The review of a series of cases of pulmonary suppuration from the bronchoscopist's experience and point of view will. I hope, add to the understanding of this disease.
The introduction of bronchoscopy initiated a new and valuable method for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the respiratory tracts. While a correct diagnosis is frequently made by inference, there are a number of doubtful cases that can be readily cleared up by direct observation of the tracheobronchial tree.
HISTORY
Alfred Kirstein1 of Berlin, in 1895, introduced direct autoscopy of the larynx and trachea. Three years later, in 1898, Gustav Killian invented metal tubes and introduced bronchoscopy. Its utility was immediately recognized and numerous bronchoscopic records attest to its increasing importance. While a search of the literature does not reveal who was first to treat bronchoscopically and report abscess of the lung, I was informed2 that Chevalier Jackson of