not consider any case hopeless, unless both
lungs are seriously involved. Even then the
limitations aid us in dissolving the mucus and
in contracting and healing the cavities, which
nothing can do with the same success
The very best reference from those already
CONSULTATION FREE.
Those who desire to consult with me in regard
to their cases had better call at the Office for
consultation and examination, but If iMpos-
sible to do so, can write for copy of my
Medical Treatise, containing list of questions
Address
M. HILTON WILLIAMS, NJ. D.,
HoLLENBECK BLOCK,
Corner Second and Spring sts., Los Angelee.
Office hours-8:30 A. II. to $50 P. y.