266 DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



A clog with diarrhoea gets thin, but does not become a living skeleton, 

 as he does when affected with distemper ; neither does he lie ex- 

 hausted in his kennel, powerless to rise from his bed, and unable to 

 relieve himself unless receiving support. The same applies to simple 

 inflammation of the lungs, which may be treated with lowering 

 medicine with good effect without reducing the dog too much ; while 

 in chest distemper, even if the local symptoms are apparently as 

 severe, a treatment half as energetic will be fatal from exhaustion 

 following upon it. 



The sequels of distemper are chorea, commonly called " the twitch," 

 and a kind of palsy, known as " the trembles." Both are produced 

 by seme mischief done the brain or spinal marrow in the course of the 

 disease. They generally follow the kind described as head distemper. 

 Chorea is known by a peculiar and idiotic-looking drop in one fore- 

 quarter when the dog begins to move, causing him to bob his head 

 in a helpless manner. At times the twitch is only partial, and 

 at others almost universal, but disappears during sleep. Shaking 

 palsy affects the whole body. It is more rare than chorea, which 

 fact is fortunate, as it is considered incurable. All lowering mea- 

 sures should be avoided in the treatment of the various forms and 

 sequels of distemper, as this is the most debilitating disease. 



Inflammation is always to be feared, attacking either the brain, 

 lungs, or bowels, and as bleeding and other remedies of a similar ten- 

 dency form the most active means for getting rid: of inflammation, 

 there is left only a choice between two dangers. In the general treat- 

 ment there are two things to be attended to : First, avoid lowering 

 the system, and, in severe cases, support it by good diet, consistent 

 with the avoidance of encouragement to inflammation. Second, take 

 particular eare that inflammation does not go far enough to destroy 

 life, or to leave such organic change in brain or lungs as shall render 



