66 DISEASES OF THE GREYHOUND. 



a short time this went on to such an extent as to cause inflam- 

 mation of the cellular membrane and a secretion of pus diffused 

 throughout its whole extent. If this is not at once let out by 

 incision, sloughing takes place, and the animal speedily sinks from 

 exhaustion, but, by a judicious use of the knife and general 

 support of the system, recovery may be expected. It proved fatal 

 in many cases. 



CAUSES. The most common cause of distemper is, no doubt, 

 infection, but it is occasionally epidemic, and then most probably 

 depends upon some peculiar condition of the air. But it also 

 seems to be the natural tendency of all debilitating diseases in 

 young dogs to run on into this typhoid type. Whether the 

 disease is common catarrh or influenza, or inflamed liver or lungs, 

 or even the irritative fever of worms or teething, in all these cases 

 the tendency seems to be, to put on the form of low typhus, and 

 this is especially the case when dogs are ill-fed, or crowded 

 together in ill-ventilated kennels; or, in fact, submitted to any 

 of the ordinary predisposing causes of typhus fever in the human 

 subject. And this disease, once established, soon spreads to all 

 within reach of its influence. The infection seems to be carried 

 with them by dogs after their convalescence. I have frequently 

 known a most severe attack supervene upon the contact with a 

 puppy in the slips, which was sufficiently recovered to run, though, 

 of course, not in a fit state for such an exertion. 



The kennel also seems to retain the infection for a long time, 

 it being most probably absorbed with the urine, &c. The walls, 

 &c., should therefore be well washed with chloride of lime, or 



