86 CANINE DISTEMPER 
Temperature in Early Stages.—Before proceeding to 
describe the “typical” symptoms in detail, I may state 
that my observations regarding the temperature during 
the initial stages in a considerable number of cases have 
led me to assert definitely that it rarely exceeds 102'5° F. 
I estimate the percentage temperatures to be as follows: 
Percentage 
Temperature. : of Cases. 
tor'o° F, ... .. in 65. 
Pies 102'0° F. ... we yy 20s 
In initial stages 103'0° FL. eg TO. 
1o4'0° F. wee. Je 15E 
I. Respiratory Symptoms—(1) RAinitis.—Probably the 
primary affection of the respiratory tract is catarrh of the 
nasal mucous membrane, attended by a discharge which 
is serous at the outset, but may become muco-purulent 
and even purulent in nature. Sneezing and shaking the 
head are no doubt occasioned by a nasal pruritus, which 
also causes the dog to rub its nose on its paws or the 
hearthrug or other object. From records made, I place 
the percentage of cases in which nasal discharge is 
observed in distemper at about 65 per cent. 
Even as it is inconstant in appearance, it is also variable . 
in amount. Where there is a very copious bilateral 
purulent secretion, there is usually an implication of 
the frontal and other sinuses, in which case the discharge 
may be expected to remain in evidence for a considerably 
protracted period, and render the dog a “carrier” of 
infection long after convalescence. 
Only rarely are these discharges hemorrhagic in 
character, and then doubtless due to ulceration of the 
nasal septum. 
(2) Laryngitis—The larynx is implicated very early in 
the disease, the inflammation of which organ gives rise 
at first to a hoarse dry or hard cough, and later to a 
paroxysmal moist choking cough in which masses of 
