To distinguish these several forms of distemper from the diseases which most nearly resemble them, it is chiefly necessary to bear in mind that the peculiarity of distemper, especially in its malignant form, is the rapid tendency to loss of strength and flesh which accompanies it. Thus a common cold with cough is attended with slight feverishness, languor, loss of appetite, Ac, but it may go on for several days without the dog losing much flesh, and with a very partial loss of strength. So, also, with ordinary diarrhoea ; it is astonishing how severe an attack is required to reduce a dog in anything like the same degree which a few days' distemper will effect. In diarrhoea the dog gets thin, it is true, but he does not become the living skeleton which distemper produces; nor does he lie exhausted in his kennel, utterly unable to rise from his bed, and obliged to be supported in order to relieve himself. The same may apply to simple inflammation of the lungs, which may be treated most energetically by bleeding and lowering medicine with good effect, and without knocking the dog off his legs; while in chest distemper, even though the local symptoms are apparently as severe, a treatment one-half as energetic will be fatal from the exhaustion following upon it.

The sequels of distemper should also be alluded to, as consisting of chorea, commonly called "the twitch," and a kind of palsy, known as "the trembles." Both are produced by some obscure mischief done to the brain or spinal marrow in the course of the disease, and they generally follow the kind which I have described as head distemper. Chorea may be known by a peculiar and idiotic-looking drop in one fore-quarter when the dog begins to move, so that he bobs his head in a very helpless way. Sometimes the twitch is slight and partial, at others it is almost universal; but it always goes off during sleep. Shaking palsy affects the whole body, and is far more rare than chorea, which is fortunate, as I believe it to be incapable of cure.

The treatment of the several forms and sequels of distemper must always be conducted upon the acknowledged principle that this is a most debilitating disease, and that any very lowering measure must be avoided, if possible. On the other hand, inflammation is always to be feared attacking either the brain, lungs, or bowels ; and as bleeding and other remedies of a similar tendency form the most active means for getting rid of inflammation, there is often left to the person in charge only a choice between two dangers. Two things, therefore, are to be attended to in the general treatment. 1st. Not only to avoid lowering the system, but also in bad cases to support it by good diet, as far as is consistent with the avoidance of the encouragement to inflammation. 2nd. To take especial care that inflammation does not go far enough to destroy life, or to leave such organic change in the brain or lungs as shall render the dog useless for the purposes to which he is designed. This requires some experience in practice, though in theory it is simple enough; and, indeed, one is sometimes obliged to blow hot and cold at the same time, lowering the dog with one hand and propping him with the other.

It must always be remembered, also, that this is a disease which has a natural tendency to recovery, its essence being an effort of the powers of the system to throw off a poison in the blood. Hence nature requires to be aided, not opposed ; and that man will succeed the best in the long run who interferes the least with her operations. With these preliminary observations I shall proceed to give special directions for the treatment of each form.

1. General Treatment

In the early stage give a mild dose of aperient medicine, such as castor oil and syrup of poppies in equal proportions ; or, if the liver is not acting, calomel and jalap. It is always better, however, to avoid giving calomel if there is plenty of bile in the evacuations. After the early stage is gone by, give nothing in the shape of medicine, but keep the kennel dry, clean, and airy, but warm. Change the litter frequently, and avoid exercise till the cough and running at the eyes have entirely ceased. For several days the diet should consist of nourishing broths, thickened, when there is diarrhoea, with flour, rice, or arrowroot ; or, if the bowels are confined, with oatmeal. If there is little water passed, give every night (as a drench) five or six grains of nitre, with half a teaspoonful of sweet spirits of nitre.

2. Head Distemper

2. Head Distemper requires very energetic local treatment in addition to that recommended above. From four to eight leeches may be applied to the inside of the ears, washing the part well with milk and water first. Then put in a seton to the back part of the neck, first smearing the tape with blistering ointment. If the head is very much affected apply cold water to it by means of a wet cloth, or if that is not allowed, by the watering-pot. Calomel and jalap must be given to act on the liver and bowels, and a pill (consisting of half a grain to one grain of tartar emetic) two or three times a day. As soon as the urgent symptoms have disappeared, the dog often requires supporting with beef tea and tonics, as described in No. 5.

3. Chest Distemper

3. Chest Distemper must be met with bleeding if there,is evidence of inflammation ; but if not, it is better to avoid such a lowering measure, and trust to antimony or ipecacuanha. Mix one grain of either of these with half a grain of opium, and give two or three times daily. If there is long-continued mischief, apply a blister to the chest, or rub in mustard mixed with vinegar. When the breathing is more rapid than the pulse, stimulants will be required, such as the bark and ammonia mixture in No. 5.

4. Distemper Of The Belly

4. Distemper of the Belly, attended with purging, requires the immediate use of astringents, of which opium is the best. There is nothing better than the following mixture. Take of prepared chalk 2dr., mucilage of acacia loz., laudanum loz., tincture of ginger 2dr., water 5 1/2oz. Of this give from a dessert-spoonful to a tablespoonful every time the bowels are relaxed. The diet should be almost entirely of boiled rice, flavoured with milk or broth, and if there is much thirst rice-water only should be allowed. On the other hand, where there is a confined state of the bowels, which is generally attended with "the yellows," calomel, rhubarb, and aloes are the only remedies to be relied on. Take of calomel 3gr. to 5gr.; rhubarb and aloes of each 5gr. to lOgr.; mix, and form into a bolus with water, and give twice a day till it acts freely. A turpentine enema may also be administered, but this requires some practical skill to carry out. Should bile begin to flow, there is still great care required to avoid checking the diarrhoea on the one hand, while on the other the exhaustion caused by it is often frightfully great. Strong broths thickened with flour or rice must often be given by force, as the appetite is generally much reduced in this disease.

Where there is great exhaustion from diarrhoea, arrow-root with port wine will be of use.

5. Malignant Distemper

5. Malignant Distemper is less difficult to manage than that of the head, and far less than "the yellows," when complicated with the ordinary attack. The great thing is to avoid reducing the system in the early stage, and to give at that time only such remedies as are imperatively required. A mild dose of oil, as described under No. 1, will be of service, after which the less done the better till the usual weakness shows itself. In the interval it may be necessary to treat the case as one affecting the head, chest, or belly, as described under Nos. 2, 3, or 4; but so soon as the excessive exhaustion shows itself, there is no chance of recovery without resorting to strong tonics and good food. For this purpose there is no remedy like port wine, or bark and ammonia - the former of which may be given, mixed with an equal part of water, and with the addition of a little spice, such as nutmeg or ginger. For the latter, take of decoction of bark loz., aromatic spirit of ammonia ldr., compound tincture of bark ldr. Mix and give twice a day to a large dog, or half the quantity to a small one.

The greatest care here is required to support the strength by drenching the "dog, if needful, with beef tea; and, if the bowels are at all relaxed, give the dog the astringent mixture ordered under No. 4. Clean straw, a warm, dry kennel, and absolute rest, are also essential to recovery.

6. Chorea Or Palsy

6. Chorea Or Palsy may be treated by a change to country air if the puppy has been in the town, and by giving from 3gr. to 5gr. of sulphate of zinc in a pill every day. The eyes are best left to themselves; and, however bad they may appear, they will generally recover their. brilliancy as the strength is restored. If not, apply a wash composed of 2gr. or 3gr. of nitrate of silver dissolved in loz. of distilled water, or the same proportions of the sulphate of zinc and water.

N.B. - The above doses are calculated for a full-sized dog. For their reduction see the directions at the head of list of drugs at page 8.