The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-28
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
Three Theories About Catarrh.
Is Catarrh a Local, Constitutional, or
Systemic Disease?
Discussed in Letter by DR.. S. B.
Hartman at the Surgical Hotel
Columbus, Ohio.
Three Theories About Catarrh.
Reported fer the Press.

Reported tCr the FlesS'
There are three distinct theories
| held by the medical profession as to
! the disease known as catarrh. Each
of them is believed and taught by diff
ferent physicians of eminence and
equal learning. Briefly stated, they
are as follows:
First-The chronic catarrh is a local
disease. This theory denies that ca
tarrh is caused either by any derange-
ment of the system or by any consti-
| tutionat faint, but is solely limited to
the part or parts which are visibly
affected. The practitioners who
hold to this theory treat every
case of catarrh locally, and
rarely, if ever, give medi-
cine internally My opinion is, how
ever, that local applications can never
cure chronic catarrh. The various
kinds and modes of local applications,
such as sprays, atomIzers, douches,
inhalants, fumigatiOns, creams, ONT
ments, lotions, gargles, etc, ETC.,
have in many cases soothing effect
on the inflamed surfaces and are some-
tim3s useful to assist a cure; but
neither of them nor all of them to-
gether ever did or ever will cure a
case OF catarrh. These things may
give temporary relief, but it is useless
to expect cure of them. Catarrh is
not a local disease, hence can not be
cured by local treatment.
The second theory of the nature of
catarrh is, that it is constitutional or
blood disease. Those who believe
| 10, r., 10 10
chronic catarrh only with blood med
icines, hoping, by cleansing the blood,
to eradicate the disease. Thus it is
thar we find a certain class of ply
sicians hoping o cure catarrh by the
use of sarsaparillas, Alternatives, and
various other compounds to cleanse
the system. While it is no doubt true
that many cases Of chronic
catarh are associated with
or complicated by constitu-
, ti,nal diseases, such as scrofula, cry
sipeIas, syphilis, etc., yet catarrh is
/ distinct from them and can not be
s, cured by blood medicines. Of course
it is sometimes necessary in cases
where the catarrh is so complicated
: by constitutional disease to first
cleanse the system; but even after
this is done thoroughly the catarrh
remains the same as ever unless some
specific for the catarrh itself is used to
complete the cure. CAtarrh is not a
blood disease, hence can not be cured
by blood medicines.
The third theory is, that catarrh is
a systemic disease, and therefore re-
quires persistent internal treatment,
sometimes for many months, before a
} permanent cure is effected. | believe
this theory to be the correct one. The
mucous lining of the cavaties of the
mead, throat, lungs, ETC., are made up
OF network of minute blood vessels
called capillaries. The capillaries are
very small elastic tubes, which, in all
cases OF chronic catarrh, are congested
or bulged out with blood so long that
the elasticity of the tubes is entirely
destroyed. The nerves which supply
these capillaries with vitality are
called the "vasa MOTOR nerves.
Any medicine to reach the real
difficulty and exert the
slightest curative action in any case of
catarrh must operate directly on the
vasa-motor system of nerves AS soon
as these nerves become strengthened
and stimulated by the action of a
proper remedy they restore to the
capillary vessels of the various mu
cous membranes of the BODY their
normal elasticity. Then, and only
men, Will the catarrh be permanently
cured thus it will be seen that ca
laffh is not blood disease, as many
suppose, put rather disease of the
mucous blood vessels. This explains
why it is that so many excellent blood
medicines utterly fail to cure catarrh.
The only hope of success in the per-
manent cure of a case of chronic ca
tarrh is to devise some remedy that
VIII stimulate the nerves which sup
ply the capillary blood vessels. [
know OF but one remedy that has this
most desirable effect, and that rem
edy is Pe-ru-na. This remedy strikes
at once the root of the catarrh by re-
storing to the capillary vessels their
healthy elasticity. Pe-ru-na is not a
temporary palliative, but radical
cure. "''''i
If chronic catarrh be of q mild
character take a tablespoonful of Pc
ru'ua before each meal and at he'd
Tune, and continue it without the least
interruption until perfect cure is eff
tected. But if the disease is of long
standing, and there is much having
ana eXpectoration, begin with the
ABOVE dose and gradually increase the
dose to two tablespoonfUls before each
meal. If the chronic catarrh is of the
5a o rop variety. (that is, forming
ttfb,se' h hry sGabs in the nose, or when
from the liberation going on nnder
the scabs), the dose sh0uld he in
creased to three tablespoonful before
each meal. In this and ali other
chronic diseases, should the bowels
De dry or constipated, take a sufficient
Jose d,oa OF Man-a-lin at bedtime to bro.
ouGe one natural passage of the bowels
ob anyone ned! desiring further particulars
T,fo ot,I ,i write The Pe-ru-na Drug Man
SGlactuflng Co. Of Columbus. O., for a
ffee COPY of The EanoiI M ~. 4"