5S2 * ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



there are invariably present the characteristic catarrhal 

 symptoms involving the eyes and nasal passages. The 

 period of incubation is usually longer in distemper, five to 

 nine days. Further, distemper is more common in young 

 animals, and the course of the disease is acute. This disease 

 must also be differentiated from ptomain and other poison- 

 ings.. In some cases this is quite difficult, owing to the 

 close similarity of the symptoms, gastro-enteritis appearing 

 in both conditions. The necrosis of the membranes and 

 ulcers are absent in ptomain poisoning, and in the majority 

 of mineral poisonings. The development of the disease is 

 different from ptomain, or other poisonings. Canine typhus 

 usually appears as an epizootic which would assist in estab- 

 lishing a diagnosis. Differentiation between this disease and 

 ulcerative stomatitis should present no great difficulties. The 

 absence of the general depression, vomiting and gastro- 

 enteritis in ulcerative stomatitis is indicative. Scorbutus 

 develops slowly, and is attended by neither vomiting nor 

 general symptoms. 



Course.— The average duration of the disease is four to 

 six days; in milder cases often twelve to fourteen days. A 

 few cases run a much more rapid course followed by death in 

 one to three days. At the beginning of an outbreak it 

 seems to run a more rapid course than later. 



Prognosis.— The prognosis is unfavorable; the mortality 

 from 50 to 75 per cent. Young animals suffer less severely 

 than older ones. When the disease develops gradually, 

 indicating low virulence of the infection, or high resistance 

 on the part of the animal, the prognosis is more favorable; 

 on the other hand when the development of the disease 

 is rapid and the symptoms prominent, the outlook is grave. 

 In some cases recovery takes place quite. rapidly, and when 

 this does occur there is usually no complication, and even 

 the ulcerative processes disappear completely. 



Treatment.— Dietetic.— During the early stages of the dis- 

 ease, no food should be given. After the acute symptoms 

 have begun to subside and the animal reaches the con- 

 valescent stage, nutritious food can be allowed. Meat 

 broth would be most applicable as the sensitive mucous 



