DISTEMPER 177 



trouble is very extensive there is a fetid odor given off from the body, the 

 hair falling off in places. Occasionally a slight skin eruption is the only 

 symptom that is observed, but in these cases the disease is of a very mild 

 form. 



"Symptoms Shown by the Eyes. — In the majority of cases there is a 

 catarrhal conjunctivitis. The eye watery, the eyelids injected, the con- 

 junctiva is red and swollen, and as the light cause's the animal pain he 

 seeks the dark. At first the exudate is serious, later on it becomes mucous, 

 and still later on it becomes purulent, in color light gray or yellowish. This 

 discharge collects in the corner of the eye or runs down over the face, 

 forms yellowish crusts on the edges of the eyelids, and very frequently 

 glues the lids together during the night. Lesions of the cornea may be 

 caused by the corrosive action of the secretion, and the resulting inflam- 

 mation of the surrounding membranes. The animal scratching and rubbing 

 the parts producing further injury. Nutritive troubles which follow also 

 assist. There is at first a slight swelling which afterward forms an ulcer- 

 ation. After this process has ceased and healing takes place there is left 

 white spots or dark pigmentation on» the cornea. The inflammation may 

 extend when the whole eye becomes acutely inflamed and breaks down. 

 The eye symptom accompanied by a fever is sometimes the only symptoms 

 of the disease. 



"Respiratory Symptoms. — There is usually an inflammation of the 

 mucous membrane of the air passages of a catarrhal nature. We have, 

 first, catarrh of the nose, marked by sneezing, and the animal will rub 

 or wipe his nose with his. paws. There is generally an increasing discharge 

 from both nostrils, at first serous, then mucous, and later on purulent, and 

 generally quite an odor to this discharge. There is a sniffling respiration. 

 The nose sometimes dry and cracked, and ulceration covering the membranes 

 of the nasal fossa. When the discharge is very profuse the trouble extends 

 to the turbinated bones and sinuses. In catarrh of the larynx we have 

 a loud, hoarse, dry cough, which causes the animal a great deal of dis- 

 comfort. Later on it becomes moist and looser, and there is usually a 

 discharge. On account of reflex action this cough sometimes produces vom- 

 iting. There is not much difficulty in respiration when the larynx alone 

 is affected, but when the bronchial tubes become involved and the inflam- 

 mation extends downward and produces bronchitis, there is a very great 

 increase in respiration, and a very painful, distressing cough. 



"Symptoms of the Digestive Tract. — In catarrh of the stomach, which 

 occurs in this disease, there is generally complete loss of appetite, and the 

 animal vomits a frothy liquid. There is a fetid diarrhea, or infrequent 

 defecation and intense thirst. The discharge from the bowels is of a 

 liquid consistency, generally muco-purulent, and may be streaked with 

 blood, while the abdomen will be found to be very painful on pressure. 



"Nervous Symptoms. — The animal's senses are very dull and he seems 

 much depressed. There may be deep coma, or periods of excitement occur, 

 nervousness and delirium; these periods generally short, terminating in 

 depression. There may be twitching of the muscles, especially of the 

 head and limbs. At times there is twitching of the muscles of the lower 

 jaw that causes the saliva to foam; again there will be only a chatter- 

 ing of the teeth. The animal will wander without aim, or run around 

 as if lost. A haggard appearance of the eyes, the head thrown backward, 

 the animal perhaps having convulsions. There may be motor paralysis, 

 the animal unsteady in its actions, may drag his legs or there may be 

 loss of power in the posterior extremities, the animal being unable to stand. 

 There is sometimes loss of control of the bladder and lower bowel, when 

 the urine and feces are involuntarily evacuated. When an animal is in 

 a poor state of health, being aenemic and in a generally run down condi- 

 tion, he is generally attacked with very severe nervous symptoms. Serious 

 weakness of the heart may occur. Some constitutions seem to succumb 

 easily, while others seem to withstand more acute attacks. 



"Complications. — Gome of the complications that occur in distemper 



