Distemper, as it is called, is one of the most serious maladies with which the dog owner has to contend - often immediately fatal; or, if life is spared, disastrous to health, leaving the victim bereft of strength and vigor, which may never return, even with the best of care.

The cause of distemper is contagion or infection, and by no other means can it originate. Some writers claim that certain other conditions will produce it, but this is simply impossible; and, although we may not always be able to trace the source of its origin, we may rest assured that in some manner the germ of the disease has obtained a foothold, and that it will run its course as surely as smallpox or measles. There is absolutely no cure for it, and all so-called specifics, either for its prevention or cure, are simply worthless for the purpose. Some of them, recommended as being infallible, I know to be positively dangerous, as their tendency is to weaken the animal at a time when he needs all his strength and vigor to withstand the very debilitating effects of the disease and carry him safely through the trouble.

The disease is a form of fever, and, if no other trouble sets in, will run its course in about ten days; and, if the animal attacked be vigorous and in good health, the chances are that in a very large majority of cases there will soon be complete recovery. But in animals predisposed to disease by want of proper care, or enfeebled from any cause, complications often arise that are most disastrous in results.

There is no period in the life of your dog when it is so important to stick closely to the text which inspires these pages as during his attack of distemper. Careful nursing, and no closing with pernicious drugs, will bring the patient through all right in most cases, if he is in a healthy condition when attacked.

I will briefly sketch the course that I have pursued in more than two hundred cases among puppies of my own breeding, without losing a single one by death, and, with three exceptions, bringing them through sound and healthy. Two of these exceptions were attacked with chorea - one incurable, the other recovering in a few months. The remaining one, when apparently convalescent, was seized with convulsions, which recurred at frequent intervals for several weeks, and he was put out of the way as worthless.

When a puppy first showed symptoms of distemper - which may be described as those of a hard cold, and generally indicated by dullness, a hot and dry nose, husky cough, and running at the nose and eyes - he was at once removed to a warm, dry room, where he could have sunshine, plenty of fresh air, a good, dry bed, and an abundance of pure water to drink. If it was necessary - not otherwise - the bowels were opened with a dose of syrup of buckthorn and sweet oil, one to two teaspoonfuls of each, according to his age; and he was given, two or three times a day in a teacup of milk, a tablespoonful of strong tea, made by steeping the leaves of sweet fern (Comp-tonia asplenifolia). When the leaves, green or dry, could not be obtained, the twigs and roots were used. I do not know that this plant has any medicinal qualities, except that the decoction is very cooling and potent in allaying inflammation, whether taken internally to subdue fever, or used as a wash in cases of irritation of the skin caused by hunting your dog over a country infested with briers or saw grass, while as a lotion for ground ivy poisoning it has no equal.

Nourishing food that would digest easily was freely given; strong beef or mutton broth, raw beef minced fine, milk and raw eggs were the principal articles relied upon, changing these as was thought would tempt the appetite. Three and sometimes four meals a day were given, and if the patient refused to eat at the usual time of feeding, the necessary amount of food was poured down his throat, unless he appeared to be holding his strength in a satisfactory manner. When this course was necessary, great care was taken that he was not irritated by the operation. The patient was at all times kept as quiet as possible, and allowed to sleep undisturbed as much as he pleased. His apartment was at all times kept perfectly sweet, clean and well ventilated, especial care being taken that he was at no time exposed to a draught. All his wants were attended to; his eyes and nose were kept free from accumulations with a soft sponge slightly moistened with tepid water, and nothing was left undone in the way of careful nursing until he was entirely out of danger. As my dogs were generally in the best of health, with plenty of strength to withstand the ravages of the disease, they soon recovered, and it was seldom that any serious complications retarded their speedy return to health.

In the weakened and feverish state accompanying this disease the system is very susceptible to attack by other disorders. This is especially the case if the patient is allowed by exposure to take cold. When this occurs the lungs are very apt to become affected, the digestive organs deranged, and inflammation of the mucous membrane or other sensitive organs supervenes, necessitating medical treatment, which should always be confided to the care of an experienced veterinarian or physician.

In case of complications arising affecting the nervous system, resulting in chorea or indications of it, no medicine is required, except perhaps in severe cases to give as a tonic cod liver oil, in teaspoonful doses, three times a day, mixed in a cup of milk; this, with nourishing food and careful nursing, will bring the patient through all right in a very large majority of cases.

When paralysis follows distemper, the prospect for recovery is not very encouraging, except perhaps in case of partial paralysis of the hinder parts, which is frequently caused by constipation, and disappears with the removal of the cause.

When convalescence is manifest, watchful care should not be relaxed, as it is then needed very nearly as much as at any time. Owing to the fevered condition of the intestines, constipation is very apt to be troublesome, and the discharges must be closely watched; and if a tendency in this direction is manifest, measures should at once be taken to overcome it by the use of an occasional meal of raw liver or small doses of sweet oil. The oil should be given in teaspoonful doses, and repeated two or three times a day if found to be necessary.