The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-11-23
CAT AR R H !.
Its Nature, Symptoms, Consequences,
Treatment. and Cure, By
DR.. A.P. LICHTHILL,
SPECIALIST FOR CATARRH, DEAFNESS,
AND DISEASES OF THE THROAT AND
LUNGS
No. 14II K Street N. w. ,
Copyright. 1885, by DR.. Lighthill0
WASHINGTON, d. c.

and even in the same individual at different
times. 1t may be thin, coorless, acrd fluid,
or glairy, starch-like substance. Generally
however, it is Il thick, purulent, or muco-puru
lent matter, either greensh-yellow or of a deep
green tint, occasionally streaked or flecked with
blood So copious and offensive is the discharge
in some cases that the whole head appears to be
i'll state of corruption.
Much of the discharge drops into the throat,
or collects as tough. viscd, tenacious phegm
behind and above the soft palate, in the passage
between the throat and head embarrassing res
piration and creating Il constant and almost ire
sstibe desire to draw the offending substance
into the throat, a practice popularity known as
hawking" and characteristic OF catarrh. So
tenacious is this phlegm in some cases, especially
in the morning, that the efforts for its removal
frequently cause retching and vomiting, and
sometimes no relief IS obtained until some food
or drink has been taken.
Often the offensive matter deposits itself in the
nasal cavities in the shape of dry incrustations,
often accompanied by foul, fetid, putrescent
discharge from the head, and the expulsion from
the nostrils and throat of large masses of often
slve matter or flakes of incrustation, greenish-
yellow IN color, purulent in character, and of an
lndescribably fetid and disgusting odor. Ulcera-
tions are sometimes met with in such cases,
which, if unchecked, may attack and destroy the
bony structure of the nostrls, resulting in the
serious dlshgurement OF the nose and face.
HAY FEvER-ROSE CATARRH.
~, In some cases OF catarrh the nasal membrane
air, sudden change of the weather or tempera-
ture. the least exposure, or the inhalation of the
provoke a variety of most distressing symptoms.
At such times there is a profuse watery and
with feeling of irritation and tickling in the
nose and throat, accompanied by violent and
painful paroxysms of sneezing. Pain and sore
ness is also often felt at the root of the nose on
the side of the face, or above and between the
eyes, while violent spells of headache often in
crease the existing misery. The chest feels sore
and distressed, cough is not intrequent, the
breathing is oppressed, and all the symptoms of
itself a burden. Attacks of this nature often oc-
cur in these cases when the roses are in bloom,
when it is known as rose catarrh, or during hay
90 how fnN,nr ,,,,lc
great is the suffering and distress at such times
that the recurrence of these seasons is constant
source of dread and anxiety to the sutferer.
STOPPAGE OF THE HEAD.
In many cases of catarrh the mucous men,
brane of the nasal cavities becomes permanently
swollen and thickened. causing the nose to be
stopped up, sometimes on one side, sometimes on
the other. and occasionally on both, rendering
respiration through its cavities difficult or ipos
sible, and giving rise to peculiar "stuffy' SEN
sation in the head, accompanied by feeling of
heaVlness, weight, compression, CT pain above
and between the eyes, and to violent paroXysms
of sneezing. In all such cases great susceptible
ity is experienced to sudden changes Of the
weather, damp air having special tendency to
aggravate the existing conditions, often to such
an extent as to bring on difficult breathing and
regular attacks of bronchitis.
In consequence of the obstructed condition of
the nostrils the patient is obliged to breathe more
or less through the mouth, and sometimes entirely
SO, a practice fraught with very dangerous con-
sequences, fora current of cold and impure air
thus constantly traverses the air passages and
with all its irritating qualities is conveyed into
the delicate structure of the lungs while disease
germs of every kind may thereby readily find
their way directly into the blood and circulation.
The evil effects of this condition intensified at
night, when persons so affected are obliged to
sleep with the mouth wide open. Sleep under
such circumstances is not only restless and broken
but undressing, while at the same time the sys-
tenn is defenseless and less able to resist the
unfavorable influences in operation In children
the consequences of mouth breathingis still more
disastrous, for the lungs not properly eX-
panded and developed, and in consequence there
OF growth is retarded and decided tendency is
manifested to attacks OF diphtheria, Group, qnin-
sy, and other dangerous throat diseases. as well
as to earache and subsequent deafness Such
children also present quite characteristic ap-
pearance, the features pinched the shoulders
STOPPING, and the sides of the chest retracted
The countenance has dull, stupid expression,
the upper teeth are usually irregular and liable
to early decay, and that deformity of the chest
known as pigeon breast is often the result of ma
sal distractions.
CATARRH OF THE THROAT.
In large number of cases of catarrh the throat
is affected as well as the nasal passages and
when such is the case feeling of irritation, full
ness, rawness. tenderness, or pain is felt in the
throat, increased upon pressure or while swal-
lowing, and occasionally distressing sensation
is complained of, as if hair or brstle or other
foreign substance had lodged in the throat. The
mucous membrane is coated with tough, viscid
discharge, which provokes an almost constant
desire OF scraping, hemming or hawking while
at times dsagreeable sensation of dryness is
almost constantly present. In some cases the
ability to swallow is sensibly impaired, so that
patients find it somewhat difficult to force down
the food. and are troubled occasionally with
paroXysms OF choking. sense of fatigue of the
bnrOdU is also OILSn COmplalneQ Ol, especially
after the persistent use of the voice in speaking
or singing or after meal time.
Ihe voice Is always more or less affected in
such cases, becoming hoarse. weak or cracked,
ana occasionally 1t is so impaired that it degene-
rates into mere whisper. Cough of variable
severity is often present IN such cases, some
times OF mere hacking character, but OCCASION
ally OF very severe and troublesome nature,
accompanied by wandering pains and other
comfortable sensations in the chest, together
with great debility and progressive emaciation.
In iact, so alarming are these symptoms in some
a Tn IA m "a IL
OF tubercular disease, and many a case of catarrh
that came under my observation had been pro-
nounced consumption, even by experienced ply
scians, and vainly treated as such, while ali the
symptoms rapidly disappeared as soon as the
treatment was directed to the eradication of
the catarrh.
OFFENSIVE BREATH.
In nearly every case of catarrh the breath is
more or less tainted, and sometimes 1t is so re-
Yoltingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object OF disgust to himself as well as to others.
Again, cases are occasionally met with in which
the stencil is really oVerpowering and sufficiently
fetid TO poison the atmosphere of whole room.
Ihus person affected with catarrh lives contin-
ually in an impure atmosphere of his own crea-
tlon, ana lnhales poisonous efluyia with every
breath.
IMPAIRED SMELL AND TASTE.
a frequent effect of catarrh is the impairment
or loss OF smell. In some cases the sense of smell
IS merely blunted; in others only strong and de-
clded odorS make an impression, and in Others
Even the snufng up OF salt water, harmless
as IL may appear and extensively as 1t is prac-
uced, is occasionally followed by disastrous re-
suits, and many case of deafness can be clearly
Traced 10 ITS InludiciOus use. 1t is well for the
people TO understand that the etfectual removal
of catarrh requires skllful and systematic treat
ment, administered by those qualified for the
task by the necessary training and experience.
10 the investigation OF catarrh in every form
time, and have made its proper treatment spe-
cial study. From an abundance of facts gath