Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-04
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS
From DIR. Hunters Lectures ON 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 work
shops and irritating gases and vapors In factories
Particles of dust being inhaled irritate the mu.
cous lining of the lungs and make them sore,
just as dust and small particles getting into the
eye make them red, angry and sore.
Bronchitis is always a lung disease, because the
bronchial tubes are the chief part of the lungs
and ducts through which we breathe To say
that person has bronchitis and yet that
his lungs are sound Is absurd and untrue, since
these tubes are the seat Of every known lung dis
ease. All that can truthtuy he said is that brOn-
chitis is not Consumption, although II Is very
liable to end in that disease.
Tue most constant symptoms of chronic bron-
chitis are cough, shortness OF breath aud mucous
ex ,ieCtoratlpn Its slight or serious character Is
shown 10y kind of matter raised aud the presence
absence of loss of flesh, hectic fever aud night
swt ats Tuese latter sl mptoms, when present,
SHOW the deep hOlI It has on the lung ana how
greatly it has already weakened ami undermined
the general health
A great many bronchial cases are met with in
people advanced in life. IL UeglnS with cold in
the fall, which lasts all W nter They cough and
exp Ctorate quantities Of gray and Jelly Ike mu-
Gus, but on the approach Of warm weather the
cough grows better, and the expectUration almost
ceases, only to return With increased severity on
the advent Il cold again Uuless arrested this
form Of senils bronchitis cuts short the thread of
life Most people die of il years before there is
any necessity for d ing for want of proper treat
mcnt.
In many cases chronic bronchitis is as danger.
GUS as consumption itself, and even more so than
some forms of that disease. So long as no or
ganic change has taken pla In the ar tubes and
air cells bronchitis is always perfectly curabl- by
local tire tmeut of the diseased tubes. But can
not conceive of the pos ibility Of any form Of
bronchial disease being cured by stomach mrui-
cat ion or the treatment L mmonly employed
No local iuilammatory disease Of any other
gan has ever been cured without local treatment
and without local treatment consider bronchitis
as fatal 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 il a form Of bronchitis especially remark
able on account of the great abundance Of the
bronchial secretion The patients eXpcctorate
gum water They are pale, like peers ms bAnched
bN hemOrrhage; generally free from fever
neither quCkneSs Of pulse nor heat Of skin ex
listing, but the wasting away OF the body and
general weakness is extreme. Examined after
drath no alterations or tubercues are found. nor
ANYTHING resembling consumption ia the state OF
the l,ugs They die OF exhaustion through the
excessive drain made upon the fluids OF the bodv
Such ca-es are always durable II tim-ly treated
by astringrnts and ant iseptics applied by inhAl
alton directly To the relaxed and weakened mem.
brane within the lungs
To ~. continued
Signed ROBERT HUNTER, NJ. D.,
Sew York