SUPPURATIVE DISEASE OF THE LUNGS

SUPPURATIVE disease of the lungs, which includes bronchiectasis, pulmonary abscess and infected pulmonary cysts, has always been a serious and confusing problem. A great deal has been written on this subject, and many forms of treatment have been recommended in order to reduce the high morbidity and mortality in this group of pulmonary lesions. It is only in the last five or six years that rapid advances in treatment, both medical and surgical, have reduced these conditions to the status of infections in other parts of the body. At the present time the diagnosis is relatively accurate, the treatment is specific and surgical intervention is safe. We feel that in the light of the present knowledge of these conditions, it might be well to reevaluate the accumulated information on the subject. We are also adding our own experience to show that when patients with these diseases are properly handled, their