■DISTEMPJCB.] 



THE DOG, AND ITS YAEIETIES; 



[disxe^jpee. 



The causes of distemper are, generally, cold ; 

 suddenly throwing a domesticated dog into the 

 water, or not properly drying his coat after 

 being washed. They are, however, various, and, 

 to a considerable extent, inscrutable ; for any de- 

 rangement of the system may bring it on. It is 

 remarked in the Encyclopcedia ofBural Sports, 

 that the eifects of distemper in different breeds 

 of dogs used in rural pursuits, or those which 

 live mostly in the open air, are comparatively 

 slight ; but, wherever man has interfered, and 

 forced an artificial breed by educating them to 

 artificial purposes, or closely confining them, 

 in such, the disease acts with great severity. 

 Hence it is so fatal to high-bred hounds, 

 pointers, setters, and spaniels ; and to terriers 

 and greyhounds, as breeds even more artificial 

 than the others, it is usually more so. Mr. 

 Youatt observes, that few dogs imported into 

 this country, as exotics, do well in it. In proof 

 of this, it is known that the larger number of 

 the northern dogs, brought here by Captain 

 Parry, were swept away by it within twelve 

 months. Some breeds have an hereditary pre- 

 disposition to be afiaicted in a far greater de- 

 gree than others of the same kind. Litter 

 after litter of some sporting strains, will hardly 

 yield more than one or two survivors ; and, in 

 such cases, we would advise the breeder to cross 

 the race. In crowded cities the disease is both 

 severe and fatal. In London, those that are 

 attacked by it have little chance of recovery 

 compared to those that are attacked in the 

 country, where the air is so much more pure, 

 and where the lungs are less likely to suffer 

 by it. 



As in all diseases in which there is difficulty, 

 in treating for distemper, various modes have 

 been adopted. Some think it best, on its first 

 appearance, to give their dogs emetics and 

 purgatives. They begin by keeping the dogs 

 warm, and then administering James's powders 

 and hot baths, if necessary. 



It docs not do to place a dog in an out- 

 liouse, and to content yourself with looking at 

 him, with your hands behind you, and saying 

 "poor fellow" to him two or three times a day. 



A gentleman of the old school, gave to his 

 puppies, Scotch pills and James's powders. 

 The animals were then kept in an out-house, 

 made as warm and comfortable as a lady's 

 parlour; and success generally resulted from 

 48i 



this treatment. A great matter in this disease 

 is promptitude of action. This same gentleinaa 

 lost a most promising greyhound puppy, entirely 

 through dilatoriness. The dog was out iu the 

 yard; and although the owner was told of his con- 

 dition by one experienced in canine diseases, he 

 did not take proper measures to check it. He 

 was going out for a walk with his wife, in- 

 tending "to see him when he came back ;" and 

 a few days afterwards the dog was dead. 

 Knowing how soon some people tire of animals 

 when any sickness or trouble comes, this does 

 not surprise us ; and the conduct of this gentle- 

 man is by no means exceptional, for there are 

 hundreds like him. To such, however, the life 

 of no valuable dog should be intrusted. 



Eor the cure of distemper, one table-spoon- 

 ful of castor-oil and a piece of garlic bruised, 

 and given every day, has been found extremely 

 effective. It has been repeatedly tried, at the 

 same time keeping up the dog, or not allowing 

 him to get low. "We have known a dog per- 

 fectly paralysed from the distemper; but by 

 giving the above for ten days or a fortnight 

 together, and then, when it seemed, in some 

 degree, to have lost its effect, Benbow's Altera- 

 tive Mixture, for a few days, afterwards return- 

 ing to the castor-oil and garlic, completely re- 

 stored him. 



Every sportsman has his own specific for 

 this disease ; and the following will be found, 

 we think, as excellent as any : — 12 grains of 

 tartar emetic ; 6 do. of opium ; 4 do. Peruvian 

 bark; 2 do. nitre; 2 do. camphor. To be 

 mixed up into nine balls, and two to be given 

 every other day to a full-grown dog ; one to a 

 puppy. 



Tonic on heginning to Hecover. — 24i grains 

 of quinine ; i ounce of gentian powder; | do. 

 of bark in powder; 1\ do. of lemon-juice, or 8 

 drops of sulphuric acid. To be made into eight 

 bails, and one to be given every other day. 



Valuable as these opinions and recipes may 

 be, however, we must make room for some apt 

 remarks by another, in reference to the " infal- 

 lible remedies" which have been supposed to 

 have been discovered for this disease, as well 

 as for a portion of the rationale of his own treat- 

 ment of it. 



"The treatment of distemper,'* says this 

 experienced veterinarian, "must necessarily 

 vary considerably, according to the nature of 



