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Show VETERINARY S6IEN6E I Edited by Dr. H. J. Frederick, State Agricultural College. VETERINARY INQUIRIES ANSWERED. ANS-WERED. Editor Dcserct Farmer: Will you kindly answer through your valuable paper, the following: I have three colts, one yearling and two two-year old colts that in the last two days have been sick; their jaws seem to be swollen and the jaw is a large lump; they seem to be very dumpish and act as though they had the distemper; dis-temper; they sccni' to slobber some. WILFORD ENCE, Richfield. a Distemper. (Strangles.) By H. J. Frederick. Characterization. Distemper is an infectious disease of all animals of th horse kind. It is usually made manifest by a catarrhal inflammation of the nasal chambers and throat producing swelling of the adjacent lymph glands or of the skin. History. Distcnvpr is one of the oldest diseases we have among horses. It was described as early as i66., and was known to be infectious, in-fectious, because it was later cvperi-mentally cvperi-mentally inoculated on animals that did not contract the disease by exposure. ex-posure. Distribution. Distemper is a widespread wide-spread disease among horses. It stands among horse diseases much as measles docs among diseases of the human family. It is a disease of colthood and more prevalent in a locality where many atvmals arc raised rais-ed than elsewhere. Causes. This disease is supposed to be caused by a germ, known as the Strcptococus cqui. This germ has been secured in pure cu'turcs and inoculated into healthy horses, r producing the disease. Youth strongly predisposes, most cases oc-curing oc-curing between two and five years. The eruption of teeth, which ;- active act-ive in early years, causes congestion about the head and general body disturbances, dis-turbances, making the system more receptive. The changes produced in training or breaking and likewise in feeding may contribute to make the body 1 less resistant. I Chill is a common cause. Change I of altitude acts much the same, all w tending to weaken the system and' make it more susceptible to most g rm diseases. Symptoms. The first indication of this disease is a rise of temperature. There is loss of appetite, depression and, at times, great weakness. This - may continue for a few days when local manifestations arc apparent 1 which consist of a, catarrh of the nos- .IL trils or swelling of the glands under the throat (Submaxillary and Phary-ncal). Phary-ncal). At first the discharge from ' (he nostrils is serious and somewhat viscid, but in a few days it becomes purulent, and may be of a yellowish green color. This may take place from one or both nostrils and may exist even as far as the bronchi. The swelling of the glands of the throat is usually hot and painful when pressed press-ed upon. At times, distemper is accompanied by cutaneous swelling, which takes the form of an eruption of vcsiculcs, A and even pustules appearing, chiefly 9 1 on the sides of the neck, shoulders, JJ or chest. These swellings may appear ap-pear suddenly and disappear equally :apidly. We have the disease assuming as-suming numerous forms. At times, we may even have brain symptoms where the swellings arc indolent and slow to soften; then there is great dullness, prostration, drowsiness and general paralysis. If the lesion is in the spinal cord, the paralysis is likely to be confined to the hind p -ts. Diagnosis. In mild and regular cases this is easy. The rise of temperature, tem-perature, discharge from the nostrils and formation between the branches j of the lower jaw, of a diffuse, hot, painful swelling, rapid'y advancing to .uppuration and discharge make the case quite con lusivc. This disease must be deffcrcntialcd fromi Purulent ' Nasal Catarrh, but. in this there arc no suppurating glands. It must also b . differentiated rom Glanders. In Glanders the lesions do not heal as - rapidly as in distemper. Glandered animals react to the Mallcin test, but not so of distemper. I Pfcvcntion.-In the older countries I horsemen too often accent distemper 1 as inevitable. They expect that all l horses will have it sooner or later, I and it is not worth while to guard 1 against it, however, there arc places I and .breeding establishments in Amcr- ica. where this disease never exists, I though prevailing all around them. During the existence of distemper in a district, exclude strange horses or mules from your' stable. Keep young horses from public stables or yards, or from public drinking troughs or any places that might ihavc been soiled by infected animals. Give good nutritious food; allow pure uatcr; and disinfect all utensils, used for horses, when brought from another place or bought second hand. Immunization. An attack renders the animal immune, but this may be ' early overcome by changes of location loca-tion and stronger infection than the first time. Treatment. In mild, regular cases, hygienic measures only arc demanded. demand-ed. Cleanliness, dry stalls, pure air, nourishing and easily digested food, pure water, in cold weather, blankct-y blankct-y ing may suffice. Rest is indispens-i indispens-i aire, though exercise may be allow- II cd in shelter. i For costiveness or tardy action of the bowels, two, three or four ounces of sulphate of soda may be allowed daily in drinking water or on grain. If breathing is labored, it is well to steam the animal with the vapor of hot water to which has been added mi antiseptic, such as a tablcspoonful of tar, carbolic acid or crcolin. This may be placed in a bucket placed in a seamless sack and drawn over the nose of the animal. It may be continued con-tinued an hour or more. In case of ta'rdy softening of swelling, it may be covered with a linseed meal poultice to which a little carbolic 1 acid has been added or a blister ap plied. As soon as softening is detected, a free incision should be made to al-'ov al-'ov the exit of pus. Syringe every Jay with antis ptic and keep clean. Fever usually subsides on the opening open-ing of the abscess. When the discharge dis-charge from nose or abscess persists, give injections of weak solutions of crcolin or lysol. During convales-cn:e, convales-cn:e, it is important to avoid over exertion and chill; keep the bowels s open and cause the kidneys to perform per-form their function by administering some laxative; and give about one spoonful of saltpeter in drinking wal- cr or on grain daily. n - |