SECTION II. 

 AFFJEGTIONS OF THE PHARYNX. 



CHAPTER I. 



CATARRHAL INFLAMMATION OF THE PHARYNGEAL MUCOUS MEM- 

 BRANE ANGINA CATARRHALIS. 



ETIOLOGY. The disturbances of function and nutrition, which we 

 have frequently designated as characteristic of catarrhal inflammation, 

 are often observed in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the soft 

 palate, the uvula, and tonsils, and are usually termed angina catar- 

 rkalis. In this section, the tissues of the soft palate are considered as 

 belonging to the pharynx, since they participate in almost all the dis- 

 eases of the pharynx. 



The predisposition for catarrhal inflammation of the pharynx varies 

 with the individual. If exposed to the slightest injurious influences, 

 some persons are immediately attacked with affections of this part, 

 while others, exposed to the same influences, remain well, or have dis- 

 ease of some other part. Some persons are troubled several times a 

 year with catarrhal angina, while others live for years without having 

 it. The causes of the increased predisposition to catarrhal angina are 

 mostly unknown. It is customary to say that a lymphatic constitu 

 tion predisposes to the disease, or that it is more apt to occur in scrofu- 

 lous persons. But we often see robust individuals, who show no con 

 stitutional anomalies, affected with catarrhal angina at every exposure. 

 In general, we may say that the disease is more common in children 

 and young persons than in those more advanced in life ; that repeated 

 attacks leave an increased predisposition ; that patients who have had 

 syphilis, or who have used mercurials for a long time, are peculiarly 

 dable to acute and chronic pharyngeal catarrh. 



Among the exciting causes are : 1. Direct irritation ; sucn as hot 

 or corrosive substances, rough, ragged bones, which stick in the fauces, 

 and other injuries to the pharyngeal mucous membrane. Perhaps the 



