PREPARATORY WORK. 1 45 



well-known means of prevention is universally employed 

 this once terrible scourge must in time be stamped out of 

 existence. 



No other disease has declined with a rapidity approach- 

 ing this, but all of the same character whose true nature 

 and inner workings have been uncovered have taken a 

 downward course — thanks to the means of prevention 

 that are becoming better and better understood every 

 year. Distemper is no eminent illustration of this, still it 

 is not a notable exception, and evidence is not wanting 

 that at shows, at least, it far less often intrudes than it did 

 even five years ago. 



The idea is popular that all must have scarlet fever or 

 measles some time in life, and not a few parents who 

 cleave to it deliberately expose their little ones to vic- 

 tims of these diseases that they may be off the anxious 

 seat at once. A similar notion about distemper exists 

 among dog owners, and this, with its kindred shadow from 

 the musty past, scarcely more opprobrious, should have 

 long since been dispelled. 



As a matter of fact no age is exempt from scarlet fever 

 or measles, and the same is true of distemper, but all 

 these diseases have a very decided preference for young 

 subjects, and the danger of "taking" them lessens gradu- 

 ally as maturity approaches, and very rapidly after that 

 period. In other words, a puppy — especially if not 

 strong and hardy — is always an easy victim to distem- 

 per, whereas an old dog stoutly resists infection. 



Fully alive to this fact some breeders keep their pup- 

 pies, of all ages, away from shows ; and this is an admira- 

 ble rule, but the need to enforce it is much less than 

 it was a few years ago, for at the present time a fixed 

 requirement at all shows held by clubs comprising the 

 American Kennel Club is, that every competitor shaK be 



