Pneumectomy With the Cautery

Chronic suppuration of the lung constitutes one of the most difficult conditions which occur in the whole realm of medicine to treat satisfactorily. An acute suppurative infection of the lung often becomes chronic, even when an abscess has been drained which has apparently been single. A lung from such a case will often show multiple abscesses, with one or more abscesses which do not connect with the main drainage track; indeed, it may contain so many abscesses that it gives the appearance of being "honeycombed" with pus. In most cases some of the bronchi will be dilated and their walls will be thickened. Their lumina will contain granulation tissue which bleeds easily. Fibrosis of the lung will be a more or less characteristic feature. The various methods of artificial compression of the lung, such as pneumothorax and multiple rib resection, will usually not suffice to give relief. Additional drainage also