82 PNEUMONIA. 



of suffocation forces the animal to assume a sitting position, with extend- 

 ed head and protruded tongue. 



Diagnosis. — During the early stage, by placing the ear to the affected 

 side, crepitation can he heard in most cases. This when present is highly 

 distinctive of pneumonia. The crepitant sound is dry, very fine, crackling, 

 and heard only on inspiration. This sound is due to the separation or 

 bursting of agglutinized bubbles, and is much the same as one hears made 

 by the boot when walking on crusted snow. 



In the second stage, after the lung has become solidified, percussion 

 shows marked dulness, a flat dead sound being emitted. The respiratory 

 sound becomes exaggerated by the law of transmission of sound by solids, 

 and the bronchial respiration is distinctly heard. Crepitation may be 

 present in this stage, and may be wanting. 



When recovery from the disease commences, the respiratory sound 

 grows more natural, crepitation at times returns, and frequently a sub- 

 crepitant sound is heard. This is fine, moist, and bubbling, carrying the 

 idea of small bubbles, heard with either inspiration or expiration, or with 

 both acts. 



Dulness on percussion, becomes less and less marked, and finally dis- 

 appears, but a trace is often left for a time after an examination by the 

 ear shows the exudation to have been removed. If the disease does not 

 clear up, but passes into the stage of infiltration, the dulness or flatness 

 on percussion continues, and coarse bubbling sounds are detected, due to 

 the presence of pus in the air-cells, heard at times louder just after cough- 

 ing, and can often be appreciated by placing the flat of the hand to the 

 chest, when a sensation of fine bubbling will be transmitted. 



Prognosis. —Pneumonia is a very serious disease, and is very often 

 fatal. At times only a small proportion of the lung is affected, the disease 

 then being termed circumscribed. The extent of the disease in a great 

 measure indicates the gravity and danger. Accidents and complications 

 are very liable to invest the cases with greater gravity, and where there 

 are no symptoms which denote imminent danger, sudden changes often 

 take place for the worse. 



When convalescence in the disease sets in, recovery is generally com- 

 plete. From purulent infiltration there is very little hope of recovery. 



Treatment. —Pneumonia belongs among those diseases distinguished 

 as self limited. If uncomplicated and not attended with accidents, it runs 

 a definite course, ending in restoration, provided the powers are main- 

 tained. The treatment must be supportive and every influence calculated 

 to depress the system. must be studiously avoided. 



In the first stage, the object should be to relieve symptoms, to diminish 

 the intensity of the inflammation, and prepare the system to bear the 



