THE DISTEMPER 605 



rearing of dogs, for upwards of twenty-five years. He 

 says it has always proved a most effectual remedy, in 

 all cases in which he has applied it : 



Calomel . . . i drachm, 



Tartar emetic ... 20 grains, 



Jalap i drachm, 



Gamboge i drachm ; 



to be made into six balls, with conserve of roses, and 

 one to be given every morning for a week. 



Care should be taken to support the strength of 

 the animal by light, nourishing diet, after the in- 

 flammatory stage is over, and the discharge from the 

 nostrils fully established. Various authors recommend 

 the too general use of emetics in the distemper, which, 

 I conceive, must frequently be attended with evil con- 

 sequences, as they are, for the most part, inadmissible 

 in inflammatory diseases. 



As the distemper is infectious, those dogs labour- 

 ing under this malady should be kept apart from 

 others ; and exposure to the air, when not under the 

 effects of medicine, will be found beneficial. This dis- 

 order has an affinity to some human diseases, and 

 rarely attacks a dog a second time. Fortunately for 

 humanity, the distemper is not communicable to 

 man. Neither the effluvia from the diseased dog, nor 

 the bite, has proved in any instance infectious. 



As this disease is a parasitic one, and due to a 

 specific bacillus which breeds in the lung tissue, pro- 

 ducing structural changes therein, and is attended with 

 great bodily debility, and as apparently the disease 

 cannot be cut short, but must, like other specific dis- 

 eases, run its course, the treatment prescribed 

 should be backed up by good nursing, frequent change 

 of diet, soups, milk, beef-tea, a uniform temperature 

 (near to a fire), and flannel rugs and bandages. 



