The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 183 of 653Philadelphia has reported a number of suecesBful cases treated wiMephitis in our various Journals. H.]6. Bronehitis dironlca.Chronic Bronchitis, Chronic Pulmonary or Bronchial Catarrh.In the majority of cases chronic bronchitis owes its existence toone or more attacks of acute bronchitis out of which it arises bygradual development. Even as thus arising as a secondary disease,the affection is exceedingly frequent, but this frequency is stilincreased by the circumstance that it accompanies most of thematerial changes of structure in the lungs, particularly tuberculbronchiectasia and emphysema, and that it likewise occurs as acomplication of diseases of other organs. The latter occurs moreparticularly in diseases of organs that obstruct the return of thblood from the lungs, such as heart-disease and affections of theliver. As a primary disease, chronic bronchitis is more particulamet with among persons who are upwards of forty-five years old ;every chronic pulmonary catarrh of young people excites a wellfounded suspicion that it emanates from some other pulmonarydisease as its source. Men are much more frequently afflicted witchronic bronchitis than women ; children are seldom attacked. InNorthern districts chronic pulmonary catarrh becomes much morefrequent ; in countries with a damp and cold climate it is almostendemic; it likewise prevails among individuals whose businessconfines them to damp and cool places. Persons who have to inhalea good deal of dust during their work, such as stone-cutters, miland sculptors, are likewise exposed to frequent attacks of chronibronchitis. Smoking is likewise a frequent cause of this disease.This use of tobacco causes chronic catarrh of the bronchial lininmembrane much more frequently than one imagines, without anyacute attack having preceded the chronic form.The symptoms and course of the disease are easily understood ifwe keep the anatomical changes which the bronchial mucous membrane undergoes, steadily in view. For this reason we will descrithese changes before going any further. The bronchial mucousmembrane is hypertrophied over a more or less considerable extentof surface ; it is unequally raised up, is of a deep darktraversed by distinctly engorged vessels. It is covered by a masslayer of gray or even purulent mucus, of various thicknesses, orthe secretion is more scanty, but in that case very tenacious, trparent, ropy. The puffiness and thickening of the mucous memiBronchitis Chronica. 211brane, as well as the infiltration of the submucous and musculartissues diminish the elasticity and occasion a consequent dilatatof the bronchia which is mostly diffuse, but may likewise be partEmphysema may likewise result from these anatomical changes.If a bronchial tube becomes closed anywhere, atelectasia of corresponding parts of the lungs takes place. True pus is seldom formeon the bronchial mucus membrane ; hence ulcers, which occur sohttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt