9. The process for preliminarily diagnosing pulmonary condition, including the steps of: providing a plurality of first signals, each representing an expected performance value corresponding to a pulmonary function at a normal level; adjustably fixing an upper limit value greater than each of said expected values, and a lower limit value less than each of said expected values, thereby to define a normal range of values corresponding to and encompassing each expected value and including all values between and including the corresponding upper and lower limits; measuring a plurality of pulmonary functions to generate a plurality of performance signals, each representing a measured performance value corresponding to one of said expected values and to one of said ranges; defining the extent of departure of each of said measured performance values from the corresponding one of said ranges, in accordance with the formula EQU B=10(1-M/L) where B equals the extent of departure; M equals the measured performance value; and L equals the one of said upper and lower limits nearest the measured performance value; comparing each measured performance value with the corresponding upper and lower limits; and generating a first output indicating whether each of said measured performance values lies within or outside of its associated one of said ranges, and generating a second output for each measured value outside of its associated range indicating the extent of departure from said associated range.
16. The process of claim 9 wherein the step of comparing each measured performance value with the corresponding upper and lower limits includes the following steps, in sequence: (a) determining the presence of obstructive airways disease (OAD) based on the following mathematical algorithm: EQU OAD degree=FEV.sub.1 /FVC+(FEF 25-75%/5)+(FEF 75%/20) where FVC is the forced vital capacity, FEV.sub.1 is the forced expiratory volume at one second of FVC, and FEF is the forced expiratory flow over 25-75% and at 75% of FVC, respectively; (b) determining the presence of measured diffusion performance values, and identifying such diffusion performance values, if present, as normal, increased or reduced; (c) determining the presence of lung volume measured performance values, and identifying any such values as normal, increased or reduced; and (d) determining the presence of measured performance values responsive to administration of a bronchodilator, and determining any such values to indicate a response that is either significant, not significant, or paradoxical.