CHAPTER VIII 
SYMPTOMS 
DisTEMPER is such a variable disease that it seems 
almost impossible to describe any one symptom which 
would specifically characterise it; thus, only when — 
several of the classical phenomena are present in com- 
bination can the clinician pronounce with any genuine 
conviction that the animal is suffering from distemper. 
From the history of the case, age of the dog, and 
general appearances, however, he would no doubt 
formulate a very shrewd idea of the animal's complaint 
—even in the early stages—and would probably be 
perfectly justified and correct in diagnosing distemper. 
There are two conditions arising during or after an 
attack of distemper which, although they frequently do 
not manifest themselves, are very diagnostic of it when 
present, and these are the cutaneous eruption and chorea. 
Distemper is often insidious in its inception, and may 
cause such slight disturbance as to pass almost or 
entirely unnoticed, and a dog evincing nothing worse 
than an occasional sneeze or slight cough would be said 
to have “a cold.” On such occasions, however, were a 
diligent search made for a causal organism, most prob- 
ably a pathologist would be able to demonstrate the 
B. bronchisepticus in the laryngeal or tracheal mucus. 
The disease may sometimes make a sudden appear- 
ance, and pursue an acute rapid course, with death as a 
not infrequent termination. 
The “typical” symptoms of distemper, to be enumerated 
in this chapter, are so described because they are so 
frequently observed in this disease; however, they can 
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