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As long as there is this confusion and element of doubt in the minds of those to whom we are accustomed to look, the clinician must necessarily speak with considerable hesitancy, especially when he attempts to interpret the physical signs observed. In our own group the observations of Klotz, Guthrie, Holman and others have given us an interpretation of our clinical findings which, at present at least, is more or less satisfactory. We shall definitely keep in mind their observations and conclusions as we go on with the description of the physical signs of the chest in cases having lung involvement.

In the description of this group it will readily be seen that the lower respiratory tract stood the brunt of the infection. Of the 153 soldiers under our care, 60, or about 40 per cent., were recognized as having pneumonia. Of these, 34 had undoubted demonstrable signs, while 26 were questionable, and yet from the temperature and other symptoms we concluded there was a pneumonia. Of the 394 civilians, 189, or about 50 per cent., had pneumonia. Of this group there were again some 28 or 30 in which the diagnosis was doubtful, according to the ordinary way of making a diagnosis, but we felt sure from the temperature course that more than a simple influenza was present. In the description of the physical findings of the chest in these influenzas with lung involvement it will be readily seen why the diagnosis must sometimes be in doubt.