To use the term catarrh alone, aa indicative of aa individual affection seems unwarrantable, from its intimate attachments to a whole family of diseases, distinctively classified.

The literal meaning of the word is "to flow down," and originated in the idea the ancients had with regard to that secretion especially which escapes from the nose. It was believed by them that the secretion flowed down out of the brain, and the theory existed until Schneider, Professor in Wittenberg, published in 1660 his treatise "De Catarrhis," showing the falsity of this supposition. The term catarrh denoting inflammation of the mucous structure accompanied by an abundant secretion of mucus, has been used superadded to the name of the organ or parts involved. As the plan of distinguishing inflammatory affections by the suffix "itis" has become general, it is superfluous to use the terms bronchial catarrh, intestinal catarrh etc., when bronchitis and enteritis express as much and identically the same disease.

Acute catarrh or in plain language "a cold," is a frequent complaint among dogs and often engenders the most serious diseases.

Causation

Physiologically the practice of "catching cold" is yet to be explained. This fact has been noted as the result of experiments, that when animals are subjected to a high degree of heat and then suddenly changed to the ordinary temperature, the heat of the body sinks, not to the normal degree but below it, the cause being accepted that the blood vessels are paralyzed for a time by the high temperature. It will be seen by this that dogs which are in winter allowed to remain in the house near hot stoves, and then to go out into the cold air, show a decided predisposition to the disease.

Allowing a dog a hard run and then shutting him into a cold stable or kennel, his body over-heated and perspiring, it will be appreciated, is a fruitful source of the disease. Damp, draughty kennels, and exposure in rain storms, and similar injurious influences are often immediately followed by the onset of the disease under consideration. The exertion of these influences is materially greatest at times when the weather is cold and moist. It is easy to understand that when these causes extensively exist, the disease must also be prevalent.

Symptoms

Lassitude, dull and heavy manner, appetite lessened, shiverlngs, dryness of the nose, and frequent sneezing are the earliest symptoms observed. Redness and swelling of the nasal mucous membrane soon supervene, and an increase of the secretion begins. The eyes become reddened and watery, the nose hot. Fever is often associated with these symptoms, and the pulse runs above the normal. In simple uncomplicated catarrh, these are the prominent manifestations. When cough, changed respiration, and other symptoms appear, the affection has extended, Its identity is lost and immerged into other diseases.

Treatment

A simple cold should never be neglected. Uncomplicated, it is self-limited and naturally tends to recovery. The dog should be placed in warm comfortable quarters, and a dose of castor oil or syrup of buckthorn be given. If much fever is observed obtain the following mixture. -

℞ Tr. Aconiti Rad. gtt.xij.

Spts. AEtheris Nit. ℥ ss Liq. Amnion. Acet. ℥ iss Ft. Mist. Sig. Dose two teaspoonfuls every three hours in water.

At night five grains of Dover's powder should be administered. If the nasal secretion becomes thick, viscid, and not easily expelled, the fluid extract of hamamelis diluted with four parts of water may be injected into the nose.

Milk and broths for the first day or two will be all and possibly more than the dog will care to eat. Should his appetite not return soon however, scraped raw beef should be given in small quantities, three or four times daily with two grains of quinine in pill form.