40 THE DOMESTIC AND LONG-HAIRED CAT 



CHAPTER XXI 



Distemper 



There is perhaps no other ailment as com- 

 mon or as fatal to cats as distemper. It is 

 highly contagious and can even be carried on 

 the clothes of the one handling the sick animal. 

 Catteries where this disease has existed can 

 not be too carefully fumigated, as the germs 

 have been known to remain in^a building over 

 a year. The word distemper does not mean a 

 disease but ''the symptoms of a disease." There 

 are three forms. The catarrhal, effecting the 

 eyes, nose and throat. This form is the slowest 

 to cure but the least fatal. The first symp- 

 toms are usually those of a cold, sneezing, 

 watery eyes, nose discharging, loss of appetite, 

 very often vomiting of white froth. A fever 

 usually accompanies all cat ills. Humphrey's 

 Vet. A. A. is the best fever reducer. Salina 

 Cold Cure, given every hour with vaseline 

 smeared on the roof of the mouth several times 

 a day; the cat must be kept dry and warm and 

 free from draughts. Keep the nose clean of 

 all discharge and well greased with vaseline; 

 if the eyes are inflamed, use a 20 per cent solu- 

 tion of Argyrol, one drop night and morning. 

 Keep all bedding clean and destroy all clothes 

 used in caring for the sick animal. The best 



