372 FEVERS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



4tli, The period of convalescence. On tlie average, eacli of these 

 will occupy a week or ten days, varying with the mildness or 

 severity of the attack. 



When the head is attacked, there may or may not be a running 

 from the nose and eyes ; but more usually there is some evidence 

 of congestion in these organs, the eyes being weak and glued up 

 with the mucus, and the nose running more or less. A fit is, 

 however, the clearest evidence of brain affection, and, to a common 

 observer, the only reliable one. Sometimes there is stupor without 

 a fit, gradually increasing till the dog becomes insensible, and dies. 

 At others, a raving delirium comes on, easily mistaken for hydro- 

 phobia, but distinguished from it by the presence of the premoni- 

 tory symptoms peculiar to distemper. This is the most fatal com- 

 plication of all, and, if the dog recovers, he is often a victim to 

 palsy or chorea for the rest of his life. 



If the lungs are attacked, there is very rapid breathing, with 

 cough, and almost always a considerable running from the eyes 

 and nose, and expectoration of thick frothy mucus. If inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs is established, the danger is as great as when the 

 head is the seat of the seizure. 



Tlie bowels may be known to be seized when there is a violent 

 purging of black offensive matter, often tinged with blood, and 

 sometimes mixed with patches or shreds of a white leathery sub- 

 stance, which is coagulable lymph. The discharge of blood is in 

 some cases excessive, and rapidly carries off the dog. 



If the skin is attacked, which is a favourable sign, there 

 is a breaking out of pustules on the inside of the thighs and 



