490 AgricuUiiral Journal of Victoria. 



the pig may be heard to utter short grunts if pain is severe. The 

 heart's action is accelerated, and the pulse increased in frequency. 



Redness of the skin appears early in the disease. In white pigs 

 it is distinctly seen. In black pigs it is not so readily noticed about 

 the ears and back^ but if the belly be examined, a diffused redness 

 may be observed spreading from the inside of the thighs and 

 extending along the median line of the abdomen. At a later stage a 

 scaly desquamation of the skin takes place. 



As the disease advances in its course all the symptoms become 

 aggravated, and the affected animal gets weaker and weaker. It may 

 become so weak that it is quite unable to stand Avhen urged to do so. 

 If, however, one succeeds in getting an animal that is not quite sa 

 bad to stand, it is noticed that, in consequence of the weakness, it 

 cannot maintain the upright position but sinks down upon, and crawls 

 about on its knees. Towards the end, the eyes become sunken in the 

 head, tlie lids swollen, and a purulent discharge may issue fro;m them 

 (purulent ophthalmia). Later on the animal sinks into a state of 

 collapse and it may die in a condition of unconsciousness or in 

 convulsions. 



Pathology. 



On examining the carcase of a pig dead of swine fever, tumefac- 

 tions round the head may be observed, the tongue is darkish in 

 colour, and small red patches, or even ulcers, may be present on the 

 lips, gums, and tongue. 



Skin Lesions. — Along the belly and inner aspect of the thighs, and 

 in other situations, tlark red spots or dark reddish patches terminating 

 diffusely in the surrounding tissue are observed, and on cutting 

 through the skin dark red blood escapes from the blood-vessels. 

 When the carcase is scalded and scraped the redness is distinctly 

 manifested, and even black spots or patches, or ulcers, may be 

 observed in different situations. If the rash has faded, a branny 

 scaling of the skin may be noticed. Sub-epidermal hannorrhagic 

 spots, and ecchymoses also of the sub-cutaneous fat and sub-peritoneal 

 tissues are seen. Abscesses may form beneath the skin, and bursting, 

 leave ulcerous patches. In the lesions of the skin, bacilli are found 

 in enormous numbers, and by means of the des((uamated jiarticles 

 the disease may be spread widely around. 



Peritoneal Cavity. — On opening the body cavity (belly) in early 

 stages, the peritoneum may present an opaque appearance, and a 

 little fibrin may be seen on its surface, and a little fiuid noticed in the 

 cavity. At later stages the peritoneal surface would be more opaque 

 and the quantity of serous fluid greatly increased. The coagulable 

 material which has exuded from the blood-vessels glues the surfaces 

 of the coils of intestines together, and thus adhesions may be formed. 

 The adhesions may be extensive in character, the whole of the coils 

 of intestines may be involved, and indeed all the organs in the 

 peritoneal cavity niay be implicated in the morbid process. The 

 exuded fluid varies in amount and is always turbid, and contains 



