The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-09


ture. IL covers, as | said above,
the inside of the chest wall and is
reflected over the lungs as If they
were wrapped in two layers Of
very smooth, thin cellophane. The
lubricating fluid constantly poured
out between the layers of the
pleura allows the lung 10 move
expand and contract-in breath
ing with the greatest Of ease. II it
were not for the pleura, we would
creak when we breathe and it
would also probably be painful.
symptoms
That, of course, is exactly what
does happen when pleurisy comes
along. The Inflammation makes
the layers Of the pleura gritty and
rough and the lubricating fluid is
thickened and changed to an in
flammatory fluid The two layers
of the pleura CRATE on each other
you can't hear it unless you put
your ear against the chest wall,
but it is definite sign. known as
pleural friction. In fact, it has
been recognized since the earliest
times, and Hippocrates, the ia
Their Of medicine, spoke of the
sound as resembling the creaking
Of new leather strap.
The pain. however, is easily
perceived by the victim and con-
stitutes one of the main signs Of
the condition. 1t may be described
as a stitch in the side. Every time
the lung expands in breathing the
pain begins, so that the person
with pleurisy tends to limit mo-
ton on that side, lists in the d.
rection of the pleurisy and when
stripped he can easily be seen IA
voring the affected side.
Treatment
The treatment is directed to aio
him along those lines. The thing
which gives the greatest relief i.
TO strap the chest on the affected
side. Strips of adhesive plaster
long enough to reach from the
backbone to the breastbone are ap-
piled while the chest is in extreme
expiration, i.e., with all the air
forced out. Strip after strip is put
on like a set of shingles until
movement in that side is very
largely immobilized.
Pleurisy may follow infamma-
ton of the lungs, such as a cold
or pneumonia, or it may arise
spontaneously in the pleura alone.
We have described a simple form,
but it may go on to the forma.
ton of a good deal of fluid, OF
even pus. Pus in the pleura fol-
lows pneumonia, sometimes occurs
in tuberculosis. When fluid forms
in the pleura, with fever, and
without any antecedent lung in.
fiammation, it is well to suspect
tuberculosis. After the fluid is
drawn off X-rays of the chest
should be taken, and a tuberculin
test done. Under any circum-
stances, the patient should be
treated as potential case and
made to rest in bed six months.
Simple pleurisy is also, to a GER
tain extent, suspect in the same
way.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
J. L. O.:-"Please tell the first
symptom of cancer on the out
side. Does it start as a sore, or
like little scale? Does it burn or
pain?"
Answer presume you mean
cancer of the skin of the face or
hands. This may start in various
ways. Pain or burning is unfortu-
nately not often associated with
it. ! say unfortunately" because
if 1t were more people would con-
suit doctor early enough TO take
treatment. 1t may start as an
liberation or sore or simply a lit
tie scaling, which scabs over,
bleeds on picking, and then scabs
over again, but never completely
heals. Any change in the skin in
a person over So years old should
be cause for consultation with a