SMALL Pox. 



CHAPTER V. 

 % DISEASES OF THE SXIN. 



Small Pox. 



THIS disease is most common in puppies before 

 the sixth month, and is most severe in hot weather, 

 or when dogs are kept very warm. A very cold at- 

 mosphere prevents its coming to the surface, in which 

 case the animal is likely to die from congestion. It is 

 strictly contagious, and is communicated from one 

 dog to another very rapidly. 



SYMPTOMS. First there is a severe fever and per- 

 ceptible oppression of the breath, after which the 

 skin on the belly, groins, and between the forelegs, 

 becomes red, and then covered with small, round 

 pimples, distinct or clustered in groups. The pimples 

 gradually increase until the fifth day, when the top 

 of each contains a clear fluid, which by degrees be- 

 comes yellow, the tops of the pustule then become 

 flat, and by degrees hollowed, and either break and 

 discharge their contents, or dry and form scabs. 

 These by degrees fall or are rubbed off, leaving the 

 skin covered with brown spots or small sores, which 

 remain, removing the hair and leaving the skin bare. 

 When the pustules break, the breath and all the ex- 

 cretions have a bad smell, and inflammation of the 

 lungs is apt to set in. 



