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As a rule little consideration is given to the prevalence of respiratory infection in the community as an important factor in the incidence and the etiology of pulmonary complications after anesthesia and operation. An analysis of a series of such cases has impressed us with the importance of infection, especially epidemic respiratory infection, in the causation of these conditions and has prompted this report.
In the surgical division of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania during the last thirty-two months a study has been made of these conditions. As soon as a patient, after anesthesia and operation, is suspected of having a respiratory complication by the surgical house officer, a medical consultation is requested and the patient remains under the care of the medical consultant until the complication is terminated. Clinical findings are checked whenever possible by roentgen-ray examinations. On the basis of these observations an attempt has been