The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopathy"Page 98 of 653the liability of these organs to catarrhal affections cannot be acounted for either by their structure or functions.One of the most common causes of disease is a cold, whether itaffects the organs locally or through the skin. This is the reasowhy such people are most commonly affected as have renderedthemselves, and more especially the skin, very susceptible by theeffeminate mode of living. We often notice that, by keeping theneck too warm, the larynx becomes easily affected with catarrh,whereas such persons fancied that by enveloping their necks inthick cravats or comforters, they were effectually protected agaicatarrh. Since we cannot avoid frequent exposures of the neck tothe air, the susceptibility of the larynx to catarrh increases inportion as the skin of the neck is stimulated to action by an excof warm covering. Why some persons should be affected withlaryngeal catarrh from the least cold, whereas others seem to enja perfect immunity in this respect, cannot be accounted for. Anexcessive use of the organs of voice is one of the causes that bea particular disposition to laryngeal catarrh ; individuals who,accustomed to talking, have had to make long and fatiguingspeeches, or amateur-singers are very apt to contract laryngealdisease. The disposition to such diseases is very much enhanced bthe excessive use of spirits, and more particularly of the commonbeer. We shall afterwards speak of the influence which tubercularinfiltrations of the lungs exert over catarrhal affections of thea07)108 Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea.trachea; we will here state that the development of laryngealcatarrh from the least exposure very properly excites a suspicionthe presence of pulmonary tuberculosis.Secondarily laryngotracheal catarrh may result from nasal catarrhworking down to the larynx, or from bronchial catarrh workingupwards. It may likewise supervene during or in consequence ofthe presence of measles and variola, and other constitutional diseases.Symptomn and Course. The phenomena of laryngotrachealcatarrh vary a great deal according to the intensity of the diseaor the sensitiveness of the individual attacked by it. In mildattacks the disease always commences without fever although usually with a peculiar sensation of languor and heaviness in the extremities. The patients complain of a peculiar tickling, or a sorness and burning in the larynx down to the sternum, which is aggravated by coughing and talking. At the same time the voice isaltered, it is hoarse and has a peculiarly deeper and metallic sothis alteration of the voice increases, according to circumstancecomplete hoarseness or loss of voice. In a few hours already acough supervenes the particular modifications of which will be described in subsequent paragraphs. At first no phlegm is brought uby the cough, afterwards a clear, tenacious, glassy mucus is raiswhich, in a few days, assumes a greenish color, becomes lumpy andhas an unpleasant taste until, in a few days more, the expectoratassumes a globular shape, becomes more copious and has a yellowishttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt