Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-21
A DANGEROUS WAY.
Trodden By Many, Perhaps, Without Know
ing IL.

Trodden by Many, Perhaps, Without Know
ing II.
When catarrh has existed in the head and
upper parts of the throat for any length Of
time, the patient living in district where
people are subject to catarrhal affection, and
the disease has been left uncured, the oatarrh
invariably, sometimes slowly, extends down
the windpipe and into the bronchial tubes,
which tubes convey the air into the different
parts ofthe lungs. The tubes become affected
from the swelling and the mucus arising
from catarrh, and in some instances become
plugged up So that the air cannot get In as
freely as it should. Shortness Of breath fol-
lows, and the patient breathes with labor
and difficulty.
In other cases there is sound Of cracking
and wheeling inside the chest. At this
stage of the disease the breathing Is usually
more rapid than when in health. The pa
tient'has also hot flashes over his body.
The pain which accompanies this condi-
behind the breast bone or under the shoul-
der blade. The pain NAV come and 90
last few days and then be absent for sew
eral others. The cough that occurs in the
first stages of bronchial catarrh is dry,
comes at intervals, is hacking in character
and usually most troublesome in the morn
ing on arising or on going to bed at night,
and it may be the first evidence of the. dis
ease extending in the lungs.
At first there may be nothing brought up
by the cough; then there is a little tough,
tenacious mueus, which the patient fnds
great difficulty in bringing up.
Sometimes there are fits of coughing in
duced by the tough mueus-so violent as to
I.ofar h. Al. ! =.
raised is found to contain some particles Of
yellow matter, which indicates that the
small tubes in the lungs are now affected.
With this there are often streaks of blood
mixed with the mueus. In some cases the
patient becomes very pale, has fever and ex-
pectorates before any cough appears.
In some eases small masses Of eheesy sub
stance are spit up, which, when pressed be-
tween the fingers, emit bad odor; in other
cases particles ofa hard, chalky nature are
spit up The raising Of cheesy or ehalky
Jumps indicates serious mischief at work in
the lungs.
In some cases eatarrh will extend into the
lungs in a few weeks; in other cases IL may
be months, and even wears, before the disease
attacks the lungs sufficiently to cause serious
interference with the general health. When
the disease mas developed 70 suen point the
patient is said to have catarrhal consumption.
With bronchial eatarrh there ia more or less
fever, which differs with the different parts Of
the day-slight in the morning. higher In the
afternoon and evening.
Sometimes during the day the patient has .
creeping. chilly sensation, which may last
from half an hour to an hour, the surface Of
the body feeling dry and hot. During the night
near the morning, there may be sweats. Such
sweats are known as night sweats.
The pulse is usually more rapid than normal
and the patient loses flesh and strength. A
fresh cold is all that is needed at this point ID
develop rapid consumption. IL some instances
the patient loses strength and flesh slowly
The muscles gradually waste away. Then the
patient gradually regains some Of the strength,
only to lose it again.
A weak stomach and dislike for food
which seems to have lost its taste, causes the
patient to think that he has disease Of the
stomach instead of the lungs. With these diar
rhea usually occurs and there Is some disturb
ance Of the kidneys. In bronchial catarrh the
voice often becomes weak, husky and hoarse,
There is atburning pain in the throat, with DIFF
hculty in swallowing.