16 
DISTEMPER IN DOGS. 
By Mr. BOUGHTON, Veterinary Surgeon , Hounslow. 
Sir, — Should the following cases of Distemper in Dogs possess 
any interest for your valuable Journal, they are much at your 
service. 
I have the honour to be your obedient servant. 
W. Percivall, Esq. 
Early in November last, I was called to look at four greyhound 
puppies, belonging to K. R. Peel, Esq. They were about nine 
months old, very high-bred, and, until a week previous, had 
been going on well. They were stated to have been at that 
time in excellent condition and spirits ; but since then had fallen 
away very much in flesh, had become very much relaxed in 
their bowels, and very dull. Their general appearance shewed 
weakness. They had little inclination to move ; their noses 
were hot; and two of them had discharge from the nose and eyes, 
with dry tongues, breath hot, and of an unpleasant smell, though 
not foetid. These two were also purging very much, and looked 
sadly tucked up. I first separated the puppies, placing them two 
and two, according to the intensity of the disease, in separate com- 
fortable warm stables, allowing them plenty of straw. I consi- 
dered that they were affected with distemper of a very virulent 
character, and from their high breeding, their so quickly falling off* 
in condition, and their prominent symptom, diarrhoea, I had the 
worst forebodings as to the result. Having had opportunities of 
making observations on very many such cases, I have generally 
found them unmanageable. 
Three of the puppies had the distemper in the spring, and were 
under my care ; and the fourth was said to have had it when away 
from the rest. At that time they suffered very slightly, and 
speedily got well. I have frequently found dogs to be attacked a 
second and even a third time with the disease. 
First Day . — I gave a gentle dose of sulphat. magnesise to each 
of the two worst cases, with the intention, primarily, to get rid of 
any irritating matter which might in any way keep up the purg- 
ing; while to the other two I gave calomel l^gr., with emetic 
tartar 1 gr. 
Second Day . — The two worst cases remain as yesterday. They 
are to have two pills each twice a-day, containing, together, pow- 
dered chalk 9 j, catechu gr. x, gum. opii £ gr., with ol. anisi, 
