106 CHRONIC COUGH. 



digestion. Whenever the membrane of the windpipe 

 is inflamed, great soreness and irritability of the 

 larynx will long remain. When the membrane is ir- 

 ritable, a very trifling cause will produce cough. The 

 act of coughing is a proof of this irritability: the 

 effect increases the cause; and the cough speedily 

 becomes habitual : therefore it is that chronic cough 

 is so difficult to remove ; for we can neither get at the 

 disease, nor stop the coughing, which is hourly in- 

 creasing its intensity. Chronic cough, however, often 

 exists to such a degree as to interfere with soundness ; 

 therefore every reason exists why we should be anx- 

 ious for its removal. As it can be traced to chronic 

 inflammation or to irritability of the larynx, a mild 

 blister, extending from ear to ear, may be tried. It 

 cannot do much harm ; and the slight blemish which 

 it occasions will soon disappear. However, it is rare 

 for a blister to do any vast good. 



Medicine will sometimes relieve the cough, and may 

 be tried to a certain extent. If the cause is unknown, 

 a sedative medicine that will gradually allay the irrita- 

 bility, and yet not interfere with the appetite, may be 

 daily given. 



RECIPE (No. 30). 

 BallfQr Chronic Cough. 



Take — Belladonna, one drachm ; 



Tar and linseed meal sufficient to make a ball : 



Let this be given every night. 



In a few instances chronic cough seems to be con- 

 nected with worms ; and the groom oftener attributes 

 it to this cause than he is justified in doing. If, 



