PNEUMONOKONIOSIS.
This unwieldy title is given to the chronic pneumonic process induced by the inhalation of air laden with particles of dust of various kinds, and therefore includes the Anthracosis of coal-miners, the Siderosis of metal grinders, and the Clzalicosis or Silicosis of stone-cutters.
Anthracosis with its black expectoration seldom leads to serious injury of the pulmonary substance, but the inhalation of particles of metal and silicious matter eventually terminates in a chronic inflammatory process in which localised pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema and bronchiectasis play their separate parts, generally to be followed by a tuberculous invasion of the affected pulmonary tissues.
Preventive treatment consists in the use of respirators and the freest ventilation of the air in the mine or workshop in which the unhealthy occupation is carried on, and the occasional spraying of the air by jets of atomised water to lay the dust.
Once the symptoms of bronchial irritation with the characteristic sputum manifest themselves, the patient should be compelled to change his occupation. The after-treatment will be that suitable for the most prominent symptoms—bronchitic, emphysematous or bronchiectatic which dominate the clinical picture.
Aspergillosis is a condition closely allied to the above, in which a chronic pneumonic process is set up by the inhalation of the spores of Aspergillus fumigatus existing in various kinds of grain. It is met with in pigeon feeders, and in hair-sorters who use rye-flour in their work.
The treatment is to immediately stop the possibility of the further entrance of the fungus by a change of occupation, and to administer the agents already detailed as indicated for the relief of the localised pneu monia, bronchitis and emphysema present.
As for the somewhat similar condition of Actirionlycosis of the lung caused by the entrance of the ray fungus, Iodides have proved of un doubted value when given for long peridds in full doses; these should be administered also in aspergillosis, alone or in combination with moderate doses of Arsenic. Recently deep muscular injections of 5 c.c. of Sterilised Milk have been recommended, and Vaccine treatment has been employed, 25 million fragments of the fungus being injected.