In several cases in which this grade of inflammation was located chiefly in the smaller bronchi, causing very distressing and persistent dyspnoea, I have found an equal mixture of the wine of colchicum-root and the acetated tincture of opium, given in doses of 25 to 30 minims every three hours at first, to afford more relief than any other remedies I could use; and after some degree of relief had been obtained, by lengthening the interval between the doses to four or six hours and continuing it a few days, all the symptoms were removed. When the disease occurs in old persons, accompanied by severe paroxysms of coughing and only a scanty and very viscid mucous expectoration, much benefit may sometimes be derived from the use of the carbonated alkalies, such as the carbonate of ammonium or bicarbonate of sodium, dissolved in an equal mixture of the fluid extract of the Phytolacca decandra, liquor ammonii acetatis, and camphorated tincture of opium, in such proportions that the patient will get 3 decigrams (gr. v) of carbonate of ammonium in each dose of the mixture.
It is proper to remark that there are many mild attacks of bronchitis, caused by exposure to sudden and severe meteorological changes, which if seen during the first twenty-four hours can be speedily arrested by a hot or stimulating foot-bath and a full dose of the compound powder of opium and ipecacuanha (Dover's powder), taken in the evening, and followed the next morning by a saline laxative and two or three moderate doses of quinine during the day. Similar results can also be obtained in some cases by the use of any agents that will allay irritability and at the same time produce a free or copious elimination from the skin and kidneys. An efficient diaphoretic dose of pilocarpine, or a full warm bath, followed by two or three moderate doses of quinine, will succeed well if employed in the initial stage of the disease. Unfortunately, but few cases come under the care of the physician until after this stage is past.
TREATMENT OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.—Most of the cases of chronic bronchitis are treated satisfactorily by a more moderate use of the same remedial agents that have been recommended in the acute and subacute grades of the disease, aided by a judicious regulation of diet, dress, and exercise. In the great majority of cases of the ordinary chronic catarrhal variety of bronchitis the formula already given, numbered 4, or the one numbered 2, if given to adults in doses of 4 cubic centimeters (fluidrachm j) before each meal and at bedtime, mixed with a tablespoonful of water, will afford the necessary relief without confining the patient to the house. If the bowels become constipated while using either of these prescriptions, the evil may be obviated by taking one of the following pills every evening:
| No. 6. Rx. | Extract. hyoscyami, | (2.00 grams) gr. xxx; |
| Ferri sulphatis, | (2.00 grams) gr. xxx; | |
| Pulveris aloës, | (2.00 grams) gr. xxx; | |
| Pilulæ hydrargyri, | (2.00 grams) gr. xxx. |
M. et ft. pil. No. XXX. If one pill taken every evening does not prove sufficient to prompt one natural intestinal evacuation each morning, another can be taken after breakfast. The patient should adhere to a plain, nutritious, and easily digestible diet, avoiding the use of all varieties of alcoholic drinks, wear good warm underclothes of flannel all the time, and take moderate daily outdoor exercise so long as the strength will permit.
In addition to the several remedies that have been mentioned as applicable to the treatment of the different varieties of acute and subacute bronchitis, there are many others that have been found more or less beneficial in the treatment of chronic cases. Among the more important of these are the iodide of potassium and sodium, the grindelia robusta, eucalyptus globulus, oenothera biennis, cimicifuga racemosa, asclepias tuberosa, balsams copaiba and tolu, gum benzoin, turpentine, cod-liver oil, and the hypophosphites of sodium, calcium, and iron; and a still larger number that have been used for inhalation. As a general rule, when the cough is harsh and the expectoration scanty, with the predominance of dry râles, such remedies as the muriate and iodide of ammonium and the iodides of potassium and sodium, given in conjunction with small doses of antimony and some mild anodyne, will produce the best effects. On the other hand, if the expectoration is abundant and of a muco-purulent character, the balsamic and terebinthinate remedies, given in connection with such tonics as the lacto-phosphate of calcium, phosphate of iron, sulphate of quinia and strychnia with codia, hyoscyamia, or lupulin, at night to procure rest, will afford the greatest relief. In some of these cases I have obtained very good effects from a combination of two parts of the syrup of iodide of calcium with one of the fluid extract of hops, given in doses of 4 cubic centimeters (fluidrachm j) each morning, noon, tea-time, and bedtime.
When chronic bronchitis is complicated with pharyngitis and laryngo-tracheitis, much palliative influence may be obtained by judiciously-directed inhalations, either in the form of vapor or atomization. But when the disease is limited to the bronchi alone, inhalations have much less influence over its progress or in relieving the more distressing symptoms. And unless the nature of the material used is judiciously selected with reference to the particular stage and grade of the disease, the inhalations will be more likely to do harm than good. There are two conditions of the bronchi met with in different cases of chronic bronchial inflammation to which local applications can be made in the form of vapor with much benefit. The first is indicated by an abundant purulent or muco-purulent expectoration, sometimes fetid and at other times not. For such the full deep inhalation of aqueous vapor impregnated with some antiseptic and anodyne will be of great service. One of the best combinations that can be used for this purpose is that of carbolic acid with camphorated tincture of opium in the proportion of 2 grams of the former (gr. xxx) to 90 cubic centimeters (fluidounce iij) of the latter; 4 cubic centimeters (fluidrachm j) of this mixture may be put into 250 cubic centimeters (fluidounce viij) of hot water in an inhaling-bottle and the vapor inhaled freely, five minutes at a time, two or three times each day.
The second condition alluded to is characterized by a persistent, harsh, irritating cough, with little or no expectoration, indicating a sensitive and congested condition of the mucous membrane with diminished secretion. Such cases may generally be much relieved by adding to the antiseptic and anodyne mixture just given some one of the oleo-resin or balsamic preparations, of which perhaps none are more efficient than that which is known in the shops as oil of Scotch pine. Four cubic centimeters (fluidrachm j) of this may be added directly to the quantity of the other ingredients already given, and then used in the same manner. The combination thus used appears to allay the morbid sensitiveness and speedily establishes a better secretory action.
There is another important class of cases met with most frequently in persons of both sexes between twelve and twenty years of age. They present a narrow, imperfectly-developed chest, with so sensitive a condition of the bronchial membrane that every trifling exposure to cold and damp air renews the vascular hyperæmia and cough, until both become permanent and the morbid process extends into the connective tissue of the pulmonary lobules, establishing what some call interstitial pneumonia and others fibroid phthisis. In the earlier stage of all this class of cases the systematic daily practice of full, deep inhalations of pure atmospheric air, coupled with a judicious exercise of the muscles of the chest and arms, will do more to remove all symptoms of bronchial disease and preserve the general health of the patient than all the medicines that have been hitherto devised. There is much evidence in favor of using compressed air for inhalation in these and some other cases of bronchial inflammation. The late F. H. Davis of this city, who during his brief professional career gave much attention to the treatment of diseases of the respiratory organs, and had good opportunities for clinical observation, says, when speaking of the same class of young subjects, that "the inhalation of compressed air for from five to ten minutes once or twice a day produced marked and rapid improvement in all the cases. The size of the chest on full inspiration was increased from one-half inch to one inch in the first month, and a habit of fuller, deeper breathing and a more erect carriage was established."8 But he adds, with proper emphasis, that the inhalations to be permanently curative must be continued faithfully for many months, and be accompanied by a judicious regulation of all the habits of life.
8 See paper read before the Chicago Society of Physicians and Surgeons, April, 1877, on "The Respiration of Compressed and Rarefied Air in Pulmonary Diseases."