S4 DISEASES OF DOOB. 



whether the microbe of distemper has been ao minutely observed as 

 to be individualised by form and size, but it has been isolated, and 

 the late Sir Everett Millais cultivated it artificially, so that 

 puppies can be infected as easily as by inoculating them with 

 discbajged matter from a diseased dog ; and we may look with confi- 

 dence to a time near at hand, when an attenuated virus of distemper 

 so cultivated may be used to produce a mild attack in puppies which 

 will shield them from contracting the disease in the natural way, 

 and preserve them from the disastrous and highly fatal effects of tMs 

 scourge of our kennels. 



Preventive Measures. — There is no specific preventive at present; 

 the true prophylactic we look for in the system of inoculation with 

 attenuated vims, just referred to ; and the aim of the breeder should 

 be to have pups fortified against its attacks by a robust constitution. 

 This is to be attained by breeding only from healthy parents, of 

 proper age, and not too closely related. From the birth mother and 

 pups should be well fed and nourished, and kept under proper sani- 

 taiy conditions. The dog, being a carnivorous animal, more or less 

 meat seems almost a necessity of health to him ; but in the artificial 

 Uf e he leads, much less than his inclinations would dictate is required, 

 and excessive feeding would be more likely to predispose to distempei 

 than to prevent it. 



Vaccination has been tried as a preventive of distemper, but has 

 proved of doubtful worth. 



Dog shows are the most prolific of all sources for the spread of 

 distemper, and as these are ostensibly held for the improvement and 

 cultivation of pui-e breeds, it behoves those who organise and manage 

 them to take every possible precaution against the propagation 

 of this destructive malady. The disinfection of the benches, etc., 

 after each show, which has been adopted for the last few years, has 

 not proved sufficient. Exhibitors should be required to declare the 

 dog exhibited free from distemper, and that for a given time he has 

 not been in contact with a diseased dog. It seems probable that 

 visitors to shows having dogs at home suffering from distemper, 

 may carry the contagion with them and if the supposition is correct, 

 it is difficult to prevent the evil in any other way than by impressing 

 on the minds of all the danger of so doing, and that is necessarily a 

 difficult and slow process. One prolific cause of distribution of the 

 distemper germs at shows is to a great extent under contiol of the 

 management. Instead of employing attendants got together at 

 random, and such as are connected with dogs kept under question- 

 able sanitary conditions, a staff should be carefully selected, and 

 these men should wear uniforms of washable material, and be each 

 H>ufined to one section i>l the exhibition. - ' 



