Catarrhal Bronchitis. 213 



tisation). When cut it does not present the granular appearance 

 of the latter, caused by the exudation into the minute air cells, 

 but the cut surface has an uniform homogeneous aspect, aptly 

 likened bylyaennec to muscular flesh (splenisation). Mendelson, 

 Traube and Gairdner have induced artificial collapse of the lung 

 by introducing foreign bodies into the bronchia of animals. 



Emphysema of the margins of the lung is a frequent concomi- 

 tant of collapse. The cause is plain. The portion of lung, the 

 subject of collapse, emptied of its air, does not occupy a tithe of 

 the space it would normally fill. The rest of the lung tissue ex- 

 pands unduly, to fill out the vacated portion of chest, and the cells 

 become over-distended and ruptured. The emph5'-sematous lung 

 is known by its Ijghter color, by its irregular bulging surface, by 

 the subsidence of these elevations when pricked with a needle, 

 and by a more marked crepitation when pressed. When the 

 cells have burst and the air escaped into the areolar tissue be- 

 tween the lobes, it appears as dark lines circumscribing" small 

 portions of pulmonary tissue, and collapsing when pricked. 



Treatment. Some general principles rule in treating acute 

 bronchitis. These may be suggested as follows : 



Rest is all-important to allow recuperation, restoration of vigor, 

 and the removal of the exhaustion, low condition and debility, 

 and the hurried breathing, which have acted as prominent causa- 

 tive factors. 



Pure air at a genial temperature constantly maintained, guards 

 against further irritation and soothes the inflamed passages. 

 Seek a sheltered box with sunny ejcposure. 



Moist warm air is especially soothing, as moist cold air is par- 

 ticularly injurious. 



In great dyspnoea with irritable contracted bronchia inhalation 

 of nitrite of amyle, fumes of burning saltpeter paper, iodide of 

 ethyl or chloroform will relieve, giving easy breathing and better 

 aeration of the blood. In the absence of these, hyoscyamus, bel- 

 ladonna, stramonium, tobacco, or lobelia may be tried. 



Sedative expectorants are of great use in the early, irritable, 

 dry condition of the mucosa, and may be found in salts of the 

 flxed alkalies — soda and potash — particularly in iodides and 

 bromides, in ipecacuanha, and, to a less extent, for herbivora, in. 

 the salts of antimony. 



