On the pathological anatomy of bronchitis, and the diseases of the lung connected with bronchial obstruction / by W.T. Gairdner, M.D.

  • Gairdner, W. T. (William Tennant), Sir, 1824-1907.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the pathological anatomy of bronchitis, and the diseases of the lung connected with bronchial obstruction / by W.T. Gairdner, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    tions are not always exactly circumscribed by the interlobular tissue. I believe this appearance will be fully accounted for by the fact that when bronchial abscesses occur, the bronchitis is usually general and intense, and the collapse correspondingly diffused. Besides, I have found bronchial abscesses, and their results, in exactly circumscribed lobules, in repeated instances; and that the tissue in which they occur is mostly collapsed there can be no doubt, from the whole of its ordinary and microscopic characters. (See Case V.) With these remarks I shall lay before the reader a few examples of this interesting lesion, which undoubtedly forms one of the most frequent consequences of intense bronchitis in children, and is also not rare in adults. With the exception of Case V., these observa- tions, like many others which I have recorded, were made without the knowledge of those of the other authors mentioned above. Case V.—Death from Dysentery—Extensive Collapse of Lung, with Bronchial Abscesses—Emphysema of Lung.—(P. R. 350.) A woman, set. 30,—body examined June 8, 1850. The body was much emaciated and pale. Heart normal. Both pleura contained a small quantity of fluid, 'with some floating and adherent soft lymph. The lungs presented great variations in density; the anterior edges were partially emphysematous, but between the portions thus affected could be felt numerous condensed parts, which, when superficial, presented a somewhat sunk collapsed appearance, and a deep purple colour. At the posterior part of the lungs were considerable masses similarly condensed. On cutting into the pulmonary tissue, there were seen, throughout the condensed portions, numerous small yellow points resembling softened tubercles, but more irregular in outline ; these, when scraped with the knife, were found to be bronchial tubes, or small cavities filled with and surrounded by pus. Except at these points, the condensed tissue yielded to the knife only a little sero-sanguinolent fluid, which, when examined under the microscope, contained mostly blood corpuscles, with a few epithelial cells and pus cor- puscles. . . . The colon presented a marked example of follicular dysenteric ulcers, wnicli had destroyed a considerable portion of the mucous membrane. This case presents an example of the very first stage of the dis- ease, the mucous membrane of the bronchi being as yet scarcely destroyed. It is the same affection of the lung as appears to be figured by Dr Addison in Guy's Hospital Reports, Series 2d, Vol. III., Plate 3. Its resemblance to tubercle, as well as its distinguish- ing characters, have been perfectly correctly appreciated by Dr Addison. Case VI.—Bronchitis after Fever, with Collapse of Lung—Death from this cause and Dysentery—Bronchial Abscesses.—(P. R. 62.) A boy, ret. 11, admitted under Dr Bennett, 13th Dec. 1848 in a delirious state, ana with the symptoms of typhus fever. He continued in this state with weak pulse up to the 22d, when the tongue was cleaner, the pulse still weak, and there was slight erythema on the back. Next day cough attracted attention ; the chest was somewhat dull at the lower part ; there were sibilant rales, and on the 24th slight crepitation over the lower lobes of either mng. On the 27th dysenteric symptoms supervened, and continued till ms aeatn.