Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-05
Pneumonia.
BY WIN. W. HIBBARD, NJ. D.l

Pneumonia is very common DIS
ease. 1t occurs in nearly all portions OF
the globe among the savage and civil
lied at all ages, and under every
variety Of the climate. On account OF
it's frequency and by reason of the inn
portance of the part involved, pneu-
monia or lung fever as 1t is known i'll
common language has always occupied
a very prominent place in medical
literature. The disease is sufficiently
common throughout the United States
to become familiar to one at all ex-
perienced in sickness. Even in Flo.
rida, Colorado, Southern California,
Arizona and other sections where
climatic conditions have proven benefi-
cial in throat AID lung ailments, pneu-
mOnia is not infrequently seen, and OF
the severest type, especially is this so
III the higher attitudes where there is
the maximum of difference between
day and night temperature. 1t
is under such. conditions and
with such changes that the great
est OF care should DE exercised
in guarding against the development OF
this affection. During the day the
body may become heated, but when
night comes on, the suns rays are with
drawn, and unless there be an increase
of clothing, especially if the person be
in state OF debility, there will not be
sufficient resistance to the disease.
Many a person OF poor or medium
health has been unable to withstand
such changes. As has been previously
remarked, so important is the lung as
m haf rtGap 70, ~
great importance in consideration. 1t
may in general be defined as an infam-
nation of the substance of the lung, but
in order to correctly unders and this
definition it is necessary to still further
explain. The Inflammation is situated
in the substance of the lung and the
substance of the lung relates TO the air
cells together with the ends OF the
smallest bronchial branches. At the
end OF these branches there is a MEM
bgane differing materially from the
membrane found in the large bronchial
tubes. The air cells constitute what
are called lobules or little obes. These
little lobes are united by areoIar tissue,
and by this unison the large lobes of
the lungs are constituted. In pneu-
mOnia Inflammation is found in the
membrane lining, the air cells and
terminal bronchial branches.
The reader will readily understand
after what has been written that the
larger bronchial tubes are not gem
pneumonia. When uncomplicated it
affects at least one or more lobes OF the
lung. IL varies considerable. 1t may
be single or double. There are many
influences which may favor an attack
of pneumonia. The disease may be de-
veloped by an indoor life where there
is poor ventilation and bad atmos-
phere, by bad habits, especially abuse
OF alcoholic stimulants, by exposure to
cold or wet weather, and by injury to
the part involved. 1t may also develop
in the course OF other diseases, as in
consumption and typhoid fever. In.
deed it may be truthfully said that all
bad hygienic influences OF every kind
which induce debility may tend to the
developing Of this ailment. II we were
to seek out single cause of this dis
ease more important than any other
We would consider first IN order, at
mospheric influences. conditions Of the
weather. These undoubtedly have as
much to do with the causation OF pneu-
monia as any known agency. Every
one knows how much cold, damp
weather tends to increase infammatory
chest affections. Climates and seasons
having the most marked changes of
temperature, those parts of the year
characterized by humidity and varia-
bility invite the disease, as is seen in
this country in\winter and spring, the
former especially.N Occasionally pneu-
monia prevails extensively and has the
appearance OF being epidemic like, but
thus far the subtle atmospheric in
tiuences which bring about such con-
ditions have escaped our means Of OBJ
servation. IA
The disease appears to be more COM
mon among persons whose occupation
is such as to expose them themNto influ-
ences which favor an attack The
period OF life at which it is as frequently
found as any is between twenty and
forty years Of age, although il is quite
common in old age and not infrequent
in infants. The changes which occur
in the lungs in case of pneumonia are
as follows: The affected part becomes
intensely congested with blood the In.
fammation may be circumscribed Or
scattered over considerable area of the
lung; the pulmonary vessels are en-
gorged; the air passages contain
viscid mucus which Clues together
the surfaces OF the terminal bronchial
branches; later on the air cells are
almost if not quite filled with a thick
tenacious oxidation. This coagulating
material escapes from the blood and
coojulates within the air cells. The
cells are filled and distended with the
exuded matter. They cease to contain
air. The lung as it were becomes solid