NOTES BY TERROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 43

NOTES BY TERROR.

«' — Sir Everett Millais vuecseded in'- ot'lt:'vating distemper ertificially witV atxemiateil virus obtained from the discharged 'matter o.i diseased dog?. Unfortunately, as a, preventive tho deee?scd Bareness experiments proved futile. x Stonelienge defenpes' 'distemper as another form, of typhus fever. „ Mr Martin differs from this idea, and, refuses to believe ttafc it is ab all identical witli_ influenza, typhoid, or plague, he Lolcis that it i" a complaint entirely different from any known disease. Generally -the first syr.ipto:n. 'of distemper .is a cough; -aftar "the animal has coughed it retches a? if it hard something -in its throat. ■ It then becomes listless and'disinclined to move; the -eyes have a'-rieapy" look, and if the lids are turned down the iimer linii.g will be found to be 'of a dark-red colour; in a few days the eyes and,no?e dis•charge; the patient seeks quiet, and then -loses flesh rapidly. There are three distinct -kinds of , distemper — those which attack the brain, bowels, or ."lung; the latter is far tho most common. When" the bowels are attacked little or no hope can bo held out for tho lecovery of the sufferer; the case, unless a light OTic, generally proves fatal. Brain distemper results in serious complications, as fits invaiiably accompany this iorm — a second or third fit takes the dog off-; if ho should survive he becomes a contii'Kved criijple from chorea. Although Mr Martin in "his recent lecture contended that there is but little .similarity between distemper and typhoid, the treatment and nursing he advised are exactly the same as prescribed to typhoid patients, Tho dog must be well rugged, n,ot from the top, as the rug works off, but from "the stomach, so as to overlap and fasten on the dog's side. This ensures the animal being kept at an even temperature. Soft, but nourishing foods, with a little raw meat, must be given. If the dog refuses to eat, he must bo forced, and in extreme cases the introduction of the enema (which no kennel should be without) must be resorted to.

| — The following interesting account of | "Dogs of Olden Days" is from the Sydney | Mail : — Xow that there ars so many beauti- | fi'l specimens of the canine race to be soen I at oui local exhibitions, it must be admitted : t! p.t tbe clog, in common with - everything Australian, shows wonderful improvement during the last few years. It is very difficult to obtain information regarding the dog during the early history of the colony. He , appears to have been "just'clogT' 1 and nob ; worth much more than the food he consumed. "It is an open question whether our firsi Governor or any of his officials had a dog on board ship when the first fleet left England's ! shores. If they were accompanied by irian's faithful friend, history is silent on the subject. Governor Phillip ordered all dogs to be sent on shore prior to sailing ; an order which extended to the transport vessels, but not to storeships. The first fleet, however, had the honour to introduce the dog into the -new colony, for we learn that besides obtaining a considerable variety of seeds and plants at the first place of call, Santa Cruz, there' was also shipped a miscellaneous collection of liv 6 stock, including a few rabbits and puppies. Probably the last were of Spanish origin. When the fleet arrived at the Cape of Good Hope live stock was again purchased, but there is no mention of any domestic animals having been procured. Phillip and his associates had not long . to , wait bef ore the acquaintance of the dinn'o", was made,' for in Muich, 17t8, the warrig'a ls killed five-ewes and one lamb during a_ night attack. . In the reiurn of live stock in May, 1778, ,-air the anirra]'* known as^stcck and different -clrsses of poultry were enumerated, but 'statistics fail to state ho*w many dogs were included in tbe return. When general starvation - was imminent in 1790 the sight of a dog made Phillip angry. "Kill your dog, sir, and I will send you a pig 'from the -stores," he would 'say, so that the owner of the dog would not regret its loes, and the food wasted -on the dog be better utilised. This was at a time- when the inhabitants likened the meat of the kangaroo rat to mutton. The dog first received honourable mention in 1790. The master of tho ship 'Scarborough, 4-18 tons, brought a Newfoundland dog with him called Hector — perhfp. tho only English-bred clog in Sydney Cove. When lending for Bn'sjlsnd he presented the -dog to Lieutenant Clark, after whom Clark "Island \va' i amed. When the captain returned to S/dnev this dog swam out to th 1 " vessel, recognised his old master, and manifested his canine delight at 'renewing the acquaintance. Lieutenant John Macarthur ar' lived by this vessel and brought, with him sir; greyhounds. This importation .was of .much ■personal benefit, and showed 1 that. v lie' hn-*