332 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
drops of belladonna if it is at hand, and cauterize it as soon as practicable. 
After cauterization, keep on compresses of water and belladonna until the 
wound is thoroughly healed, and give a drop of belladonna internally every 
day or alternate day for six weeks. 
If a dog only suspected of being bitten by a mad animal has bitten 
any person or beast, keep him confined until the full period of development 
of the disease has passed (even up to eight months), so that all doubt as to 
whether the person or beast has been infected may be removed, meanwhile 
giving the patient belladonna internally as directed above. Otherwise, a 
suspected dog should be killed, unless he has a special value. Any vicious, 
‘snapping cur, as being specially liable to madness, should be killed. Of 
course, a dog known to be mad will be immediately killed. If any person 
has been bitten by an infected or suspected dog, see Hydrophobia in Man. 
DISTEMPER. 
Distemper seems almost like an inborn disease with most, dogs, and 
more frequently develops in superior breeds. It is most common in pups, 
which are also more apt to recover. It comes on more often in the spring 
and autumn, in the latter of these more often than in the former. If it 
results from a natural predisposition, those animals are more susceptible 
to its development which are kept housed; those also which have flesh-food, 
are more liable to it than those not having it. The primary symptoms, 
which usually escape notice at first, are general dullness; failing appetite and 
flesh; short cough and vomiting; impatience at being disturbed; watery 
eyes, pained by light. Later, the animal shivers fitfully; persistently seeks 
a hiding-place; has a more rapid pulse; matter accumulates on the eyelids 
and finally glues them together, and a yellowish mucus obstructs the 
nostrils; cough grows more frequent, with very offensive vomiting; in- 
creased shivering; rapid wasting of the body; hot skin; warm paws; 
standing, dull coat. In about a week apparent improvement sets in. A 
renewal of the disease will very probably occur, with aggravated symptoms, 
such as weakness in the hind legs, the dog after some days dragging himself 
along, though not often when older than one year. In this condition there 
may be another apparent improvement, but a relapse is pretty certain, 
with intensified force. If the eyes are still blood-shot, and the flesh con- 
tinues reduced, there is danger yet. In fatal cases, death generally occurs 
the third or fourth week, six weeks being the common duration of other 
attacks. 
TREATMENT.—Nux vomica alone has cured many cases, if given in 
the first stage, as it always should be, when there is loss of appetite, with 
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