^u 



BOAR11 OF AOKirULTURK. 



(M- nt Ic.-isi possoss a ijrai.'tical kiidwicdge of these things. Swine Itri'cders 

 iiM\(' jilenty of opportunity to learn this from personal observation; with- 

 out tills Icnowlfdjje it is not i)ossil)|(' lo cai-e for or treat hogs in an intelli- 

 gent inannt-r wiien sielv. 



'Ilie general symptoms, those affecting the entire system, inform us 

 as to tlie condition of tlw animal at tlie outset and during the progress of 

 a disease. Tims we liave the symjitcims connected with (a) the imlse; 

 ill) tlie iiincous meml)ranes; (c) the respirations; (d) the body temperature; 

 (e) tlie surface of tlie l)ody; (Ci the secretions and the excretions; (g) the 

 neivdiis system. 



All of the general symi'toiiis manifested by the hog are seldom con- 

 sidered eitliei' in tlie diagnosis or the treatment of disease. There is no 

 reason, liowever. when treating valuable stoclv liogs why a full knowl- 

 edge of the condition of the animal sliould not be of the same importance 

 as in the treatment of other domestic animals; unless the hog is (]uiet 

 or can ))e handled, this is impossible. 



The pulse can be easily taken in the hog from the femoral artery on 

 the inner side of the thigh. The artery crosses this region in an ol)li(iue 

 direction and is (luite superficial toward the anterior and lower part. The 

 normal of pulse beats per minute is usually estimated at about seventy 

 to eighty. In young pigs, and when exercised or excited, the rate is 

 much higher. 



The following varieties of pulse are recognized in disease: Frequent 

 or infrequent, quick or slow, large or small, hard or soft, and regidar or 

 intermittent. The frequency of the pulse has reference to the number 

 of pulsations per minute; quick or slow to the time required for the pulse 

 Avave to pass under the linger; lai'ge or small to the volume of blood that 

 passes at each beat; hard or soft to the sense of feeling while passing 

 under the fingers; and regular or intermittent to the intervals between 

 the beats. There may be a number of beats regular and in time and then 

 the missing of one or tAvo. or there may be an acceleration of a few 

 beats. The condition of the circulation may also be judged by placing 

 the hand on the left side of the chest and as nearly over the heart as 

 possible. 



The niuiiber of respirations per minute is subject to considerable 

 variation. When at rest they will vary from ten to twenty; if warm or 

 excited and during exercise, from sixty to one hundred. In hogs, normal 

 respirations are frequently accompanied by respiratory sounds. In dis- 

 ease the respirations may be quickened and their character changed, as 

 in pleurisy, peritonitis, pneumonia, etc. In the abdominal form of res- 

 piration, the movements of the walls of the chest are limited. This occurs 

 in pleurisy. In the thoracic form of respiration the abdominal wall is 

 held rigid and the movements of the walls of the chest make up for 

 the deficiency. This latter conditmn is seen in peritonitis. 



In inflammation of the air passages, irritation from dust or parasites, 



