DISEASES OP THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 219 



liehed. Later, if there be dullness in pleurisy, owing to 

 fluid, it is shifting in extent, and varies with the position 

 of the animal. 



In bronchitis we usually soon hear sounds {rales) of 

 some sort on auscultation, which may be present in pneu- 

 monia, though not without the signs of solidification. 



Percussion and Auscultation. — Percussion should pre- 

 cede auscultation. We believe that the best results will 

 follow the practice of very light percussion without the 

 help of instruments, placing two or three fingers of one 

 hand flat on the chest wall and striking quickly and lightly 

 with one or two fingers of the other, so that the blows fall 

 evenly and but once on a single spot, the hand working 

 only, and not the arm. Rapid comparison can thus be 

 made and sliglit differences noted. It is a good plan to 

 percuss corresponding areas on both sides, for each animal 

 must be a standard for itself (its own norm.). 



It is well to learn to listen with the ear applied to the 

 chest, interposing only a thin piece of cotton, as well as 

 with a stethoscope. It is often a great advantage to use 

 the modern flexible binaural stethoscope. Apart from 

 hearing more distinctly, in the case of dirty dogs infested 

 with vermin the advantage is obvious. Shy animals are 

 also less disturbed, not to mention the absence of the 

 necessity for stooping, etc. 



One who has learned the normal percussion and aus- 

 cultation sounds by examination of healthy dogs of differ- 

 ent breeds and sizes, will not find much difficulty in soon 

 becoming familiar with the main departures in disease, 

 while mere verbal descriptions alone are of little real 



service. 



16 



