TREATMENT OF DISTEMPER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 6

TREATMENT OF DISTEMPER

A. H.

PROBERT,

Sir,— -I am more than surprised at Mr. Vogtherr, a man who has had practically a life-long experience with dogs in England, Germany and New Zealand, making such a statement as that brandy and port wine are a definite. cure for distemper. For a chill, yes^ possibly, but for distemper, no. He cannot mislead experienced fanciers with that, but the pprson with one o t two pets may take it for gospel, and( if distemper sets in, lose their pets. There have been huge sums spent in England on research ctoncerning distemper. One newspaper alone raised a fund of £30,000 to help find a cure, and until the finding of this virus, recently; discovered and tried in England and proved reasonably successful there hag been no cure. I have in my possession the largest and most valuable library — 156 volumea - — ranging in value from five shillings and six pence to three pounds ten shillings, dealing with every known breed in the world, and some are edited by leading veterinarians.

Ninety per cent. of the prescriptiong and treatment for distemper mentioned in these books insist on keeping the temperature down; That seems to be( the only way, in- conjunction with keeping the dog absolutely out of all draughts. He must be kept warm, wool — must be warm — round the chest, brisket and throat and not removed while there are any symptoms left. A teaspoonful of encalyptus in a quaTt of Water kept simmering in the room is a great help in keeping the nasal passage clear. The eyes. should be sponged with boracic acid, or there are good eye lotions to be had. I have been a dog-fancier for 35 years, and have continually watched for any information dealing with their riiseases, particularly distemper.— Yours. etc., 1

Hastings, Dec. 17, 1937. Through a typographical error the name of Rohert Blatchford appea.red in Mr A. C. Holmes 5s letter on "The Empire 5s Strength, 5 5 in our correspondence column on Thursday as Blasetfordj For the information of the younge* generation of readers this coTrection xf au obvious error is made.