The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23
Medical Notes.

i Hemoptysis, which means splitting of
blood.
"A sensation of weight and oppression at
the chest, sirs;
With tickling at the larynx which scarce
~ gives you rest, sirs;
Full, hard pulse, salt taste and tongue
very white, sirs:
And blood brought up in coughing, of
color very bright, sirs
1t depends on causes three-the firsts
The next a. ruptured artery; the third,
liberation.
Sing hey, sing no. we do not grieve
"hen this formidable illness takes it's
The splitting Of blood, or, as it is tech
n1cally called, hemoptysis, is not a dis
ease; it is only a symptom of a. disease,
But 1t Is an important symptom, both to
the physician and patient, in a triple
sense, from the point Of view of dag
nos1s, prognosis, and treatment. Follow
Ing state of general malaise "a French
term often used in medicine to designate
an 1H-denned sense of general discom-
fort and uneasiness), often of short du-
ration, sick person. sometimes a per-
son who has enjoyed apparently good
health, feels peculiar sensation of heat
IN the chest, with perhaps slight, dry
cough, and unusual oppression, and a
feeling of fatigue in the chest, more or
metallic taste Cthe taste of blood is no
ticed by the patient, and this is soon
followed by tickling in the throat and
the expectoration of blood-stained mat
ter, and even clots of blood Then the
patients chest heaves, his face becomes
pale, respiration becomes labored. as if
he was suffocating, while mental anxiety
adds to the depression and debility. due
to the loss of blood
y
Hemoptysis is rare in infancy and old
age. 1t may follow an abrupt and mark
ed change of atmospheric pressure such
as occurs In balloon ascensions, In the
ascent Of high mountains, or in deep
sea diving, etc. In other cases violent
crying, extreme fatigue of the vocal or
respiratory organs, excessive heat or
cold, intoxication, vapor> baths, even
room heated by defective stove, and
many other causes, may bring on an
attack Of blood-spitting. In these cases.
however, there is always special pre-
disposition, at least a particular weakness
of the blood vessels and tissues. A VIC
lent blow upon the chest, fracture and
depression Of the ribs, Occupations car
ried on in the midst of irritating dust.
or water. may on the other hand cause
blood splitting in subjects with slight
predisposition.
Nine times out of ten, however, pull
monary phthisis, that is, tuberculosis,
more commonly called CONSUMPTION. is
the cause of blood-spitting 1t may oc-
cur at any and all stages Of this disease.
quite commonly 1t is a manifestation
of the beginning, appearing in a subject
relatively in apparent good health, but
often of rheumatic tendency In this
case, when hemoptysis occurs, it is sirnp-
ly bloody effusfon, the result Of con-
gestion, while heTnoptysis occurring In
the final stages Of consumption, is due to
liberation Of the lungs and the rupture
Of arteries situated in the ulcera ting cav
tiles. 1t is therefore quite evident that
this symptom, in the latter case, is much
more serious than In the former tho
treatment Is more difficult and the out
look less hopeful.
Next IN Importance to consumption as
the cause Of homoptysis are diseases of
the heart In this case the quantity of
blood is usually less and it ESCAPES more
In the form of a true hemorrhage. It an
pears OF hlackish color and is viscous.
While in tuberculous henoptysis the ole+s
are bright crimson and have frothy an
pearance.
The lungs, according TO the immortal
Harvey, ARE the treasury of the blood"
We ought then to strive to prevent aYy
depletion OF this treasure by the escape
of blood from the lungs. before seeking
the causes and employing all resources
against them, as every true physician
feels obliged to do, there is one more i'm
portant matter to be attended to: Il Is
necessary, without delay, to find a rem
edy for the loss of blood, even IL 1t IS
slight, for this loss of blood terrifies the
patient and friends even though it be OF
slight seriousness. In such cases when
nothing else is at hand spoonful or
two of common salt, with a few sips of
water, will often check the bleeding in
the beginning
The patient should be kept perfectly
quiet. He should be instructed to rest,