DISTEMPER AND CONTAGIOUS CATARRHAL FEVER 271 



Breton describe another contagious broncho-pneumonia, but present no 

 pustular rash, probably In'ing infectious bronchial catarrh. 



Clinical Symptoms and Course. — The stage of incubation of distemper 

 is generally from four to seven days. In rare cases it may linger, for 

 eight to twelve days, after contact with the diseased animal, and 

 Krajewski states that cases of infection through cohabitation may some- 

 times take from two to two and a half weeks to develop. The first actual 

 symptom is an increase of temperature. In the initial stage it rises to 40°, 

 and in some cases 41° and over. An increase in temperature has been oIj- 

 served by the writer in all cases of distemper, when the examination was 

 made early in the disease. Later on the temperature falls slightly, but in 

 some cases very rapidly, and it may even go below the normal point, ac- 

 cording to the individuality of the anmial, and to the intensity of the at- 

 tack. Yery mild cases have little or no elevation of temperature, but as a 

 rule there is a regular increase and decrease of temperature, as the disease 

 runs its course. In fatal cases toward the end the temperature is invari- 

 abl}- subnormal. In cases developed by inoculation we occasionally find a 

 marked increase in temperature. The next symptom is the disturbance 

 of the general condition. The animal is depressed, restless, has little or 

 no appetite, seeks the heat, becomes easily fatigued, is chilly and shivering, 

 the nose is hot and dr}^ the skin is inelastic, and the hair becomes harsh 

 and dry, the animal refuses to play or to go out for a walk, lies most of 

 the time and gets into dark places. In some instances vomiting occurs, 

 but can hardly be called a characteristic, initital symptom of the disease. 

 This stage of the disease is short, from 24 to 48 hours; the symptoms in- 

 crease rapidly, and develop the four characteristic forms, which are as 

 follows: 



1. Catarrhal distemper (eyes and nose and lungs), muco-purulent 

 discharge of the nose and eyes, cough, which is very persistent and may be 

 so severe as to cause great depression or vomiting, more or less increase of 

 respiration, which in some cases may be labored. 



2. Gastric distemper (intestinal distemper), coated tongue, loss of 

 appetite, thirst, vomiting mucous in thick tenacious masses, diarrhoea, 

 yellow in color and fseces that are muco-purulent, and may even contain 

 blood. 



3. Nervous distemper (irritation of the brain and spinal cord). 

 Fear, uneasiness, great irritability, dulness or sleepiness, twitching of the 

 muscles of mastication, or epileptiform convulsions, chorea and complete 

 paralysis. 



4. Exanthematical distemper (distemper pustuia, dog pox), pustules 

 on the abdomen and internal surface of thigh. 



The following phenomena of distemper may appear during the course 

 of the disease: 



