THE REACTION OF THE HUMAN LUNG TO ENRICHED OXYGEN ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

Summary 1. By reviewing several consecutive series of autopsies, both in adults and children, it has been shown that a recognizable change in pulmonary morphology is present in most patients who have had oxygen therapy for one or more days immediately prior to death. 2. The lesion includes congestion of capillaries and increased thickness of alveolar septa and is interpreted as resulting from pulmonary capillary proliferation. 3. Reasons are presented for interpreting this morphological change as being the result of a physiological reaction to oxygen rather than a result of irritation or patchy atelectasis, or post‐mortem change. 4. Care must be taken in experimental work, especially with mice, to eliminate the possibility that gross findings might be of the post‐mortem variety.