The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-06-29
The FAMILY DOCTOR.
QUINSY.

1t IS wonderful how the Inflammation
of some small organ OF gland can give
rise to considerable constitutional dis
turbance. The tonsils, for example,
are only two small alnond-shaped
glands, whose function is to lubricate
the fool before it passes into the gull
let, and yet when they become in
famed, the Individual has usually to
pass through all the symptoms of a
high fever.
The tonsils generally participate in
any Inflammation of that congerY of
organs which is popularly known as the
"throat." Even a cold in the head
claims sympathy from these two unfor
tunate glands, and they are also in
voIved III such constitutional diseases
as scarlatina, diphtheria, etc. The
tonsils, however, being highly Vaseu-
lar in structure, /. e., provided with
close network of b1ood-vessels, are able
to throw off any in1am nation OF
their substance as easily as they appear
to acquire it, and On this account any
disturbance of these glands is not
looked upon as very grave.
The most serious of the troubles to
which the tonsils are subject is Tonsil-
tits, or Quinsy. It is most commonly
met with in young people, chiefly dur
ing the damp weather Of spring or
antumn. Unlike the generality OF
thebe febrile affections, one attack OF
tonsilitis predisposes to another; this
fact strongly supports the view held by
many that the sufferer has a constltu-
tional tendency to the disease, eSpeci-
ally since mere exposure 10 damp and
cold is sufficient to bring on an attack.
Another argument in support of this
view is, that those who suffer from en-
larsed tonsrls usually inherit the ten
dency from one or both parents.
The symptoms of acute tonsllitls are
usually those Of high fever. The
sufferer complains Of headache, be"
comes very irritable, drowsy, and feels
generally weary; as the night ap-
breaches delirium may come on, es-
pec!alIy if the patient be young. The
temperature usually rises to lO2 deg.
or 1O3 deg, though in some acnte cases
it may rise 10 104 deg. or 105 deg. The
tongue is coated with thick, yellow
ish fur, and the usual symptoms of
cold are present, while salvation to an
uncomfortable degree is always no.
ticed.
Not only does swallowing food be.
come difficult, bat the mouth can
hardly be opened owing to the swell
ing of tie tissues about the jaw: The
breathing is not much interiered with,
but the patient saores soundly du1lng
sleep, and ever when awake the res
piration is noisy. Sometimes the suf-
ferer becomes deaf, and this means
that the Inflammation has spread to the
ear; bnt this seldom occurs to any
great extent, so that there need be no
anxiety lest that organ be impaired.
Locally, the tonsils first feel dry, and
the curious pr;ckling sensation so COM
mon to all affections Of the throat
makes itself manifest After this un
comfortable sensation has existed Tor
some time-generally from about
twelve to twenty-four hours--the
tons1ls begin to feel raw aud gore, and
a dull, throDbing pain shoots up to-
wards the ear. Although both torsils
usually participate in the Inflammation,
one gland only vii be found to be
greatly swollen and red, while patches
of yellow secretion are to be noticed
dotted over the gland. The other parts
OF the throat arc also affected. an;l the
uvnla, or ''little tongne," likewise
partakes of the ullam nation 10 con-
siderable extent
These conditions continue for abo15
four or FIVE Gays, after which they
crsdnallv subsid., anl in from ten to
fourteen days the patient is able to re-
snme his occupation. Frequently,
however, the Inflammation of tie
tonsil terminates in an abscess, in
which case all the symptoms become
aggravated and the patient is laid up
for considerable period. The abscess
is usually opened by the physician IN
attendance, but it often bursts OF its
own accord,
Sometimes an attack OF Guinsy may
be stopped if seen early, but this is
not easily done. An emetlc should be
given, or acouite in drop doses admin
is;erel every hour, while the gland
should he touched with solution of the
nitrate Of silver. All these measures,
however, can only be taken under the
guidance of skilled person. Quinsy
is not an affection which should be