The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-12-09


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
In the lectures that have preced-
ed this one we have followed chron-
ic catarrh through the various pas
sages and cavities OF the nose, head,
and throat: and have finally reach
ed the lungs. When catarrh reach
es the lungs it becomes what is
popularity known as ptiOn.
While the catarrh was in the throat,
however, it was called by various
names, such as tonsolitis, pharyng-
tits, laryngitis, cts. But, as we have
already learned, it is the same old
catarrh.
When tell patient he has ca
tarrh Of the lungs, the same catarrh
that he used to have in the head or
throat, it is easy for him to under
stand what / mean.
But il | tell him he he has phthiS-
ic or tuberculosis | have only mys-
tilted him.
CA lady rose to ask: "DOes ca
tarrh Of the head or throat always
preceede catarrh Of the lungs"O
1t is my opinion that it does. OF
course, there are some cases where
the existence of catarrh had not
been suspected before the consump-
ton developed. But my expert
ence in this very class Of cases leads
me to believe that careful exam
ination Of the case would have re-
vealed the existence Of catarrh.
AS soon as chronic catarrh reach
es the lungs proper, that is to say,
the air-cells, it produces in these
delicate cells the same condition Of
the mucous membrane that it pro-
duced in the head and throat. The
membrane is thlckened, the mu-
Gus secreted by the membrane be-
comes abundant and thick. The
aircells are Immediately filled with
this secretion, part of which may
be cOughed up, but mostly It re-
mains in the cell to dry up and be-
come a cheesy mass, called tuber-
Giles.
GA doctor asked "Do -, then,
regard tubercles an effev, # con
sumption rather than cause p"
l do. In this opinion | am aware
that | am at variance with many
medical authorities, but my extern
sive experience in these cases has
confirmed me in, this matter. Tu-
bercles are simply the dried mass
es of catarrhal secretion left in the
air cells.
. Allow me to illustrate my sub
ject by a conversation with pa
tient before you. l will ask Mrs.
Eliza HeinZle, Of this city who has
just applied to us for treatmen,
to step forward. We have, in her
case, a well-marked example of
consumption in the second stage. l
will ask her few questions before
you all, as to the development of
her disease, which will serve better
to illustrate my theory of these ca
ses than anything else l could say.
First, | wish you to notice that
her cheeks are slightly flushed, a
little redder than normal. This is
a very deceptive symptom, as it Of
ten leads people to suppose that
the patient is in unusually good
health. You will notice that the
eyes are very clear and unusually
large, somewhat inclined to bulge
and rather anxious in expression.
The nostrils are slightly dilated !;
the mouth somewhat pinched, sur
rounded by the zone of palene,,
which is so characteristic of con
sumption. Her cheek-bones indi-
cate that she is losing flesh, and
you will notice that her voice is
quite harsh and loud when she talks.
Mrs. Heinzle, will you please tell
me how long you have considered
yourself sick:
81 noticed the first symptoms
about a year ago.
81 caught a heavy cold, which
seemed to settle in my head"
What were the symptoms that
the cold produced in your head {?
" A full, puffy, feeling in the fore
head, stoppage of the nose, with
some discharge, which very soon
produced hawking and splitting OF
thick mucus. which came from the
back part OF the nose or upper part
of the thoat."
How long did this continue be-
fore you noticed other symptoms
don't remember exactly. but !
think it was about six months"
Well, what were the next symp-
toms you experienced
"As near as l can remember, six
months after took the cold | be-
gan to be slightly hoarse. This
grew worse, and l finally com
menced to cough. But the cough
seemed tight and l spit up very
small quantities of thick, stringv
mucus, which was sometimes
streaked with blood"
Did you notice any loss of flesh
at tn is time?
YES, l had lost about 10 pounds"
Had you any pain ?
" l had stitches of pain, especially.
on the left side, close up to the col
lar bone"
Did you notice any difference in
the collar bone:
YES, the left collar bone seemed
W Uo SheI anu more prominent
than the right one."
1 wish to call the attention of the
physicians who are present to the
answer that this lady has just Civ
en-. Consumption, except such ca.
ses as follow pneumonia, develops
first at the top of the left lung. This
Immediately produces a hollow
place under the left clavicle, which
makes the clavicle look as if if |
were more prominent than the
right one, from the shrinking away |
OF the lung underneath. This is
a very characteristic symptom of |
the early stages of the consume
ton.
Did your cough continue to grow |
worse ?
can't saw that If rrox,,