DIAGNOSIS — PROGXQSIS. 21 



The disease may possibly be in the throat, but is evidently in the chest. 

 The previous history tells us that the symptoms are acute, therefore we 

 can at once eliminate all chronic affections, and there are left laryngitis, 

 bronchitis, asthma, 2)letirisy, and pneumonia. 



An examination of the throat dispels the doubt respecting laryngitis. No 

 knowledge of a previous attack, the absence of wheezing respiration, and 

 husky, barking cough, and asthma is reasonably excluded. 



In bronchitis, so early in the disease, we should not expect such marked 

 constitutional symptoms; while some fever would probably be observed, 

 it would scarcely run so high; again, while the breathing is often acceler- 

 ated, it lacks in the early stages at least, that labored character. Pain in 

 bronchitis is evident when the patient coughs, and is less apparent in the 

 interval. His discomfort would tend to make him restless, and on lying 

 down he would assume no unusual position. These facts considered, ren- 

 der bronchitis improbable. 



Uneasiness of the animal is one of the marked symptoms of pleurisy. 

 That indication is absent in the patient before us. The breathing too is 

 different, while in pleurisy it is labored, it is also unmistakably painful, 

 and inspiration is shortened from that cause. A dog affected with that 

 disease, would seem to avoid taking more air into his lungs than absolutely 

 possible. There would be a restraint in the working of the muscles of the 

 chest, that plainly told of pain. This too would be shown in the cough, 

 dry and shortened, with little or nothing raised. While fever is present in 

 pleurisy, it seldom in the early stage, runs as high as observed in this case. 



If these differences in symptoms noted are insufficient, an examination 

 of the chest by the ear will remove what doubts remain. 



Pleurisy then excluded we come at last, by this method, to the disease of 

 the animal before us— pneumonia. 



PROGNOSIS. 



The art of foretelling results in diseases is called prognosis. To deter- 

 mine the probable end in many cases, is often important with reference to 

 treatment. The writer has deemed it wise to consider the signs on which 

 prognosis is based, incidentally in connection with individual diseases. 

 Some few obvious appearances which render the prognosis unfavorable, 

 may here be mentioned :— Continued loss of flesh when connected with 

 chronic affections is serious. Very feeble, rapid pulse, more especially in 

 acute diseases, indicates a very grave condition. Among t\\c fatal signs are 

 a fixedness of the eyes, denoting paralysis; involuntary discharges, indicating 

 great insensibility. X jerking inspiration if not dependent upon diseases of 

 the lungs, betokens death. 



