126 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



of filth and hunger ; and in these cases the change must be 

 to clean bedding and generous diet. The change of food, 

 however, should not be sudden, otherwise not only may the 

 existing disorder be aggravated, but other and less managea 

 ble affections may be superinduced. 



DISTEMPER. 



The most fatal disorder, next to rabies, to which the canine 

 race is liable. Nearly every dog is certain to have it at some 

 period of his existence ; but in general it makes its appear- 

 ance during the first year. If an old dog get this disease, 

 you need not hope to save him. 



Distemper is strongly marked in its symptoms, though they 

 are not invariably of the same character. They are usually 

 loss of appetite, dulness, fever, weakness of the eyes, a dis- 

 charge from the nose, a short husky cough, discharge from 

 both eyes and nose, a peculiar and fetid smell, emaciation, 

 sometimes Jits, and when they appear, I should prognosticate 

 a fatal termination to the complaint. Dogs in a fit are some- 

 times mistaken for mad : let it be understood, then, fits are 

 never present in rabies. 



The distemper is a disease of the mucous surfaces, and usu- 

 ally commences in nasal catarrh. If the disease be detected 

 in the first stage, bleeding will be most useful, and that pretty 

 copious : give an emetic, and follow it up by a gentle purga- 

 tive ; if as is generally the case when the above treatment 

 does not effect a cure inflammation of the lungs supervenes, 

 you must take more blood, give more aperient medicine, with 

 occasional emetics.. If the animal become weak, and is ap- 

 parently sinking, give mild tonics, as gentian, quinine ; and 

 if he will not eat, put some strong beefyelly down his throat. 

 A seton in the back of the neck is often useful, but should 

 not be used indiscriminately. If possible, consult a veteri- 

 nary surgeon, and place your dog in his hands. 



The more generous the breed, the more liable is the dog to 

 have distemper, and to sink under it. Cur-dogs of low de- 

 gree hardly know what it is. The hardy shepherd's dog of 

 Scotland, if he have it at all, gets over it u&aided, in a day 

 or two. 



DIARRHCEA. 



Wait for a day or two, to ascertain if ihe discharge will 

 cure itself; if it continue, give castor-oil, with a few drops 

 of laudanum. 



