The Pulmonary Pathologic Physiology of Persons Who Smoke Cigarettes

Abstract

CIGARETTE smoke has been found to be closely related to the increased incidence of pulmonary cancer.¹ The epic work of Auerbach et al.² on the effects of smoking on the tracheobronchial epithelium not only reveals carcinoma in situ and increased incidence of carcinoma but also presents clear evidence of basal-cell hyperplasia, increased stratification of the surface mucosa, squamous-cell metaplasia and other signs of chronic inflammation of varying degrees.In a study of 221 persons who were normal except for their smoking habits, Blackburn and his associates³ reported a significant decrease in the pulmonary functions in subjects who smoked more than . . .