Sore Throat— Its Relation to Atmospheric Conditions and Bacteritic Infection.

Manawatu Herald, 11 August 1896, Page 3

Sore Throat— Its Relation to Atmospheric Conditions and Bacteritic Infection.

At present nearly everyone coughs, especially in the morning, and yet, the cough is not so much an indication of chest trouble as it is a sign of a condition, the source of which is a damp and cold atmosphere— a sore throat. The throat is irritable during the day, a little mucus collects during the night, and causes the discomfort and cough in the morning. If one watches the people on the street, one is surprised to find that a great proportion of them are keeping their mouths continually open, and it is to them particularly that a knowledge of the modus operandi of the production of the the complaint in question is ueeful. The natural air-admitting channel lor the human species is the nose, by its passage through which the air is warmed and, what is more important, irritating particles suspended in the air are kept back by the fine hairs (cilia) which cover the mucous lining of the nose. If the air be inhaled through the mouth all these advantages by which a natural pro Uction for the throat is established are lost and, on days when the atmospheric temperature is low and all kinds of miasmatic germs are suspended in the air, the throat is made extremely vulnerable and when once injured, bacterial infection is very likely to follow. The reaction occurring when an individual whose throat was in direct contact with the cold air comes into a warm room, oauies a congestion of the pharnyx, larsyx or posterior nares ; more mucus is secreted from tne lining membrane of these parts, and the sufferer begins to cough, gets hoarse and is troubled with frontal headache, according as the one or the other of the fore-mentioned cavities ia affected, But these are not the' * only calamities. Whenever the lining membrane of the throat is in* jured, the bacteria which are alwpys present in the buccal cavity get a nidus to settle and multiply, and this especially in those cases in which a large amount of dust (a most efficient oarrier of bacteria) is inhaled, as in the case with people working in badly ventilated rooms. The result will vary according to the species to which the pathogenic germs belong, viz., the common pus microbe (sta» phylococcua pyogenes aureus) will produce either an ulcer of the mouth, or an inflammation of the tonsils, which may effect the follicles or form an abscess (quinsey). If the offender be the bacillus or tuberculosis a tubercular ulcer will be the result, and if the baccilua of diphtheria has chosen the throat as a culture-medium, the inevitable consequence will be the formation of a diptheritic membrane. The consideration of these causes and effects must bring us to the conclusion that nasal respiration mast at any time be a good preven> tative against these attacks ; further the throat can be fortified by using a daily gargle of salt water. But, if the mischief is already done, if mucus is already secreted in abundance, and if bacterial infection has already taken place, the best remedy is an inhalation of steam, saturated with Eucalyptus. (A pure article extracted from the leaves must be used.) Sander and Sons' is acknowledged to be the best.) In lack of a S roper steam-inhaler this may be one by pouring 20 to 80 drops on boiling water into a wide-mouthed bottle and the vapour inhaled. The expectorant quality of the Eucalyptus will cause the mucus to be promptly expelled, the constringent action will lessen the congestion and its antiseptic power will| kill or remove any germs which may have settled. After each inhalation it is extremely soothing to t ake one or more tablespoonfuls of equal part 3 of branfy, honey, and water, swallowing it as slowly as possible. In true diphtheria a more vigorously stimulating treatment must be instituted besides. — Bendigo Independent, July 25th, 1896.