286 Hounds 



a mucous surface in connection with the respiratory 

 tract, so that if a healthy subject suffers inoculation at 

 the nose, or at the mucous membrane of the eye, the 

 disease will be reproduced. Indirect transference may 

 occur in a similar manner, hence one is forced to con- 

 clude — with abundance of proof that such does occur — 

 that the clothing of men and animals, the hands, benches, 

 feeding utensils, water-troughs, as well as various 

 species of rodents and birds, all act as carriers of the 

 active contagion. Foxes, badgers, ferrets, pole-cats, 

 weasels, stoats, along with other members of the Mus- 

 telidce, commonly suffer from distemper. 



The author can cite instances relating to kennels that 

 have never had distemper amongst their inmates, the 

 disease being unknown to the gamekeeper in charge 

 possibly for thirty years, when the accidental introduc- 

 tion of a distempered fox or ferret has brought the 

 malady on to the premises, resulting in the complete 

 destruction of the whole stud. Experienced and ob- 

 servant gamekeepers have noted that the freedom during 

 certain years from such vermin as stoats, weasels and 

 squirrels has been due to a severe epidemic of distemper 

 amongst these animals. Another question of consider- 

 able importance presents itself for solution, which is — 

 Is the virus of this malady both " fixed " and " volatile " ? 

 If the latter, then there are reasonable grounds for as- 

 suming that the trouble can be perpetuated through the 

 medium of the atmosphere — in other words, the germs 

 of distemper can be inhaled. This atmospherical trans- 

 ference is accepted by some authorities, but not by all. 

 In any case it is advisable to regard such transference 

 as possible. The water-troughs which are placed at 

 shop-doors by sympathetic but foohsh people do, in 

 the writer's opinion, act as media for the transmission 



