Studies on the Respiratory Organs in Health and Disease

In the last decade, particularly the latter half of this decade, the vital capacity test, together with certain measurements of the body from which physical fitness is ascertained, has rapidly been gaining in favor with physicians especially interested in diseases of the heart and lungs.The present study of which this paper is only a preliminary report represents an attempt to investigate carefully the value of the vital capacity test in diseases of the lungs.Recently I reported 1 approximately 100 cases in all of which stereo- roentgenograms were made.Later 2 I reported 230 cases.Since these papers were prepared further data have been collected and compiled on cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and one acute infection outside the respiratory tract (paratyphoid fever). I. PULMONARY TUBERCULOSISThe present report details the findings in 335 cases.Unfortunately roentgenograms could be had in only 210 cases.In all other cases the remaining necessary aids in diagnosis were employed and there was finally no doubt as to the diagnosis in any case.Table 1 shows that on a basis of the roentgen-ray examination the cases were classed as follows: I. Suspected cases: A. Roentgen- ray examination negative.II.Tuberculous cases: A. Peribronchial tuberculosis, (1) unilateral; (2) bilateral.B. Parenchymatous tuber- culosis, (1) unilateral (a) disease confined above the first rib or an area of similar size; (b) disease extending below the first rib, but not involving more than one lobe; (c) involvement of more than one lobe; From