74 



feed. In cases of constipation, perhaps the simplest remedy is to give them from 

 two to four ounces of raw linseed oil once daily in the slop of a mature animal. If 

 this is not effective, give four ounces of Epsom salts. Give exercise and supply 

 laxative feeds, such as bran, oil meal, or ground flax-seed, roots or alfalfa. 



Scours. 



Dr. Alexander (Wisconsin Bulletin 181) writes as follows: "When young 

 nursing pigs begin to scour, it is evident that the milk of the sow is disagreeing 

 with them, and immediate attention, therefore, should be directed towards im- 

 proving her ration. Most often the trouble comes from overfeeding on corn, or ■ 

 other rich feed, just after farrowing, and pigs of fat, flabby, pampered, cross, 

 nervous, constipated sows are most apt to suffer. Sudden changes of feed, or feeding 

 sour or decomposing slop, or feed from, dirty troughs or sour swill-barrels, also 

 tend to cause diarrhoea either in nursing pigs or those that have been weaned, and 

 all such causes should be prevented or remo.ed. 



" To correct scouring in nursing pigs, give the sow 15 to 20 grains sulphate 

 of iron (copperas) in her slop night and morning, and if necessary, slightly 

 increase the dose until eft'ective. Lime water may, with advantage, be freely mixed 

 with the slop as a preventive when there is a tendency to derangement, or after 

 the trouble has been checked, and it is also an excellent corrective for weaned pigs 

 showing a tendency to scour on slop or skim-milk. Where little pigs are scouring 

 severely, each may with advantage be given a raw egg and 5 to 10 grains of sub- 

 nitrate of bismuth twice daily, in addition to changing the feed of the sow and 

 mixing copperas in her slop. In cases which do not promptly respond to treat- 

 ment, success may follow the administration of a dose of castor oil shaken up in 

 the milk. In all cases it is important to set right all errors in diet and sanitation, 

 and to provide the pigs with dry, sunny, well-ventilated quarters. The derange- 

 ment is always most apt to occur, and sure to prove disastrous, among pigs kept 

 in unsanitary conditions." 



Infectious Sore Mouth. 



This disease is quite common in small pigs from a few days to several weeks 

 old. It is caused by a germ. Filthy quarters and damp, muddy yards favor the 

 development of the disease. 



One of the first symptoms is a disinclination to suck on the part of nursing 

 pigs, or a falling off in appetite in older pigs. The lining membrane of the mouth 

 becomes inflamed, and sometimes the snout and lips become swollen. Later, 

 ulcers form, often involving the lips and snout. 



Dr. Craig recommends the following treatment: 



" As soon as the disease breaks out in a litter, both the mother and pigs should 

 be removed from the herd, The affected pigs can be treated by dipping head fore- 

 most into a four per cent, water solution of some reliable disinfectant; or per- 

 manganate of potassium, one ounce to a gallon of water, can be used. A more 

 thorough way to treat them is to wash out the mouth by injecting the solution 

 directly into it with a syringe. It is advisable to use this method wherever practi- 

 cable, and especially in advanced cases. It is also advisable to clean the ulcerated 

 parts by scraping away the dead tissue and rubbing the surface of the ulcer with 

 lunar caustic. The above treatment should be repeated twice a day in advanced 

 cases, and in mild ones once a day. It should be kept up for as long a time as 

 necessary. It is usually more economical to kill the badly diseased pigs than it is 



