166 CANINE DISTEMPER 
duty which devolves upon the nurse no less than the 
observance of all the hygienic principles enumerated 
above, and unless the person undertaking the duties of 
nurse fully realises his or her responsibilities, and 
carries them out to the letter, the patient stands a poor 
chance of recovery, for no amount of medicinal treat- 
ment can ever compensate for lack of efficiency in 
nursing and feeding. Our patients cannot be reasoned 
with; thus, when the appetite is completely in abeyance, 
forcible feeding becomes necessary, and the important 
point is to know how to do it without upsetting or 
exciting the animal. It may be regarded as a funda- 
mental rule in the feeding of sick animals that food shall 
be offered only in very small quantity each time, but 
at much more frequent intervals ; for in this way the over- 
taxing of the digestive organs is avoided, and only as much 
nourishment is consumed as can be assimilated. 
In the early stages of distemper the appetite very 
often remains remarkably good—even in spite of a 
temperature—and in such cases food should not be with- 
held in consequence of the fever, although the meat 
ration and other nitrogenous substances may be reduced. 
A light nourishing diet is indicated, such as is afforded 
by milk, bread and milk, or boiled fish, etc. Should 
there be no pyrexia at the commencement, I advocate the 
continuance of the meat ration so long as the dog will 
eat it voluntarily, for meat must be regarded as the 
natural and normal food of the canine race. Milk is an 
ideal diet for the sick, and can in most cases be quite 
easily digested and retained; and in addition it contains 
all the tissue-building vital elements necessary for the 
sustenance of the system. If the dog has lost all inclina- 
tion for food it is hardly wise to commence its forcible 
administration immediately; better far to coax the animal 
by offering little pieces of food out of the hand, and by 
