CATARRH, COLD, SORE THROAT, ETC. 125 



The bowels are very frequently in a costive state, and slioulcl 

 be unloaded by raking and injections; but the greatest caution 

 must be observed in the administration of aperients, for puro-ino-, 

 which is so dangerous in pneumonia, is still more injurious in 

 bronchitis. It is found that when one mucous membrane is dis- 

 eased, other membranes of the same nature are from sympathy 

 in a very irritable state. Thus, though it is desirable in this 

 disease to unload the bowels, it is inj urious to do so by irritating 

 their internal coats. 



We may, however, venture on giving a pint or nearly so of 

 linseed oil. This aperient, however, should rarely be repeated. 

 It will be desirable to give likewise, in the form of a ball, 

 digitalis half a drachm, calomel half a drachm, tartarized 

 antimony one drachm, nitre three drachms ; to be repeated twice 

 a day. 



Mr. Percivall recommends white hellebore instead of the dio-i- 

 talis, in the same doses : this medicine, however, requires cautious 

 watching. Extract of belladonna is also emi^loyed with ad- 



vantage. 



Counter-irritation is of great importance in this disease. In 

 the course of six or twelve hours after the first bleeding, the 

 course of the windpipe should be blistered as well as the breast: 

 or setons should be inserted in the course of the windpipe, and 

 a rowel in the brisket. JBlisters have the advantaoe of excitino- 

 a quicker action, and rowels and setons a more lengthened 

 effect. In the sub-acute or chronic forms of the disease, the 

 latter may be preferable, but in the more severe cases the 

 speedier action of the blister is demanded ; and it is often 

 desirable to employ both methods of counter-irritation. 



The proper action of the blister or the seton leads us to 

 form a favourable prognosis, but not to the same extent as in 

 pneumonia ; for in the latter disease the case scarcely ever 

 becomes fatal after the blisters or setons have produced a proper 

 effect, whilst in bronchitis it occasionally does. This is owino- 

 to the circumstance that in pneumonia the circulation is more 

 languid on the surface of the body, and the blood more inwardly 

 determined than in the other disease. — Ed.] 



CHAP. XXVI. 



CATARRH, COLD, SORE THROAT, ETC. 



[Catarrh, or cold, as it is commonly called, is an inflammation 

 of the membrane lining the nostrils and the throat, and neigh- 

 bouring parts. It may attack the whole of these parts, or be 



