ASTHMA, or fiz'ina (Gk. short-drawn breath, panting, from Lir, aein, to blow). A disorder of the function of respiration characterized by acute attacks of difficult breath ing accompanied by coughing, wheezing, and, in severe paroxysms, by slight asphyxia. Asthma most often develops after sonic slight catarrhal inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane. There are a number of condition-, which closely simulate this affection, which only the physician can diagnose. Every attack of shortness of breath is not asthma. The theories of its causa tion have been numerous, but the one that best explains the symptoms is that asthma is due to spasm of the muscle fibres in the walls of the bronchi. In some cases it seems to be a hered itary disease, and intensely nervous people seem to be more often affected. It occurs in men oftener than in women, and very frequently in children. especially after measles, bronchitis, or
whooping cough. The attack usually begins quite suddenly, at night, announced by some preliminary sense of tightness. The patient wakes with much distress and anxiety, some pain in the chest, and great difficulty in breathing. The efforts to obtain air may necessitate great muscular exertion. and the patient may become covered with perspiration. The face may become purple and the eyes bloodshot. The attack may pass off and not reappear, but the disease is prone to he a chronic one. Treatment is mainly dietetic and hygienic. Dry inland climates are valuable. Bromides, iodides, nitrites. and opium are the drugs most widely employed. Con sult Osier, Principles and Practice of Medicine (New York, 1001).