DISTEMPER. 377 
while it is being given the bowels should be kept open and free by salad-oil, 
magnesia, syrup of buckthorn, or other simple means. 
The paralysis that occurs in distemper is usually in the hind legs, but 
sometimes the fore legs are affected; while in very rare instances the loss of 
power is quite general. 
The paralysis is commonly due to affection of the spinal cord, and while 
the outlook is serious even in seemingly mild cases, as a rule the greater the 
loss of power the less encouraging the prospect. 
The symptoms of paralysis are generally delayed until recovery from the 
attack of distemper is near complete; in most cases also they develop gradu- 
ally. The first notable sign is unsteadiness in the gait, and perhaps the drag- 
ging of one leg, the toes being swept on the ground. There is difficulty in 
getting up, which increases steadily, until finally it is no longer possible, both 
hind legs being too powerless even to support his body when the victim is 
placed on his feet and steadied by the hands. 
The gravest symptom in cases of paralysis is retention of the urine, for it 
must be drawn by means of a catheter, and the chances of a cure are too 
small even were it possible to apply the troublesome and exacting treatment 
demanded. 
Paralysis following distemper requires much the same treatment as the 
affection when due to other causes, and that has been duly described else- 
where. 
If recovery is likely to occur, some improvement should be noted in the 
course of two or three weeks. Thereafter the gain would be generally very 
slow, and cure rarely complete before the end of the third month; and it 
might be longer delayed. 
Chorea, which is far oftener due to distemper than to other causes, has been 
fully described in a section devoted to the subject. 
Occurring in distemper it is due to trouble in the spinal cord, and com- 
mences gradually, the first evidence of it being generally a twitching of the 
muscles of the cheek or jaw. From there it extends to other parts. In time 
it may disappear from the part first affected, and remain only in a leg or some 
muscles of the head or neck. Or several muscles in various parts may be 
permanently involved, and in consequence the poor dog be a pitiable object, 
scarcely able to stand or get about. 
Before closing this discussion brief reference may properly be made to the 
popular and prevalent fallacy that all dogs must have distemper, also to the 
kindred notion that it is necessary for them to experience an attack before they 
are a year old. 
Distemper, like measles and scarlet fever, finds the great majority of its 
victims among the young, yet is by no means confined to them, for many 
cases are on record in which the attacks occurred even after old age had been 
