This is a lung disease. Silicate dust makes it. <br />The dust causing the growth of <br /> <br />This is the X-ray picture taken last April. <br />I would point out to you: these are the ribs; <br />this is the region of the breastbone; <br />this is the heart (a white wide shadow filled with blood). <br />In here of course is the swallowing tube, esophagus. <br />The windpipe. Spaces between the lungs. <br /> <br /> Between the ribs? <br /> <br />Between the ribs. These are the collar bones. <br />Now, this lung’s mottled, beginning, in these areas. <br />You’d say a snowstorm had struck the fellow’s lungs. <br />About alike, that side and this side, top and bottom. <br />The first stage in this period in this case. <br /> <br /> Let us have the second. <br /> <br />Come to the window again. Here is the heart. <br />More numerous nodules, thicker, see, in the upper <br /> lobes. <br />You will notice the increase : here, streaked fibrous <br /> tissue – <br /> <br /> Indicating? <br /> <br />That indicates the progress in ten month’s time. <br />And now, this year – short breathing, solid scars <br />even over the ribs, thick on both sides. <br />Blood vessels shut. Model conglomeration. <br /> <br /> What stage? <br /> <br />Third stage. Each time I place my pencil point: <br />There and there and there, there, there. <br /> <br /> “It is growing worse every day. At night <br /> “I get up to catch my breath. If I remained <br /> “flat on my back I believe I would die.” <br /> <br /> It gradually chokes off the air cells in the lungs? <br /> I am trying to say it the best I can. <br /> That is what happens, isn’t it? <br /> A choking-off in the air cells? <br /> <br />Yes. <br /> There is difficulty in breathing. <br />Yes. <br /> And a painful cough? <br />Yes. <br /> <br /> <br /> Does silicosis cause death? <br /> <br />Yes, sir.<br /><br />Muriel Rukeyser<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-disease-6/
