382 KENNEL DISEASES. 
of saliva. Swallowing is manifestly difficult, if not impossible. While if the 
windpipe is involved the respiration clearly betrays the fact, it being quick, 
labored and hissing or croupy. As for the voice, that is almost always entirely 
lost, but if heard it is only faintly, and very hoarse. 
Aside from these symptoms there is one which points quite plainly to 
diphtheria, namely, an extension of the head, with the neck stretched and so 
stiff that in forced movements of it—as when medicines are being given— 
the evidences that severe pain is excited are too pronounced to be mistaken. 
To examine the throat of a dog suffering with diphtheria is far from easy, 
owing to this neck trouble and stiffness of the jaws, caused by the glandular 
enlargement; and even when it can be made, the results are by no means 
always conclusive, for the disease may be out of sight. However, in such 
cases the throat is generally found much inflamed, of a dark red color, and 
swollen; while if the false membrane can be made out it appears like dirty- 
white kid. It may seem to cover much of the throat, or there may be patches 
of it here and there, the smallest being not much below the size of a nickel. 
Although there may be some, and possibly high fever, it usually subsides 
during the early part of the attack. As for the pulse, that is generally rapid, 
full and hard at first, and then slowly grows feeble; but sometimes it is very 
rapid at the outset, and speedily drops even lower than in health. 
Where the windpipe is affected, death is almost always caused by suffoca- 
tion; and asa rule it comes about the third day after the symptoms of throat 
trouble are too pronounced to be mistaken. Death by blood-poisoning, how- 
ever, is usually slower, and generally delayed for a week or longer, although 
in very malignant cases it may occur in the course of a few hours after the 
disease has been firmly established. 
Diphtheria is one of the most fatal maladies, and death may confidently be 
expected where the windpipe is involved. Scarcely less fatal are those cases 
in which the disease is located in the nasal cavities; and in them the end is 
reached by blood-poisoning. Confined to the throat, and not extending up 
into the nose nor downward into the windpipe, the chances of recovery are 
better; and they would be good could the membranous patches be reached 
with appropriate remedies. But still, all things considered, they are very 
small even in this class of cases. Therefore it may be accepted that once 
diphtheria attacks a dog, death is well-nigh, speedily, inevitable. 
Considering that it is contagious and can be induced by contact with the 
victims, also with infected objects, moreover, that there is a possibility that it 
might be transmitted from dogs to man, obviously a victim of it is dangerous 
to his mates, and perhaps to his people. Weighing again the fact that the 
chances are nearly all against recovery, also that if it occurs blindness or par- 
alysis is likely to follow, it will be easy to accept that when the disease is made 
out the only wise and safe course is to destroy the sufferer. 
