470 CANINE DISTEMPER 
some time. Generally, there are only a few pustules present. The 
exanthema may spread in the form of a scabby eczema over the whole 
body, to the membrane of the external auditory meatus and less fre- 
quently to the mucous membrane of the mouth and eyes. This 
eruption, contrary to that of sarcoptic mange, is accompanied by only 
slight pruritis. Intense catarrh of the prepuce may appear simul- 
taneously with the skin eruption. 
The temperature, which is usually very irregular, is higher during 
the initial stage than when local manifestations appear. It often 
falls with remarkable rapidity below normal towards the approach of 
death. If the disease runs a protracted course, the patient becomes 
emaciated and the hair loses its lustre, the body exhalations have a 
very fetid odor, the eyes are sunken, the mucous membranes become 
pale and the patient grows weaker, staggers when walking or lies in a 
state of coma. 
The duration of the disease varies. In abortive cases recovery may 
take place in eight or ten days, although it usually lasts three or four 
weeks. With severe complications, especially those of the nervous 
system, distemper assumes a protracted course and is frequently 
followed by sequel, such as paralysis or convulsions at longer or 
shorter intervals, which may persist for months and even longer. The 
average mortality appears to be from 50 to 60 per cent. 
Morbid anatomy. The variety of symptoms indicates the com- 
plicated variation of lesions that may exist. There do not appear to 
be any tissue changes characteristic of the disease. They vary 
apparently according to the location of the virus in the body. The 
anatomical changes in the respiratory system are those of rhinitis, 
laryngitis, bronchitis and catarrhal pneumonia. The nasal mucous 
membrane is either very pale or greatly congested, swollen and 
covered with a thick, purulent, grayish green or dull reddish inflam- 
matory exudate which is mixed with coagulated blood and collects 
chiefly between the lamellz of the turbinated bones and in the frontal 
sinuses. Hemorrhagic ulcers are sometimes present. The mucous 
membrane of the larynx and bronchi is hyperemic, swollen, often 
infiltrated with hemorrhages and covered with pus. Sometimes 
catarrhal ulcers appear. The large bronchial tubes often fail to 
exhibit changes which might have been expected from the symptoms. 
The smaller bronchi are on the other hand frequently filled with a 
dirty gray and even bloody, viscid pus. There are areas of congestion 
on the surface of the lungs, some parts of which may contain but little 
