DISEASES 95 



Inversion of the Vagina — See Uterus, Inversion of. 



Influenza. — This is an epidemic resembling common cold, but more 

 severe in its effects, and contagious. The causes are supposed to be atmos- 

 pheric cold, and damp weather in spring and autumn, which are the usual 

 seasons of its appearance. Influenza is not to be dreaded if taken in hand 

 at once, but if once the system becomes run down or the various symptoms 

 which denote the disease take good hold, there is serious trouble ahead, and 

 leads to complications which deplete the kennel. Even if a cure is affected 

 the convalesence is long and subject to a relapse from the most trivial cause. 

 In the first stage the symptoms are dullness of the animal, loss of appetite, 

 rigors or shivering fits, nose hot, then cold, increased thirst. Second stage: 

 A discharge from nose and eyes, which at first is mucoid and watery, but 

 it soon becomes of a mattery description; the breathing becomes acceler- 

 ated and the conjunctival membrane red (this is the lining membrane of 

 the eyelid). The symptoms in these first stages are very like the earlier 

 symptoms of distemper, and most people seeing one of these cases for the 

 first time, and in a young dog, would say it had the latter-named disease. 

 The discharge is not, however, of the purulent offensive character 

 that denotes distemper and the disease is as liable to attack old dogs as 

 young ones. In some cases the eyes are seriously affected, the cornea be- 

 comes of a bluish shade, the sight is affected, and in some cases ulcers 

 form. In the latter case use Eberhart's Eye Lotion No. 2, two or three 

 times daily. 



Distemper is gradual in its development, but in influenza the dif- 

 ferent stages develop with great rapidity, the disease running in some 

 cases on to complications in twenty-four hours. If the complaint is not 

 checked in its earlier stages one or both of the after-mentioned compli- 

 cations may set in. These complications are affections of the lungs, and 

 those of a rheumatismal character. When the chest complication is setting 

 in, the breathing becomes more accelerated and painful, the fever increases, 

 in fact the symptoms are those of ordinary chest complaints; and these 

 may be bronchitis, congestion and inflammation of the lungs or pleurisy. 

 As it requires the skilled practitioner to differentiate one class of chest 

 disease from another, it would be useless to attempt to explain to the 

 amateur how to diagnose this for himself. 



The dog should be kept in dry quarters and away from draughts. 

 The treatment should be similar to that recommended under Cold. The 

 dog will, however, require still greater care exercised in keeping him 

 warm and in a well-ventilated place, as well as in being supported with 

 easily-digested food, such as strong broth, beef tea, boiled milk, bread, etc. 

 In the early stages, Hoffman's anodyne or compound spirit of sulphuric 

 ether, given in milk three times a day, is generally beneficial. Dose for 

 a 20 lb. dog, 15 drops; smaller toy dogs. 10 drops; larger dogs, 20 drops. 

 Any discharge from the nose should be encouraged by warm fomentations 

 and making the dog inhale the vapor from vinegar of squills sprinkled on a 

 hot wet sponge or cloth. If the throat is swollen and sore, slightly blister 

 with vinegar and mustard, but do not apply too long. 



Feed on nourishing foods, strong broth, boiled milk and bovine. A 



