TREATMENT OP DISTEMPER. 429 



dog will not swallow it, force should be used ; a spoonful at a 

 time being given in the way ordered for drenching at page 419. 

 At this time also port wine is often of service, thickened with 

 arrowroot, and given alternately with the beef-tea. For a dog 

 of average size the plan is to give a teacupful of beef-tea, 

 then, after two hours, the same quantity of arrowroot and wine ; 

 then, again after two hours, a dose of the tonic mixture, and 

 so on through the twenty-four hours. Perseverance in this 

 troublesome plan will generally be rewarded with success ; but, of 

 course, it is only a valuable dog which will reward it properly. 

 In less important animals the beef-tea may be provided, and if 

 it is not voluntarily swallowed the poor patient often dies for 

 want of the compulsion, so that humanity as well as self-interest 

 counsels the adoption of what often appears a harsh proceeding. 



No exercise, even of the most gentle kind, should be allowed, 

 it being found invariably to bring on a return of the disease 

 whenever it is indulged in. Many a young dog has been sacri- 

 ficed to the mistaken kindness of his master, who has thought 

 that a "breath of fresh air" would do him good; and so it 

 would if taken in an easy carriage, at rest ; but the muscular 

 exertion necessary to procure it is highly injurious, and should 

 be delayed until the strength is restored. -This is one reason 

 why dogs in the country bear distemper so much better than 

 in towns ; for, as it is known that they are in the fresh air, 

 no attempt is made to take them to it, and so they are left 

 alone, and are not induced to exert their strength prematurely. 

 Even when the dog appears nearly well, it is better to lead him 

 out to exercise for the first day or two, for otherwise he is 

 almost sure to over-exert himself, and a gallop will often do 

 more harm than can be rectified in many days afterwards. 



Ventilation should not be neglected, but moderate warmth 



