THE DISTEMPER. 133 



and renders it easily detected. The muscles of the loins are 

 so strong-, that reduction of the thigh is always difficult ; 

 however, a firm and judicious extension will effect it. The 

 hind knee, or stifle joint, which is that next the hip, is also 

 subject to dislocation. This more frequently occurs inward 

 than outward ; and, from the streng-th of the surrounding- 

 muscles, is also often found difficult to reduce. It is bu't 

 seldom, likewise, that the elbow is dislocated without a frac- 

 ture also. 



When a dislocation has been reduced, a pitch or other 

 adhesive piaster should be applied around the joint to keep 

 it in its place, which may be farther assisted by a proper 

 bandage. It may be useful to remark, that the inexperienced 

 practitioner can no way detect the presence of either a dislo- 

 cation or a fracture, so well as by comparing the sound limb 

 or joint attentively with the unsound one. 



The Distemper, 



This scourge to the canine race, now so general and com- 

 mon, does not appear to have been known a century ago ; 

 and even yet, throughout the European continent, it is "de- 

 scribed rather as an occasional epidemic which visits the dif- 

 ferent countries every three or four years, than as a fixed 

 complaint, like the measles or hooping cough in the human*. 



» In the Grand Encyclopddie Methodique the disease is thus described • 

 " II c'estjette,ily aquelqueannees, une maladie epidemique sur les 

 ^' chiens dans toute I'Europe ; il en est mort une grand partie sans que 



1 on put trouver de remade au maV'—Livraison LIX Chasses. 



In the Veneris Normande, by Monsieur De La Conterie, the Distemper 

 IS also described as a disease but lately observed: "Depnis vinn ans 

 ^^ es chiens courantsphis que tous les autres ont ete afflig^s d'une ma- 

 *^ ladle que se communique aussi facilement que le galle ou la petite 

 *^ verole, et que maintenant est comme sous le nomme simple de la raa- 

 ^'^ ladle. C'est une sort de peste parfaitement resemblante a la gourme 



des chevaux. Si on me demande quel remade il faut employer centre 



