CHRONIC COUGH. 73 



Chronic Cou0:h^. 



■'&' 



^Ve have already noticed this complaint as 

 one of the syniptoms of a cold, but did not at 

 that time give any particular direction for its 

 treatment, because itgeneraily ceases as soon as 

 its cause (the cold) is removed. It sometimes 

 happens, however, that the cough continues, 

 although every other symptom is gone off. — 

 This complaint, which, from its long conti- 

 nuance, is distinguished by the term chronic^ 

 may be readily accounted for, when it is 

 recollected that what is called a cold consists 

 in an inflammation of the membrane which lines 

 the nose and throat; and that this membrane 

 also forms the internal surface of the windpipe 

 and its branches. When the cold, therefore, 

 has been violent and improperly treated, the 

 inflammation is liable to extend to the wind- 

 pipe, or even to its branches, causing an effu- 

 sion of coagulable lymph from the membrane, 

 Avhich proves a constant source of irritation. 

 It is probable also that the inflammation may 

 sometimes render the membrane so verv'= 



* See CoHgli in tlie Appendix. 

 VOL. I. E 



