DISTEMPER. 233 



apparent attempt to get something from the fauces or throat. By degrees 

 the discharge from the eyes and nose, and particularly the former, will 

 increase. More mucus will collect in the corners of the eye ; and the eye 

 will sometimes be closed in the morning. The conjunctiva, and particu- 

 larly that portion which covers the sclerotica, will be considerably injected, 

 but there will not be the usual intense redness of inflammation. The 

 vessels will be large and turgid rather than numerous, and frequently of 

 a darkish hue. 



Occasionally, however, the inflammation of the conjunctiva will be 

 exceedingly intense, the membrane vividly red, and the eye impatient of 

 light. An opacity spreads over the cornea, and this is quickly succeeded 

 by ulceration. The first spot of ulceration is generally found precisely 

 in the centre of the cornea, and is perfectly circular : this will distinguish 

 it from a scratch or other injury. The ulcer widens and deepens, and 

 sometimes eats through the cornea, and the aqueous humour escapes. 

 Fungous granulations spring from it, protrude through the lids, and the 

 animal evidently suffers extreme torture. 



A remarkable peculiarity attends this affection of the eye. However 

 violent may be the inflammation, and by whatever disorganization it may 

 be accompanied, if we can cure the distemper the granulations will dis- 

 appear, the ulcer will heal, the opacity will clear away, and the eye will 

 not eventually suffer in the slightest degree. One-fourth part of the 

 mischief in other cases, unconnected with distemper, would inevitably 

 terminate in blindness ; but permanent blindness is rarely the consequence 

 of distemper. 



It may not be improper here shortly to revert to the different appearance 

 of the eye in rabies. In the early stage of this malady there is an unna- 

 tural and often terrific brightness of the eye ; but the cornea in distemper 

 is from the first rather clouded. In rabies there is frequent strabismus, 

 with the axis of the eye distorted outwards. The apparent squinting of 

 the eye in distemper is caused by the probably unequal protrusion of the 

 membrana nictitans over a portion of the eye at the inner canthus, in 

 order to protect it from the light. In rabies, the white cloudiness 

 which I have described, and the occasional ulceration with very little 

 cloudiness, and the ulceration, are confined to the cornea ; but a dense 

 green opacity comes on, speedily followed by ulceration and disorganization 

 of every part of the eye. 



The dog will, at this stage of distemper, be evidently feverish, and will 

 shiver and creep to the fire. He will more evidently and rapidly lose 

 flesh. The huskiness will be more frequent and troublesome, and the dis- 

 charge from the nose will have greater consistence. It will be often and 

 violently sneezed out, and will gradually become more or less purulent. 

 It will stick about the nostrils and plug them up, and thus afford a consi- 

 derable mechanical obstruction to the breathing. 



The progress of the disease is now uncertain. Sometimes fits come on, 

 speedily following intense inflammation of the eye ; or the inflammation 

 of the nasal cavity appears to be communicated, by proximity, to the 

 membrane of the brain. One fit is a serious thing. If it is followed by 

 a second within a day or two, the chances of cure are diminished ; and if 

 they rapidly succeed each other, the dog is almost always lost. These fits 

 seldom appear without warning ; and, if their approach is carefully watched, 

 they may possibly be prevented. 



