RHEUMATIC FEVER. 375, 
To vaccinate the dog.—Select ‘the thin skin on the inside of the 
ear, then with a lancet charged with vaccine lymph (which should 
be as fresh as possible) make three or four oblique punctures in 
the skin, to such a depth as barely to draw blood, charging the 
lancet afresh each time. If the lymph cannot be procured fresh, 
the punctures must be made as above described, and then. the 
points charged with dry lymph must be introduced, one in éach 
puncture, and well rubbed into the cut surface, so as to ensure the 
removal of the lymph from the points. In four or five days an 
imperfect vesicle is formed, which, if not rubbed, goes on to matu- 
rity and scabs at the end of ten days or thereabout. There are. 
various other methods suggested, such as introducing a. piece of 
thread dipped in the virus, &c.; but the above is the proper plan, 
if any is likely to be effectual. 
The treatment of the. various sequels of! distemper, including 
fits, palsy, &c., will bé given under those heads respectively. 
RHEUMATIC FEVER. 
One of the most common diseases in the dog is rheumatism 
in some form, generally showing itself with very little fever, but 
sometimes being accompanied with a high degree of that atten- 
dant evil. The frequency of this disease is owing to the constant 
exposure of the dog to cold and wet, and very often to, his kennel 
being damp, which is the fertile source of kennel lameness, or 
chest-founder, which is nothing more than rheumatism of the 
muscles of the shoulders. Again, those which spend half their 
time before a roasting fire, and the other half in the wet and cold, 
are extremely apt to contract this kind of fever, but not in so 
intractable a form as the denizen of the damp kennel. By some 
writers this affection is classed among the inflammations; and itisa 
debatable point to which of these divisions it should be assigned 3. 
but this is of little consequence so that it is properly known and 
easily recognised by the symptoms. I.shall therefore include here 
rheumatic fever, which is a general affection, and also the partial 
attacks known as kennel lameness, or chest-founder, and rheuma- 
tism.-of the loins,. commonly called palsy of the back. 
Rheumatic fever is known by the following signs:—There is. 
