, 1888-05-24
EXPANSION OF THE LUNGS.
An Important Factor in the Cure of
Consumption-A Physicians Theory.

DIR. Thomas j. Mays, of Philadelphia,
In q paper read before the Philadelphia
County Medical society, Celebrates the
theory which he has repeatedly expressed,
hat an insufficient expansion of the
lungs, especially of their apices, has more
to do with the development of consump-
ton than the breathing of impure air,
and that, for the prevention of the dis
ease, complete expansion of these organs
is more important than the breathing of
pure air. The title of his paper Is Apex
Expansion versus Pure Air in Pulmonary
Consumption"
Although DIR. Mays acknowledges that
wholesome air is of value in the preven-
ton and treatment of consumption, still
he is convinced that the purity of the at
mosphere plays but a small part in the
result. He cites the almost complete ex-
emption from pulmonary consumption of
the inhabitants of Iceland, Greenland
and Lapland, whose habitations are no
~toriously wanting in ventilation, as proof
that this disease Is not the result of
breathing a vitiated and impure atmos-
phere. On the other hand, people living
in tropical regions, who are out of doors
most of the time, are by no means free
from consumption. Miners and laborers
in coal mines, although continually re-
spring an atmosphere loaded with i'm
p~urities, and damp and musty, suffer
but very little from this disease.
That which had been an important
factor in establishing the belief that pure
air is such an essential element in limit
ing the ravages of consumption, is that
those who occupy elevated or mountain
GUS regions are less liable to this disease
than those who live near the sea level.
In reference to this fact, DR.. NAYS saws
that it is estimated that mt AN elevation
of 5000 feet the surface of the BODY is
relieved of nearly 1000 pounds pressure.
When such an enormous weight is lifted
from the body, it is quite evident that its
interior must ais be markedly affected;
the pulse is accelerated from fifteen to
twenty beats per minute; the respiration
is quickened from ten to fifteen breaths,
and evaporation from the skin and lungs
is increased. These are some of the
immediate effects. Protracted resi-
dence in such a high region en-
larges the chest capacity. The Oui-
chua Indians, who dwell on the
elevated tablelands of Peru, have enor-
sized chests, containing c~apacious
lungs with large air cells. The Mexican
Indians possess chests which are out of
proportion to the sizes of the individuals.
DIR. Denison says that children born in
the Rocky mountains nave chests of I'M
usually large capacity, and NJ. Jaccoud
states that at st. Moritz the r~espirations
are not only more frequent, but fuller.
tt reason why the number of respira-
lions increases while ascending n high
elevation becomes clear when we take
into consideration the fact that at the
sea level a cubic foot of dry air contains
about 100 grains of oxygen, while at an
elevation of 5000 feet it contains only
about 10G grains-nearly 25 per cent. less
thar the body is accustomed to breathe
at or near the seaboard.
Professor Mosso has recently proven
eXperimentally that man possesses a lung
capacity which is nearly one-fourth larger
than the actual necessities of life at the
sea level demand; hence by employing
his whole lung capacity he can extract a
sufficient amount of oxygen from this
a~ttehuated atmosphere without difficulty.
And herein lies the secret why 80 many
c~onsumptives, and others with weak
lungs, derive such n great benefit when
they resort to a mountain climate.
Every available space in the chest is
brought into requisition to furnish the
needed mount of oxygen, the apices are
called out of their lethargic state, and
the alveoli are inflated; and, if the infl-
trated areas are not dispersed, the sur
rounding alveoli are kept permeable, and
SO he disease Is at least limited and
called into allegiance.
In concluding his paper, DR.. Mays
says; 'Now, after reviewing the whole
subject, we are driven to the conclusion
hat the line of immunity from consump-
ton, which in the early history Of our
country was located at the Atlantic sea-
board, and which has gradually receded
westward with the tide of civilization,
until at present it has reached the latitude
of Colorado, will not stop in its course
until it touches the shores of the Pacific
that the question of curing the disease
does not depend on the purity or fresh
ness of the air, or upon the number of
bacili which the atmosphere may con-
tain, or upon the amount of oxygen
which may be introduced into the body,
for these are all secondary considera-
tons; but it is simply a mechanical ques-
tion-a question as TO the best mode of
expanding the lungs, and especially the
apices of our round shouldered and flat
chested patients, of removing the inhl-
trated products already existing, and of
enhancing the constitutional resistance"
Science.