Prognosis. 119 



Foreign body pneumonia may be confounded with croupous 

 pneumonia. It is, however, usually distinguished by a slower 

 development. Fever is often absent at the onset or is very 

 insignificant, bronchial breathing is likewise missed. After the 

 entrance of foreign bodies from the stomach into the lungs, 

 changes of the percussion sounds and respiratory sounds are 

 noticed at first in the region of the diaphragm, and disturbances 

 of digestion generally precede the affection of the lung. 



In animals which are examined only after the fall in tem- 

 perature, chronic inflammatory process, tumors, etc., must 

 be excluded on the basis of a polyuria present, or of anamnestic 

 data, and with the aid of an ol)servation extending over several 

 days. 



In horses tympanitic sounds in the neighl)orhood of the 

 lower pulmonary boundary may also be referable to the colon ; 

 this can, however, l)e recognized easily because a tympanitic 

 sound of the same pitch can be elicited also beyond the pul- 

 monary boundary over the abdominal wall or even below the 

 costal arch. 



Prognosis. The stronger the animal has been before the 

 pneumonic attack came on and the more the latter conforms 

 to the classical type the better is usually the prognosis. The 

 course of the fever is of the greatest prognostic importance. 

 If the temperature curve falls rapidly or gradually after a 

 continuous fever of several days, a typical — that is, a favorable 

 —course may be expected. Fever that has lasted over a week 

 and has perhaps risen above 41° C. causes anxiety. A con- 

 tinuous, though not high fever, during or after the stage of 

 resolution, points to retarded or incomplete absorption of the 

 exudate or to the development of a secondary pleurisy. 



The behavior of the pulse is of special importance. If, 

 in the absence of a complicating pleurisy the number of pulse 

 beats has risen to twice the normal, the pulse being at the 

 same time weak, the prognosis is fairly unfavorable. It is 

 also necessary to consider the extent of the inflammatory in- 

 filtration; the chances for recovery decrease in direct propor- 

 tion to the size of the consolidated territory. Hence, bilateral 

 pneumonia is more serious than a unilateral affection. Devia- 

 tions from the usual localization have a similar unfavorable 

 prognostic significance. Central pneumonia and the involve- 

 ment of the upper parts near the vertebral column show a 

 higher mortality. 



The age and nutrition of the sick animals must be con- 

 sidered. In very old or debilitated animals a slowly developing 

 pneumonia is observed, with moderate elevation of temperature, 

 yet with marked prostration (so-called asthenic or adynamic 

 type), which is always very unfavorable in nature and wdiich 

 generally takes a fatal issue. 



Every complication diminishes the chances for recovery 



