Distemper

Dog diseases, like human diseases, are often difficult of treatment and require rigorous measures. Distemper* is one of these. The London Fields Distemper Council made public through its Research Committee an elaborate plan for finding a cure for the disease.

Hitherto experiments in this direction have been inconclusive because of the difficulty of obtaining suitable subjects. Puppies purchased in ordinary ways may have had slight cases of the disease which would render them immune to infection. Or again they may become accidentally infected by importation of the germs by attendants. The new plan will eliminate these possibilities as far as possible.

An isolated spot will be chosen on the experimental farm. An "unclimbable" fence will be erected to in-close a compound. A separate kennel, with large individual yards will be built for each breeding bitch. The animals will be cared for by two trained kennel maids who will rarely be permitted to leave the compound.

The only entrance to the compound will be through a cleansing room built into the fence. Whoever enters the compound must remove his outer clothing in this room, and then, stepping into an adjoining chamber, bathe and put on special clothing. Food will be cooked and sterilized outside and passed in through a special hatch.

By these means it is hoped to carry on experiments under scientific conditions.

* Distemper Is a disease which practically all dogs contract at some period of their lives, usually when young. It is highly contagious to other dogs, and high-bred canines are more susceptible to it than mongrels. The cause is a subject of dispute among veterinarians. The disease is fatal to about 30% of the cases where esanthematous (characterized by a skin eruption) and catarrhal symptoms occur, and to about 90% of the cases in which there are nervous symptoms present.