-TYPHUS FEVER, OR DISTEMPER. 371. 
from the nose and eyes; but more usually there is some evidence 
of congestion in these organs, the eyes being weak and glued up’ 
with the mucus, and the nose running more or less. A fit is, how- 
ever, the clearest evidence of brain affection, and, to a common 
observer, the only reliable one. Sometimes there is stupor with- 
out a fit, gradually increasing till the dog becomes insensible and 
dies ; at others a raving delirium comes on, easily mistaken for 
hydrophobia, but distinguished from it by the presence of the 
premonitory symptoms peculiar to distemper. This is the most 
fatal complication of all, and if the dog recovers he is often a 
victim to palsy or chorea for the rest of his life. 
If the lungs are attacked there is very rapid breathing, with 
cough, and almost always a considerable running from the eyes 
and nose, and expectoration of thick frothy mucus. If inflamma- 
tion of the lungs is established, the danger is as great as when 
the head is the seat of the seizure. 
. The bowels may be known to be seized when there is a violent 
purging of black offensive matter, often tinged with blood, and 
sometimes mixed with patches or shreds of a white leathery sub- 
stance, which is coagulable lymph. The discharge of blood is in 
some cases excessive, and rapidly carries off the dog. 
If .the skin is attacked, which is a favourable sign, there is a 
breaking out of pustules on the inside of the thighs and belly, 
which fill with matter often tinged with dark blood, and some- 
times with blood itself of a dark purple colour. 
To distinguish distemper from similar affections is not always 
easy to an inexperienced observer, but the practised eye at once 
detects the difference. The chief diseases which are likely to be 
confounded with it are, the true canine madness, common “ cold,” 
or influenza, inflammation of the lungs, and diarrhcea, The first 
of these runs a more rapid course, and is ushered in by peculiar 
changes in the temper, which will be described under the head of 
HypropHosira. “Cold” and influenza cause no great prostration 
of strength; and the former comes on after exposure to the 
weather, while the latter is sure to be prevalent at the time. 
Inflammation of the lungs must be studied to be known, and 
‘simple diarrhea has no fever attending upon it. ‘ 
The treatment of distemper is twofold; firstly, being directed to 
