344 ^OG DISTEMPER 



tules present. The exanthema may spread, in the form of a 

 scabby eczema, over the whole body, to the membrane of the 

 external auditory meatus and less frequently to the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and eyes. This eruption, contrary to 

 that of sarcoptic mange, is accompanied by only slight pruritis. 

 Intense catarrh of the prepuce may appear simultaneously 

 with the skin eruption. 



The temperature which is usually very irregular, is higher 

 during the initial stage than when local manifestations appear. 

 It often falls with remarkable rapidity below normal towards 

 the approach of death. If the disease runs a protracted course, 

 the patient becomes emaciated, the hair loses its lustre, the 

 body exhalations have a very foetid odor, the eyes are sunken, 

 the mucous membranes become pale and the patient grows 

 weaker, staggers when walking or lies in a state of coma. 



In abortive cases recovery may take place in eight or ten 

 days, although the disease usually lasts three or four weeks. 

 With severe complications, especially those of the nervous sys- 

 tem, distemper assumes a protracted course and is frequently 

 followed by sequelae, such as paralysis and convulsions, which 

 may persist for months and even longer. The average mor- 

 tality appears to be from 50 to 60 per cent. 



§ 263. Morbid anatomy. The anatomical changes in 

 the respiratory system are those of rhinitis, laryngitis, bron- 

 chitis and catarrhal pneumonia. The nasal mucous membrane 

 is either very pale or greatly congested, swollen and covered 

 with a thick, purulent, greyish green or dull reddish inflam- 

 matory exudate which is mixed with coagulated blood and 

 collects chiefly between the lamellae of the turbinate bones 

 and in the frontal sinuses. Hemorrhagic ulcers are some- 

 times present. The mucous membrane of the larynx and 

 bronchi is hyperaemic, swollen, often infiltrated with hemor- 

 rhages and covered with pus. vSometimes cattarrhal ulcers 

 appear. The large bronchial tubes often fail to exhibit 

 changes which might have been expected from the symptoms. 

 The smaller bronchi are, on the other hand, frequentlj- filled 

 with dirty grey and even bloody, viscid pus. There are areas 

 of congestion on the surface of the lungs, some parts of which 



