, 1889-03-08
BRONCHITIS.
symptoms and Treatment 81 the Amio-
tion I'm Its Early Stages

ton I'm Its Early Stages
During the winter season bronchitis is
one of the most common affections. 1t
is essentially an inflammation of tho
bronchial tubes, but 1t rarely occurs
alone; the membrane lining the
throat and upper part of the windpipe
are, as a rule, affected about the same
tiWe.
In the majority of cases an attack of
bronchitis is preceded by a cold in the
head The Inflammation, which starts
In the nose, travels downward, affecting
the throat more or less, and very soon
enters the bronchial tubes. When those
are reached there are added to the symp-
toms of a cold a sense of tightness and
of soreness or rawness in the chest.
Those unpleasant feelings are aggravated
by the cough, which is at first dry, hack
ing and quite constant. As e rule, the
person who is suffering from an attack
Of bronchitis is somewhat feverish, or,
at least, inclined to be chilly. He has
less appetite than usual, feels dull and
heavy and disinclined to exertion. Those
who have bronchitis generally complain
Of a dull, aching pain in the back and
limbs.
The cough, which is at first dry and
painful-as some say ''tearing'-gen-
orally loosens up in from one to two
days, and then the patient '~'raises" quite
freely. The coughed up matters are
generally of a yellowish OIL peenish
color and salty taste; then they become
quite yellow. AS soon as tho patient
'~'raises" easily he is at once relieved; the
pain and soreness disappear, and he goes
rapidly on to recovery.
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by
taking cold. If one is suddenly chilled,
an attack is very likely to occur. BY
too severe and sudden cooling of the
body the blood Is driven from the sur
face to the internal organs. The lining
membrane of the bronchial tubes is very
easily ~congested in that way. Consider
ing all things, it naturally follows that
bronchitis is more prevalent after sudden
changes In tho weather and when the
same Is moist and cold.
When an attack of this disease comes
on thu sufferers who treat themselves, us
q rule, direct their efforts entirely to
stopping the cough, without giving
much thought to the trouble that ex-
cites it.
1hC "AAS bAA1 ob1AAN lhhtt
while bringing, perhaps, some relief, yet
more often do more harm than good,
and really in the first stage of acute
bronchitis there is seldom great need of
what passes under the head of cough
medicines.
While there is oreness or rawness in
the chest, the patient should be confined
to his bed and kept on a light diet.
Mustard poultices should be applied,
morning and night, and left on until the
pain from them is intolerable. After
they are removed, a towel wrung out of
warm water should be applied, and over
that n dry one laid, and then several
folds of flannel.
In the meantime, unless the cough is
incessant, there will scarcely be any
need to give medicine for it, and GER
tainly, if any are used, they should be
wisely selected. Flaxseed tea Is an ex-
cellent drink, having a soothing effect in
such cases. 1t should be taken often and
in considerable quantities each day.
If the patient is not under the care of
q physician, and will not consult any,
Notwithstanding his cough is very trou-
blesome, keeps him awake, etc., he
might have put up at the druggists a
mixture of the sweet spirit of inter, par
egoric and sirup of ipecac, of each one
half ounce. OF this mixture the dose
for an adult Is one t~easpoonful, and it
may be taken every two or three hours
in a wine glass of water.
After two or three days, when the
cough has become soft and loose, and
the soreness and rawness in the chest has
disappeared, then, instead of the medi-
cine advised, the sirup Of wild cherry
bark should be taken, in t~easpoonful
doses, every three or four hours. If
there is much to raise, it will be well to
take also of the sirup of squills one-half
q t~easpoonful three or four times a day.
If n guards against exposure the af-
lection is likely to subside quite rapidly;
less and less is raised until finally the
amount of secretion is near that in
health and the cough disappears.-Yan-
kee Blade.