The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-11-07
FACTS ABOUT CATARRH.
A DlsAGREEAeLE DISEASE WITH
WHICH MANY ARE AFFLICTED.


It Originates in Different Causes-Not as
Serious as Often Represented - Easily
Cured under Proper Conditions and
Treatment.
The term "catarrh' is from two
Greek words meaning 81 flow" and has
its seat in the mucous membranes.
Speaking generally, the mucous mem
brane is structurally the same as the
skin. It's Office is similar, being lubri
Gator, excretor and secretor in the func-
tons of the body. The disease catarrh
is one which, as before remarked, finds
its expression in the mucous membrane
and the extent of this tissue shows at
once to what an extent the disease can
exist. as there is no part or locality of
mucous membrane which cannot and Is
not affected by the catarrhal condition.
The regions of the mucous trait most
prone to catarrh are those of the nose,
mouth, upper and lower pharynx, or
back part of the nose and mouth; the
larynX, or voice organ; the bronchial
tubes. the stomach, intestines and gall
passages. These several regions give
names to the existing catarrh, as nasal
or nose catarrh, bronchial catarrh, pha-
ryngial or laryngial catarrh, stomachic
or intestinal catarrh. In these different
regions we find the catarrh acute or
chronic.
PREDIsPOSITION TO CATARRH.
There seems to be a certain predisposi-
ton or structural development of the in
dividual prone to catarrhal attacks
These conditions are characterized by
poverty of blood and nutrition, in which
the walls of the capillary or minute blood
vessels have a feeble tone or power of
resistance, while the tissue through which
such vessels pass are at the same time
soft and yielding. This predispOsition to
catarrh is strongly marked in scrofula
and ricketts,, and as in bronchial catarrh,
the morbid condition is a frequent at
tendant on typhoid fever, measles, whoop-
ing cough and smallpox. Efeminate
habits also augment the liability to
catarrhal affections.
In a consideration of the reasons why
any one should suffer from a catarrh,
acute or chronic, this condition of the
system or susceptibility is the important
and determining factor without its pres
ence the existence of catarrh is an i'm
possibility. AS in consumption, so it is
in catarrh, this predispositiOn is the re-
vidual, or can be acquired.
DANGERS GREATLY EXAGGERATED.
The flaming advertisement setting
forth the horrors of catarrh is familiar
object, and our ideas of catarrh are more
largely influenced by what we read than
what we know. While some forms of
catarrh are truly of grave consequence
and should receive intelligent attention,
If this was true in the majority of cases,
probably large part of the population
of the large cities would be patients
of some physician or specialist. The
truth is, outside of the common cold,
there are many forms of what may be
termed mild catarrh, which are not in
compatible with a state of health, and
we can probably take the majority of the
people in any city and by examination
demonstrate that they have, in fact, a
mild catarrh. These people are subject
to taking cold, easily get cold, and it is
somewhat stubborn. They are usually
afflicted during the spring and fall;
steady warm or cold weather is
beneficial to them, and only when they
have a cold are they much inconve-
nienced. Their general health is good,
and influences brought to bear on the
general health usually meet with a
prompt effect on the catarrh. 1t is safe
to say that, directly, fatal result from
Catarrh is a bugbear and finds no foun-
dation in fact. That much suffering
and disability is due to the graver or
more chronic forms of the disease is
true. The commonly received belief
among the laity that chronic catarrh is
the fOrerunner of consumption, and is
only question of time, is pure nonsense.
If a consumption does follow catarrh
e.
w2S consumption from the firsty and
that either the individual had the con-
sumptive faint through hereditary influ-
eaces, or his habits and surroundings de-
velOped it in him and the catarrh was
only the first local expression of the con-
sumption. In that form of catarrh In
which the disease extends to destruction
of tissue and death of bone, we must not
saddle the result on the catarrh; while
this unquestionably was the immediate
exciting cause, there was present and
ready for the development of the result
a soil so bad and vicious, either by he
redity or acquisition, that the death of
tissue and bone was perfectly rational
and legitimate.
VALUABLE HINTS TO SUFFERERS.
The results of chronic catarrh are
many and varied, and while marked by
d hlSh ueSree OF perSlSCenCy ana SUD-
bornness, relief can and should be at
tanned. This is to be accomplished not
by local measures alone, but more espe-
cially by attacking the individual and
relieving the condition which makes the
development of the catarrh possible.
Treatment locally might be pursued
for lifetime and nothing but relief of
temporary character gained. Correct all
that is wrong in habits, surroundings
and occupation, and you gain potent
influence for recovery.
One of the most common causes of
catarrh, especially of the nose, is de-
fective nasal breathing or respiration.
Again, the structural changes which
usually develop in time from long con-
tinued and neglected catarrh are other
reasons why catarrh is not readily re-
heved. Notwithstanding these obsta-
cles, relief can and should be attained.
The most necessary factor is an intelli-
gent conception of the condition which
is the foundation of the disease. Relief
for this in most of the cases means relief
from the disease.-Cor. st. Louis Globe.
Democrat.
Dumas ard the Cabman.