NON-TUBERCULAR HEMORRHAGES OF THE AIR PASSAGES.

Abstract

The great vascularity of the mucosa lining the respiratory tract, with its delicate epithelial coverings and its close sympathetic connections through its vasomotor system with the rest of the organism, renders it exceedingly vulnerable to atmospheric conditions and to blood changes and blood pressure from within the organism. The blood vessels supplying this great stretch of mucous membrane are affected by every atmospheric condition, such as thermic and barometric changes, parasitic irritations, dusts and pollens, noxious gases, and all the filth that saturates the atmosphere from many sources. All these forms of irritation disturbing the normal functions of the membrane produce hyperemias, destroy the epithelial coverings and set up morbid processes which weaken the vessel walls and are thus important etiologic factors in the production of hemorrhage. In addition to these atmospheric causes from without, we have the various forms of traumatism to which the anatomic structure of the respiratory