106 SPECIFIC CATARRHAL DISEASE, OR DISTEMPER. 



owing that the nervous affections which accompany the disease are 

 of such different complexions. The early listlessness, the general 

 prostration of strength apparent in all, unquestionably spring from 

 the want of due administration of healthy nervous energy ; but 

 the phenomena that are here hinted at are the consequence of a 

 morbid energy, that is sometimes partial ; in which case it is pos- 

 sible that the spinal brain is principally affected : sometimes it is 

 total, when we may conclude that the cranial brain is the seat of 

 attack. Under this view, we are not surprised to observe in some 

 distempered cases that the nervous weakness is confined to the 

 loins and hinder extremities ; and, while the dog is strong and 

 active in his fore parts, the debility of the hinder makes him totter, 

 and almost drag the remainder of his body after him. Again, at 

 other times, this paralytic affection is more universal, and affects 

 all the limbs, and occasionally the head likewise ; when the poor 

 brute reels about as though he were drunk. Neither of these 

 paralytic states, provided they are not followed up by more active 

 symptoms, are of necessity or certainty fatal, but, on the contrary, 

 often prove temporary only. In some cases, the nervous affection, 

 instead of being paralytic, is one of true chorea, or St. Vitus's 

 dance : a convulsive twitching attacks sometimes the head, some- 

 times one limb, less frequently is it universal from the first, but it 

 often becomes so, doubling up the animal into the most extraor- 

 dinary contortions. If these spasms increase in intensity, they 

 will affect him as well when he lies down as when he stands, and 

 asleep as well as awake : in this case he dies a miserable death 

 from sensorial and muscular exhaustion. This affection, however, 

 is likewise not necessarily fatal in itself; for although it may ac- 

 company the complaint throughout, it will often slowly disappear : 

 but unfortunately it is too apt to end in fatal convulsions ; and 

 when it does not do this, it sometimes continues through life. — 

 See Chorea, Class II. 



The symptomatic epilepsy of distemper, or fits, may often be 

 predicted with tolerable certainty one, two, or three days before 

 they come on, when, if judicious means are resorted to, they may 



