DISTEMPER AND CONTAGIOUS CATARRHAL FEVER 277 



catarrhal inflammation of the Larynx, trachea and bronchi, and also of 

 lobular pneumonia and catarrhal inflammation of the stomach and intes- 

 tines. For details, see under their respective chapters. 



We find also more or less pathological alteration in the central ner- 

 vous system, such as hypersemia and small hemorrhages in the coverings of 

 the brain; cedema of the brain is sometimes present with flattening of the 

 convolutions and serous infiltration into the subarachnoids. In the ven- 

 tricles and base of the skull we have more or less marked venous hyper- 

 semia. As a rule, the spinal cord shows nothing abnormal except that it 

 is pale and seems soft in consistence. 



Under the miscroscope decided changes have been noticed in the 

 brain. Kolesnikoff detected an infiltration of brain-matter and walls 

 of the brain vessels with lymphoid cells as well as a distention of the 

 capillaries and smaller arteries. These were filled with red and white 

 blood corpuscles. In the infiltrated walls of the vessels of the brain were 

 found dark-colored, homogeneous granulations and accumulations. 

 Krajew^ski found also the perivascular spaces and the ganglionic cells 

 filled with lymphoid corpuscles, and he mentions particularly that those 

 cases had died without showing any prominent nervous symptoms. 

 Muzulewitsch found inflammation of the spinal cord in acute nervous 

 distemper, in which there w^as marked hypersemia. He also found al- 

 terations in the walls of the vessels, and an albuminous exudation in the 

 upper third part of the spinal cord along the blood vessels, as well as in 

 the interstitial tissue of the gray substance. As a sequence of the acute 

 nervous form we have a chronic interstitial myelitis with partial atrophy 

 of the spinal cord. 



Carougeau found an infiltration of leucocytes in the gray matter of 

 the entire cord, particularly in the anterior horns, a myelitis disseminate 

 which he believes was originated by the toxic action of distemper contagio- 

 sum ; this observation was made on a dog affected with chorea as a sequence 

 of distemper. Bohl and Rexter have reached the same conclusion from 

 their observations of the central nervous systems of dogs affected with 

 distemper. 



Other abnormal conditions are found in distemper, such as anaemia, 

 parenchymatous or fatty degeneration of the heart, liver, kidneys, and 

 an abnormal swelling of the lymphatic glands and changes in the skin 

 and eyes. 



Prophylaxis. — The animal affected with the disease should be kept 

 away from all animals that have not already had the disease, j^articularly 

 young animals; strict disinfection of the kennels or sleeping places of the 

 affected animals and also the various articles used by them. Prevent- 

 ive vaccination, while it cannot be called a success, is worth considera- 

 tion. Dogs that are not too highly bred, but bred on rational lines, and 



