TYPHUS FEVER, OR DISTEMPEE. 311 



TYPHUS FEVER, OR DISTEMPER. 



It is now generally admitted that this disease is similar to typhus 

 fever in man, and should be treated in much the same manner. 



The essence of the disease is some poison admitted from with- 

 out, or developed within the blood, by which the various secretions 

 are either totally checked, or so altered as no longer to purify the 

 system. The exact nature of this poison is beyond our present 

 state of knowledge, but from analogy there is little doubt that it 

 resides in the blood. As in all cases of poison absorbed in the 

 system, there is a most rapidly depressing effect upon the muscular 

 powers, which is to ba expected, inasmuch as their action requires 

 a constant formation of n:w material from the blood. As this is 

 retarded in common with all other functions, the muscles waste 

 away rapidly, and their contractions are not performed with any 

 strength. The dis3as3 is sometimes conveyed by infection. At 

 others it is developed in the body ; just as in the case of fermen- 

 tation in vegetabb substances, there may be a ferment added to a 

 saccharine solution, by which the process is hastened, although if 

 left to itself, it will come on in due course. 



The symptoms are various ; they may be divided into two classes, 

 one of which comprises those always attending upon distemper ; 

 the other may or may not be present in any individual attack. The 

 invariable symptoms are, a low insidious fever, with prostration of 

 strength to a remarkable degree, in proportion to the duration and 

 strength of me attack, and rapid emaciation, so that a thick mus- 

 cular dog often becomes quite thin and lanky in three days. As a 

 part of the fever, there is shivering, attended by quick pulse, hur- 

 ried respiration, loss of appetite, and impaired secretions. Beyond 

 these, there are no signs which can be called positively invariable, 

 though the running at the eyes and nose, and the short husky 

 cough, especially after exercise, arc very nearly always present. 

 The accidental symptoms depend upon the particular complication 

 which may exist ; for one of the most remarkable features in dis- 

 temper is, that, coupled with the above invariable symptoms, there 

 may be congestion, or inflammation of the head, chest, bowels, or 



