164 *“ CANINE DISTEMPER 
bility of allowing a dog sick with distemper to take 
exercise. Generally speaking, it should be prohibited, 
except in the most restricted amounts, no matter whether 
the disease is in its inception or well advanced, for the 
reason that it excites and fatigues, elevates the tempera- 
ture, and imposes a greater burden upon the heart in 
having to supply extra blood to the muscles of locomo- 
tion. On the other hand, gentle exercise increases 
natural peristalsis and encourages the action of elimina- 
tives (where these are required), and prevents to some 
extent the leg weakness which so often arises from con- 
tinued lack of movement. Rickets has also been cited 
as a sequel to the withholding of exercise, especially in 
heavy puppies, which then become perhaps permanently 
disfigured. 
Thus I am in favour of allowing the patient the run of 
its room, but not of the house or yard, and by no means 
should the patient be taken for walks, however bright 
he may appear. In the case of house-trained dogs, which 
refuse to evacuate except out of doors, a large box con- 
taining a layer of ordinary earth should be provided, and 
the animal induced to use it. At the termination of the 
attack, convalescence should be well advanced before 
normal exercise is resumed, and then it should only be 
allowed for small, gradually-increasing periods, the dog to 
be obviously quite strong before the open street is faced. 
Failure to observe these precautions’ has led in 
numerous instances to relapses or nervous complica- 
tions, such as fits or chorea. ; 
Minimising Spread of Contagion.—In order to minimise 
the spread of contagion from the sick-room to other 
dogs and places by the attendant treading on nasal or 
coughed-up discharges or faecal matter, the floor of the 
room may be sprinkled with a to per cent. solution of 
cresol (Jeyes' fluid) at intervals during the day, or with 
