Distemper 171 Dogs and Cats. 167 



Causes. Its advent in Europe as a new disease in the second 

 third of the i8th century, its steady spread, its continued preva- 

 lence, and extension, concur with the infection of kennels and 

 districts by the introduction of a sick dog, in demonstrating its 

 purely contagious nature, and this implies a living microbe trans- 

 ferred from animal to animal. If any doubt remained it must be 

 dispelled by the inoculations which have been constantly success- 

 ful when made on young puppies, or dogs that have not previously 

 suffered, and on cats. A first attack confers immunity. 



Among accessory causes may be especially named contact with 

 the sick dog, its clothing or bedding, and above all its kennel. A 

 kennel may retain infection indefinitely, especially if there is a 

 constant accession of puppies or susceptible dogs. On the con- 

 trary it is not readily carried on the clothes of attendants, and 

 the inmates of a kennel often remain sound, though only sepa- 

 rated by a yard from the infected one, and though cared for by 

 the same attendant. Yet so universally diffused is the contagion 

 that few dogs escape it until they are a year old. 



The habit of letting dogs run at large, to meet in roads and 

 fields is a most prolific cause, which might easily be done away 

 with where distemper is prevalent. 



A chill is a common condition, hence injudicious washing, 

 swimming in cold water, exposure of house dogs to cold storms, 

 or outdoors at night, sleeping in cold, damp cellars, on cold stones 

 or metal plates, or in passages in a current of cold air are fre- 

 quent factors. Yet it often spreads rapidly in the summer, the 

 heat favoring the preservation and diffusion of the germ. 



House dogs as a rule suffer more severely, as their systems are 

 more sensitive to the cold, and the resisting power to invading 

 microbes is lessened. Country dogs and those living in the open 

 air are hardier and more resistant and often have the disease in a 

 mild form. 



High bred dogs suffer more severely probably largely from the 

 greater protection and care lavished on them and their conse- 

 quent diminished power of resistance. Newfoundlands, great 

 Danes, pointers, pugs, poodles, spaniels and greyhounds may be 

 named as especially liable. 



The exposure to infection at shows, and in traveling by rail, 

 steamboat or other infected conveyance must be considered as among 

 the prominent causes. 



