THE DISTEMPER 597 



at an early stage of the complaint, bleeding will 

 be necessary, which should be followed by gentle 

 alteratives. The following purgative must be ad- 

 ministered : 



Calomel J grain, 



Nitre ..... 4 grains, 

 Cream of tartar . . .10 grains, 

 James's powder ... 2 grains ; 



to be made into a ball with linseed meal and treacle, 

 and put down the animal's throat. To be repeated 

 every morning, and, if the complaint is severe, each 

 evening likewise. The above is for an ordinary sized 

 dog, and is rather too much for a small one ; but for 

 a large animal it must be increased. 



If the calomel sickens the dog, the following 

 preparation may be given instead of the above : 



Emetic tartar J grain, 



Nitre ... .3 grains, 



Powdered foxglove . . grain ; 



prepared as a ball, with the linseed meal and 

 treacle. 



THE DISTEMPER. 



This universal and fatal disorder made its first 

 appearance among the dogs of Great Britain about 

 150 years ago, at which period its ravages were 

 widely diffused over the country. At that time 

 about seven out of every ten fell victims to its 

 malignity. The virulence of this disease and its 

 baneful effects have now, however, greatly abated, 

 either from the preventive remedies which are had 

 recourse to at its commencement, or from the opera- 

 tion of certain medicines applied in the actual 

 progress of the disease. I, however, find that this 



