LARYNGITIS, or INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX, maybe either an acute or a chronic affection. Acute laryngitis, in its more severe form, commences with a chill, which is followed by fever, with a full strong pulse, a hot skin, and a flushed face. There is also soreness of the throat, hoarseness of the voice, great difficulty in swallowing, and a. feeling of extreme constriction of the larynx. There is a painful stridulous cough, but only a little mucus is ejected. Great difficulty of breathing soon comes on, the act of inspiration being prolonged, and wheezing, in consequence of the swollen membrane of the glottis impeding the entrance of air. On examining the fauces, the epiglottis (see' LARYNX) is observed to be of a bright red color, erect, and so much swollen as not to be able to descend and close the glottis during deglutition. The patient exhibits symptoms of great anxiety and distress; his lips become blue, his face of a livid paleness, his pulse irregular and very feeble, and at length he sinks into a drowsy state, often preceded by delirium, and quickly followed by death. The disease is very rapid, ending, when fatal,
in three or four days, and occasionally in less than one day.
The most frequent cause of laryngitis, whether mild or severe, is exposure to cold and wet, especially when in a state of perspiration. It frequently also arises from direct injury to the larynx, as from attempting to swallow boiling water or corrosive fluids, from inhaling irritating gases, etc.
In severe cases, the strongest antiphlogistic treatment must be at once adopted, as general bleeding. leeching, and either tartar emetic or calomel. If these fail, the only remedy upon which much reliance can be placed is tracheotomy. In chronic laryngitis, there is hoarseness, the voice is altered, and various morbid sensations are felt in the larynx, which excite cough. If the disease goes on to ulceration, phthisis or syphilis is probably its cause. The treatment of ulcerated larynx is noticed in LARYNX, DIS EASES OF.