' Chaptee IV" 



CONTAGIOUS DISEASES 



^ Feline Distemper 



Distemper is a contagious and infective dis- 

 ease of cats, that occurs either in sporadic or 

 epizootic form. It is chiefly disseminated by 

 means of cat shows, dealers' shopi? and humane 

 societies' homes for lost and strayed dogs and 

 cats. One attack does not confer immunity; if 

 anythi'ng, it rather piredisposes to future at- 

 tacks. Many cats, however, have a natural im- 

 munity, and possibly some few may acquire it. 



The virulence of the infection varies in dif- 

 ferent outbreaks, being more intense in dis- 

 tricts or countries in which it first makes its ap- 

 pearance or which have been free from it for 

 some time. Wet, damp and cold weather arid 

 unhygienic living places are predisposing 

 causes. The period of incubation is relatively 

 long, varying from one to three weeks. "^ 



Etiology. — The etiological factor has' not 

 yet been determiiied, although many organisms 

 have been suspected^ and the general consensus 

 ^ of opinion is that the disease is due to some 

 ultra-visible virus and that the other organisms 

 occurring during the course of the malady are 

 only secondary invaders, but at the same time 

 may be responsible for some of the symptoms 

 which manifest themselves during the progress 

 of the disease. 



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