6oO MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



symptoms are universally followed by convulsive 

 twitchings of the head, and sometimes in other parts 

 of the body, indicating considerable irritation in the 

 brain and spinal marrow. The bowels are violently 

 affected, either by being costive or extremely loose ; 

 and in either case the dog suffers great pain. When 

 these acute symptoms continue, they are soon followed 

 by vertigo, or giddiness, which produces dimness of 

 the sight ; in which case the dog runs round, foams at 

 the mouth, and makes a piteous moaning or howling. 

 In truth, inflammation and effusion take place in the 

 brain, producing water in the head, a disease to which 

 young children are liable, from long-continued irrita- 

 tion in the stomach and bowels. 



These affections are accompanied by great irrita- 

 bility of the stomach, which discharges everything as 

 soon as taken ; and it not unfrequently happens that 

 the poor animal expires in one of these spasmodic 

 affections. When the distemper reaches this degree 

 of virulence, few dogs recover : but there have been 

 instances where Blaine's medicine has proved effectual, 

 even in the worst stages of the disease. Dr James's 

 powders have also, in extreme cases, produced a 

 favourable change. Even in the worst cases the dog 

 always retains its sanity, and will drink water, though 

 certainly not very freely, two circumstances which will 

 readily distinguish the disease in question from canine 

 madness. 



Remedies. — If this disease is attended to at its 

 first appearance, the after-symptoms may be greatly 

 mitigated, by administering opening medicines, in 

 small quantities, and persisting in their use ; and 

 afterwards in larger doses, as the disease makes 

 progress. This will be found of the greatest conse- 

 quence in all complaints where the mucous membrane 



