The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-02-15
SYMPTOMS OF
CA T A R r H.
Extract from DR.. Lghthills Work on Catarrh
and Diseases of the Throat.

The earliest, most prominent, and character
istic feature OF Catarrh is discharge from the
head, consisting sometimes of a clear acrid
tluid but oftener OF thick, fmtid, purulent,
yellow, or greenish matter, which is usually
secreted in excessive abundance, and discharged
through the nostrils or throat, and frequently
by both channels.
The nature of this discharge varies in different
cases, and even in the same individual at diff
ferent times. In some it is copious and of
loose or fluid character, whilst in others it is
very viscid or gummy, adhering to the diseased
membrane with glue.like tenacity, and remova-
BILE only with great difiiculty-a condition more
particularly noticed on rising in the morning,
because, during sleep, the purulent secretion
hardens and accumulates with greater facility.
Frequently the offensive matter concretes as
dry, hard masses or crusts, which obstruct
breathing, and are very difficult to detach,
their dslodgment often requiring most violent
efforts. Sometimes these incrustations come
away in small whitish Jumps, or fragments ola
deep green tint, but occasionally, broad and
fiat casts of notable size are expelled, on
which traces of blood may at times be observed.
This condition is very liable to run to serious
liberation, involving loss of the bony struc-
ture of the nose and subsequent flattening of
that organ.
The nasal membrane is thickened and con-
| gested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
! sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other,
and often on both, giving rise to disagreeable,
! stuffy sensation in the head, and occasionally
to violent paroxysms Of sneezing.
A feeling of fullness, heat, irritation, soreness,
or pain is generally experienced in the nostrils,
the root of the nose, as we'll as in the upper
| part of the throat, above and below the soft
| palate. A distressing sensation of heavy weight
or compression is usually complained of over
the forehead, especially in the region immedi-
ately above and between the eyes, Sometimes
the pain is obstnately fixed in some particular
part, as in the temples, on top of the head, at
the back of the neck, or behind the orbits, and
occasionally it manifests itself in the face, of
severe character that it is frequently mistaken
for neuralgia.
hoarse, weak, and uneven, assuming nasal
character of an unpleasant shifting quality.
Cough of variable severity is not unfrequently
one of the symptoms and results of Catarrh.
The breath is tainted, and assumes at times
an exceedingly fetid and sickenng odor. In
some cases 1t becomes SO revoltingly offensive
as to render the sufferer an object of disgust to
himself as well as to others.
The sense of smell is generally blunted or
entirely lost, and similar effect on taste may
be occasionally observed. The eyes are apt to
become irritable, and disposed to water ex-
cessvely on exposure to the cold or wind, and
sense of WEAKNESS of sight is usually ex.
perienced after slight exertions. Hearing be-
comes frequently more or less impaired, and
noises in the head very often add materially to
the existing distress.
The stomach generally suffers more less,
and becomes weak and irritable; the appetite
is caprcious, and nearly always bad in the
morning.
The patient often complains of lassitude and
fatigue, an incapacity for either physical or
mental exertions, and constant disposition to
drowsiness and sleep. The mental faculties
are also sometimes slightly affected, loss of
memory being not unfrequently experienced.
Catarrh may prove fatal, either by debilitat-
: ing the system and wearing out the patient, or
by travelling downward and producing Con-
sumption This fact has been so repeatedly
noticed that all experienced practitioners now
, look upon CataIh one of the most frequent
8 and important causes of this complaint; accord
ing to our extensive observation it should
J always be regarded as premonition and one
of the very earliest manifestations of Consump-
tion.
To the careful study and scientific investiga-
ton of this pernicious disease DR.. Lighthill has
devoted his exclusive attention for over thirty
years, and has succeeded in formulating sys-
tenn of treatment which is absolutely painless,
prompt in its action, and positively curative in
its effects. From the first application great
benefit is experienced, which continues from
day to day until final and permanent cure is
the result.
A u Ii0h+hiIl IA n