264 DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



Generally these symptoms appear as the result of calomel, or other 

 violent medicine ; sometimes they appear of themselves. When the 

 bowels have become confined from neglect, while, at the same time, 

 the secretion of bile has been checked, a very dangerous symptom, 

 named " the yellows," shows it-self, the name being given in conse- 

 quence of the skin and white of the eyes being of a yellow color 

 from the presence of bile. When this occurs without distemper, it is 

 not so fatal ; but when it comes on during an attack of this disease, 

 it almost invariably proves fatal. Malignant distemper may come on 

 at first, the animal being, as it were, at once knocked down by the 

 severity of the poison. At times it shows itself within a week or ten 

 days after the first symptoms appear. It may follow either of the 

 four kinds already described, being marked by an aggravated form of 

 the symptoms of each. There are additional evidences of the 

 poisoned state of the blood which present themselves in the four 

 stages into which this disease has been divided. These stages are : 

 1st, incubation, during which the disease is hatching or brewing 

 2nd, reaction, when nature is working to throw off the poison ; 3rd 

 'prostration, following these efforts ; and, 4th, convalescence, wherein 

 the constitution recovers its usual powers. 



In well marked cases of malignant distemper the four stages 

 average about a week or ten days each, and as the treatment for each 

 varies considerably, it is important to ascertain their existence. The 

 period of incubation may be known by the symptoms common to 

 mild distemper, as well as to other kinds. In the malignant form the 

 secretions are disordered, the strength is lost more rapidly, and the 

 appetite is almost gone. During the reaction the pulse becomes hard 

 and quick, the breathing is much hurried, and is often much quicker 

 than the pulse, without the existence of any inflammation. It is 

 important to notice this, as, when such is the case, any lowering 



