DISTEMPER 167 



ceded by listlessness and loss of appetite; the animal avoids the light 

 and courts solitude; all the symptoms of a common cold will then mani- 

 fest themselves rapidly, as sneezing, a dry husky cough and a watery 

 discharge from the eyes and nose; the animal shivers, seeks warmth and 

 is feverish, the pulse rang.ng from one hundred and twenty to one hundred 

 and fifty beats per minute; the nose is hot and dry, the lining of the 

 eye reddened, and the small veins that radiate through the white portion 

 are injected with blood; the tongue is coated, the secretion of saliva is dim n- 

 ished, thiist is excessive, food is rejected and prostiation is well marked 

 and so rapid that at the end of a week the dog can hardly stand; the bowels 

 are irregular; in the early stages of the disease there is a tendency to con- 

 stipation, but the matter in the intestines- through failure to digest sets 

 up an irritation, and the discharges are more frequent and looser than in 

 health, and the feces are dark colored and fetid. The discharges from the 

 eyes and nose become purulent, the nostrils are covered, with a glassy, 

 yellowish fluid, the cough increases in frequency, the bronchial tubes fill 

 with mucus, which is coughed up, giving temporary relief; the animal vomits 

 frothy yellow matter and is unable to retain food upon the stomach; the 

 eyelids become glued together, resulting in blinding the patient; breathing 

 is obstructed by matter in the nostrils; the breath becomes fetid and has a 

 smell that is peculiar to the disease; the lips are covered with ulcers, and 

 the animal either becomes weaker and weaker and finally succumbs, or at 

 the end of twelve or fourteen days the symptoms mentioned above abate 

 in intensity and the animal slowly retails its strength. Complications, 

 however, frequently develop early in the disease, and result in the death 

 of the animal. 



"One of the complications of distemper is pneumonia, or inflammation 

 of the lungs, brought on by exposure to cold or by a weakened heart action. 

 The animal will not lie down, but assumes a sitting position with the fore- 

 legs braced and separated, the head hangs heavily, breathing is labored, 

 lapid and heavy, and upon application of the ear to the chest, a dry cracking 

 sound will be heard similar to that made when walking upon dry snow 

 with a clean boot. 



"Epileptic fits are another complication, These as a rule come on 

 suddenly. There is a slight quivering of the muscles of the face, and 

 an anxious look around, a few staggering steps, and the animal falls upon 

 its side and loses consciousness; the face becomes distorted, the limbs 

 work violently, and there is a continued champing of the jaws as well 

 fts a frothy mucus coming from the mouth; the head, limbs and body 

 jerk violently, the convulsions gradually become less and less, though 

 sometimes the animal comes out of them suddenly and appears dazed and 

 scared, and will attempt, to hide in some out of the way place. 



"Vomiting and purging are prominent complications, and sometimes 

 there is true dysentery in which the feces are streaked with blood. 



"In summing up this disease and arriving at a proper treatment we 

 must be rn'ndful of the fact that all the symptoms of the disease are the 

 direct results of a morbid virus existing in the system, and that the course 

 it runs, although indefinite, is nevertheless certain, and the a'm should 

 be directed not only at the disease, but at sustaining the system so as to 

 enable it to withstand the debilitating effects of the virus and the febrile 

 condition it gives rise to. The promiscuous administrations of exhaust- 

 ing and dangerous medicines, such as many dog owners and veterinar- 

 ians are to indulge in, cannot be too highly condemned. 



"Warm quarters, good care and nursing are the prime factors in the 

 successful treatment of this disease. Judicious medical treatment is of 

 unquestionable service in hold'ng the disease in check, a'laviating alarm- 

 ing symptoms, preventing destructive complication and hastening convales- 

 cence. But no matter how skillfully applied it will be without ava ; l if 

 the nursing and attendance are neglected, whereas, many dogs, properly 

 cared for, make nice recoveries without medical assistance. Place the 

 patient in warm, comfortable quarters, absolutely free from drafts; see 

 that his bedding is changed, daily, and all discharge from the nose and 



