The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-03

such cases TO an accumulation of mucus
in the throat or TO the relaxation OF the
tissues so that they form a sort or reed,
the folds vibrating at each breath. Even
in these cases IL is often sy~mptomrtic of
chronic catarrh. but when a person Is
stricken with Inconsistencies, the face is
flushed and the breathing is snoring or
stertorous. as it is eaued IL is evident that
that person has been stricken with apo
piexy. So snoring may occur in other
diseases due to Inflammation OF the respira-
tory organ or passages owing to their
swollen condition or the collection of mucus
and other secretions.
Certain persons are afflicted with a nervous
irritability which causes them TO snuff
when there is no need of il, and the more
excited or i'll at ease hey may be the more
they SNUFF. On the other hand, snufing is
usually a sign of Inflammation of the nasal
membranes attended with unusual secre-
ton, usually irritating. and then snuiiiDg is
injurious, because the disease-bearing mat
ter may be snuffed UP into the cells with
which the frontal portion of the skull is
filed and cause there, from
which suppuration may extend by so-called
contiguity of tissue until it may reach the
brain and cause meningitis. On the other
hand, snufing up the secretions may cause
throat or lung trouble, the mucus or pus
being carried back through the nose to the
throat. 1t is, therefore, necessary to blow
the nose frequently when the nose runs
and IT is also a good idea to use paper nap
kins for this purpose, not only to save laun-
dry bills. but to prevent the transmission of
disease TO others.
If the nose is not blown when necessary
and the secretions are snrtffed up they often
drop into the back Of the throat and cause
cough by irritation, and this choking cough
is called hawking. 1t is not always a sign
of disease. X may be a nervous habit, oc-
curing especially in persons who are i'll at
ease in the presence of strangers or in
company" Some public speakers, too. are
thus afflicted, although they may be fluent
takers in private, and others manifest a
type of hawking in hesitation, prefacing
each remark with an FER" On the other
hand, hawking may be due to the raising
of secretions from the lungs or windpipe.
and in such cases it is a necessary though
disagreeable action to rid the passage of
disease-saturated material.
Sneezing is often due 10 temporary and
transient irritation of the nasal membranes
W duSb ~ Ndlol, Dul II Il Aec 81
symptom of disease. Sneezing is a sort OF
nervous spasm manifested by a sudden ex-
pulsicn of air. often with more or less mu-
Gus or other secretion from the mouth or
nose. Formerly sternutarories = that is,
drugs to cause s-neezing-were much used in
medical practice, and it is a question
whether their disuse to-day is wise. True,
snuff is sufficiently powerful to act upon
-
and cause sneezing, but snuff is seldom en-
ployed as a medicine. Only too commonly
snuff-taking becomes a habit fraught with
danger, and as for snuff-dipping the evils
are fully as bad as morphine-eating.
Sneezing as a remedial measure has been
recommended in certain affections of the
eyes, especially in those of the tear ducts.
since sneezing, like gaping, congresses the
tear glands and distends and temporarily
enlarges the tear ducts. 1t has also been
suggested as of value in headache and neu-
ralgia. The effects if sneezing, like laugh
ing, is more than locally effective. for it
often regulates disordered circulation of
the lungs and re-establishes equilibrium of
the nervous system.
Sneezing, on the other hand, may cause
serious disorder or injury. BY it's violence
it may cause remote accidents, such as
abortion, hernia, piles and even sudden
6eath from apoplexy. the rupture of an
aneurism or even some organ of the body.
There is an historical case of this, for it is
recorded that Tycho-Brahe, a celebrated
astronomer, died from rupture of the blad-
der, due to sneezing, but in this case, as In
all others, there must nave been some dis
ease OF the tissues, which had weakened
them. l.. N, NJ. ID.