506 DOG DISTEMPER 



DOG DISTEMPER. 



Sy7i07iynis. Dog plague; dog disease; bench show dis- 

 ease; typhus fever in the dog; typhoid fever in the dog. 



§ 391. Characterization. Distemper is an infectious 

 disease appearing in sporadic cases or in epizootics. It is 

 usually determined by a rise of temperature, loss of appetite 

 and lassitude, followed by a catarrh of the conjunctiva, re- 

 spiratory passages and digestive tract. Frequentl}^ there are 

 serious disturbances of the nervous system. It is the most 

 important canine disease. It is reported that cats, wolves, 

 foxes, jackalls, hyenas and monkeys suffer from it. 



§ 392. History. This disease of dogs was known in 

 quite early times. Its history shows that possibly it was in- 

 troduced into Southern Europe from Peru, South America, 

 about the middle of the eighteenth century. It was regarded 

 as being closely allied to a number of diseases of the human 

 species such as the plague and typhus. Trasbot believed it 

 to be closely allied to, if not identical with, small-pox. 



§ 393. Geographical distribution. Distemper in dogs 

 is a widespread disease. It is exceedingly common in the 

 United States and its ravages extend throughout America and 

 seem to be no less in Europe. It is stated that there is no 

 country or climate in which the dog is exempt from distemper. 



§ 394. Etiology. The specific cause of distemper has 

 not been demonstrated. A large number and variety of bac- 

 teria have been thought by different investigators to stand in 

 a causal relation to this disease. Schantyr stated, in 1891, 

 that canine distemper should be divided into three different 

 diseases and that each is produced by a distinct species of bac- 

 teria. More recently (1899) Jess has isolated a bacillus from 

 the catarrhal secretions, blood, serous exudates and organs. 

 He reports having reproduced the disease in dogs with pure 

 cultures of this organism. The writer has not been able to 

 find this bacillus in the few cases which he has examined, but a 



