Distemper in Dogs and Cats. 175 



In the digestive organs there may be buccal congestion, with 

 degeneration and the desquamation of the epithelium and formation 

 of more or less extended ulceration. The stomach shows similar 

 congestions and degenerations, the ulcer appearing particularly on 

 the summit of the folds. Together with the intestines this often 

 presents numerous petechias and ulcerations, and is covered by a 

 foul but often tenacious mucus. The agminated and solitary 

 glands are usually swollen and infiltrated, and the mesenteric 

 glands are swollen, congested and infiltrated. 



The kidneys are often congested, and show points of blood 

 extravasation and tissue degeneration. 



The meninges of the brain and cord are often inflamed with 

 infiltrations, false membranes, and especially exudation into the 

 subarachnoid and ventricles. Centres of congestion and softening 

 have been noted in the brain and cord with embolism of capilla- 

 ries and softening and degeneration of their endothelium. Nocard 

 and others have noted a leucocytic infiltration of the perivascular 

 lymph spaces. In old standing cases sclerosis is an occasional 

 feature. 



In nearly all cases there is marked emaciation and a very 

 heavy offensive odor comes from the skin, the tissues, the con- 

 tents of the bowels and the exudates on the respiratory passages. 



L,ignieres alleges that in the early stages, the specific bacillus 

 is found in the blood and viscera, but that later it is only 

 exceptionally found and that other bacteria (streptococcus, etc.,) 

 usually take its place. In the nasal discharge it may be found 

 at times, but in the more tardily appearing cutaneous vesicles 

 its absence is the rule, and in the brain matter and meningeal 

 and ventricular fluids, in cases of paralysis or chorea, it is not to 

 be detected by culture. Hence the case cannot always be diag- 

 nosed by a successful search for, or culture of the germ, and 

 hence also the frequently unsuccessful inoculations with the 

 blood, tears, liquid of vesicles, and even the lung tissues or nasal 

 discharges. 



Prevention. Distemper, like any other contagious malady 

 may be excluded from a city or district by the simple expedient 

 of shutting out animals that bear the infection. From a kennel 

 or pack of hounds, new arrivals should be quarantined for a fort- 

 night, until danger is past, and should only be admitted after a 



