BRONCHI'TIS, or inflammation of the lining membrane of the bronchial tubes, is a disease of very common occurrence in Great Britain, and one of the greatest importance, for, if neglected, it not only destroys life, but if carelessly treated, may lead to prema ture and miserable old age. The first symptoms are generally those which distinguish a common cold—viz., shivering, headache, and sense of weariness, with occasional cough; but the cough continues, and recurs in paroxysms; there is a feeling of oppres sion on the chest, and the person wheezes when he breathes. He also breathes more rap idly, six or ten respirations in the minute more than he did when in health, and his pulse is quicker; and the ear applied to his chest, after these symptoms have continued for two or three days, will hear a rattling, as if air was bubbling through thickish fluid. which is the case; he is breathing through an extraordinary amount of mucus secreted by the inflamed lining membrane of the tube. During his paroxysms of cough, this mucus is spit up. If the inflammation extend DO further, it is termed tubular B., and is seldom a fatal disease in the first attack; but, as may be expected, it will often extend, or, in some cases, begin in the small tubes--resieular B.—when the symptoms just described will be present, but in a greater degree, the breathing being so embarrassed that the patient can no longer lie down, but requires to sit or stand up, and use all his muscles of respiration. Though he coughs. he spits very little, till about the third day, when he expectorates large quantities of yellow fluid. At last, prostration becomes so complete that he ceases to spit, and dies suffocated by the accumulated mucus, from the fifth to the seventh day. Iu less severe cases, or those which yield to treatment, the delicate tubes may be permanently injured by the inflammation. They may be thick ened, which narrows their caliber; this will prevent the proper passage of the air, and gives rise to wheezing on any exertion, and cough, especially in winter. Moreover,
after repeated attaCks, one of the tubes may be blocked up entirely, so that the portion of lung to which it ought to conduct air, is no longer filled, and consequently collapses and wastes. This compels the adjacent tubes and air-cells to dilate to receive more air at the expense of their elasticity (emphysema, q.v.); the air cells may even burst, and so by degrees the apparatus for aerating the blood becomes less and less perfect. The treatment of B. lutist vary with the patient's constitution; but in most eases, counter irritation, applied through the medium of mustard or hot turpentine fomentations, will be found very useful. These remedies act more rapidly than a blister, and may be fre quently repeated. It should be remembered that patients suffering from B. are very easily depressed. Such medicines as ammonia should be given, to promote expectora tion, combined with the liquor ammonite acetatis, to produce perspiration. In very acute eases, after a brisk purge, salines, with ipecacuanha or squills, may be given, and an emetic will remove accumulations of mucus.
In the B. of old persons, chlorie ether will be found very useful, and may be combined with sedatives, as henbane; but opium must be given with great caution, or not at all, as it tends to increase the congestion of the inflamed tubes. The paregoric elixir (com pound tincture of camphor) is an old and popular. remedy in 13., but enough has been said to impress on the reader the danger of tampering with bronchitis. In every case where it is possible, a skilled medical . man should be employed, to determine, by the stethoscope, not only the disease but its exact situation; and as it is but too likely to recur at some future period, or symptoms caused by it to appear, a skilled opinion has a permanent value to the patient. See CATARII.