ASTHMA AND BROKEN WIND. 165 



modic attacks, which gradually involve more of the bronchial 

 tubes. 



Asthma is by many regarded as an early stage of broken 

 wind, but as many cases undoubtedly recover without 

 passing into the more serious condition, we have thought it 

 advisable to consider it separately. 



Symptoms. — Asthma is characterized by sudden spas- 

 modic dyspnoea, which resembles that of broken wind in 

 that the inspiration is easier than the expiration. The 

 latter is usually of a jerky character, but has a less distinct 

 double action than in broken wind. 



In asthma the wheezing is more distinct ; there is more 

 exhaustion with less cough, which is not so hollow as in 

 broken wind, but is short, quick, or suppressed. The 

 suddenness of the paroxysms, their true spasmodic nature, 

 their severity, their sudden accession and decline, and 

 unaccountable disappearance_, are marked features of 

 asthma. 



The febrile disturbance is severe when the disease is fully 

 developed, and the chest is fixed, as it were, and there is 

 increased movement of the abdominal muscles. When the 

 cough is severe, small pellets of mucus are discharged 

 through the nostrils. 



If the chest be auscultated the wheezing noise is very 

 distinctly audible in the anterior and lateral regions. The 

 spasms may last a few days, or may extend over several 

 weeks, and then disappear or pass imperceptibly into broken 

 wind. 



Treatment. — The diet should be of a laxative nature, 

 and if the cough is very severe the sides of the chest may 

 be blistered with great advantage. 



— ^The drugs of most value as internal remedies are digitalis, 

 amyl nitrate, belladonna, lobelia, chloral hydrate, opium, 

 and the bromides of potassium and ammonium. 



