Distemper of Dogs 389 
days. Distemper in dogs in some respects resembles 
scarlet fever in the human family. 
There is no medicine that will interfere with its 
course. All the treatment should be directed toward 
making the animal comfortable and keeping up its 
strength so that it may resist the disease. Vigorous 
dogs of good constitution will usually recover; weak, 
debilitated animals are likely to be overcome by the 
disease or by various complications. ; 
In the early stages, castor oil in doses of half an 
ounce, with two or three grains of boric acid added, 
should be given every six hours until the bowels move 
thoroughly. This may be followed by two-grain doses 
of quinine, twice daily. The nose, mouth and eyes are 
to be well washed out with warm water three times 
daily, and the nose and eyes greased with vaseline. The 
animal is to be given minced fresh beef, beef tea, sweet: 
milk, raw eggs and gruels, and allowed what cold 
water he wants to drink. Dried blood in doses of one- 
half to one teaspoonful three times daily is excellent 
all through the disease. 
There are many complications that occur with this 
disease: pneumonia, bronchitis, inflammation of the 
brain or spinal cord, and paralysis, usually of the hind 
quarters. When the dog recovers, abscesses are likely to 
form in some part of the body. If these occur in the 
internal organs they are often fatal. Another common 
sequel is chorea, or St. Vitus’ dance, as shown by a 
jerking of some parts of the body. 
All infected quarters should be thoroughly disin- 
fected and exposed to the sun and air for several 
