Physiologic Measurements Providing Enhanced Sensitivity in Detecting Early Effects of Inhalants

Occupational pulmonary diseases have been recognized for hundreds of years. In 1662, Van Helmont described the development of dyspnea in a monk whose job was to care for old manuscripts [1]. In 1700, Ramazzini [2], in the preface to De Morbis Artificum, implored his readers to add another question to the list put forth by Hippocrates in his work “Affections.” What occupation does the patient follow? Though this question may be concerned with the exciting causes, yet I regard it as well-timed or rather indispensable, and it should be particularly kept in mind when the patient to be treated belongs to the common people. In medical practice, however, I find that attention is hardly ever 88payed to this matter, or if the doctor in attendance knows it without asking, he gives little heed to it, though for effective treatment evidence of this sort has the utmost weight…