3 66 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



cold to the touch, and sometimes give off an 

 offensive odour. The tongue, lips, hard and 

 soft palates, and gums (especially around the 

 teeth) are occasionally ulcerated. Now and 

 again the eyes become the seat of ulceration, 

 which on rare occasions becomes perforated ; at 

 other times they become affected with a severe 

 inflammation, which extends to the whole eye- 

 ball and destroys this organ. There is at 

 times dulness or drowsiness, and the animal 

 seeks dark corners or gets under the furniture. 

 Many cats from sheer nervousness, especially 

 in strange places, avoid the fire and seek 

 obscure or lofty positions. Recovery generally 

 takes place within a fortnight or three weeks, 

 but death may take place within twenty-four 

 to forty-eight hours from the commencement 

 of the attack. 



The Pharyngeal, Tonsillar, or Throat form 

 is the most deadly manifestation of distemper. 

 The first symptom to attract attention is 

 the drivelling of clear, ropy albuminous 

 saliva from the corners of the mouth. The 

 animal crouches upon all four of its limbs ; 

 there is a frequent gulping movement, 

 and a sound is emitted from the throat as 

 if there was an attempt to swallow the thick 

 ropy saliva which clings about the mouth and 

 pharynx ; the swallowing seems difficult or 

 impossible ; food is refused, but thirst is 

 constant, although the animal seems incapable 

 of swallowing ; there is a great dulness or 

 depression, and the cat appears indifferent to 

 its surroundings. 



On examination of the outside of the throat 

 it is found swollen and painful, the glands are 

 enlarged, and there appears to be a gurgling 

 noise at each inspiration and expiration. On 

 inspection of the mouth and back of the throat, 

 the tongue and pharynx are found to be . 

 covered with a thick, ropy, bubbling saliva, 

 the mucous membrane is swollen and con- 

 gested, and the soft palate is of a pinkish or 

 even dark reddish arborescent appearance, due 

 to the congested state of the small blood- 

 vessels. Sometimes ulcers appear on the hard 

 and soft palates. After a day or so the de- 

 pression increases, there is a discharge from 

 the eyes and nostrils, which appears at first 

 as a clear viscid fluid, and afterwards becomes 

 yellowish or dirty green in colour, and, if the 

 animal lives long enough, ultimately bloody, 

 in consequence of it irritating the mucous 

 membranes and surrounding skin of the eyes 

 and nose. There may also be a catarrhal or 



purulent foetid discharge from one or both 

 ears, but this is quite exceptional, and is 

 mostly seen in cases having a fatal termination. 



If the prostration is very great, and there is 

 rapid loss of weight and condition, and the 

 discharge from the mouth, nostrils, and eyes- 

 becomes foetid, coupled with total loss of 

 appetite, and no abatement of the other 

 symptoms, a fatal termination is to be antici- 

 pated. Late in the complaint the pharyngeal 

 mucus may become of a dirty colour or 

 sanious ; purple spots appear on the tongue, 

 gums, and lips, and there is a moan or cry 

 emitted at each respiratory effort ; convulsive 

 movements of the muscles of the temples, 

 shoulders, and thighs set in, and death takes 

 place from intoxication. The temperature 

 rises at first, but when a fatal termination 

 is to be anticipated it falls below the normal. 



The Pulmonary or Chest form, although not 

 so frequently seen in the cat as in the dog, may 

 appear from the outset as a distinct localisa- 

 tion, or follow or intervene during an attack 

 of the other forms as a complication. It may 

 or may not be ushered in by shivering fits ; 

 the coat becomes dull and open, there is 

 sneezing or coughing, or both ; tears run from 

 the eyes, and mucus issues from the nostrils, 

 and there is a great desire for warmth. The 

 temperature is elevated, and varies from 102.5 

 to 106, but rarely running a typical course. 

 The cough, when present, is frequent and 

 rattling or harsh, and sometimes dull. On 

 listening to the chest wheezing, rattling, or 

 blowing, or rubbing, or splashing sounds may 

 be heard. Emaciation is either gradual or 

 rapid, thirst is generally great, but the appe- 

 tite is diminished or absent. 



The breathing is either quickened or the 

 inspiratory and expiratory efforts may be 

 prolonged and accompanied or not with a 

 moan or grunt, which is sometimes associated 

 with fluid in the chest cavity, which is known 

 by the pumping or lifting action of the flanks, 

 this effusion in one or both of the pleural sacs 

 being either of a clear greenish or amber- 

 tinted or bloody or dirty yellowish appearance, 

 and sometimes of a foetid odour. Besides 

 pleurisy, which is only occasionally encoun- 

 tered, there may be pneumonia, broncho- 

 pneumonia, or bronchitis, according to the 

 structure of lung involved in this form of 

 distemper. (For a description of these local- 

 isations or complications, sec under their 

 respective headings.) 



