VACCINATION FOR DISTEMPER. 377 



result lias been tliat some people fancy it to be a sure preventive, 

 and there is evidence tbat for years after it lias been adopted in 

 certain kennels distemper, which was previously rife in them, has 

 been kej)t at bay. On the other hand, a still more numerous 

 party have found no change produced in the mortality among 

 their dogs, and they have come as a natural consequence to the 

 opposite conclusion. Reasoning from analogy, there is no ground 

 for supposing that the matter of small-pox or cow-pox should 

 prevent the access of a disease totally dissimilar to these com- 

 plaints ; but, as experience is here the best guide, the appeal must 

 be made to it in order to settle the question. Judging from this 

 test, I can see no reason whatever for the faith which is placed in 

 vaccination, because there are at least as many recorded failures 

 as successes ; and as we know that after any remedy there will 

 always be a certain number of assumed cures held out by sanguine 

 individuals, so we must allow for a great many in this particular 

 case. Distemper is well known to be most irregular in its attacks, 

 and to hit or miss particular kennels, as the case may be, for years 

 together ; after which it reverses its tactics ; and as vaccination is 

 used at any of these various periods of change, so it gains credit 

 or discredit which it does not deserve. My own belief is, after 

 trying it myself and seeing it tried, and after also comparing the 

 experience of others, that vaccination is wholly inoperative ; but, 

 as others may like to test it for themselves, I here append direc- 

 tions for the operation. 



To vaccinate the dog. — Select the thin skin on the inside of the 

 ear, then with a lancet charged Avith vaccine lymph (which should 



