312 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
sequels, I have occasionally seen them exist in conjunction 
with distemper. 
Causes—Contagion, badly - drained and ill - ventilated 
kennels are especially fruitful causes of developing distemper 
if latent ; exposure to damp and cold. 
Worms have been mentioned by some authors as another 
cause, and certainly they are frequently present in this dis- 
ease ; yet it must be borne in mind that they are equally 
so in dogs that are over, or have never had, distemper. 
That their presence bodes no good to the animal while 
under the influence of the infection (or indeed at any time) 
can be readily understood, but especially, I should say, 
during the existence of distemper; because the mucous 
membranes are then in an irritable condition, and these 
pests are not likely to reduce, but to increase that irrita- 
tion, and produce—what is to be dreaded at all times, but 
doubly so in distemper—a fit. The condition of the 
patient then justifying it (I qualify it thus, because there 
are circumstances under which it would be unwise to 
administer the drugs usually given for this purpose), the 
sooner the worms are expelled the better. Asa vermifuge, 
the areca nut is least harmful; turpentine, at other times 
most valuable, must be used with great caution here. 
Teething has been affirmed as another cause of this 
disease, but here again the assumption has probably taken 
place from dogs at that period of their lives being most 
liable to distemper. An irritability of system and a degree 
of inflammatory fever is undoubtedly established at that 
crisis; and such a condition may render the subject more 
liable to contract the disease, if brought in contact with it ; 
but certainly not otherwise, any more than the same process 
can produce in human beings measles, chicken pox, or 
scarlet fever. 
The period of incubation is usually from one to three 
weeks, and the duration of the malady may be a week, or 
two or three months. 
