Some observations on emphysema in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

A study of 150 consecutive autopsies has been made to establish the extent of emphysema in Jamaica. This has been done by preparing large lung sections (Gough-Wentworth). From these it has been possible to classify and roughly grade the types of emphysema occurring in Jamaica and to correlate the changes with the sex and age of the patients. The results suggested that the incidence of the anatomical changes are similar to those found in temperate zones. This is surprising because, firstly causative factors such as cold, damp atmosphere and industrial pollution do not appear to operated in Jamaica, and secondly clinical lung disease does not play a very great part in the overall morbidity of the Jamaican community (AU)