Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-01-26
MfniraI.
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.
From DIR. Hunters Lectures the Pro-
gress of Medical Science in Lung Dis

gress of Medical Science in Lung Dis
eases.
Chronic inflammation of the mucous
mem brane lining the air tubes and cells
of the lungs is very common and very
serious disease. 1t generally results from
neglected colds, but is sometimes caused
by breathing dust in workshops and irri-
tating gases and vapors in factories.
Particles of dust being inhaled irritate
the mucous lining of the lungs and make
them sore, just dust and small particles
getting into the eyes make them red
angry and sore.
Bronchitis is always lung disease, be-
cause the bronchial tubes are the chief
part of the lungs and ducts through which
we breathe To say that a person has
bronchitis and yet 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 al
though it is very liable to end in that dis
ease.
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 alb
sence of loss of flesh hectic fever and
night sweals. These latter symptoms
when present, show the deep hold it has
on the lungs and how greatly it has al
ready weakened and undermined the gen
eral health.
A great many bronchial cases are met
with in people advanced in life. 1t begins
with a cold in the fall which lasts all
winter, They cough and expectorate guam
titles of gray and jelly-like mucus, but on
the approach of warm weather the cough
grows better, and the expectoration al
most ceases, only to return with increased
severity on the advent of cold again.
Unless arrested, this form of senile bron-
chitis cuts short the thread of life. Most
old people die of it years before there is
any necessity for dying, for want of prop
er treatment
In many cases chronic bronchitis is as
dangerous as consumption itself, and even
more so than some forms of that disease
So long as no organic change has taken
place in the air tubes and air cells, bron-
chitis is always perfectly durable by To-
cal treatment of the diseased tubes. But
l cannot conceive of the possibility of any
form of bronchial disease being cured by
stomach medication or the treatment COM
monty employed No local intiammatory
disease of any other organ has ever been
cured without local treatment, and with
out local treatment ! consider bronchitis
as fatal as consumption The bronchial
mem brane in time becomes altered in
structure and pours forth 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
remarkable on account of the great
abundance of the bronchial secretion. The
patients eXpectorate 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
tubereles are found, nor anything resem-
bling consumption in the state of the
lungs They die of exhaustion through
the excessive drain made upon the fluids
of the body Such eases are always cura
BILE if timely treated by astringents and
antiseptics applied by inhalation directly
to the relaxed and weakened mem brane
within the lungs.
(To be continued.)
! tSigned1 ROBERT HUNTER. NJ. d.
III West 18th St, New York.
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