Word: pneumothorax
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...heal the sores that tuberculosis germs are eating into their tissues. If one lung could cease its transference of oxygen from the air to the blood and carbon dioxide from the blood to the air, if it could get a rest, it might heal up. The operation of artificial pneumothorax does give one lung such a rest, leaving the other to breathe for both. The surgeon sticks a hollow needle into the pleural cavity of the tubercular lung and lets some air, oxygen or nitrogen flow in. The lung collapses. He increases the pressure of the gas against the flaccid...