The Washington times., 1919-03-30

- ECENT developments In the science
Z of taking X-ray pictures and max.
~ ing X-ray examinations Of the
.s human body have progressed to such q
point tI1at they supply what famous sur
geon dreamed Of and Ionged fora living
: autopsy
Particularly is this true in tuberculosis,
pleurisy, pneumonia and all diseases Of
the chest.
A skilful use of the X-ray apparatus
e viii often reveal the approach of such dis
eases, the turn they are taking, whether
for the better or worse, and the best
means Of treating them. The same objects
could not have been attained with the same
certainty by any of the older methods.
The earlier way Of diagnosing chest dis.
eases was by "auscultation," with and
p without the stethoscope. That method de-
pended on the doctors ear and left much
room for error.
The new methods of using the X-rays in
the treatment Of chest diseases are de-.
scrfbed in a new work, "Radio-diagnosis Of
Pieuro-Pulmonary Affections" By Profes-
sor F. BARRON, of Paris, translated by DR..
James Albert Honeij radiologist Of the
Yale School of Medicine published by the
Yale University Press).
e The observations are made by throwing
an X-ray shadow on q screen, by taking
X-ray pictures or by direct observation
with the eye of patient under the X-rays
or by all three methods combined.
The author points out that only grave
defects are generally audible with the
stethoscope. On the other hand, the X-ray
gives a picture Of the lungs and heart
working under all conditions.
"a collection of bodies Of different densi.
ties" he says, will give on the radioscopic
screen a series of shadows varying in
value, and this variation will be the more
marked the greater the difference In speci-
hc gravity of the bodies examined"
The lungs filled with air form on each
side of the chest two organs Of very light
density which are seen on the radioscopic
screen as two clear areas on which the
adjacent organs of a much greater density
stand out remarkably. In this manner the
contours Of the heart, made more Opaque
by the large quantity Of blood they con-
tain, appear clearly, as we'll as the edge
Of the ribs, made darker by their bony
structure and their richness in mineral
salts.
On the other hand the slightest disease
mark on the pulmonary tissue bringing
about an appreciable modification Of the
pleura, or enclosing membrane, appears as
an abnormal shadow on the screen which
will easily attract the physicians atten'
ton.
X.ray views are taken in a number of
positions, and a contrast Of the different
views helps to decide the patients Condi-
ton.
When the view is taken from the front,
an enlarged and elongated shadow Of the
hilus, or root Of the lung, indicates disease.
The sinuseS or recesses near the diaphragm
should be visible, and their nOnappear-
ance means pleurisy.
From behind less is seen on account Of
the interference Of the backbone, but q
valuable view Of the sinuses is obtainable.
From the right side the Xray will reveal
particularly liver abscess. From the left
# Is valuable In showing the extent Of
anOurism (dilation) in the descending
aefta Of the heart.
The lungs, as seen on the screen, appear
lighter on breathing in and darker on
breathing out. Any change from this con-
dition indicates disease.
In the beginning Of tuberculosis the K