DISEASES OF THE DOG. 263 



sneezing are seldom heard, but when brought out into the air, from 

 the kennel, especially after he begins to run about and play, the 

 mucuous membrane is irritated, and the cough begins, either by itself 

 or alternately with sneezing. There is slight thirst, generally a warm, 

 dry nose, a disordered state of the bowels, which may be either con- 

 fined or relaxed, and a scanty secretion of highly colored urine. In 

 a few days the dog loses flesh and strength to a great extent, and then 

 gradually recovers. 



Head Distemper begins the same as in the mild form, and if there 

 is any cough or sneezing it is very slight, sometimes being imper- 

 ceptible. It will be noticed that the whites of the eyes are covered 

 with blood-vessels loaded with dark blood, and strong light appears to 

 give pain. Very often this kind of distemper is accompanied by a fit 

 of short duration, at the beginning of the trouble, and leaves the dog 

 in a state of torpor from which he can with difficulty be aroused. If 

 the brain is not relieved, the fits recur at short intervals, the stupor 

 increases, until the dog becomes insensible and dies in violent convul- 

 sions. Chest distemper is an extension downward into the chest of 

 the irritation which causes the cough. It there generally sets up 

 that kind of inflammation known as bronchitis, together with which, 

 however, there is often inflammation of the substance of the lungs 

 (pneumonia), or even of the external surface (pleurisy). Distemper 

 of the belly is often caused by mismanagement, brought on by either 

 the abuse of violent drugs or neglect for some time previous of the 

 secretions. In the former case, the bowels become very much re- 

 laxed at the expiration of ten days from the commencement of a case 

 of mild distemper, with constant diarrhoea, soon followed by the pas- 

 sage of large quantities of blood. When this comes from the small 

 intestines it may be quite black and pitchy, or when from the lower 

 bowels it is red and florid. 



