The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1927-02-03
Significance of Coughs.

Much informatiin regarding the ma
ture of respiratory affections so prev
alent at this season of the year may
be gained from the character of the
cough which is constant accompani-
ment of these diseases.
Different persons have their individ-
ual ways of coughing. Some cough
with great vigor (most of it unnecces-
sary); others cough quietly and cas-
lily.
Varieties of Cough.
The cough of bronchitis may be of
any type but is generally loud and
harsh. 1t may be productive and moist
or unproductive and dry. Pain, which
is often severe, is usually under the
breast bone and is due to the vibration
of the mucuous lining of the in1amed
tube.
The cough of Group is a low pitched
bark, metallic and dry. When it is
husky it is an indication that mucous
or membrane is present.
In pleurisy there is nothing to ex-
pectorate, hence the cough is dry Be-
cause, of the severe pain in the affect
ed side induced by the cough, it is re-
pressed as much as possible.
During the early stage of pneumon-
ia the cough is dry, and in the later
stages moist. Pain is aggravated by
coughing, being referred to the affect
ed side near the nipple.
tuberculosis in its early stages is
noted by its peculiar little hacking
cough. Later on, when bronchial ca
tarrh has developed, the cough be-
comes moist and productive. Most of
these patients learn to restrain their
cough realizing that it serves no use
full purpose and is exhausting. When
the throat is involved there is a croak-
ing cough caused by the liberation of
the vocal chords.
There is nothing harsh about the
cough of asthma. 1t is wheeling in
character and associated with it are
all kinds of rafting sounds.
A cough that is purely nervous and
has become habit is usually a single
forcer expiration repeated at regular
intervals.
The cough of whooping cough oc-
ours in paroxysms. During the height
of the disease the CLOTHS closes partly
during inhalation and the air drawn
through the narrow slit gives rise to
the characteristic "whoop."
Elderly people experience consider
able difficulty in raising secretions
from the bronchials tubes, so that re-
peated effort is required to expector-
ate the sputum. Children cough easily
but tend to swallow the mucus rather
than expectorate the discharge. Pa
tients who are very feeble frequently
do not expectorate whatever and the
secretion is retained in the tubes, Civ
ing rise to still more unproductive and
exhausting cough.
How to Treat a Cough.
The treatment specifically directed
against cough must conform to in
1ividual requirements. Sometimes the
cough should be suppressed; at other
times it should be encouraged.
In bronchitis when the secretion is
brought up with difficulty the cough
should be stimulated; when the bron-
,hial tubes are dry and the cough is
Useless it should be retarded
The cough in the first stage of pneu-
nonia should be repressed, in the later
stages encouraged.
In pleurisy there is no expectoration
and the purposeless cough should be
discouraged.
The cough of early tuberculosis
achieves nothing and should be pre-
tented as much as possible. Later,
when bronchial secretion appears, the
cough should be stimulated except
when others are near the patient.
The cough of an uncomplicated
asthma is usually unproductive and
hould be restrained.
In whooping cough the patient
hould be encouraged to cough until
expulsion of the plug of mucus, which
ives temporary relief.
People who are so weakened that
hey cannot expectorate properly are
elped by elevating the foot of the
ed, which procedure causes the mucus
o reach the upper bronchial tubes
rom which it may more readily be
xpectorated.
1t is OF course uncommon for people
consult a physician for the ordinary
cold" coughs, nor is it always necess-
rv. However, where cough persists 4
Or several days or when it points to