236 DISEASES OF TRUE INFECTION. 



to those of true distemper, but milder in character. The alterations 

 in the lungs are those of catarrhal pneumonia. The most frequent 

 condition observed is great irritation of the mucous membrane of 

 the intestines, with more or less swelling of the whole intestinal 

 tract. The follicles and glands of the intestines may be swollen 

 or enlarged, and in rare instances ulcerated, but not to the marked 

 degree seen in distemper. 



Clinical Symptoms. The animal is dull and listless for two 

 days, when the temperature will be found to be 39° or 40°; slight 

 running from the eyes; and invariably diarrhcea. This last symp- 

 tom is generally observed from the first, the stools being liquid the 

 first few days, and later filled with gelatinous mucus. At the end 

 of a week there may be some blood j)assed in the stools, but this 

 is not commonly seen. 



The appetite may be very poor or even lost, but generally in 

 three or four days the animal will commence to eat, but stop again 

 if the diarrhoea should be severe or eat very small quantities. 

 Vomiting is rarely seen except at the onset. 



The discharge from the nose and eyes is difficult to distinguish 

 from distemper, except that it is thinner and muco-purulent. 

 The cough is stronger, and not the soft, shallow cough observed in 

 distemper. There is no rash on the skin, but the hair is dry and 

 harsh, and frequently the hair falls out very rapidly in the long- 

 coated dogs, especially collies. 



The mouth very frequently becomes sore and the gums may 

 ulcerate. In rare cases a series of aphthous ulcers are seen on the 

 lips and around the free end of the tongue. This condition rarely 

 causes death unless the diarrhoea is persistent and the animal will 

 not eat; and any attempt at forced feeding is followed by 

 vomiting. 



In some cases shortly after the acute symptoms commence 

 there may be evidences of congestion of the brain, accompanied 

 by severe and continued convulsions, which frequently cause 

 death. 



The treatment is practically the same as in distemper. Keep 

 the animals warm and dry, give easily digested food, lean meat, 

 carefully removing all fat, and quinine, iron, and some of the 

 pepsin preparations, and allow them to run if they are not too 

 weak. Penning them up closely does harm. 



