Dissertations, On cynanche trachealis or croup, and On the functions of the extreme capillary vessels in health and disease : to which were awarded the Boylston premiums for the years 1820 and 1823 / by William Sweetser.

  • Sweetser, William, 1797-1875.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dissertations, On cynanche trachealis or croup, and On the functions of the extreme capillary vessels in health and disease : to which were awarded the Boylston premiums for the years 1820 and 1823 / by William Sweetser. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    case, in which the larynx, trachea, and lungs were found perfectly healthy. Catarrh. The proximate cause of this disease is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, extending back into the fauces ; and if severe, into the larynx, trachea, bronchiae, and even air cells of the lungs. The same parts then, which are affected in croup, here take on diseased action, and they are both inflammatory complaints. In catarrh, however, the inflammation is usually quite mild, and it also goes through different processes. We observe in it only the ordinary phenomena consequent to inflammation of a mucous membrane; an increase of the natural secretion of the parts, or a secretion of pus. But in croup the inflammation seems to dimin- ish or check the natural secretions, and in their stead a new matter, or coagulating lymph, is commonly poured out. As the complaints differ in their proxi- mate cause, so do they in their symptoms. In catarrh, except when it prevails as an epidemic, the constitu- tional affection is quite mild, and even in its epidemic form, it is seldom, if ever, so severe as in well marked cases of croup. An attention, however, to the respi- ration, voice, and cough will enable us most readily to distinguish it from this latter disease. Though in catarrh a wheezing often accompanies the respiration, yet it differs from the respiration of croup; it is neither so hard nor shrill, but rather gives the idea of loose matter, partially obstructing the pas- sage of air. The increased secretion of mucus, also, about the nasal passages docs not admit the air to pass freely through them, from which cause the peculiar