326 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



In the dog the disease is certainly mostly of a func- 

 tional character — i. e., no lesion can usually be discovered 

 even with the microscope, as has been proved by careful 

 autopsies and microscopic examinations instituted at the 

 author's own suggestion. The poison of distemper weak- 

 ens the cells, and they discharge irregularly and without 

 the normal stimulus of the will-powder. 



Except when due to worms, etc., the prognosis is bad. 

 Few cases following distemper ever wholly recover. 



Treatment. — Apart from attention to the general 

 health, only two or three drugs seem to have been of any 

 use whatever. The disease has proved practically incurable. 



We prefer to commence with small doses of iodide of 

 potassium, in case there may be any morbid grow^ths press- 

 ing on the nerve-centers. Counter-irritation might be 

 worth a trial — i. e., over the part of the cord correspond- 

 ing to the affected muscles. 



Nux vomica or strychnine and arsenic are the drugs in 

 which most confidence is placed. Some administer them 

 together. It is a good plan to give one in the morning 

 and the other in the evening. 



Upon the whole, freshly prepared liquor arsenicalis 

 does very well. It may be mixed with the animal's food, 

 but never given on an empty stomach. Commencing 

 with, say, three drops in water, after a few days the dose 

 n>ay be gradually increased to ten ; then, after a brief ces- 

 sation from dosing, begin again, say, with five drops, and 

 increase in the same way to fifteen, and so on till twenty 

 or thirty drops, in the case of large dogs, may be reached. 

 The other remedies may be pushed in a similar manner, 

 but not to very large doses. 



