356 KENNEL DISEASES. 
This disease is moreover highly contagious; and not only can it be trans- 
mitted direct, from dog to dog, but it may be conveyed by the living — human 
as well as canine — and by inanimate things, as feeding-dishes, water-buckets, 
blankets, collars, chains, sleeping-benches, bedding, crates, etc. Although the 
majority of its victims are less than one year old, no age is exempt; and it 
has even occurred after the tenth year, but such cases are rare exceptions. 
Nor is there aught in variety which favors resistance to infection, for one breed 
seems to succumb to it quite as readily as another, although greyhounds, 
bloodhounds, and St. Bernards are thought by some to be the easiest victims. 
It is a fact, however, that the more delicately nurtured and highly-bred, all 
that are denied ample exercise in pure air, and those whose surroundings are 
not healthy, usually suffer from the disease in its worst forms; with them, 
also, grave complications are most liable to set in. 
Neither is any season of the year entirely exempt from this disease. It 
seems to have a preference for spring months, during which it is generally 
more virulent. The next season of danger is the fall; while during winter 
and summer but comparatively few cases occur. 
The normal period of incubation is about seven days, but the first symp- 
toms may manifest themselves in the course of four or five days after exposure 
to the disease poison or germ, and they may even be delayed until near the 
fourteenth day. 
A few dogs are said to have had distemper twice, but such cases are open 
to suspicion of error in diagnosis. At all events, that one attack of the disease, 
successfully overcome, imparts an immunity from it for the remainder of life, 
is the rule from which there can be but few if any exceptions. It is true that 
occasionally dogs that have had it once exhibit catarrhal symptoms, as cough 
and discharge from the nose when they are again for a time in intimate con- 
tact with dogs suffering from the disease in severe form, but their affection 
cannot rightly be said to be true distemper. 
: A similar experience is not unusual in the practice of physicians, and 
frequently where a person is ill with diphtheria the nurse has more or less 
sympathetic throat trouble; but it is not of the peculiar character of the con- 
tagious disease present. 
The initial symptoms of distemper may vary greatly, consequently the 
disease is liable to be on several days before its presence is detected. Gener- 
ally for a short time the victim of an attack is somewhat dull or ‘¢dumpish,” 
as commonly expressed, and disinclined to make very active effort. His appe- 
tite is capricious or entirely wanting; his nose is hot; his skin loses somewhat 
its smoothness and elasticity, and hair becomes dry and harsh. At times he is 
seen to shiver, especially when lying down; which he does always in a warm, 
rather than cool place. 
In occasional cases, after existing for a day or two, these and any similar 
