The statistics of the various boards of health in the large cities of the United States show clearly the danger of the pulmonary complications of infectious diseases in childhood. In New York City, during the week ended Jan. 4, 1908, 581 cases of measles were reported to the health department, with 32 deaths, and if it is remembered that the majority of these deaths were due not to the disease per se but to the lung complications, it will be seen that these constitute an important factor in the management of the case.
The danger is in direct proportion to the size of the bronchi affected. When only the large bronchi are involved the danger is comparatively small, but as soon as the inflammation extends to the bronchioles, with exudation into the alveoli, the situation becomes serious.
The physical diagnosis of these conditions is not easy. The bronchopneumonia following bronchitis