Pleuritis

(mreveiric, from TEU the membrane lining the lungs.) Pleurisy, or inflammation of the pleura. A species of neumonia of Cullen. _See PNEUMONIA. n some instances the inflammation is partial, er affects one place in particular, which is com=— monly on the right side; but in general, a morbid affection is communicated throughout its whole extent. The disease is occasioned by exposure to cold, and by all the causes: which usually give rise to all inflammatory complaints; and it attacks chiefly those of a vigorous constitution and plethoric habit. In ages ean sequence of the. previous inflammation, it js apt at its departure to leave behind a thickening of the pleura, or adhesions to the ribs and intercostal muscles, which either lay the | foundation of future pneumonic complaints, or render the patient more susceptible’ of the changes in the state of the atmosphere than before. - It commences with an acute pain in the side, which is much increased by making a full inspiration, and is accompanied by flush- “Yng in the face, increased heat over the whole body, rigours, difficulty of lying on the side affected, together with a cough and nausea, | and the pulse is hard, strong, and frequent, end vibrates under the finger when pre ed ‘upon, not unlike the tense string of a musical instrument. If blood is drawn and allowed to stand for a short time, it will exhibit a thick sizy or buffy coat on its surface. If the disease be neglected at its onset, and the inflammation proceeds with great violence and rapidity, the Eines themselves become affected, the pa age of the blood th rough them is stopped, and the patient is suffocated; or from the combination of the two affections, the inflammation. pro- ‘ceeds on to suppuration, and an absce formed. The prognostic in pleurisy must be drawn from the severity of the symptoms. If the fever and inflammation have run high, and the pain should cease suddenly, with a change of countenance and a sinking of the pulse, reat danger may be apprehended; but if the heat and other febrile symptoms abate gradually; if respiration is performed with greater ease and le pain, and a free and copious ex- pec to ration ensues, a speedy recovery may be expected. he appearances on di ection ate much the same as those mentioned under the head of pneumonia, viz. an inflamed state of the pleura, connected with the lungs, having its surface covered with red ve els, and a jayer of coagulated lymph lying upon it, adhesions too, of the substance of the lungs to the pleura. _ Besides these, the lungs themselves are often found in an inflamed state, with an extra vasa- tion either of blood or coagulated lymph in their substance. Tubercles and absee es are - Jikewise frequently met with. 509