The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-03-11
DIR. Swezy's Address

DIR. Swezy's Address
In my remarks or Adenoids this
evening, in order to cover the question
fully, for it is a very important and
farreaching one, I will endeavor to
give You an idea what the condition
is, what are the causes of the eondi-
tion. so far as we know; what are the
immediate and ultimate results of the
condition and what can be expected
in the way of amelioration.
These adenoid growths consist of
lymphatic tissue, the same as is found
in the tonsils and the lymphatic
glands throughout the body.
Their situation is the vault of the
pharynx, or what can be described as
throat These growths are sometimes
called the pharyngeal tonsils.
The lining membrane in this part of
the pharynx contains, normally, small
aggregations of this lymphatic tissue.
When they remain normal they pro
duee no symptoms, but in certain in
dividuals, they enlarge, forming a
growth, which obstruets the passage
from the nose into the throat, and
then we have the conditions known as
adenoids.
They are quite common and are the
cause of more discomfort and minor
ailments than any other abnormal CON
dition of childhood and their compli
cations and after-results frequently
persist throughout life.
The literature on the subject is ex-
tensive, as adenoids exist in all races
and all peoples.
The condition was described as far
back as 1868 by a Danish physician,
named Meyer, who pointed out the
clinical Importance of these cases of
post nasal obstruction. Since his time
volumes have been written on the sub
ieet, in all languages.
I will take up the causes under the
heads of predisposing and immediate
or exciting.
Heredity is a strong factor in the
predisposition to this condition. Very
often you will find them present in all
the children of large family and also
evidences of their existence in the par
ents.
The so-called iymphatic type pre-
sents them evea TO the degree of the
adenoids being the marked manifesto
tion of the condition. In children with
enlarged tonsils they are present in
from 80 to 80 per cent of the cases.
Rachatic children, and those suffering
from impaired development generally
have adenoids.
Some children undoubtedly suffer
from these distractions from birth,
which is evidenced by snoring, mouth
breathing, a running nose and a train
of nervous symptoms. However, it is
generally between the ages of and ,
years and from that on up to maturity
that our attention is directed to their
presence.
In damp, ehangeable climates they
are more common. The first noticeable
symptoms frequently follows the
child's recovery from an attack of
scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria or
whooping cough On the other hand.
child already having them, is more
susceptible to these diseases and gen
orally in a more severe form.
symptoms
As / have stated before. the symp-
toms of adenoids are generally noticed
by the parents between the second and
third years. They may be elassife
under the following heads:
Catarrhal symptoms
The child has a chronic nasal ca
tarrh, which is worse in winter and
wet weather. There is a mucapurulent
discharge from its nose and it is said
to have cold in its head. These head
colds may be the forerunner of a bron-
ehitis and the little one win be a semi
invalid during each winter season. The
tone of the ehild's voice frequently
becomes coarse and harsh and it will
be troubled with an irritating cough.
symptoms of nasal obstruction
The child is unable to clear its nose
by blowing it, and nosebleed generally
attends the effort 1t breathes through
its mouth almost constantly, although
this is sometimes only apparent when
it is asleep. When it lies on its back
the child may choke and struggle for
breath and will awaken in these at
tacks wet with perspiration and appaP
emily greatly frightened.
In other cases the child will toss
about in the crib, snore and breathe
heavily, and put in a night not at all
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