46 CANINE DISTEMPER 
I have long since learned to regard with the greatest 
suspicion any catarrhal condition of the dog simulating 
what is popularly termed “cold in the head,” or “snuf- 
fles,” or “relaxed bowels,” and contend that there is 
little, if anything, which distinguishes an ordinary chill 
(non-infective) from specific distemper in the early stages. 
If all dog owners would be equally suspicious, and 
would isolate a dog immediately it manifested the slightest 
symptom, many a serious outbreak would be avoided. 
There are, nevertheless, numbers of people who adopt 
this procedure ; then finding after several days that the 
animal appeared to regain its normal liveliness and 
commence to feed, they permit it to mix again with the 
other dogs, only to discover later that the slight malaise 
and huskiness had in fact been distemper in benign form, 
and that the convalescent dog had infected the rest of 
the kennel through being put back too soon. 
Duration of Infection after Convalescence.—Infectivity 
‘still exists for a time during convalescence, and in 
estimating the time which must elapse after an attack 
before a dog can be stated to be free from infection we 
must take into consideration the date upon which the 
very last trace of any symptom whatever was noticed— 
such as cough, discharges, diarrhoea, or temperature—at 
which time the dog might be pronounced as completely 
restored to health. Then a week should be allowed to 
pass to guard against the possibility of relapse, and if 
still well and bright, the patient might receive a disin- 
fectant bath with due precautions, thereafter penis safely 
assumed as germ-free. 
Disposal of Contaminated Articles—On the termination 
of an attack of distemper, all old brushes and other 
articles which have been used on the sick dog should 
be burned, if they do not lend themselves to thorough 
disinfection. 
