A NEW SPUTUM TEST FOR DISTINGUISHING BRONCHIAL FROM PULMONARY DISEASE

Within the last century the diagnosis of diseases of the lungs and bronchi has been revolutionized. The first and greatest advance resulted from the work of the two pioneers, Auenbrugger and Laennec. A tremendous stimulus to study of intrathoracic diseases was the ultimate result of their work, and in time the foundation laid by these two physicians was enlarged and their methods popularized by others, giving us the refined methods of physical examination which we have to-day. The second great advance toward more exact diagnosis came with the careful systematic examination of sputum, both macroscopic and (more especially) microscopic, to which impetus was given by Koch's discovery of the tubercle bacillus. Various other discoveries, tending to greater precision in diagnosis, such as the recognition of the Bacillus influenzæ of Pfeiffer, the tuberculin reaction, Roentgen ray and the finding of the Paragonimuswestermanii in the sputum in pulmonary distomiasis, have constituted