488 AgriculUiral Journal of Victoria. 



It is not known how it came to be introduced into Victoria, but it 

 has been in New Zealand and parts of Australia for some years. 



Definition. 



Swine fever, swine plague, or pig typhoid is a specific, acute, 

 infectious disease characterised by inflammation of the lungs, 

 intestines, lymphatic glands, and other organs, and by an eruption 

 on the skin of red points or patches. The redness appears about the 

 ears, neck, back, belly, inner aspect of the thighs, vulvo-anal region 

 legs, and feet. 



Cause of the Disease. 



Swine fever is a disease caused by a specific bacillus. It is 

 infectious in the true sense of the term. It would appear that we 

 have in swine plague a disease, the germs of which can be scattered 

 in dust by the wind, and may be breathed in by the pigs with the 

 atmospheric air. In isolated institutions the disease has made its 

 appearance in a subtle fashion. It is possible for it to be introduced 

 into any place on fodder, or in the dusty clothing or muddy boots of 

 human beings. 



It attacks pigs of all ages, and it is a virulent disease amongst 

 young pigs. The germs may also enter the system through wounds 

 of the skin. In the majority of cases, in my opinion, the virus gains 

 entrance to the body through the digestive tract. 



The germs then may enter the system either through the lungs, 

 or the intestinal tract, or the skin. It does not signify by what 

 channel the germs invade the system, they still set up the specific 

 disorder of swine plague, no matter whether the symptoms be 

 transient and slight or protracted and grave. 



The pig is the only animal that contracts the disease spontaneously, 

 and man is immune to it. It is a disease rather of autumn, winter, 

 and early spring, and exposure to cold and wet, draughty, damp and 

 insanitary styes, and improper and innutritions feeding, are factors 

 that lower bodily health and render the system prone to invasion by 

 the specific bacillus. 



Symptoms of the Disease. 



The incubation period (or that time which the germs take to 

 develop before symptoms manifest themselves) is about from seven 

 to ten days. There are cases in which death occurs very rapidly after 

 the first appearance of illness. Animals may die in two or three 

 hours after first showing signs of illness. 



Swine plague may sometimes present features of a malignant 

 character. In these cases there is an absence of the usual symptoms, 

 but death is speedy. Death may take place in an hour or two without 

 characteristic symptoms. In fact death may be so rapid as to lead to 

 the suspicion that poison was at the root of the mischief. Cases that 

 occurred at Pentridge Stockade were illustrative of this state of 



