DISTEMPER / 172, 



even should they be given without sufficient cause therefor existing, they 

 would be but a tonic and help to any normal conditions. All dogs (espe- 

 cially puppies) are prone to overeat, bolt their food and tax too greatly 

 their digestive organs. Dogs in their tramp and native state have no such 

 troubles. While our modern blooded breeding has given us unbroken 

 lineage in fine pedigrees, the dog constitution, due perhaps to the con- 

 fined kennel life most have to put up with, is not as vigorous at it would 

 otherwise be. Many a stud dog and brood bitch hardly ever get out of a 

 kennel yard! need it be wondered at, then, that the blue-blooded puppies 

 inherit digestive organs that need some help now and then, and are sus- 

 ceptible subjects of contagion which develops at most shows? Fresh air 

 and nice quarters tend to produce a healthy environment in a kennel, but 

 as the young puppie adds bone and tissue much faster than is generally 

 considered, the organs that are responsible for this growth, great in pro- 

 portion to size as it is, and speedy development, need as much general 

 support as it is possible to give them. 



"If your patient is well advanced in the purulent mucus discharge or 

 acute bronchial stage, before you get at him, which is usual in the exper- 

 ience of amateurs, begin at once and conform rigidly to treat as here- 

 tofore suggested, adding the possible help of some distemper medicine. 

 While these undoubtedly when properly used are very helpful, they are at 

 best but stimulating tonics and fever medicines, and it is well to have on 

 hand whichever one you find gives good results. Should the patient show 

 general debility and indications of the disease rather generally poisoning 

 the system — in fact, if the nasal form develops, lose no time in arranging 

 to put in a seton. Any veterinary can do it, but you can do it yourself 

 fully as well, as follows: Clip the hair on neck back of skull close to skin 

 for three or four inches square. Secure a piece of ordinary (tarred) tar- 

 paulin or common hemp cord, which should be soaked in a solution of 

 carbolic acid and water. Cut cord at length of eight or ten inches. Catch 

 one end of it in the joint of a pair of small curved sharp-pointed nail 

 scissors or sail-cloth needle; hold skin just below occiput of skull bone, 

 well up away from inner tissues and puncture point through from one 

 side of neck to the other, drawing cord through so that holes will be about 

 two inches apart; tie good large knots in each end of cord, dressing at 

 nrst with antiseptic vaseline, and leave it in for from five to ten days, 

 dependent upon profuseness of discharge. Draw cord from knot to knot 

 each day often, in order to keep outlet free. The insertion of this seton is 

 not particularly painful, as it passes through the outer skin covering only, 

 and can do no harm whatever. It should be kept as clean as possible. It 

 acts as a counter irritant and drains off from the system a large amount 

 of poisonous accumulations and will very soon relieve the head of the acute 

 troubles there concentrated. 



In almost all cases where the seton is used soon enough its aid is 

 largely responsible for safe recovery. The writer has seen most wonderful 

 cures by its assistance in the last stages of the disease. It use is of Eng- 

 lish origin, and one theory advanced to explain its benefit in dogs is that 

 as a dog perspires only through the glands of nose and mouth, and never 

 through the outer skin and coat, this outlet affords an immediate drain 

 much needed to carry off the poisonous accumulations about the inner body 

 tissues. When the system is generally much poisoned with effects of dis- 

 temper, this drain is very beneficial and never harmful. Leave it in until 

 the discharge begins to subside, then cut one end of the cord and take 

 it out. Keep sore clean until healed, which will be accomplished within 

 a few days, and in a month a new growth of coat will have covered up 

 the effect of this treatment, so that no scars are left as a blemish on the 

 patient's neck. 



Many dog owners have special food theories for distemper, a popular 

 delusion being that meat fed to young dogs produces distemper. All young 

 dogs should have meat in moderation, and don't forget that dogs need salt 

 in their food, as well as the human race and animals. The frequent con- 

 tinual diet absolutely without salt is sufficient to cause most any kind of 



