130 DISEASES OF THE PARENCHYMA OF THE LUNG. 



sake, called asthma. In order to allay the persistent oppression of the 

 chest, it is very desirable to send the patient for the summer to the pine- 

 wood region, and particularly to places where there is a heavy fall of 

 dew. The benefit which they derive in this highly-oxygenated atmos- 

 phere is always warmly extolled by them. From experiments made 

 with apparatus for inhalation of compressed air, the effect of this unfor- 

 tunately somewhat costly remedy, both upon the avidity for air and the 

 general health of emphysematous patients, is excellent, although only 

 palliative. Many of the patients "feel like new men" while in the 

 machine. The explanation of the improvement is easy. We have 

 already stated our views of the main element in the benefit derived 

 from inspiration of compressed air. *".'> 



To avert the asthmatic attacks, the patients must observe a strict 

 diet, avoid food likely to induce flatulence, eat little before going to 

 bed, and keep the bowels open daily. For the latter purpose, the pulvis 

 liquoritiae compos, is a mild and efficient cathartic. During the attack, 

 beware of mistaking the blunted sensibility and other " head-symptoms" 

 for the effects of venous engorgement of the brain, and thus bleeding 

 the patient. The symptoms of carbonic-acid poisoning would only be 

 promoted by depletion. The narcotics, too, especially opium, must be 

 used with caution in these attacks of emphysematous asthma, unless 

 called for by bronchial spasm. The more suitable remedies (besides the 

 emetics, which are very appropriate) are the stimulants, camphor, musk, 

 benzoin, and the large doses of port wine proposed by Waters ( j 

 | iss every three hours), and when these fail, the use of turpentine 

 ( 3 i to ss every three hours) in an aromatic water. 



For the dropsy, as has already been stated, whenever it depends 

 upon a capillary bronchitis, I have repeatedly produced excellent results 

 by means of vigorous diaphoresis. Later in the disease, when dropsy 

 arises from failure of the heart to compensate for the circulatory de- 

 rangement of the lungs, it may be relieved for a time by the use of 

 digitalis (an infusion 3ss 3j to water vj), just as in dropsy from 

 valvular disease of the heart. Where digitalis fails, squills sometimes 

 does excellent, though merely transitory, service. (Acet scilla3 j ; pot. 

 carb. q. s. ad. saturationem. Aquae destillat. J vj. HI. S. a tablespoonful 

 every two hours.) 



CHAPTER IV. 



DIMINISHED CAPACITY OF THE AIR-CELLS APNEUMATOSIS ATELECTA- 

 SIS COLLAPSE COMPRESSION OF THE LUNGS. 



ETIOLOGY. There are conditions under which the capacity of the 

 air-vesicles decreases and their walls finally come into contact. This 



