CHAPTER LXXXI 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS 



General remarks — Rhinitis spastica vasomotoria — Gangosa — Hirudiniasis — 

 Rhinal chilopodiasis — Linguatuliasis — Rhino-pharyngitis spirochaetica — 

 Bronchial spirochaetosis — Tropical bronchomycoses — Pulmonary 

 nocardiasis — References . 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



Diseases of the respiratory organs are of common occurrence 

 in the tropics, in the form of acute or chronic inflammation of the 

 nose, throat, larynx, bronchi, or lungs. Pneumonia is less common 

 than in Europe, and must be carefully diagnosed from pneumonic 

 plague, liver abscess, and malaria, by careful physical examination, 

 as well as by microscopical examination of the sputum and blood. 

 Liver abscess may burst into the lung or pleural cavity, and may 

 cause the expectoration of a peculiarly brown and viscid sputum. 

 Emphysema djRd asthma are fairly conimon, and all types of bronchitis 

 are met with, though more rarely than in temperate zones. 



Phthisis is common, and appears to be increasing in the East, 

 but it must be remembered that the pulmonary lesions of paragoni- 

 miasis, histoplasmosis, bronchospirochaetosis, and certain broncho- 

 mycoses, closely simulate this disease, and the examination of the 

 sputum is imperative. The occurrence of Porocephalus in the lungs 

 must also be remembered, and the intense congestion in heat-stroke. 

 There are several conditions which deserve special mention with 

 regard to tropical disease. 



RHINITIS SPASTICA VASOMOtORIA. 



Synonyms. — Rhinitis nervosa, Coryza spasmodica, Dispnee tropi- 

 cale, Tropical hay fever. 



Definition. — A rhinitis characterized by fits of sneezing, with 

 the production of much nasal mucus, and obstruction of the nose 

 from swelling of the mucous membrane over the turbinated bones. 

 The affection has the greatest resemblance to hay fever. 



History. — This disease appears to have been first described by 

 Zegers in 1901, in Batavia, while Brero gives a full description in 

 Mense's ' Tropenkrankheiten,' and we have seen several cases in 

 Ceylon. O'Zoux has recorded numerous cases in the island of 

 Reunion. 



1875 



