60 THE sportsman's vade mecum. 



more appropriate quotation than " Opus est consulto, sed 

 ubi consulueris mature facto." It were idle to speculate on 

 the origin of the disease. Suffice for us that we have it, and 

 that we consider it an affection of the mucous membrane, 

 solely, in the earlier stages, but ultimately combining itself 

 with general mucous affections. But it will not be foreign to 

 our purpose to state several influences which are supposed, if 

 not actually to cause, at all events, greatly to increase its 

 virulence. They are these : — Low Diet, Dirt, Oonfinenient in 

 close, unhealthy, damp kennels, too great a quantity of raw, 

 or even boiled flesh, too little exercise, sudden changes in the 

 atmosphere, and contagion. It cannot be called endemic, 

 since it exists everywhere. Neither is it exactly an epidemic, 

 though some years it does assume that form, while at other 

 times it does not. 



Bleeding we see recommended in the Field Sports. Some 

 practitioners are very fond of the lancet. We confess quite a 

 contrary penchant, and hold that bleeding is seldom or ever 

 justifiable, except in cases of violent inflammations. 



In distemper, we would not draw blood, once in a hundred 

 times ; for the usual course of the disease is so enervating, 

 that in ordinary circumstances nature is reduced far more 

 than agreeable ; and as purgatives must be used under any 

 circumstances, they will in general be sufficient to reduce any 

 fever. We will now mention the ordinary symptoms whence 

 we determine this complaint. Lowness of spirit, drowsiness, 

 dimness of the eyes, staring of the coat, loss of appetite, 

 may be noticed, and frequently disregarded. Here we will 

 remark that a mild dose of Eps^m salts, according to age 



