LAR'YNGI'TIS (Neo-Lat., from Gk. forymr, larynx), or INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX. The usual catarrhal form may be either an acute or a chronic affection. Acute laryngitis. in its more severe form, commences with a which is followed by fever, with a strong pulse. a hot skin, and a flushed face. There are also soreness of the throat, hoarseness of the voice. great diffieulty 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, with wheezing, in consequence of the swollen membrane of the glottis impeding the entrance of air. On examining the fames. the epiglottis. (sec LAnvxx) 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 deg lutition. After an hour or two the symptoms subside and the patient falls asleep, breathing noisily. The trouble may recur during the night. In the morning the patient awakes apparently well, except for a cough.
In very rare eases death results, after cya nosis of the face, drowsiness, delirium, and feeble. rapid pulse. In most eases the patient suffers every night until the disease disappears at the end of four or five days. The cause of acute laryngitis is exposure to cold, inhalation of dust or irritating gases, or swallowing corrosive liquids. 1pecaeuanha, tartar emetic, and a little
alcoholic stimulant afford quick relief in most eases. If suffocation appears imminent, intnba tion or tracheotomy must be employed. A cold pack to the throat, inhalations of warm steam, or of steam impregnated with compound tincture of benzoin, as well as internal administration of the bromides, give relief. Chronic laryngitis oc curs in public,speakers or singers from over-use of the vocal cords (generally in neurotics), as well as in millers, masons, and others who ha bitually inhale dust. Local applications of nil trate of silver and other astringents. as also change of climate, improve these cases. An other form is tubercular laryngitis; this occurs usually as a complication of pulmonary tubercu losis. The symptoms are hoarseness or complete loss of voice, pain in the throat, increased by coughing, speaking, or swallowing. Laryngo scopie examination reveals an unnatural pallor of the laryngeal mucous membrane and the pres ence of small ulcers. The prognosis for recovery in this form is unfavorable. The treatment con sists in local applications of lactic acid, solution of nitrate of silver, etc. For croupous laryngi tis, see DIPIITBERIA.