We tried I.P.P.B. therapy (with Alevaire and Asthpul) for more than six months in 97 cases of patients with silicosis or silico-tuber-culosis (inactive) provoked by inhalation of dusts in metal or coal mines or from stone cutting with the following results. 1) There were fairly many cases with improved symptomes e.g. sputum and cough decreased or disappeared. These symptoms were found to have a tendency to improve in parallel. 2) Cases with increased vital capacity through treatment were recognized in 17.2% of patients. Increase in maximum breathing capacity was found in 36.5%. And, most of the cases of increased vital capacity showed increase of M.B.C. as well. In cases with increased M.B.C. or V.C. sputum and cough had mostly decreased or disappeared. 3) The above observations were found mostly in the third or fourth month of treatment. Any increase of improved cases after that period was not noticed. 4) Any harmful effect of this treatment was found. Therefore, we consider that this therapy is useful for recovery of reversible ventilatory disorders of silicotic patients.
