228 KENNEL DISEASES. 
seek water, and find there some relief if it is only a puddle. That nursing 
mothers are now and then victims of heatstroke is not surprising, because their 
susceptibility seems greater than when not with young. 
The list of affections that have been clearly proved to be caused by germs 
has been lengthening quite rapidly of late, and the fact can scarcely occasion 
surprise that an effort has been made to add sunstroke to it. Not long agoa 
micro-organism was discovered in the blood of victims of this accident, and the 
claim at once entered that the bacillus in question was the specific cause of it. 
Further support of this theory is, of course, necessary before it can be generally 
accepted, and until that has been furnished, the influences assigned as causes 
may rightly be considered important factors. 
Among the most marked symptoms presented at first are panting and ex- 
treme restlessness. There is fever, which quickly grows more pronounced, 
until the skin is intensely hot. It is then that the convulsive movements com- 
mence, and they may persist for an hour or more before a true convulsion 
occurs. : 
The muscles of the foreshoulders are first affected; then the hind shoulders, 
and finally nearly every large muscle is more or less involved. In the meantime 
the patient usually emits a husky moan, thus indicating that certain parts of the 
throat are affected; and in rare instances he howls dismally. 
He is conscious at first, and walks about, but unsteadily. After a time a 
glaring expression of the eyes is noted. Then snapping of the jaws follows; 
and he either falls in a fit or runs wildly about. And often, but not always, he 
runs in a circle for a few moments before the convulsion comes on. 
In some cases it soon passes off. In others, more severe, the victims lie for 
hours afterward, at frequent intervals moving their heads from side to side, much 
as a child does who has disease of the brain. Finally consciousness returns, 
but only slowly, and for a long time the poor dogs stagger about dazed and 
spiritless. 
The treatment to be pursued in sunstroke is simple, and should be speedily 
effective if commenced early. 
Mindful of the danger that dogs are in during very hot weather and while 
exposed to the heat, the conscientious caretaker would, of course, be on the 
alert, and promptly act as soon as the first threatening symptom occurred, which 
is a twitching of the muscles. 
In heatstroke the body is literally burning up, and the fire must be put out, — 
the fever be as quickly subdued as possible. A full bath is the means to be 
employed, and for the purpose a washing-tub may be called into service if one 
is at hand. 
The fact should not be forgotten that the patient’s brain is in a very exci- 
table state, that convulsions are imminent if they have not already come on, and 
there is danger in shock, such as would be produced by the sudden application 
