Distemper 287 



of distemper. The prevalence of distemper in a kennel 

 is often succeeded by the appearance of the malady in 

 other kennels, either in the same or different localities, 

 very often due to some form of intercommunication 

 between one kennel and another. When confined to a 

 particular locaHty it is spoken of as endemic or enzootic, 

 whereas its distribution over a larger area, it may be 

 in the same, or other, counties, is then epidemic, 

 panzootic, or epizootic. It is correct to regard the 

 disease as constantly existing in the latter form, though 

 ready at any time, under favourable influences, to 

 be transformed into an actively-prevailing endemic a} 

 trouble. Climatic and geological formations have an 

 indirect bearing upon the severity or otherwise of dis- 

 temper. For instance, if the weather is particularly 

 moist, the wind cold, say in the east or north-east, lung 

 trouble is more liable to make its appearance, whereas 

 if the ground on which the kennel stands is of a retentive 

 nature, or the kennel situated where there is much 

 moisture present, rheumatic complications, or those of 

 a dysenteric nature, may possibly predominate. Both 

 high and low states of barometrical pressure do, as in- 

 dicated, exercise an important bearing upon this patho- 

 logical condition. 



{b) The presence of catarrhal signs. In the majority 

 of instances the catarrhal signs are obviously present, 

 and persist for a time after the malady has subsided, 

 though such discharges are still capable of perpetuating 

 the complaint. 



(c) That pyrexia or fever is a constant feature, even 

 during the incubative phase; in fact, the clinical ther- 

 mometer does, in the author's opinion, constitute one 

 of the most valuable instruments for ascertaining not 

 only the initial stages but also for marking the patient's 



