ASTHMA, in Medicine, a Disease of the Lungs, accompanied with a Shortness, and Difficulty of Respiration. See RESPIRATION and LUNGS.
Or, Asthma is a Difficulty of Breathing, arising from a Disorder of the Lungs; and usually attended with violent Motions of the Diaphragm, Abdominal and Intercostal Muscles, as also a rattling in the Throat.
The Word is Greek, ἄσθμα; formed of the Verb ἀέω, Spiro; I breathe.
If Respiration be only thick and quick, without the other Symptoms, it is called a Dyspnoea—If it be so intense as to occasion a violent Motion of the Muscles of the Thorax; so that the Patient cannot be tolerably easy, except in an erect Posture, it is called an Orthopnæa. See DYSPNOEA and ORTHOPNOEA.
Asthma is usually divided into Moist and Dry, or Manifest and Occult, or Pneumonic and Convulsive: The first attended with an Expectoration of purulent Matter; the latter without. The true Asthma is occasioned by an abundance of Serosities, or of gross viscous or purulent Humours, collected in the Cavities of the Lungs, which stop up or straighten the Passages of the Air, and compress the Bronchia. See BRONCHIA.
It is also owing to Empyemas, Phthisis's, Crudities in the Stomach, Cachexies, etc. See EMPYEMA, PHTHISIS, etc.
The convulsive Asthma is supposed to be occasioned by an irregular Motion of the Animal Spirits; and happens when the Spirits do not flow fast enough, or in sufficient Quantity, into the Muscles of the Breast, either by reason of an Obstruction, or of some other Obstacle: The necessary Consequence whereof is a violent and painful Respiration—The Asthma, again, is either continual, or periodical, and intermitting; which last returns chiefly where a sober Regimen is not observed. The Asthma is found to be the most violent when the Patient is in Bed, and in a prone Posture; the Contents of the lower Belly, in that case, bearing against the Diaphragm, so as to lessen the Capacity of the Breast, and to leave the Lungs less room to move.
The Cure of the true or pneumonic Asthma, is by bleeding; after which Emetics may be used; and if the Paroxysm returns, Epispastics, with Glysters instead of Purges.—Infusions of Figs, Equin., or the Juice thereof, being detergent and attenuating, are reputed excellent. Lixiviums also contribute to the Cure, Sillepedes, Spirit of Gum Ammoniac, with Sal Ammoniac, Coffee, Tincture of Sulphur, etc. are commended in Asthmatic Cases. For the convulsive Kind, the Cure is attempted by Antiepileptics, Antibysterics, Antispasmodics, Opiates, etc.
