DISEASES TO WHICH HOUNDS ARE LIABLE. 137 



Those are the heads of the diseases that assail 

 kennels of hounds and kennels of other dogs ; but 

 very often the symptoms arising from '' common 

 distemper" are so complicated and so strange at 

 times, so undefined, so varied, and so intermittent, 

 that, as narrated in a previous chapter, no hunts- 

 man can lay down a rule of specific treatment ; his 

 wisest plan is to watch the indications for relief 

 pointed out by nature, and to profit by them accord- 

 ingly, and assist her. 



There are two phases of the common distemper. 

 The one assails the lungs, exhibiting itself in 

 ^^Imsking" and cough, with a discharge from the 

 mucous membrane at the nose ; the other breaks 

 more suddenly out in inflammatory action of 

 tlie brain, which inflammation often extends 

 throughout the inward and entire structure of 

 the animal. 



We will treat of the common phase of the 

 inevitable distemper first, which so assuredly 

 comes into the kennel with the entry of young 

 hounds. It may not appear openly confessed in 

 the first few days; but an experienced judge 

 will suspect its advent by the eyes, the ailing 

 look of the young hounds, and the varied and 



