The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-01-26
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.
From DR.. Hunters Lectures on the Progress
of Medical science in Lung Diseases.

From DR.. Hunters Lectures on the Progress
of Medical science in Lung Diseases.
Chronic inflammation Of the mucous MEM
brane lining the air tubes and cells of the
lungs is very common and very serious di-
sease. 1t generelly results from neglected
colds, but is sometimes caused by breath ng
dust in workshops and vapors in factories
Particles of dust being inhaled irritate the
mucous lining OF the lungs and make them
sore just as dus and small particles getting
into the eyes make them red, angry and sore.
Bronchitis is always lung disease, because
the bronchial tubes are the chief part of the
lung and ducts through which we breathe.
10 say that person has bronchitis and vet
that his lungs are sound is absurd and untrue,
since these tubes are the seat of every known
lung disease, All that can truthfully be said
is that bronchitis is not consumption, although
it is very liable to end in that disease.
The most constant symptoms of chronic
bronchitis are cough, shortness of breath and
mucous expectoration Its slight or serious
character is shown by the kind Of matter raised
and the presence or absence of loss of flesh,
hectic fever and night sweats. These latter
symptoms when present, show the deep hold Il
has on the lungs and how greatly it has al
ready weakened and undermined the general
health.
A great many bronchial cases are met with
in people advanced in life. 1t begins with
cold in the fall, which lasts all winter. They
cough and expectorate quantities of gray
and jelly like mucus, but on the approach Of
| warm weather the cough grows better, and the
expectoration almost ceases, only TO return
with increased severity on the advent of cold
| again. Unless arrested, this form of senile
bronchitis cuts short the thread of life Most
old people e of it years before there is any
necessity OF dying, for want of proper treat
ment.
In many cases chronic bronchitis is as dan
| gerous as consumption itself, and even more SO
than some forms of that disease. So long 70
no organic change has taken place in the air
tubes and air cells bronchitis is always perfect
ly durable by local treatment of the diseased
tubes But cannot conceive of the possibility
of any form of bronchial disease bein cured
by stomach medication or the treatment com.
monty employed No local infiammatory di-
sease of any other organ has ever been cured
without local treatment, and without local
| treatment consider bron hits as fatal as con-
sumption. The bronchial membrane in time
becomes altered in structure and pours forth a
matter which has all the qualities of pus;
hectic fever and night sweats supervene, and
the case tends slowly but surely to death:
There is form of bronchitis especially re-
markable on account of the great abundance
of the bronchial secretion. The patient ex-
pectorates pint or more of frothy fluid day,
resembling gum water. They are pale, like
persons blanched by hemorrhage !. generally
free from fever-neither quickness of pulse nor
heat of skin existing, but the wasting away of
the body and general weakness is extreme.
Examined after death no alterations or tuber-
Giles are found, nor anything resembling con-
sumption in the state of the lungs They die
of exhaustion through the xcessive drain
made upon the fluids of the body, Such cases
are Away durable if timely treated by astrin-
gents and antiseptics applied by inhalation
directly TO the relaxed and weakened mem
brane with the lungs
TO be continued)
Signed, ROBERT HUNTER, MD,
Specialist in Lung Cases,
III West 45th ST..
New York
Note Readers Of THE WATcHMAN who are
interested for themselves or friends can OBJ
tain DR.. Hunters books free by addressing