BRONCHO-PNEUMONIA FROM INHALATION. 



Synonyms. Inhalation Pneumonia, Inhalation Bronchitis. 

 Broncho-pneumonia from foreign bodies. Alimentary Pneu- 

 monia. All forms of broncho-pneumonia are due to the inhala- 

 tion of infinitesimal bodies — microbes — but this article will deal 

 rather with cases in which the disease is induced, or complicated 

 by the introduction by way of the larynx or trachea of larger 

 bodies, liquid or .solid, which remain as mechanical irritants in 

 the air passages. Such extraneous bodies, with some excep- 

 tions in which they have been sterilized, are' invariably the 

 bearers of septic germs, so that, to the mechanical injury there 

 is superadded active fermentation in the foreign bodies them- 

 selves, in the bronchial walls and finally in the lungs, with 

 local and it may be general poisoning by the septic products of 

 the micro-organisms. All such cases are characterized by the 

 visible presence of the foreign matters in the bronchia, usually 

 in an advanced condition of putrefaction, by the foul odors, by 

 the implication, Jirst, of the mucosa with cloudy swelling and 

 desquamation of the epithelium, and a serous exudate much al- 

 tered by the septic products : second, by peribronchial, and inter- 

 lobular, and lobular inflammation and infiltration. 



INHALATION PNEUMONIA IN SOI,IPEDS. 



Causes. Excluding microbian invasion, the extension of pre- 

 existing bronchitis by the deeper penetration of the muco-puru- 

 lent products into the capillary tubes, and the effects of the in- 

 halation of irritant gases, we have still a large class of cases de- 

 termined by the presence of larger bodies of extraneous origin. 

 Liquid inhalations occur most frequently from the forcible ad- 

 ministration of medicines in a fluid state. The length of the 

 soft palate in the horse in a measure protects him against this 

 danger, as he can hold the liquids in the mouth indefinitely, re- 

 fusing to swallow voluntarily. This is, however, met by the ill- 

 considered ingenuity of man, who pours the fluid through a 

 tube passing through the fauces, or manipulates the larynx vio- 

 lently pushing it up against the pharynx to rouse reflex degluti- 



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