Consequential losses may be either proximate or remote. Many of the most difficult problems in the field of damages arise in the determining whether particular losses are proximate results of the wrongful action, and therefore the basis for the awarding of damages, or whether they are remote and therefore unre-lievable in damages. In general it has been said that: "Consequential losses are proximate when the natural and probable effect of the wrongful conduct under the circumstances is to set in operation the intervening cause from which the loss directly results. When such is not the natural and probable effect of the wrongful conduct, the losses are remote."7

4 Hale on Damages, p. 36. Schumaker vs. St. Paul and D. R. Co., 46 Minn., 39, 48 N. W., 559.

5 Campbell vs. Pullman Palace Car Co., 42 Fed., 484; Stewart vs. City of Ripon, 38 Wis., 548;

Cincinnati, 1 St. L. & C. R. Co. vs. Coope, 22 N. E., 340. 6 Mann, Boudoir-Car Co. vs. Dupre, 4 C. C, 540, 54 Fed., 646; Terre Haute and I. R. Co. vs. Buck, 96 Ind„ 346.

The Supreme Court of New Hampshire in discussing these terms said: ' 'Consequential damage means both damage which is so remote as not to be actionable, and damage which is actionable. Sometimes it is used to denote damage which though actionable does not follow immediately in point of time, upon the doing of the act complained of. * * It is thus used to signify damage which is recoverable at common law, in an action of case, as contra-distinguished from an action of trespass. On the other hand, it is used to denote a damage which is so remote a consequence of the act that the law affords no remedy to recover it. The terms 'remote damages' and 'consequential damages' are not necessarily synonymous or to be indifferently used."8

No single rule, or even set of rules, can be given for the determination of the question as to the losses for which damages can be recovered for in each case. In the succeeding chapter the various classes of wrongs will be taken up in turn, and the various kinds of losses for which damages can be recovered in each class considered.

7 Hale on Damages, p. 39.

8 Eaton vs. Railroad, 51 N. H., 504, 519.