THE DISTEMPER. 139 



ened mucous or purulent form, and pus, or matter, flows from 

 the eves and nose, and, now and then, from the ears also. 

 When the secretion has become thick and pus-like, the dog-, 

 when first seen in the morning-, presents himself with his eyes 

 and nose stopped or g-lued up with the viscid matter which 

 exuded during- the night. During the day, the irritation pro- 

 duces frequent sneezing, and a disposition to rub the nose 

 and eyes violently to relieve them. In many cases, a lessen- 

 ed appetite, dulness, and emaciation, precede all other ap- 

 pearances ; and when they are not the precursors to the com- 

 plaint, they are certain to follow in the train. As a neces- 

 sary consequence of the fever attendant on the disease, a 

 quickened pulse, hurried respiration, shivering, disinclination 

 to exercise, impatience of cold, and anxiety for warmth, are 

 also present in every well marked case. Diarrhoea, or loose- 

 ness, is now and then a very early symptom also ; in others, it 

 does not appear so early ; but, in all, it is too apt to make 

 its appearance at some period of the complaint. A general 

 prostration of strength marks every bad case of distemper : 

 in some it comes on very early, in others it is more protract- 

 ed ; but in all it proves, sooner or later, a certain accompa- 

 niment to the complaint. It is not uncommon, whether the 

 general weakness is trifling or considerable, for a peculiar pa- 

 ralytic debility to appear also, which is more frequently con- 

 fined to the loins and hinder extremities ; in which cases, 

 although the fore parts may remain tolerably strong, the 

 hinder ones will appear very and sometimes totally paralyzed. 

 Now and then this paralytic tendency extends to all the 

 limbs, and to the head also, when the animal is seen to 

 reel as though drunk, or to become affected with spasmodic 

 twitchings. 



From this summary of symptomatic appearances, it may be 

 fair to characterise the distemper as a specific contagious ca- 

 tarrh, that commences its attack on the mucous membranes 

 of the head, on those of the bronchial passages, or on the 

 membranes of both at the same time; and, according- as the 

 one or the other, or both, are the immediate and primary 



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