DISTEMPER. 365 
diarrhea. Nor would this treatment be wrong if the bowels were merely 
loose and only two or three discharges daily. 
The dose of calomel for a pup over eight months old and of medium or 
large size breed is two grains; for pups about the size of fox terriers, one 
grain; for toys, one-half a grain. 
Three doses should be given, intervals of two hours being allowed between 
each. 
Two hours after the last dose, if the bowels have not moved freely, a dose 
of as pure olive-oil as can be obtained should be administered; and the same 
consist of two tablespoonfuls for medium or large size breeds; one tablespoon- 
ful for fox terriers, and the like; and two teaspoonfuls for toys. 
These doses are scarcely more than laxative, and it may be necessary to 
repeat, in the course of two or three hours, if the bowels have not moved. 
But in view of the fact that in distemper there is more or less intestinal irrita- 
tion, and even inflammation, which can be easily made worse, also that when 
diarrheea occurs it is often intractable, manifestly the giving of strong purgatives 
or cathartics would be hazardous. No harm need be apprehended, however, 
from the use of olive-oil, which not only removes the poisonous and disturb- 
ing accumulations, but tends to keep the irritated intestines at rest. 
The calomel and olive-oil will often reduce the fever; and if the tempera- 
ture has dropped to about 103°, it will not require interference; but if it is 
up to 104°, and continues there, or runs higher, an effort must be made to 
lower it. 
Aconite is the first remedy to be tried, and its combination with certain 
other agents, as follows, is recommended. 
Tincture of aconite root, thirty drops; chlorate of potassium, one drachm; 
muriate of ammonium, one-half a drachm; sweet spirit of nitre, one ounce; 
water, two ounces. 
Dose, one teaspoonful for breeds of medium or largest size; one-half a 
teaspoonful for fox terriers, and the like ; fifteen drops for toys. 
This mixture should be given every two hours until the temperature has 
fallen below 104°. 
As a rule it has the desired effect of reducing the fever, but now and then 
fails, and if so, quinine must be tried, in the following doses: 
For medium size breeds, four grains; largest breeds, five grains; fox ter- 
riers, and the like, three grains; toys, two grains. Three doses, made into 
pills or inclosed in gelatine capsules, should be obtained. 
The temperature being over 104°, or having persisted for a time at or near 
that point, one dose of quinine should be given. If in three hours there has 
not been a decided fall in the temperature, another dose should be tried; and 
still another in three hours if the second dose has not had the desired effect. 
Three large doses of quinine are all that one would be justified in giving. 
