30 KENNEL DISEASES. 
the disease, such marked constitutional symptoms could not be expected, and while 
some fever would probably be observed, it would scarcely run so high; again, 
while the breathing is often accelerated, 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 
render bronchitis improbable. Uneasiness of the animal is one of the marked 
symptoms of pleurisy. That indication is absent in this patient. The breathing, 
too, is different. While in pleurisy it is labored, it is also unmistakably painful, 
and inspiration is shortened in consequence. 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 is seldom notable 
in the early stage, or 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 finally excluded, the only disease remaining is pneumonia, and that 
is the correct diagnosis. 
Prognosis is prediction of the course and final result of a disease as indi- 
cated by its symptoms. This is an important division of medicine, for obviously 
a correct estimate of the course that a disease will take must be measurably 
influential on its treatment. 
In making a prognosis the symptoms are not alone to be relied on; there 
are other circumstances and conditions which it is necessary to consider in its 
connection. Some dogs are less able to safely bear up under and overcome 
disease than others; and recovery might take place in one instance, while in 
another a disease of the same intensity and severity |might prove fatal. The 
circumstances connected with diseases upon which a prognosis is based are 
termed prognostic. In predicting the course of a disease, all the symptoms 
present should be carefully weighed, as often one, which alone would be insig- 
nificant, becomes, in its relation with others, of grave importance. A clear 
understanding of the complications which might arise in the course of a disease 
is also important in reaching a prognosis. 
It must be plainly evident that in a kennel which is habitually badly man- 
aged, the chances of a very sick dog making a good fight against any severe 
malady would be less than when such grave fault did not exist. The weather is 
an important factor, especially in acute diseases which involve the air-passages, 
The reparative powers of old dogs are comparatively low; hence age must often 
be influential. The effects of previous impairment of health must also be un- 
favorable in many attacks. Pneumonia occurring as a complication of distem- 
per is but rarely recovered from. Great irritability, wildness, delirium, or other 
