Pulmonary Brucellosis

A survey of 41 cases of pulmonary brucellosis, furnished me by 13 of 187 chest specialists has been reviewed. Nine cases were selected from the 41, and combined with 18 of my own, and were subjected to a detailed analysis. Involvement of the lungs by brucellosis has received scant attention in the literature, and the fact that only 13 of 187 physicians had seen such localization, suggests a widespread unawareness of pulmonary brucellosis, especially the chronic type, in the minds of physicians generally. The disease has a tendency to develop latency or a chronic, subclinical infection; therefore, such patients should be observed and checked for many months after they have seemingly recovered. The relative value of the various diagnostic tests has been stated. The treatment of the acute cases with antibiotics is good from an immediate standpoint; how many may have relapsed subsequently we do not know nor wish to hazard a guess. The chronic cases constitute a real therapeutic problem as therapy is very unsatisfactory. The seven cases treated with a cobalt, copper and manganese combination with apparent recovery were given this on an empirical basis. They attained good health, which was maintained for many months of subsequent observation. It is impossible for me to state at this time any reasonable and scientific explanation for the beneficial or curative effects of this mode of therapy. No claim is made, whatsoever, in regard to its specificity. My main object is to suggest its trial on an experimental basis by other physicians in order to determine its unworthiness or worth.