Distemper in Dogs and Cats. 219 



be resorted to, and in case of extreme irritability nourishment 

 may be given by rectal injection. As vomiting may be kept up by 

 irritants in the intestines a tablespoDnful of tincture of rhubarb 

 may be required to be repeated twice a day until relief is secured. 

 Calomel and chalk (1:12) in grain doses will sometimes serve a 

 good purpose. Also dilute hydrochloric acid in water ( i :6o) in 

 doses of a teaspoonful with pepsin, gentian, quinine or nux 

 vomica will often contribute much to restore tone and function. 

 Septic intestinal fermentations may be met with beta-naphthol, 

 naphthalin, (7 grs. ), chloral hydrate ( 10 grs. ) lactic acid (butter- 

 milk), or salol (5 grs.). The attendant foetid diarrhoea may 

 demand in addition opium or silver nitrate (J^ to i gr.). The 

 gastric secretion is usually suspended so that it largely passes into 

 the intestines unchanged. Of course it should not be used along 

 with muriatic acid. 



The skin eruption is usually considered of little consequence, 

 or, by some, beneficial (Cadeac). If treatment is desired it 

 may consist in dusting powders, demulcent soothing dressings 

 and perhaps stimulating liniments as found under skin diseases. 

 It usually disappears with the elimination of the toxins and the 

 restoration of vigorous health. 



For the nervous symptoms treatment must correspond to the mor- 

 bid phenomena. Extreme prostration may demand diffusible 

 stimulants, coffee (7:100), sherry i dr., beef tea, meat extract, 

 ether, camphorated oil subcutem, strychnia, electricity. Spasms 

 and other indications of congestion may be met by cold to the 

 head, and inhalations of ether, followed by potassium or sodium 

 bromide (8 grs.), sulphonal (20 grs.), trional (15 grs.), chloral 

 hydrate in mucilage, or hypnal (15 grs.). Paralysis must be 

 met by tonics, stomachics, easily digestible, rich food, and good 

 hygiene. Pepsin, muriatic acid, nux vomica {Y^, gr.), arsenite 

 of soda solution (5 drops), arsenite of strychnia (^^ g^-), orexin 

 (3 grs.), strong coffee infusion, wine, and electricity may be 

 tried, in addition to stimulant liniments. Chorea must be treated 

 on the same corroborant plan. Cold douches after which the 

 patient is carefully rubbed dry are sometimes successful, (see 

 Chorea). 



During convalescence and in all cases of debility and anaemia a 

 similar corroborant treatment is demanded. Pulped raw meat, 

 rich soups, stomachics, tonics including the preparation of iron. 



