116 SPECIFIC CATARRHAL DISEASE, OR DISTEMPER. 



would be prudent every third or fourth day to repeat the emetic, 

 and to keep the bowels open also ; but now more than ever avoid 

 active purgation^S. Should the disease take on still more active 

 symptoms of pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, which will 

 be known by the quick laborious breathing, the head being ele- 

 vated, and the dog remaining in a sitting position instead of lying 

 down, however fatigued, then follow the directions given under 

 the head pneumonia, Class I, Sub- Class III. 



Diarrhcea^ or looseness, is one of the most obstinate and fatal 

 accompaniments that attends distemper : it sometimes commences 

 with it, and is then suffered to go unchecked, from a supposition 

 that the complaint may be thus carried off ; but it should never be 

 allowed to go unrestrained for more than two days ; and not even 

 that time, if the disease be at all advanced, or the dog at all ema- 

 ciated ; otherwise he will be speedily brought so low as to be past 

 recovery. In very young dogs, worms will often greatly aggravate 

 the diarrhoea, and the malign symptoms in general. If any such 

 appearances occur, or any suspicions arise that such is the case, 

 treat as ordered under the head WormSi Class III ; and then pro- 

 ceed with the most effective means of combating the flux, as de- 

 tailed under Diarrhoea, Class III. 



The epileptic Jits of distemper are the most formidable of all 

 the various types under which the disease rages. It occasionally 

 commences by a fit, which should be instantly attacked by an active 

 emetic, and that should be followed by a purgative ; in which case 

 it often happens that no more appear ~o. But when a fit occurs in 



'' It was in this stage of the complaint that I used to experience such bene- 

 ficial effects from the distemper remedy I shall yet have to hint at. That it 

 acted in many cases as a specific, is most certain ; for without any sensible 

 effect the disease was suddenly arrested, and this so frequently, that I then 

 placed much confidence in its general efficacy. 



^ I have observed that one, or even two, violent fits appearing thus early 

 in the complaint, are not always followed by others, nor by any greater seve- 

 rity of symptoms than usual. Is such a fit at all similar to what sometimes 

 precedes eruptive human complaints ? I have also derived much benefit from 



