This is a subacute or chronic form of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes, of a very persistent character and variable intensity. There are few diseases which manifest a greater variety of modifications than this.

Symptoms. The symptoms of this disease vary greatly with its violence and progress. Cough is always present, and is very often the first symptom to attract the patient's attention. It is usually increased by every slight cold, and with each fresh accession becomes more and more severe, and is arrested with greater difficulty. The cough is always persistent, sometimes short and hacking, at other times deep, prolonged, and harsh. Sometimes it is spasmodic and irritating and particularly so when it is associated with affections of the larynx, or with asthma, involving irritation of the branches or the filaments of the pneumogastric nerve.

When the chronic follows the acute form of the disease, or follows inflammation of the lungs, the expectoration may be profuse from the first, and of a yellowish color and tenacious character. When the disease arises from other causes, the expectoration is generally slight at first, and the cough dry or hacking. This may continue some time before much expectoration occurs. The expectorated matter is at first whitish, opaque, and tenacious, mixed sometimes with a frothy mucus, requiring considerable coughing to loosen it and throw it off. As the disease progresses, it becomes thicker, more sticky, of a yellowish or greenish color, mixed with pus, and sometimes streaked with blood. In the latter stages, it becomes profuse and fetid, and severe hemorrhage may occur. Sometimes the cough and expectoration disappear when the weather becomes warm, to appear again with the return of winter, which has gained for it the appellation of winter cough. The sufferers feel as if something was bound tightly round them, rendering inhalation difficult. Soreness throughout the chest is often a persistent symptom, especially when the cough is dry and hard. Behind the breast-bone there is experienced a sense of uneasiness, in some cases amounting to pain, more or less severe.

As the disease progresses, the loss of strength is more and more marked, the patient can no longer follow his usual employment, his spirits are depressed, and he gradually sinks, or tubercular matter is deposited in the lungs, and consumption is developed.

Treatment. Thorough attention to hygiene, with the avoidance of the causes concerned in the production and perpetuation of the disease, is necessary. The patient must be protected from the vicissitudes of the weather by plenty of clothing; flannel should be worn next to the skin, with a pad of flannel or buckskin over the chest, and the feet should be kept warm and dry. Exercise in the open air is essential. When the weather is so cold as to excite coughing, something should be worn over the mouth, as a thin cloth, handkerchief, muffler, or anything which will modify the temperature of the atmosphere before it comes into contact with the mucous lining of the lungs. Good ventilation of sleeping-rooms is all-important; not that the air should be cold, but that it should be as pure as possible.

The diet must be nutritious, cabonaceous, and of sufficient quantity. Beef, milk, rich cream, plenty of good butter, eggs, fish, wheat bread from unbolted flour, supply the appropriate alimentary substances for perfect nutrition and the maintenance of animal heat.

To overcome the modified form of inflammation in the bronchial tubes, all sources of irritation should be avoided, as the inhalation of dust, or excessively cold air. It is in the cure of severe and obstinate cases of this disease that Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery has achieved unparalleled success, and won the highest praise from those who have used it. Its value will generally be enhanced in treating this complaint by adding one-half a teaspoonful of the fluid extract of Veratrum Viride to each bottle. This can be added by any respectable druggist. Especially should it be thus modified if the pulse be accelerated so as to beat ninety or a hundred times in a minute. The "Golden Medical Discovery" should be taken in teaspoonful doses, repeated every two hours. When the cough is dry and hard, with no expectoration, it arises from irritation of some of the branches of the pneumogastric nerve, which this remedy will relieve. It may, however, be aided by inhaling the hot vapor of vinegar and water, or vapor from a decoction of hops, to which vinegar has been added.

The use of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery should be persisted in, taking it in frequent doses, every two or three hours, and keeping up its use until the disease yields and is perfectly stamped out. Do not expect a formidable disease of perhaps weeks' or months' duration to be speedily cured. Chronic diseases are generally slow in their inception and development and can only be cured by gradual stages. Perseverance in treatment is required. Many invalids do not possess the strength of purpose—the will power—to continue the use of the "Golden Medical Discovery" long enough to receive its full benefits. It is worse than useless for such to commence its use, for without persistency it cannot be expected to cure such obstinate maladies as chronic bronchitis.