CANINE DISTEMPEE. 275 



substituted in smooth-haired dogs. In rough-haired ones, tlie 

 hair saturated witli the wet is a long time in drying, and the 

 animal is apt to take cold. Nitrate of potash may be dissolved 

 in the dog's drinking water, or given in solution in from six to 

 twenty grain doses, as a febrifuge and diuretic ; and the chloral 

 hydrate may be given at night, particularly if the dog is sleep- 

 less. The nervous symptoms may depend upon reflex irrita- 

 tion. If from teething, the gums are to be lanced. If from the 

 presence of worms, and this is a common cause, and tape-worm 

 the parasite generally met with, from one scruple to one drachm 

 of areca nut is to be administered. If the appetite is entirely 

 lost, advantage must be taken of the thirst, and beef tea or milk 

 allowed the dog to drink. If it will not drink spontaneously, 

 nourishment must be forced upon it, in small quantities and 

 oft repeated. A raw egg beaten up with a glass of sherry, care- ■ 

 fully administered, will be of great service ; in other cases, 

 brandy and beef tea. I am, however, opposed, unless the pro- 

 stration of strength threatens to prove rapidly fatal, to the forcing 

 of large doses of stimulants, as they often cause much mischief, 

 careful nursing and good attendance being much more beneficial 

 than any mere medicinal remedy, 



I have very little to say upon the treatment of the secondary 

 nervous complications. They are due to a variety of pathological 

 changes. 



Paralysis sometimes results from obliteration or plugging of 

 the spinal veins, which are found enlarged and pressing upon 

 the cord : I have found this in several dissections of dogs which 

 had died or had been destroyed wdiilst suffering from paralysis — 

 from atrophy of the cord, the nervous matter of which being in 

 some instances replaced by a semi-fluid deposit, and from con- 

 gestion and disintegration of its substance. 



Some cases of paralysis after distemper, if kept long enough 

 and well fed, will recover. As a rule, however, the loss of power 

 remains, and the dog has ultimately to be destroyed. I have 

 tried strychnia and other nervine tonics, but cannot say that 

 they do much good. Iodide of potassium — given on the assump- 

 tion that the paralysis resulted from the pressure of an exudate 

 on the cord — has been tried also by me, but with no very suc- 

 cessful results. Blisters to the spine, setons, and even the 

 application of the actual cautery, have also been tried in such 



