CATARRH

n. Ka2t-a3r'. Gr., Karappoo;, itarappoCy (from Kara, down, and pelv, to flow). Lat., catarrh us. Fr., catarrhe. Ger., C., Katarrh, Schnupfen. It., Sp., catarro. A simple inflammation of any mucous membrane, in which the blood-ve els become engorged, and swelling takes place from exudation of serum. The secretion of the mucous glands is at first checked and the membrane is dry; afterward there is an exce ive production of mucus, which oozes out together with serum and leucocytes in greater or le numbers. There is a copious generation or proliferation of young epithelial cells, which push their way to the surface, while the surface-epithelium is shed as rapidly as it is produced, or even more rapidly. The secretion may be abnormally thin, thick, or acrid. [A, 2; o, 17.] In common parlance, the term, used without qualification, is usually understood to mean a c. of the nose or of the nose' and pharynx, especially one that is chronic. It is sometimes applied to superficial inflammations of the skin. Alcoholic c. Fr., catarrhe gastrique des alconliques. A chronic c. of the stomach due to the abuse of alcohol, [Eloy, " Union m6d.," May 24, 1884. p. 913 (D).] Alveolar c. A condition of the pulmonary alveoli in which they are more or le completely filled with modified epithelial cells, together with some red and white blood-corpuscles, floating in a granular liquid exudate. It occurs in broncho-pneumonia. [Cornil and Eanvier (a, 18).] Apex c. C. of the bronchial tubes at the apex of the lungs, [a, 7.] Atrophic nasal c. A chronic nasal c. in which, from lo of the glands or interference with their function by pre ure of the enlarged stroma, dryne and atrophy of O, no; O, not; O, whole; Th, thin; Th2, the; U, like oo in [s. 125]