DISEASES OP TRUE INFECTION. 



Distemper and Contagious Catarrhal Fever. 



The definition of thi3 word " distemper " means a disea-e which 

 is peculiar to the canine race, and it is caused by specific poison 

 which finds its way into the system, as a rule, through the lungs 

 and air-passages. It generally attacks young animals and runs its 

 course as a catarrhal fever, affecting all the mucous membranes of 

 the body, and almost invariably accompanied with certain nervous 

 symptoms, also skin eruptions. 



Etiology. Distemper is a disease which is contagious in the 

 highest degree, and is only communicated by infection. An animal 

 afEected with distemper can remain but a short time in any locality 

 and affect every animal there. As a rule, few young animals 

 escape distemper, generally contracting it before they are a year 

 old, and dogs over that age very rarely take the disease. That, 

 however, may be accounted for from the fact that dogs having 

 arrived at that age have either come In contact with the disease 

 previous to that and they have had it in a mild form, or the system 

 was in such a condition that they did not contract it. The disease 

 affects animals but once during life, although a few exceptions are 

 presented where animals have contracted it the second time. As 

 a rule, delicate, weak, poorly-fed animals (vegetable diet), or ani- 

 mals which have been affected by some catarrhal disorder of the 

 respiratory mucous membranes, contract the disease in its acutest 

 form ; while, on the other hand, dogs which have lots of exercise, 

 especially animals in the country or small cities, are mildly affected 

 with the disease. 



Distemper exists in all countries of the world. In the large 

 cities it is found at any season of the year, while in the country it 

 ii generally present during the warm weather. The specific poison 

 of distemper is not definitely known. It is undoubtedly a fixed 

 and volatile poison which enters the system. by the mouth and 

 nose, and it exerts its first influence on the respiratory passages. 

 Vaccination of young animals by means of the secretory fluid 



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