236 DISTEMPER. 



vailing symptoms have led our attention to the lungs, we find inflammation 

 of the bronchial passages, or, in a few instances, of the substance of the 

 lungs, or the submucous tissue of the cells. We rarely have inflammation 

 of the pulmonary pleura, and never to any extent of the intercostal 

 pleura. In a few lingering cases, tubercles and vomicse of the lungs have 

 been found. 



If the bowels have been chiefly attacked, we have intense inflammation 

 of the mucous membrane, and, generally speaking, the small intestines 

 are almost filled with worms. If the dog has gradually wasted away, 

 which is often the case when purging to any considerable extent has been 

 encouraged or produced, we have contraction of the whole canal, including 

 even the stomach, and sometimes considerable enlargement of the mesen- 

 teric glands. a 



The membrane of the nose will always exhibit marks of inflammation, 

 and particularly in the frontal sinuses and ethmoidal cells ; and I have 

 observed the portion of membrane on the septum, or cartilaginous division 

 of the nostrils, between the frontal sinuses and ethmoidal cells, to be 

 studded with small miliary tubercles. In advanced stages of the disease, 

 attended with much defluxion from the nose, the cells of the ethmoidal 

 bone and the frontal sinuses are filled with pus. 



Ulceration is sometimes found on the membrane of the nose, oftenest on 

 the spot to which I have referred occasionally confined to that ; and now 

 and then spreading over the whole of the septum, and even corroding and 

 eating through it ; generally equal on both sides, of the septum ; in a few 

 instances extending into the fauces ; seldom found in the larynx, but occa- 

 sionally seen in the bronchial passages. The other viscera rarely present 

 any remarkable morbid appearance. 



The distemper is clearly a disease of the mucous membranes, usually 

 commencing in the membrane of the nose, and resembling nasal catarrh. 

 In the early stage it is coryza, or nasal catarrh ; but the affection rapidly 

 extends, and seems to attack the mucous membranes generally, determined 

 to some particular one, either by atmospheric influence or accidental 

 causes, or constitutional predisposition. The fits arise from general dis- 

 turbance of the system, or from the proximity of the brain to the early 

 seat of inflammation. 



This account of the nature and treatment of distemper will, per- 

 haps, be unsatisfactory to some readers. One thing, however, is clear, 

 that for a disease which assumes such a variety of forms, there can be no 

 specific ; yet there is not a keeper who is not in possession of some sup- 



* The following is a very frequent and husk. Astringents continued. 10th. The 



unexaggerated history of distemper, when purging is at last overcome, but the huski- 



calomel has been given in too powerful ness has rapidly increased, accompanied 



doses : by laborious and hurried respiration. 



August 30, 1828. A spaniel, six months Bleed to the extent of three ounces. 1 1th. 



old, has been ailing a fortnight, and The breathing relieved, but he obstinately 



three doses of calomel have been given by refuses to eat, and is forced several times 



the owner. He has violent purging, with in the day with arrow-root or strong soup, 



tenesmus and blood. Half-an-ounce of 18^. He had become much thinner and 



castor-oil administered. 3\st. Astringents weaker, and died in the evening. Noap- 



morning, noon, and night. Sept. 6. The pearance of inflammation on the thoracic 



astringents have little effect, or, if the viscera, nor in any part of the alimen- 



purging is restrained one day, it returns tary canal. The intestines are contracted 



with increased violence on the following through their whole extent. Veterina- 



day. Getting rapidly thin. Begins to rian, ii. 290. 



