80 
ON THE DISTEMPER OF DOGS. 
pipe, and the dog exhibits unequivocal proofs of chest affection, 
or decided pneumonia. 
At other times the bowels become affected, and a violent 
purging comes on. The fseces vary from white with a slight 
tinge of grey, to a dark slate or olive colour. By degrees 
mucus begins to mingle with the faecal discharge, and then 
streaks of blood : the faecal matter lessens, and the whole seems 
to consist of mingled mucus and blood; and, from first to last, 
the stools are insufferably offensive. When the mingled blood 
and mucus appear, so much inflammation exists in the intes¬ 
tinal canal that the case is almost hopeless. 
The discharge from the nose is now decidedly purulent. 
While it is white, and without smell, and the dog is not too 
much emaciated, the termination may be favourable; but when 
it becomes of a darker colour, and mingled with blood, and 
stinking, the sethmoid or turbinated bones are becoming carious, 
and death supervenes. This will particularly be the case if the 
mouth and lips swell, and ulcers begin to appear on them, and 
the gums are ulcerated, and a sanious and highly offensive dis¬ 
charge proceeds from the mouth. A singular, half-foetid, deathy 
smell arising from the dog generally, is the almost invariable 
precursor of death. 
The duration of the disease is altogether uncertain : it some¬ 
times runs its course in five or six days ; and it may linger on two 
or three months. In some cases the emaciation is rapid and ex¬ 
treme: danger is then to be apprehended. When the muscles 
of the loins are much attenuated, or almost wasted, there is little 
hope; and although other symptoms may remit, and the dog may 
be apparently recovering, yet if he continue to lose flesh, we may 
be perfectly assured that he will not live. On the contrary, let 
the discharge from the nose be copious, and the purging as vio¬ 
lent as ever, and every other symptom threatening, yet if the animal 
gain flesh, we may confidently predict its recovery. 
When the dog is much reduced in strength and flesh, a spas¬ 
modic affection or twitching of the muscles will sometimes be 
observed. It is usually confined at first to one limb ; but the 
most decisive treatment is required, or these spasms will spread 
from limb to limb, until the animal is unable to stand ; and 
while he lies, every limb will be in motion, travelling at the rate 
of twenty miles an hour, until the animal is worn out, and dies 
of absolute exhaustion. When these spasms become universal 
and violent they are accompanied by constant and dreadful 
moans and cries. 
After the disease has apparently been cured, and even although 
the attack may have been slight, these twitchings ( chorea ) will 
