On a form of bronchitis (simulating phthisis) which is peculiar to certain branches of the potting trade : a graduation thesis to which was awarded the gold medal of the University of Edinburgh, August 2, 1864 / by Charles Parsons.

  • Parsons, Charles.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On a form of bronchitis (simulating phthisis) which is peculiar to certain branches of the potting trade : a graduation thesis to which was awarded the gold medal of the University of Edinburgh, August 2, 1864 / by Charles Parsons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    lodged ill the air cells, iiiHammation is set up followed by exudation, and when contraction ensues the mass ot dust is encapsuled, as it were, by the exuded materia), and tlie vesicle itself possibly obliterated, or occupied b\ it. In the recorded cases they were ail of small size, ex- ceedingly numerous in every part of the lung, and similar in character and appearance, affording strong grounds for presuming that they had but one mode of origin. Again, reasoning from analogy, these cretificiations might probably be formed by the deposition of phosphate of lime from irritated mucous membrane upon the par- ticles of dust regarded as foreign bodies, and forming, so to speak, the nuclei of the concretions. Just as happens in the urinary bladder, when substances are introduced from without they soon become coated with the salts suspended in the urine ; and as in the case of a plum-stone lodged in the trachea, which became encrusted with phos- phate of lime ; so here, the dust plays the part of a nucleus around which the salts of the pulmonary secre- tion arc gathered. Many other examples might be cited in illustration, but these sufficiently demonstrate my position. The observations of Dr. Walshe lend force to this explanation. Spcjiking of phosphate of lime he says : So frequent is the occurrence of this salt in calculous masses on mucous surfaces, as to lead irresistibly to the conclusion, that mucous membrane has a specific tendency to secrete this salt, under certain conditions of local irritation. The question next arises. Can anytliing be done in the way of treatment ? Probably removal from tlie work- shop at the first onset of the disease, and abandonment of these particular branches of the potting trade, is the only method of arresting the further development of the malady. But the remedy rests chiefly with the manu-