172 DISTEMPER 



"Of great importance is the isolation of the patient, chained up free 

 from activity and excitement from other dogs. If your puppy is young, 

 and you have an old bitch (that has had the distemper), no harm can 

 follow shutting her in with the patient. She will aid the puppy in keeping 

 clean and be very helpful in quieting him. Your chances are that if this 

 first move is made promptly, and faithfully adhered to, your dog will have 

 but a 'mild case,' and thus be saved all of the deleterious effects of the 

 ravages of the disease in its worst forms, and in a couple of weeks be over 

 it. The dog that is kept chained up from the very first symptoms, stores 

 up his vital energy and strength, and has the benefit of it when any climax 

 of the disease develops. 



"In treatment, the writer does not believe in the speedy use of any 

 medicine; the less used the better you are off, and the clog, generally. 

 If at first your dog is suddenly prostrated, as is common, one good, large 

 dose of rochelle salts or castor oil is a good beginning. If indications of 

 worms are present treat for their removal. If the patient refuses food for 

 a couple of days, it will do no harm to let him go without, but rather 

 good. The first stage is no time to force food, but on the contrary, does 

 injury. Should much mucous discharge develop at the eyes and nose, and 

 a general fevered condition exist, with quick breathing and much loss 

 of energy, quinine in moderate doses, or any tried 'grippe' tablet that 

 has been found good in family use will prove beneficial. In giving any such 

 medicines use caution as to overdosing, considering well the age and size 

 of the patient, and not oftener than once in three or four hours, bearing in 

 mind its irritating effect on the stomach tissues. The condition of the stom- 

 ach is the most important factor to keep in mind, for on getting the dog 

 back to a good appetite depends his recovery. He must have the ability 

 to digest and assimilate his food, as well as to eat it, in order that its 

 strength-giving properties can help overcome the deleterious effects of the 

 disease, as the effect of this foreign germ life in the system advances in 

 its attack on the system. 



"Right here, begin at once, something that will, if followed up regu- 

 larly, allay the development of the worst tendencies of the disease. After 

 the general cleansing, begin to give, three or four times a day for several 

 days and continually as long as its helpfulness is indicated a tablet that 

 can be purchased from any druggist, being a compound of pepsin (one or 

 two grains, according to age), bismuth and charcoal. These tablets are 

 inexpensive and should be given after each meal, if the patient takes 

 food, and, if not, four times a day. They are easily taken or given, and 

 their beneficial effect will soon be observed. They will soothe the inflamed 

 membraneous tissues and aid the proper digestion of food and its assimi- 

 lation. 



"In distemper, the feces are usually of a greenish, rank,- pungent char- 

 acter, indicating a decidedly unhealthy condition of the bowels, in the cause 

 of which both stomach indigestion and intestinal indigestion and lack of 

 assimilation undoubtedly share. This condition, if allowed to remain with- 

 out attention results in what is known as the ulcerous and intestinal form 

 of the disease which commonly develops when owners are too anxious to 

 keep their clogs eating rich food, when the dog's system cannot properly 

 handle it. There is no necessity for this form of the disease ever develop- 

 ing. It is its worst form when advanced, and results in most cases fatally. 



"These simple and harmless tablets will first digest the food and en- 

 able the dos to assimilate it. They soothe and tone up the inflamed intes- 

 tinal conditions and gradually make a dog's- appetite good again and slowly 

 but surelv brins about the conditions which permit healthy, well formed 

 feces. When this is accomplished more than half the battle is fought, for 

 so long as the dog is running off in a diarrheal condition the distemper 

 germ seems to thrive, producing all sorts of gastrical and intestinal trou- 

 bles, which are difficult to cure. Many make the mistake of treating with 

 stringents for diarrhea, which naturally only cause more harm, as the cause 

 is not first removed. There need be no fear whatever in the moderate 

 use of these tablets, for they can produce no harmful effects whatever, and 



