Sivine Growers' Association. 293 



I shall now attempt to describe as clearly, and as simply as 

 possible the method of examining the carcass of a hog, and the ap- 

 pearances of the organs that show disease changes due to cholera. 



It is essential to examine the carcass soon after the death of 

 the animal, in order to avoid being misled by the ordinary de- 

 composition changes that occur in the internal organs within a 

 few hours after death. 



First, examine the skin ; observe whether there are any erup- 

 tions, ulcers, patches of redness on the skin of the belly (''blood- 

 shot" spots or patches showing through the skin). The presence 

 of these signs with the symptoms already given are indications of 

 cholera. The animal may, however, have cholera without showing 

 any eruptions or other noticeable changes in the skin. 



Make a cut from the point of the chin backw^ard along the 

 midline of the neck, chest and belly to the tail, cutting first only 

 through the skin and underlying fat. Peel the skin and fat well 

 back on each side, examine the fat beneath the skin for hemor- 

 rhages, or "blood shot" discolorations. In the acute hemorrhagic 

 type of the disease the subcutaneous fat is often the seat of nu- 

 merous hemorrhages. In the fat of the flank region the hemor- 

 rhage is sometimes extensive. Mild cases of cholera show no disease 

 changes in the subcutaneous fat. At the angle of the lower jaw 

 beneath the skin will be found rounded glands, called lymph glands, 

 which in the acute hemorrhagic type of cholera are often engorged 

 with blood, giving to them a reddish, or even black color. In mild 

 or chronic cases of cholera these glands may be enlarged, dropsical 

 and of a normal grayish color. A few inches back of the glands 

 mentioned other glands are located which may be highly engorged 



Fig. 1. Post-mortem Examination. First incision, showing engorged lympli glands (cervical and 

 inguinal), and numerous hemorrhages into the subcutaneous fat, in the acute hemorrhagic 

 type of cholera. 



Veterinary Department, Missouri Experiment Station. 



