DISTEMPEE. 19 



but, in the malignant form, the strength is lost much more rapidly, while the 

 appetite is almost entirely absent, and the secretions are very much disordered. 

 During the reaction, the pulse becomes quick and hard, the breathing is much 

 hurried, and is often much quicker than the pulse without the existence of any inflamma- 

 tion. This is very important to notice, as, when such is the case, any lowering 

 measures are highly improper ; but, on the other hand, the pulse may be very high 

 and strong, and the breathing laboured, which, together with other unmistakable 

 evidences afforded to the practised ear, prove the existence of inflammation, and 

 require energetic and lowering treatment. At this time, also, are developed those 

 dangerous affections of the brain, bowels, or liver, to which I have before alluded. 

 When the stage of prostration sets in the whole system is thoroughly reduced, the 

 dog is so weak that he is unable to stand, his appetite is often entirely gone so that 

 he must be drenched if he is to be kept alive ; his gums, tongue, and teeth are 

 coated with a black fur, and his breath is highly offensive. At this time an eruption 

 of the skin generally shows itself, sometimes consisting in mere purple spots, in 

 others of small bladders filled with yellow matter, but most frequently of bladders, 

 varying in size from a pea to half a hen's egg, and containing matter more or less 

 stained with purple blood, or occasionally blood alone. This eruption is thickest 

 on the skin of the belly and inside of the thighs, but sometimes it extends to the 

 whole body. It is a favourable sign, taken by itself, though it generally 

 attends upon severe cases. In the convalescence from malignant distemper, health 

 gradually returns ; but without the greatest care in all respects a relapse is very apt 

 to occur, and is then generally fatal. 



To distinguish these several forms of distemper from the diseases which most 

 nearly resemble them, it is chiefly necessary to bear in mind that the peculiarity of 

 distemper, especially in its malignant form, is the rapid tendency to loss of strength 

 and flesh which accompanies it. Thus a common cold with cough is attended with 

 slight feverishness, languor, loss of appetite, &c., but it may go on for several days 

 without the dog losing much flesh, and with a very partial loss of strength. So } 

 also, with ordinary diarrhoea ; it is astonishing how severe an attack is required to 

 reduce a dog in anything like the same degree which a few days' distemper will 

 effect. In diarrhoea the dog gets thin, it is true, but he does not become the living 

 skeleton which distemper produces ; nor does he lie exhausted in his kennel, utterly 

 unable to rise from his bed, and obliged to be supported in order to relieve himself. 

 The same may apply to simple inflammation of the lungs, which may be treated 

 most energetically by bleeding and lowering medicine with good effect, and without 

 knocking the dog off his legs; while in chest distemper, even though the local 

 symptoms are apparently as severe, a treatment one-half as energetic will be fatal 

 from the exhaustion following upon it. 



The sequels of distemper should also be alluded to, as consisting of chorea, 

 commonly called " the twitch," and a kind of. palsy, known as " the trembles." 

 Both are produced by some obscure mischief done to the brain or spinal marrow in 

 the course of the disease, and they generally follow the kind which I have described 

 as head distemper. Chorea may be known by a peculiar and idiotic-looking drop 



