340 ■ , DOG DISTEMPER 



3. Marsden. Influenza. The Veterinary Journal. New Series, 

 Vol. II. (1900). p. 315. ( M. describes three forms (i) catarrhal fever, 

 (2) bilious fever, (3) epizootic cullulitis). 



4. Nelson. Influenza. Bulletin 22. State Agric. Exper. Station^ 

 IVashingtoii. 1896. 



DOG DISTEMPER. 



Synonyms. Dog plague ; dog disease ; bench show 

 disease ; typhus fever in the dog ; typhoid fever in the dog ; 

 febris catarrhalis epizootica canum. 



§258. Characterization, Distemper is an infectious dis- 

 ease appearing in sporadic cases or in epizootics. It is usually 

 determined by a rise of temperature, loss of appetite and lassi- 

 tude, followed by a catarrah of the conjtinctiva, respiratory 

 passages and digestive tract. . Frequently there are serious 

 disturbances of the nervous system. It is the most important 

 canine disease. It is reported that cats, wolves, foxes, jack- 

 alls, hy'senas and monkeys suffer from it. 



§ 250. History. This disease of dogs was known in qtiite 

 early times. Its historj' shows that possibly it was introduced 

 into Southern Europe from Peru, South America, about the 

 middle of the eighteenth century. It was regarded as being 

 closely allied to a number of diseases of the human species 

 such as the plague and typhus. Trasbot believed it to be 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, small pox. 



§ 260. Geographical distribution. Distemper in dogs 

 is a wide spread disease. It is exceedingly common in the 

 United States and its ravages extend throughout America and 

 seem to be no less in Europe. It is stated that there is no 

 country or climate in which the dog is exempt from distemper. 



§ 261. Etiology. The specific cause of distemper has 

 not been demonstrated. A large number and variety of 

 bacteria have been thought by different investigators to stand 

 in a casual relation to this disease. Schantyr stated, in 1892, 

 that canine distemper should be divided into three different 

 diseases and that each is produced by a distinct species of 

 bacteria. More recently (1899) Jess has isolated a bacillus 

 from the catarrhal secretions, blood, serous exudates and 



