DISTEMPER. 71 



fed upon light broth and jelly with a little oatmeal to thicken it. 

 At this time the dog usually takes enough food of his own accord, 

 but if he refuse it, a little should be given him with the spoon 

 twice a day ; and if the colour of the faeces is not tolerably 

 healthy, two or three grains of mercury with chalk should be 

 given every night. 



From the time that any local symptoms begin to show them- 

 selves the period of reaction may be said to have commenced, 

 and it is at this stage that the chief difficulty in treatment arises, 

 since it requires some experience to decide upon the degree of 

 inflammation or congestion present, and consequently upon the 

 strength of the remedies required to combat the malady. I have 

 said that the chief complications are those centred in, first, the 

 chest, secondly the abdomen, and thirdly the head the skin 

 complications being of no importance, except as signs of the 

 severity of the general attack. 



1. THE CHEST. When the chest alone is attacked (that is, 

 uncomplicated with any affection of the bowels), tartar emetic and 

 digitalis will always be the sheet-anchor. The dose for the puppy 

 of nine months and upwards should be as follows, and for younger 

 puppies in diminished proportions : Take of tartar emetic and 

 digitalis in powder of each ^ to 1 grain, nitre 6 grains ; form a 

 pill, to be given three times a day. If the inflammation of the 

 lungs appears to run very high, and there is a hard firm pulse of 

 130 or 140 in the minute, then bleed to 8 or 10 ounces, and 

 give prior to the above pills an emetic of calomel and tartar emetic 

 of each 1-J to 3 grains. If this does not speedily reduce the 



