120 CANINE DISTEMPER 
two statements appear conflicting I would explain that 
in the vast majority of cases where a vesicular eruption 
appears, other typical symptoms of distemper can also be 
apprehended, which leave no doubt about the diagnosis. 
In other words, when this peculiar eruption is en- 
countered it is practically always in association with dis- 
temper, and becomes in consequence characteristic of it. 
Nevertheless, it occurs both seldom and late, and cannot 
on that account be credited with any primary importance. 
Predilections.—Very young puppies are the most sus- 
ceptible, though middle-aged or old dogs are not entirely 
exempt. Where it is preceded by a slight rise of 
temperature, the latter usually drops to normal upon the 
advent of the eruption. The predilection seats are 
the thin-skinned hairless parts of the body, such as the 
abdomen, inside the arms and thighs, scrotum, inside of 
the ear-flaps, and rarely on the back or head. 
Characters of the Lesion—The lesion commences as a 
small circular red spot like a flea-bite, which later (say, 
one day) becomes elevated into a nodule surrounded by 
a red ring, and may, during the next three or four days, 
attain the circumference of a pea or even that of the head 
of a lady’s hatpin. During this period the nodule has be- 
come vesicular, and contains a yellow serous fluid, which 
infrequently changes to a purulent character. About the 
fourth day the vesicle usually ruptures, forming a moist, 
sticky sore, which becomes scabbed over; or it may sub- 
side without breaking and wither up, the whole lesion now 
being surrounded by a circular red area with a brownish- 
yellow crusty centre, which peels off in large scales. 
When the vesicle becomes a pustule, a deeper layer of © 
skin is involved, which inevitably leads to a more severe 
and visible disfigurement of the skin after resolution has 
‘taken place. Usually the lesions are few in number, but 
may vary from a solitary spot to multiple spots all over 
