DISTEMPER 



17! 



Richwoods Kennels, IRISH SETTERS 



CHAMPION RICHWOODS GLENROY, (182911), at Stud. A 



son of the Famous Ch. PAT LAW. 

 WALTER McROBERTS, Peoria, III. Men.ber Irish Setter Club of Amerif; 

 Al. G. Eberhart is my agent at A. R. C. shows. 



Russia in 1770. Distemper now exists all over the world wherever the dog 

 is found. From the time of its first appearance it has been considered one 

 of the most fatal diseases to which the dog is subject. 



"Definition. — Distemper is an acute contagious disease, caused by the 

 introduction of a specific poison into the system. It has been known under 

 various names. Opinions differ as to its nature. Some authors have com- 

 pared it to typhoid or typhus in man, others to variola. A number of dif- 

 ferent authors describe it as a catarrhal fever, as it affects all the mem- 

 branes of the body. The nervous system is generally if not always involved, 

 and there is also a characteristic skin eruption. 



"Causes. — That a germ constitutes the exciting cause of distemper we 

 are convinced by recent investigations. Some authorities believe there may 

 be several germs or different forms of the same germ. As the disease is 

 very highly contagious, clearly defined, and well characterized, the exis- 

 tence of a specific germ must be conceded. According to this theory 

 the spontaneous origin of distemper is not tenable, and that the disease 

 may be perpetuated and continued in existence, there must be a continued 

 propagation of the poison, and a continual transmission of this poison. 



"The poison exists in the air in a fixed and volatile state, and enters 

 the system by the nose and mouth. 



"The virus can be communicated from one animal to another, and 

 transmission by cohabitation is more easily effected than by inoculation. 



"The germ has great vitality and great power of resistance. It may 

 undergo dessication in the air and still retain its virulence. It can exist 

 a long time outside the body without destruction, and communicate the 

 disease when brought into contact with susceptible individuals. 



