NATURE AND TREATMENT OF DISTEMPER. 199 
of more value when occupied in the discharge of our pro- 
fessional duties than it could otherwise be when taken up by 
the duties of parish offices or in serving on juries. But 
enough of this digression, — one which you and your readers 
will please to pardon. 
We might suppose that the indefinite term distemper would 
be applied to some simple febrile affection, and not to an 
inflammatory action of the mucous membranes, in which 
every action and function of animal life becomes involved 
in disturbance. But we are aware that, when increased 
vascular action is commenced, either in a secreting organ or 
in mucous membrane, that an impairment of function is the 
necessary consequence. Hence the alteration in the nasal 
and gastric secretions, and the impairment of the functions 
of respiration, digestion, and chylification in distempered 
dogs. In whatever form distemper shows itself — whether 
it be seated in the membranous lining of the air-passage, 
the alimentary canal, or both — the disease is invariably ac- 
companied by its peculiar and characteristic smell, which 
enables the veterinarian’s olfactories to distinguish it from 
any other canine malady. It would be superfluous to occupy 
your space by enumerating the symptoms which supervene 
on an attack of inflammatory action in the mucous membranes : 
suffice it to say, that they vary according to the extent and 
termination of that morbid action, and clearly indicate the 
seat of the disease, mark its progress, and point out whether 
it be seated in the membranous lining of the nostrils, ex- 
tending down to the respiratory tubes, or through the 
mucous coat of the alimentary canal. In some seasons, or 
even at different periods of the same season, the distemper 
assumes the catarrhal character; but at other times the 
mucous coat of the alimentary canal appears to be the 
primary seat of disease. But, whichsoever of these mem- 
branes becomes primarily affected, it is by no means an 
unfrequent occurrence to see them both involved in this 
peculiar, and perhaps specific, morbid action. The dis- 
temper may be regarded as being tolerably curable if early 
and suitable remedial measures are had recourse to ; but at 
the same time it is requisite that every possible attention be 
paid to cleanliness and every other comfort that will be likely 
to be conducive to the restoration of health. But in those 
cases which have been either neglected or incautiously treated 
by the administration either of large doses of drastic purga- 
tives or emetics, we have but little chance of success. The 
disease is dangerous enough in itself, and requires soothing 
much more than aggravating treatment. 
