SOURCES OF INFECTION 47 
Mediate Contagion.—In many cases people take the 
wise precaution to isolate an ailing dog, but forget that 
in attending to its wants the kennelman is liable to carry 
infection on his hands, boots, or clothing to other dogs. 
Either one man must devote his sole attention to the 
sick, or a system must be devised of donning overalls 
and goloshes before entering the infectious ward, re- 
moving them on leaving, and also washing the hands. 
The disease being so highly infectious, it is absolutely 
essential to study these details, as half-measures are 
doomed to failure in this as in most undertakings. 
Dog Shows.—Dog shows are undoubtedly a prolific 
source of contagion in spite of veterinary inspections, 
for, as already explained, a dog may be a “ carrier”— 
7.é., have the infection latent in its system—whilst to all 
outward appearance in perfect health, or may be passed 
in by a veterinary inspector during the “ period of in- 
cubation ””—z.e, before visible symptoms have mani- 
fested themselves. A proportion of these “carriers” 
can be detected by taking the temperatures. 
Veterinary Inspections at Dog Shows.—My personal 
experience of veterinary inspections at shows is that, 
as at present conducted, they are a farce. I suppose 
the majority of exhibitors are conscientious enough to 
desire their dogs to be examined on entrance, though 
a goodly proportion, I fear, regard the whole thing as 
a waste of time, and unless carefully observed they will 
slip in without a word. Should the examining surgeon 
detain or debar a dog, however, even those of the con- 
scientious class become highly indignant, and proceed 
to protest vehemently that “the journey upset it,” that 
“it is only acold,” or “ it is always like that,” or any other 
conceivable excuse; and where the veterinary surgeon 
remains adamant, there are frequently altercations and 
unkind remarks. 
