Catarrh: Its Causes and Treatment by P. A. De Forest

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

Catarrh: Its Causes and Treatment

By P. A. De Forest

P. A. DE FOREST, M. D.

The body may be compared to a tube having two surfaces,—an external, the skin; and an internal, the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, with the canals which open into it. The respiratory and genito-urinary passages are also lined with a special form of mucous membrane. These surfaces are not only engaged in the work of absorbing and secreting, but they have an excretory, or eliminative function as well. The kidneys, skin, intestines, liver, and lungs excrete, or eliminate, from the blood effete matters of a gaseous, liquid, or solid nature, all of them being poisonous when retained in the body. The quality and the quantity of the poisons thrown off from these surfaces vary with the activity of the organs engaged in excretion, and the amount of poison formed in the body. The fullest activity of all of the excretory organs is necessary to prevent the accumulation of the natural waste products; and when one or more of them fail of accomplishing their part, the remaining organs are taxed to their utmost capacity, overloaded, and finally enfeebled, so that the effete matters accumulate in the body. This is autointoxication, which may be said to be the fundamental cause of catarrh. The circulation is unbalanced because of imperfect and irregular nerve action. The nerves are either irritated by irritant poisons or anesthetized by hypnotic poisons. These poisons produce fatigue, lassitude, and a disinclination to active exercise. The blood-stream stagnates, and catarrh ensues.

The circulation is further unbalanced by excessive brain work, a sedentary

life, constipation, too much clothing on one part and not enough on the other, too warm rooms, too much food, corsets, tight shoes, and a host of other causes which produce autointoxication indirectly, and at the same time break down the vital resisting power of the tissues.

This state of autointoxication does the mischief, as it establishes a vicious circle, in which the bodily functions are performed with gradually increasing difficulty. The harmonious action so necessary to health is interfered with, and the wheels of life are clogged.

The sufferer from catarrh must shake off his distaste for active exercise. The health of the excretory organs depends on the activity of the body as a whole. Muscular exercise enables the liver to excrete more bile; the lungs, being more active, throw off more carbon dioxid and organic poisons; the kidneys are spurred on by the nervous system and the increased circulation to eliminate a variety of excrementitious and highly toxic products; the skin is forced into activity to get rid of the excess of heat produced by muscular activity, and the perspiration which ensues drains away much poison. The strength imparted to the muscles reacts on the muscles of the intestines, and constipation is overcome; and thus the clogged system is relieved by its own efforts.

If one excretory organ is especially congested and catarrhal, it is well to stir up the others to renewed activity, so as to give the sick organs a rest. If nasal catarrh is present, the liver needs treatment. Cholesterin, an excrementitious substance found normally in the bile, is often present in the secretions of nasal catarrh, which fact shows the mutual interdependence of the organs. In this case the liver has perhaps been loaded down by poisons from coffee, tea, tobacco, meat, old cheese, condiments, etc.

The way to health is to stop this way of living and try a better one. Eat pure food, breathe pure air. Dilute the poison-laden blood-stream with pure water. Stir up the unused muscles, and set them going to help the heart; for every muscle is another form of heart—a pump to accelerate the flow of blood and lymph. Keep the skin clean and active. The poisons thrown from the epidermis are reabsorbed if not frequently removed; therefore bathe and change the clothing often. Work for health, and it will be yours, and catarrh will be left far behind.

Local Treatment

Catarrhal surfaces being but an expression of inward intoxication, with outward infection, one of the best means of cure is to cleanse the nasal or other passages of mucus; for mucus is almost always infected with pus germs and other microbes.

Local treatments are positively indicated in germ catarrhs, or where local infection is present, with or without general unbalancing of the circulation, because the microbes generate poisons which tend to perpetuate the evil.

The common method of cleansing is to irrigate the passages by water in which medicaments are dissolved. Here is a good formula: Biborate of soda, one part; bicarbonate of soda, two parts; common salt, three parts; one to three tablespoonfuls to a quart of very hot water.

The value of very hot irrigations to stimulate vital activity can not be overestimated, whether used on old, indolent ulcers with granulated surfaces, or simply as a nasal wash. Common salt alone—a little less than one-per-cent solution injected by irrigation, or snuffed up from a sponge at a temperature of 115° to 130° F.—is also good.

Medicated solutions may be applied by means of a good nebulizer or vaporizer.

Another formula for irrigation purposes is the following: Listerine, 10 parts; sodium chlorid, 20 parts; boracic acid, 20 parts; benzoic acid, 1 part; water at 115° to 130° F., 1,000 parts.

Gland, Switzerland.