THE DISTEMPER. 135 



p^ges of similar continental publications ; and also from our 

 havino- desio-nated it bv a translation of the popular term it 

 was first known by in France, La Maladie. But although 

 the distemper may be now considered as a constitutional 

 disease, like measles or hooping-cough, it nevertheless still 

 puts on, occasionally, not only its epidemial, but also an 

 endemial appearance, and ravages the dogs of a particular 

 district more than of others; and, now and then, when it 

 attacks with epidemic fury and peculiarity the dogs of London 

 or other large cities, it is scarcely observed among those in 

 the country. In an epidemic form the disease presents many 

 varieties. I have seen it accompanied with marked biliary af- 

 fection in every dog attacked that season: many of the cases of 

 that period had also a pustular eruption. 1 have seen it also 

 make its appearance in a few cases, and during one particular 

 season, by a phlegmonous tumour of some part of the body, 

 but principally of the head. In the summer of 1805, many 

 of the distempered subjects had a peculiar affection of the 



it appear at all to mitigate the severity of the complaint. I am aware 

 that the point is yet at issue, and that the practice of vaccination is still 

 continued among dogs ; but I have seen such palpable and repeated 

 instances of failure, when operated on in the most careful manner ; and 

 I have, in the alleged instances of its success, been enabled to trace the 

 matter so clearly to the operation of accidental circumstances, or the 

 report to exaggerated statements ; that I have no hesitation in pro- 

 nouncing it wholly inefficacious as regards dogs. 



With Dr. t)ARWiN the distemper is a debilitating catarrh, which is best 

 treated by free access to the open air, which, as it passes over the ul- 

 cerated surfaces of the nasal membranes, will tend to heal them. Dis- 

 tempered dogs should also be allowed to drink water from a running 

 str-^am that the contagious mucus of the nostrils, having escaped one 

 passage, may not again enter another, and thus re-poison the dog. 

 Such is the theory and treatment of this disease, according to this fan- 

 ciful author ; and equally unsatisfactory appear all the various de- 

 scriptions and directions relative to it, scattered about in sporting and 

 other works. Neither can it be otherwise, when in most instances the 

 disease has been described from the appearances as they presented 

 themselves in one kennel ; often as it appeared in one litter ; or even 

 from a single individual. 



