Document Lp5eNgdO6XLgvJVq811kK2m9Q

One thing is certain. The utmost care and patience are needed to elicit the occupational history of the patient end to correlate this and the clinical picture rith the X-ray filn before a diagnosis of asbestcsis is Just ified. As noted in relation to' other occupational health hazards, there is an ell too frequent tendency to sake a diagnosis of a specific occupational dis ease because of presumptive or actual exposure without the corroboration of other essential factors to a correct diagnosis, Tie are not Justified in leaking a' disgnesis of asbestcsis, any cere then of silicosis, in the pres- - ___ -- . . ............ --- .... ence of an X-ray.file shoring nc distinctive p-pnor.ary pathology. Associated cith exposure to asbestos dust is the occurrence in the sputum and pulmonary tissues of a peculiar formation hr.cnu as asbestos bodies. These asbestes bodies'have been described by a number of observers r.nd^ar'e due apparently to the action of the tissues upon the asbestos fibre. /Their exact significance is doubtful but it is commonly agreed at the present time that they are r.ot dicgnostic of pulr.carry fibrosis and indicate merely that the individual has'\oer. exposed to asbestos dust. Seme observers believe that rhere these rsbestes bodies appear in the sputum in clumps, they indi cate actual disir.tegrticn of lung tissue. * Dr. Miller cf the United States Public Health Service, ir. the (9) Public Health P.eports, describes the technique milch he employes in the ir.tr?.- pcritoneal injection of finely divided dusts in a state of suspension. Miller defined three types of reaction - Absorption, Inert, end Proliferative. The first is produced by relatively harmless-or inactive dusts; the second by dusts rhich could cause pulmonary fibrosis; and the third is the typical re action of silicosis, P.ecer.tly, in a personal communication, Miller described the effects of the injection of three varieties of asbestos, namely chrycotile, PQ6002 0446 lanz- T>v> /*'