DISEASES OP THE BLOOD. 55 



few escape the disease altogether, and it may recur several 

 times. Improved kennel hygiene should be insisted on 

 when distemper is prevalent, and it may be necessary to 

 " cross " a breed which seems to specially suffer from 

 this disorder, and thus to an extent counteract any heredi- 

 tary liability to it. When neglected, or in very hot 

 weather, distemper assumes what Blaine has termed the 

 virulent or putrid type, in which considerable ulceration 

 of mucous membranes of the mouth, nostrils, and rectum 

 takes place, the evacuations are most foul, and the body 

 is coated with offensive discharge. The duration of 

 attacks of this disease ranges up to three weeks, and 

 during the whole of this time the tendency to extreme 

 -debility is most marked, and our principal resource in 

 medicinal treatment lies in supporting the strength of the 

 patient in every possible way. We know no specific 

 remedy for this disorder, but medicines will be of value 

 in dealing with the complications which occur ; thus the 

 catarrhs, eye lesions, epilepsy, chorea, jaundice, diarrhoea, 

 and so on, will be dealt with on the principles elsewhere 

 detailed in this work, but we must studiously avoid all 

 debilitating influences and measures. Laxatives, blisters, 

 and bleeding have been recommended, but should be 

 never resorted to ; even the mild preliminary emetic which 

 is spoken of as "sometimes cutting short a threatened 

 attack" must be administered only in the very earliest 

 stages and with excessive caution. The effects of setons 

 may be tried for chorea when a sequela of distemper, but 

 not during its active stages. Worms should be expelled 

 from the alimentary canal as soon as possible, because 

 they are apt to induce intestinal or epileptic complications. 

 While in every respect careful nursing is being carried 

 out, especially cleanliness being insisted on, the animal 

 should receive quinine in port wine or in beef tea or 

 mutton broth. Strong coffee is considered of special 

 value in arresting the tissue changes so apt to occur in 

 this disorder, and some of the salts of iron, such as the 

 carbonate and the citrate, may be resorted to for a gentle 

 tonic action. Nunn uses three to five grains of sulphate of 



