CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS 51 



heart. It is nearly always due to the lack of force or faulty 

 action of the heart, as stenosis or insufficiency of the mitral 

 valve, dilation of the right ventricle, or fatty degeneration. 

 It may also be caused by pressure on the pulmonary veins 

 by tumors, etc. In the latter stages of long continued dis- 

 eases or in any febrile condition when the heart action is 

 slowed, the blood gravitates to the lower part of the lung 

 producing a hypostatic congestion. 



Pathology.— The lung is somewhat enlarged, its consistency 

 increased, of a dark red color, and on section venous blood 

 escapes. When the condition has persisted for a long time, 

 the lung becomes brown, dense and firm, due to a deposit 

 of blood pigment and a proliferation of fibrous tissue in the 

 septa of the lung, a condition known as brown induration. 



Symptoms.— Dyspnea and a short, hard and usually dry 

 cough which has a tendency to become worse with exercise 

 or excitement. The bronchial discharge varies in amount 

 and in some cases may contain blood. Auscultation reveals 

 rales. On percussion only slight dulness may be noted. 

 The membranes are cyanotic. 



Diagnosis.— The dyspnea, cyanosis, characteristic cough 

 and shallow respirations without rise of temperature are 

 indicative. 



Prognosis.— Unfavorable, depending upon the cause and 

 extent. 



Treatment.— In the treatment of passive congestion of the 

 lungs, medicinal agents directed against the causative cardiac 

 affection are the ones which will most favorably influence 

 the pulmonary condition. As a heart stimulant the following 

 formula gives good results: 



1$ — Extracti digitalis fluidi . . .1.0 



Syrupus pruni virginiame . . 60.0 



Misce et fiat solutio. 

 Sig. — Give one teaspoonful once a day. 



In addition to this formula strychnin sulphate (0.001 

 daily) may be used as a general stimulant. To relieve the 

 cough when severe use: 



H — Morphini sulphatis . 0.1 



Aquae amygdalae amarae . . 30.0 



Misce et fiat solutio. 

 Sig. — Give a teaspoonful twice daily. 



