260 On Chronic Debility 



and manner of their commencement, from their increase 

 or abatement, as the acid, M^ind and costiveness are les- 

 sened, or increased. These complaints, when they are 

 not at first brought on by debility of the stomach, but 

 have existed previously to that disease, are greatly ag- 

 gravated by it ; and it is in many instances very difficult, 

 perhaps impossible, to cure them, till a material change 

 is produced in the state of the stomach. Similar remarks 

 might with propriety be made, respecting the long con- 

 tinued and periodical headaches of dyspeptic persons. 



VII. Catarrh. This complaint has had, in almost 

 all cases to which I have been particularly attentive, a 

 much more intimate connection with tlie state of the 

 stomach, than is generally supposed ; and is often ex- 

 tremely troublesome. It sometimes exists to such a de- 

 gree, that no small difficulty is experienced in reading 

 aloud, in singing, and even in conversing, and it excites 

 in some instances a hacking cough^ as it is colloquially 

 and not unaptly termed, which is almost incessant. Ca- 

 tarrh is often greatly aggravated, in persons having de- 

 bilitated stomachs, by living near the sea shore, and by 

 breathing a mixture of sea and land air ; yet tliat ought 

 not to be considered as its chief cause. Though such 

 persons usually experience great relief in this complaint, 

 by a voyage to sea, or by residing at a distance of one 

 hundred miles or more from the shore, where the air is 

 neither so variable nor so stimulating to the hmgs ; and 

 though, on approaching the shore, the complaint returns 

 with increased strength ; yet, when their digestion is vig- 

 orous, they perhaps as often experience little or no in 

 convenience from such a residence. 



In the year 1800 I began to be afflicted with this com- 

 plaint, to a very uncomfortable degree. About the same 

 time my stomach had become the seat of distressing de- 

 bility. The catarrh lasted without material abatement, 

 three years and a half. I then went to reside at Catskill. 

 In a little time after, it almost wholly left me.^ I attribu- 

 ted the relief to the free use of snuff. After some months 

 had elapsed, I returned to New-Haven on a visit, and 

 during four days which I spent here, experienced more 

 of the comphiint, than I had done during the preceding 



