SOME CANINE DISEASES AND THEIR REMEDIES. 681 



existed. Considering this fact, bench shows are rightly 

 held to be a menace to puppies. Age appears to lessen the 

 susceptibility to the disease, and matured dogs are much 

 less liable to become infected than those in early life. 



The symptoms of distemper begin to present themselves 

 in from four to fourteen days after exposure to contagion. 

 Generally the first noted are dullness, a disinclination to 

 exertion, partial loss of appetite, and chilly sensations, 

 which are indicated by shiverings. Then rapidly follow the 

 manifestations of a common cold sneezing, dry, husky 

 cough, and a discharge from the nose and eyes. The dis- 

 charge is at first purulent, gluing the eyelids together and 

 drying around the nostrils in crusts. There is also more or 

 less fever, which is noticeable when the back of the hand 

 is placed between the thighs. 



If the attack be severe, the animal grows duller and more 

 indifferent; he does not rouse easily, and when on his feet 

 is listless and hangs his head. He may walk about a little, 

 but soon tires, lies down, and dozes off into an unquiet 

 sleep. Every part of his system is involved by the disease. 

 Vomiting is not uncommon. Diarrhea is a frequent symp- 

 tom, the result of inflammation of the bowels, to which 

 there is a marked tendency in this affection. Inflammation 

 of the air-passages is also characteristic of it, and is indi- 

 cated by cough and quickened breathing. 



Complications are liable to occur in distemper, there- 

 fore its course can never be anticipated with certainty. If 

 favorable, the dog begins to show a little improvement in 

 the course of a week, and recovery is complete at the end 

 of the third week. In cases running to a fatal termination, 

 death usually occurs before the fifteenth day. Other symp- 

 toms than these frequently appear, but to describe them 

 would be to invite confusion, and we purposely confine 

 ourselves to those which can be considered typical. 



The victim of distemper should be put into a room by 

 himself. It should be dry and well ventilated. Pure air is 

 of the greatest importance. In cold weather a fire will be 

 needed in the room, which should not, however, be kept too 



