Bronchitis

(brong-ki' 'tis). Inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the bronchial tubes. It is usually attended with sorene , cough, alteration of the voice, and febrile symptoms. B., Acute, a severe form of simple bronchial catarrh. It is the initiatory stage of the other forms of the disease, and is usually the result of a chill, though it may be a ociated with some other disease, as the exanthemata, and affections of the kidney and heart. Sibilant and sonorous rhonchi and bubbling rales may be heard on auscultation. B., Acute Capillary, a variety in which there is an involvement of the minute tubes of the lung. It is most frequently met with in children, usually secondarily to other diseases of the lung or other organs. The symptoms are urgent dyspnea, short, irritating cough, nervous depre ion, and excited action of the heart. Collapse of portions of the lung frequently occurs, and the patient may die of asphyxia and extreme exhaustion. B., Catarrhal, a form attended with profuse muco-purulent discharges. B., Chronic, a form occurring either as an independent disease or as the result of repeated attacks of the acute variety. It is generally a ociated with organic changes in the lungs and other organs, such as emphysema, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis and pleurisy. Occurring in old people, it produces the well-known " winter cough " of the aged. B., Croupous, Fibrinous, or Plastic, a rare variety attended with the expectoration of casts of the bronchial tubes, after a paroxysm of dyspnea and violent coughing. The casts are fibrinous in nature, hollow, yellowish-white, and vary from one to seven inches in length. This form of bronchitis is usually seen in males, and between the ages of ten and thirty. B., Mechanical, or Potter's, a form caused by the inhalation of dust, etc. B., Potter's. See B., Mechanical. B., Putrid, or Fetid, a variety of chronic bronchitis characterized by the discharge of a copious, half-liquid, extremely offensive sputum. The peculiar odor is thought to be due to a microorganism, especially to a short, slightly curved bacillus described by Lumnitzer. B., Summer. Synonymous with Hay Fever, q. v.