AUSCULTATION OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA PATIENTS

As a rule auscultation in cases of bronchial asthma does not present any particular difficulty, there being a prolonged expiration with normal inspiration heard uniformly over all parts of the lungs, as stated by the classical school. Actually, however, there is "prolongation of both phases of the respiratory cycle and in particular that of the expiratory phase is noteworthy." The typical musical rales, sibilant and sonorous, are more accentuated during expiration and frequently altogether inaudible during inspiration. As to the differentiation from other pathological conditions causative of prolonged expiration, diagnosis will depend on the character of the breath sounds. Thus, as R. A. Cooke justly states, "The diagnosis of asthma during the active stage is not as a rule very hard to make but the diagnosis of the existence of the asthmatic state or asthmatic predisposition is by no means easy. The necessity for some measure of diagnostic technic is