BROKEN-WIND. 177 



violent exercise on a full stomach, with chronic bronchial 

 irritation as well perhaps, are the common fore-runners and 

 producers of this emphysematous condition of lung, there 

 can be no doubt; and I look upon Laennec^s explanation^ 

 — since adopted by Delafond — of the manner in which 

 bronchitis leads to emphysema, although it is ridiculed by 

 D^Arboval, as the most plausible theory we yet have on this 

 part of our subject. I also believe that the indigestion, so 

 common an attendant on the disease, may precede it, and 

 prove the origin of it. In regard to broken-wind arising 

 from other causes, I am of opinion that a disorder analogous 

 to it — ^perhaps indistinguishable from it — does on occasions 

 present itself, though, in the end, this may not turn 

 out to be what we have been in the habit of regarding as 

 genuine broken-wind : there will not, I apprehend, be 

 found to be in its origin, course, and termination, preciseli/ 

 the same series of phenomena ; notwithstanding, T repeat, 

 the symptoms may be so similar, that, by our ordinary tests 

 of observation, we fail to make out satisfactory differences 

 between them. The time seems fast approaching when we 

 shall be enabled to diagnosticate in the living animal between 

 emphysema of the lungs and rupture of the diaphragm, and 

 other lesions whose symptoms simulate those of broken- 

 wind ; and then — but not till then — shall we all come to 

 some unanimous opinion touching the pathology of the latter. 

 By PERCUSSION AND AUSCULTATION WO may, probably, be 

 enabled to achieve this great desideratum. According to 

 Delafond, "The pathognomonic signs of pulmonary em- 

 physema are, 1st. The interrupted respiration ; weak 

 respiratory murmur; loud resonance of the thoracic parietes; 

 rubbing sound; sibilous and crepitous rales. 2dly. The 

 simultaneous existence of all these symptoms in many parts 

 of the lung indicates general vesicular dilatation and inter- 

 lobular emphysema. 3dly. Weak respiratory murmur 

 during expiration, rubbing sound during inspiration, anormal 

 resonance of both sides of the chest, are more especially the 

 signs of simple vesicular dilatation, confined to the anterior 



' Given at page 169. 



II. 12 



