The National tribune., 1892-01-14
HEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
by FELIX l. OSWALD. VI. D.
CHATTER CXXIX.
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.

/ euce OF a miraculous spring, tho baimy Sea-air,
etc, etc, have in fact been cured by the journey
preceding their arrival ut the hygieuic Mecca.
As an exception to that rule, one might men,
ton certain disorders of the respiratory organs.
but especially that form of malignant catarrh
known rs chronic bronchitis Aftera common
cold" has been contracted aud apparently
cured number OF times, the patient, on retir-
ing for the night, complains OF a feversh feel
ing; his pulse proves 10 he abnormally acceler-
ated; headache aud 4 sense of tghtness about
| the chest Will disappear in the course Of the
| night, but recur the next evening, while a dry.
| hard cough becomes moro and more trouble
some. The efforts to get rid of the phegm
are often unsuccessful aud violent coughing
| merely brings up a small quantity of fTOthy
mucus but tends TO produce humming sound
| in the ears
Shortness of breath and loss Of appetite are
! other Characteristic symptoms and a general
lassitude proves that the vital resources Of the
| organism are being exhausted by the struggle
with disorder more serious than a common
cold.
Spasmodic coughing fits occasionally convey
an impression as II the patient were trying to
| rid himself Of some foreign substance lodged in
the windpipe, and for minutes after such at
| tacks the face looks flushed and swollen, ndi-
| eating sore distress, which the sufferer attempts
to express by signs rather than by words. The
| voice becomes wheeling. in consequence of the
obstruction of the bronchial tubes
In severe cases that obstruction may assume
| proportions threatening the life Of the patient.
About the third or fourth day after the first at
tack the dry cough changes. large amount
| OF yellow mucuS is thrown up, resulting in
| temporary relief: but if that effort Of nature
should be checked by injudicious modes of
| treatment, there is a risk that the phlegm may
get hardened TO degree resisting dislodgment.
and cases are known where the victims Of that
aggravated form OF the affection have died OF
actual sufTocatiOn.
In other cases portion Of the tubes become
unfit for use, and the consequent distress of the
| aiT-famished luRgs quickens the breath and
Obliges the remaining tubes to perform al extra
amount Of work, dilating their tissue so much
| that they may burst-prOdueing a moro and
more decided difficulty in breathing. That
shortwindodBess is, indeed, apt to be mistaken
for asthma, but is much more permanent
though at the same time less liable to sudden
| parOXysms.
The causes Of chronic bronchitis are chiefly
the habitual breathing Of warm, impure air.
| dust, fatty yapOT5 aud the n0xiOus gases of
| oyererOwded rooms. PrOtracted vocal efforts In
| such an atmosphere generally aggravate the
trouble. Lecturers and preachers arc specially
liable TO It's attacks, and friend of mine has
| learned by experience 10 avoid that risk by
combining his leciuring tours 10 certain seasons
Of the year, and to cities enjoying the blessing
| Of well ventilated hallA
Alter the disease has, however, become deep
/ seated enough 20 cOnline the patient 10 his
ROOM there is considerable risk Of the in
tended remedy tending to perpetuate the
causes OF the affection. The air becomes satu-
] rated with the germs Of the microscopic para
sites which undoubtedly form the proximate
cause Of all catarrhal disorders and IL the sick
room Tor bedTOOm) should, besides be habit
ually oyeTheated, the chances OF recovery is
rather slim till the Summer sun tempts the
patient 70 pass 4 good deal Of his leisure hours
in the open air-perhaps by veuturins on foot
tour where tho fortunate accident OF few
days of dry, cool weather may assist nature in
getting the better Of the lingering malady.
That chance is, however, considerably i'm
proved by a brief removal 10 a cOnyenien high
land resort, the more primitive aud nOn-fash-
ionabe the better. A few weeks raIuble on
the plateau Of tho Rocky Mountains or upper
AlleghaIies will do moro 10 expurgate the con-
gcsted lungs than years drug medication,
especially II the patient can be induced to con-
fine himself 10 the plainest and most-di gestible
dIet-dyspepsia being frequent eoncomitant
symptom Of chronic bronchitis
After a light breakfast Of bread and milk
(hOiled, IL found more digestible in that foTm)
take few hours trip % the summit regions Of
an airy ridge, or while away warm forenoon at
front stream. Baked beans with butter soft
boiled eggs and baked apples for dinner; after
an hours sesta a lesuTely walk OF two or
three hours; then arm exercise Of some sort or
other, digging wood cutting, or throwing
rocks; light supper Of biscuits aud milk and
sugar-saccharine articles Of food before bed
time being Of special service in loOsening
hardened phlegm. Any desired amount Of
warm bed -clothing, but no bedroom fires; at
least one open window, unless the landlords
objections sh0ud be justified by a rain-storm.
If circumstances should prevent the patient
from adopting that program, Winter is by no
means the most unfavOrabe season for a home
cure. As preliminary measure he should re-
move his bed TO a different room; or If not
otherwise iHcouvenicnt remove his household
TO different lOcality-if possible, an airy, new
finished cottage Ia old buildings special rooms
are often enough infested with the germs OF
lung diseases that promptly fasten upon the
next conner, sometimes IN an astonishing short
| time.
remember the case Of a home-seeking ac-
quaintance Of mine whose attention had been
attracted by the advertisement Of . remarkably
cheap old suburban house, which, according 20
the admission Of the rcal-estato agent. had re-
manned vacant for nearly year The dilapi-
dated garden walls inclOsng the old TOokery
did not deter the visitor, aud the neglected
out-houses seemed capable Of repair, but the
indoor atmosphere was strangely stufy, and
the moment he entered one Of the upstairs
rooms both he and his little boy, who had ae-
companied him on his prospecting trip, were
seized with an irritating cough, provoked by a
peculiar tickling sensation in lungs and throat.
Having come "a considerable distance, they
dislikcd 10 leave without having completed
their inspection, but the queer cough became
more and more troublesome, and when they at
last hurried away the feeling of irritation had
become so pronounced that they stepped into d
drugstore and. al the clerks advice, tried first
"gargle" and next q few sticks Of cough
candy.
On getting home they swallowed a generally
reliable catlrrh remedy: glass Of hot milk
: with plenty Of sugar; but in this case the
specific bad been applied too late. The little
boy coughsd till he went to sleep, and his
brother had fever that night, followed by in-
termittent chills, "A great difficulty in breath
ing, headache. aud other symptoms Of acute
! bronchitis. Dietetic remedies and fresh air
helped 10 subdue the fever, but the distressing
cough fingered for several months, and only
5 yielded lin October) 10 a protracted fJot-tour.
Next TO cold, fresh air, the best household
| remedy is cold water, applied three or four
times day 10 the throat, and in severe cases
! In tho form Of wet pack at night. Inter
nally. too. water in large quantities, slightly
! sweetened aud favored, is Of marked benefit
] i'm clearing the obstruciod tubes.
l In Western Europe the grape cure" ha:
been strongly recommended as specific foI
the cure Of chronic bronchitis; but on this side
Of the Atlantic the expenses OF that (ratheI
prOtructed methOd1 would be apt To over
tax the means Of patients not blessed Will
! a Martha's Vineyard Of their Own, and there II