The Gross Pathology of the Chest

Abstract

MANY times, as I have stood by the postmortem table, I have been impressed with the close resemblance between this visual picture and that of the radiograph. The gross pathology, as it is often seen, has such general characteristics as to make one disease readily distinguishable from another. It is my desire to speak of those cardinal findings which, when grouped together, characterize such gross pathology, and to call attention to the differences between these groups of cardinal findings, rather than to elaborate upon the minute detail of one particular sign of any certain disease. As the pathologist lays open the chest wall he often exclaims that this is sarcoma or pneumonia. There is something, in other words, about the general appearance of the disease which is so characteristic that he does not hesitate to voice his opinion. Again, on the next case, he may show considerable hesitancy and, being in such doubt, delay a final opinion until microscopical studies can be had of certain sections. May we not...