226 DISEASES OF TRUE INFECTION. 



the bacilli of typhoid (typhoid are very small and thin) are gen- 

 erally arranged in groups. The bacilli are hard to color with 

 fuchsine, and become colorless with Graham's test. This is not the 

 <a,se with the bacillus of typhoid. Typhus and typhoid bacilli 

 give characteristic cultures upon gelatin and potato, while the 

 bacillus of distemper is extremely hard to culture under any cir- 

 cumstances. 



Clinical Symptoms and Couesb. The stage of incubation 

 of distemper is generally from four to seven days. In rare cases 

 it may linger, after contact with the diseased animal, until eight 

 or twelve days, and Krajewski states that cases of infection through 

 cohabitation may sometimes fake from two to two and a half weeks 

 to develop. The first actual symptom is an increase of temper- 

 ature. In the initial stage it rises to 40°, and some cases 41° and 

 over. 



An increase in temperature has been observed by the author in 

 all cases of distemper, wheo the examination was made early in 

 the disease. Later on the temperature falls slightly, but in some 

 cases very rapidly, and it may even go to the normal point, accord- 

 ing to the condition of the animal. In cases devel.)psd by inocu- 

 lation we occasionally find a marked increase in temperature. The 

 next symptom is the disturbance of the general condition. The 

 animal is depressed, restless, has little or no appetite, seeks heat, 

 becomes easily fatigued, is chilly and shivering, the nose is hot 

 and dry, the skin is hard, and the hair becomes harsh and dry. 

 In some instances vomiting occurs, but that can hardly be called 

 a characteristic, initial symptom of the disease. This stage of the 

 disease is short; the symptoms increase rapidly, and have many 

 characteristic points, which are as follows: 



1. Symptoms on the External Membranes. These appear in the 

 majority of cases and are of great importance. "We see a number 

 of small red spots upon the inner fascia of the thighs, the abdo- 

 men, and in rare instances the mouth and eyes, and still more 

 rarely covering the entire body. They are generally scattered, 

 very rarely confluent. They rapidly form small bladder-like blis- 

 ters filled with serum, and later on this -serum changes to pus. 

 They are about the size of a lentil or small bean, and soon dry 

 up, forming yellowish scabs and crusts. After these scabs fall off 

 (generally in about one week), they leave on the skin a red, cir- 



