152 THE DISTEMPER. 



that the dog cannot face it, but blinks, closes his eyes, and 

 hides himself as much as possible from it. The state I allude 

 to, is not when the eyes are closed with matter, but it is at 

 an earlier period of the complaint, and when, in general 

 cases, the eyes are affected with a watery moisture only, which 

 in these instances is also present, but with a more than usual 

 increase of irritability in these organs, rendering them unable 

 to bear the Hght without pain. On looking into the eyes in 

 such cases, the substance of the globe appears inflamed and 

 bloodshot, and the pupil red and fiery. When these symptoms 

 are present, I would recommend the use of setons in the neck, 

 as the best means of causing a counter action. In such cases, 

 also, warm steamings to the head, or even fomentations of 

 vinegar and w^ater, may be very properly tried. For, it may 

 be regarded as a rule subject to few exceptions, that these 

 appearances prognosticate that the animal will have the com- 

 plaint badly ; these cases, in general, becoming soon affected 

 with convulsions. If a dog thus attacked is moderately 

 strong, and in tolerable condition, bleeding and purging are 

 also proper : but even here the lowering' system must not be 

 pursued too far, or it will hasten the attack of fits. 



In the advanced stage of distemper, should the eyes be- 

 come ulcerated, which is a very common occurrence, treat 

 them as directed under Diseases of the Eyes : and it may 

 not be improper to remark here, that those ophthalmic ulcers 

 arising from distemper, though they may appear to have ac- 

 tually destroyed the eye, will yet often gradually heal, the 

 parts will reinstate themselves, and the sight will return un- 

 injured. This regeneration is, however, peculiar to the 

 ophthalmia of distemper. 



Finally, as a guide to the inexperienced, it may not be 

 improper to recapitulate the general treatment under the 

 usual circumstances of the complaint; for this end, the fol- 

 lowing rules may be regarded as a summary : — Feed libe- 

 rally ; carefully remedy a continued looseness of bowels ; give 

 exercise very sparingly ; keep warm in every stage but the pu- 

 trid ; carefully avoid irritation ; and ever keep in mind, that the 



