42 Catarrh of the Larynx 



affection influences the course. If the larynx has once been 

 diseased there is a tendency to relapses, and acute exacerba- 

 tions are not rare in chronic catarrh. 



Treatment. The most important measures to insure a 

 speedy recovery are rest and protection against external irri- 

 tation. The patients ought to be placed in a moderately warm 

 place, with pure, quiet air. They ought to receive dust-free 

 feed; if possible, green mashed food and bulbs. When the 

 weather is favorable the open air is particularly beneficial 

 in chronic catarrh. xVnimals which are only slightly sick may 

 be used for light work if the weather is mild and if the patients 

 are not exposed to the wind, to colds or to drenching. 



If a tormenting cough is frequent the tenderness of the 

 larynx should be lowered by narcotics. Indicated are: mor- 

 pliium ( I^ morpli. mur. 0.10, aq. amygd. amar. 12.0 M. S. every 

 2 to 3 hours, ten to fifteen drops for dogs); also codeine ( ]^ 

 codein. phosphorici 0.60 aq. dest. 150.0 M. S. every 3 hours, 



1 to 2 teaspoonfuls for dogs) ; heroine (^ heroini mur. 0.10 aq. 

 dest. 150.0 M. t. sol. S. every six hours, 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls 

 for dogs). Larger domestic animals should receive these drugs 

 in the proper doses by subcutaneous injection; heroine causes 

 great excitement in horses and occasionally a strong depression 

 in dogs. The salts of bromine alone or in combination with 

 codeine are sometimes indicated. 



Priessnitz' compresses to the region of the larynx (every 



2 to 4 hours) are very serviceable, both in acute and in chronic 

 laryngitis. Warm packs are less effective and are indicated 

 only in very acute cases. The inhalation of water vapors is 

 of good effect in the incipient stage when the mucosa is com- 

 paratively dry and very irritable. Tenacious mucus may be 

 made more liquid by the inhalation of finely divided muco- 

 solvent remedies (1 to 3 per cent solution of common salt, 

 sodium carbonate or bicarbonate). In the presence of an 

 abundant thin fluid secretion, astringent and balsamic drugs 

 are indicated, such as alum (1-30%), chloride of iron (0.1-0.3%), 

 creolin (2-3%), creosote (0.5-1.0%), nitrate of silver (0.1-0.5%), 

 oil of turpentine, tar (aqua picis 10%). 



Inhalations are applied in the same manner as in nasal catarrh (see page 7). 

 The inlialation of aqneons vapors or fluids which easily evaporate does not require 

 any special apparatus, while the spraying of other fluids can only be accomplished 

 by special devices. Ordinary sprays are not very serviceable; more to be recom- 

 mended are Siegel's or Bullin's inhalers, the best is Wasmuth's apparatus, wliich, 

 however, is generally only available in veterinary clinics, on account of its high 

 price. Horses and cattle must be made to inhale through the mouth, which 

 if necessary must be kept oiien by a sjieculuni. Inhalations ought to be repeated 

 every three or four hours and should be of ten to fifteen minutes duration. In 

 the treatment of smaller animals one may employ tubs with boiling water covered 

 by a ])erforated board ; the patients are placed on the latter. 



Only a very small fraction of a spray finds its way into the larynx of larger 

 animals; hence, when treating them a Frick or Bayer-Kieselbach spray apparatus 

 i-hould be employed. These are easily introduced in horses; in cattle they can be 

 introduced with some difficulty into the pharynx like a rhinolaryngoscope, and in 

 this way permit of a more direct spraying of the larynx. If convulsive cough 1$ 

 present the solutions ought also to contain morphine up to ^2% in amount, 



