What is to be Expected from the Surgical Treatment of Tubercular Lungs?

Abstract

Chicago, July, 1898. To the Editor: —In consequence of the surprising declaration of Dr. Murphy, that tuberculosis of the lungs can be cured by injections of nitrogen gas into the pleural cavity, the question arises, what may we expect of this measure, setting aside all the difficulties arising by impossible diagnosis of adhesions, which would in some cases make the injections inefficient. We will only consider cases in which the method would effect a total compression of the diseased lung. What will be the consequence of such a state, so far as known by pathologic observation? It may be remarked that we know such cases, in which a healthy or emphysematous lung is compressed by rupture of some air cells, mostly in the place of a circumscribed adhesion of the pulmonary surface to the costal pleura. In general such traumatic pneumothorax heals without any difficulty. If a tuberculous lung is