170 —..-..- DISTEMPER 



"It has been found that the virulent properties of the germs are not 

 lost in any degree when dried at a normal temperature, or when exposed 

 to a temperature of 20 degrees Centigrade, but does lose some of its power 

 if preserved in a dray state and kept for any length of time. 



"Under proper conditions the poison of distemper can reproduce itself 

 without limit. 



"The blood of the affected animal has been found to be contagious; 

 also the secretions from the eyes and nose. 



"Vaccination of young animals by means of the secretory fluid from 

 animals affected with the disease has been tried and has produced the dis- 

 ease artificially. The disease when produced from vaccination generally 

 runs a mild course. The liability of dogs to contract distemper is not the 

 same at all ages, and under all circumstances and conditions. Old dogs 

 have a greater chance of escape, this being more a disease of youth. 

 Young animals generally contract the disease jn the course of their first 

 year. Sometimes whole litters of puppies being carried off by it. Some 

 animals seem to possess immunity from the malady, and one attack suc- 

 cessfully overcome produces immunity from another. In very rare cases 

 there are exceptions to this rule. Distemper is found in all localities, and 

 at all seasons, in the country it may be more rife at some seasons than 

 others, but in large cities it exists permanently. 



"Predisposing Causes. — In distemper, as in all similar diseases, there 

 are predisposing causes. Anything that weakens the constitution, or that 

 tends to debilitate, or lessen the animal's resisting power would be pre- 

 disposing causes. An animal that has a weakened constitution inherited 

 from the sire or dam, from any cause, for instance from in-breeding, in- 

 judicious mating, or from diseased parents. We will say, then, that age, 

 environment, condition of the constitution at the time of exposure, indi- 

 viduality, etc:, are all important. The sudden alteration in the environ- 

 ment, like a change of weather, or of feeding, exposure to damp and cold, 

 exhaustion, a long journey, the exciting and unnatural conditions of shows 

 generally, with the crowding together of large numbers of dogs that have 

 lived under different conditions, etc., badly drained, ill-ventilated kennels 

 with insufficient disinfecting and feeding, poor food or over feeding, and 

 too little exercise, are all favorable to the spread of the disease. 



"Animals Affected — Distemper is found in the dog, cat, fox, wolf, 

 hyena, prairie dog and monkey. 



"Clinical Symptoms. — Symptoms of canine distemper are manifold and 

 rather complicated. They involve the ocular, respiratory and digestive mu- 

 cous membranes; also the nervous system and outer integument of skin. 

 For the purpose of description we will divide them under the following 

 different heads: 



"Symptoms of Commencement. — The period of incubation is usually 

 from four to fourteen days. Elevation of temperature is the first symptom 

 noticeable in this disease. The next symptom that will be noticed is some 

 disturbance in the general condition. The animal will seem to be chilly 

 and have shivering spells, the nose is hot and dry, the skin is hard and 

 the hair becomes harsh and dry. The animal loses his appetite, is restless 

 and seems depressed, and soon tires on slight exertion. Vomiting may 

 occur. 



"Symptom on the Outer Integument. — There is sometimes a charac- 

 teristic skin eruption in distemper. The eruption generally occurs on the 

 inner facia of the thighs, and on the abdomen, or it may cover the whole 

 body. It first appears as small red spots, generally scattered. Sometimes, 

 but very rarely, they are confluent, then there is a change and they appear 

 as small blisters filled with serum, and later on this changes to pus. They 

 are about the size of a small bean, then dry up very soon and form yellow- 

 ish scabs and crusts. These scabs fall off and leave a red, circular spot on 

 the skin, and these spots are some time in disappearing. Sometimes pit 

 and ulcerations are formed, on account of the dog scratching these spots. 

 Occasionally this trouble is only slight and confined to parts of the body, 

 but at times it extends over the whole surface of th« bodr. When the 



