30 Veterinary Medicine. 



Something may be deduced from the condition of the patient. 

 If very young or old, debiHtated by over-work, bad or insufficient 

 food, previous disease, or any other cause, the prognosis is less 

 hopeful, as it is also as a rule, during gestation, in the parturient 

 state, or if abortion ensues. A hereditary predisposition to the 

 malady in question is equally unfortunate. 



Climate may be an important factor. Thus liver diseases are 

 far more to be dreaded in a damp tropical or semi-tropical region, 

 and rheumatism and catarrhal affections in winter and in cold 

 northern localities. Acclimatization should also be considered. 

 The bovine animal, raised on the Gulf Coast is likely to make a 

 good recovery from Southern Cattle Fever while the northern 

 beast would almost certainly die. 



All in all the question of prognosis cannot always be judiciously 

 decided at a first visit, and for the sake of his own reputation, it 

 is well that the practitioner should give only a qualified opinion 

 at first until he can certify himself as to the probable outcome of 

 the disease. 



