DISTEMPER. 185 



invites certain congestive changes in the lungs; pneumonia constitutes a 

 frequent and serious complication of distemper. In this disease as in 

 all others characterized hy prolonged high fever, certain degenerative 

 changes occur in the internal organs, the vessels, the hlood, and in the 

 muscular system. The change in the liver is shown hy the markedly 

 diminished secretion of "bile, the constituents of it "being retained in the 

 hlood and giving rise to jaundice. 



The muscular degeneration is a part of the manifestation of the fever, 

 and depends upon the derangement of a centre regulating the nutrition 

 of the muscles. In many cases of distemper the functions of the brain 

 become more or less disturbed and weakened; occasionally effusions 

 take place within the cranial cavity ; epileptiform or general convulsions, 

 ineningitic symptoms, apoplectic seizures are in a high degree prejudi- 

 cial to the chances of recovery; for they indicate- some unusual cause of 

 disturbance, often a gi-ave disease of the brain or its attachments. There 

 is a decided tendency to constipation among some, wdule among others 

 diarrhoea and even dysentery exist. 



During the period of dentition puppies are predisposed to convulsions 

 and intestinal catarrh; the transition of the latter into a more serious dis- 

 ease of the bowels, attended hy profuse discharges and rapid emaciation, 

 occasionally occurs, and in some instances terminates in collapse and 

 death. The influence of age is strikingly manifested m distemper; the 

 fever usually running a course of greater intensity among puppies. The 

 presence of worms is a complication which by functional disturbances 

 prejudices recovery. 



Of notable influence upon the course of the disease under consideration is 

 the constitution of the dog attacked. Some breeds are more sensitive and 

 excitable; others in comparison might be called sluggish; in the former 

 the general disturbances of the system are more pronounced, and brain 

 symptoms are more easily induced. It is presumed that the in-and-in 

 bred animals for this reason have less resistant capability; the same may 

 be said of dogs improperly fed and generally neglected. 



Occasionally distemper is aggravated and protracted in its course by 

 irritable and painful ulcers of the cornea, resulting from an inflammation 

 of the eyes, at first superficial and unimportant. An eruption of the skin, 

 and loss of hair from some portions of the body, is a frequent complica- 

 tion, due doubtless to weakened vitality and impaired nutrition. 



Thus it will be seen that during an attack of distemper the predisposing 

 influences which invite further disorder are many, powerful, and not in- 

 frequently beyond control. The duration of the disease depends upon 

 the complications which may arise; where none appear the fever reaches 

 its height about the fifth day, then gradually declines, and recovery is 



