completely blocked, while
snuffling breathing is the result of a partial catarrhal
obstruction. A gurgling in the throat not accompanied by cough
may indicate that there is mucus in the back part of it, the
result of an inflammation, sometimes slight, sometimes serious.

"Labored" breathing, in which the chest is pulled up with each
breath while the muscles of the neck become tense, the pit of the
stomach and the spaces between the ribs sink in, and the edges of
the nostrils move in and out, is seen in conditions where the
natural ease of respiration is greatly interfered with, as in
pneumonia, diphtheria of the larynx, asthma, and the like.
Long-drawn, noisy inspirations and expirations are heard in
obstruction of the larynx, as from laryngeal diphtheria or
spasmodic croup.

THE PULSE

The rate of the pulse is subject to such variations in infants
that its examination is of less value than it would otherwise be.
In early childhood its observation is of more service, although
even then deceptive. Slight irregularity is not uncommon. Unusual
irregularity is an important symptom in affections of the brain
or heart. Fever produces an increase in the pulse rate, the
degree of which depends, as a rule, upon the height of the
temperature. Slowing of the pulse is a very significant symptom,
seen particularly in affections of the brain, and sometimes in
Bright's disease and jaundice.

THE TEMPERATURE

The temperature is of all things important to remember in infancy
and childhood because fever is easily produced and runs high from
slight causes.

Even slight cold or the presence of constipation or slight
disturbances of digestion may in babies sometimes produce a
temperature of 103 F. or more. We do not speak of fever unless
the elevation reaches 100 F. A temperature of 102 or 103 F.
constitutes moderate fever, while that of 104 or 105 F. is high
fever, and above 105 F. very high. A temperature of 107 F. is
very dangerous, and is usually not recovered from. The danger
from fever depends not only upon its height, but upon its
duration also. An elevation of 105 F. may be easily borne for a
short time, but it becomes alarming if much prolonged.

THE MOUTH

The tongue of newborn infants is generally whitish and continu