LUNG-FUNCTION DIAGNOSTICS IN CLINICALLY INTACT AND PNEUMONIA-AFFECTEDCALVES

Diagnostic investigations of pulmonary function were applied to three groups of calves, including clinically intact animals in Group 1, clin ically inconspicuous individuals with pathologico-anatomic lung altera tions in Group 2 and calves with clinically manifest pneumonia in Grou p 3. Since no secured differences were found to exist under conditions of rest between Groups I and II, all animals in these two groups were put together and were compared to those with clinically manifest pneu monia in Group III. Apart from fever, increased respiratory rate and i nadequate body weight gain, the following findings were most striking in calves with pneumonia under conditions of respiration at rest: decr ease in oxygen partial pressure, usually accompanied by increased carb on dioxide partial pressure in arterial blood, lowered blood pH and cl early reduced tidal volume.