SWINE. 401 



considerable height; in the same connection give as quickly as possible an injection of warm 

 water; this to be followed with a mild dose of Rochelle salts and sulphur. Ipecac given in 

 water, to induce vomiting, is sometimes resorted to in place of the purgative. Bleeding will 

 often be attended with good results. Light feeding for a few days will be essential if the 

 patient improves. With all animals attacked with this disease recovery is doubtful. 



Colic. The symptoms of colic in. the pig are similar to those described in the other 

 domestic animals, it being attended with great distress. Pigs are the most difficult of all 

 animals to administer medicine to, owing to the trouble of handling them. Give in warm 

 milk a full dose of castor oil, together with two teaspoonfuls of powdered, or one of the 

 extract of ginger. An injection of warm water, when it can be given, will also be beneficial. 



Constipation. Although this may not properly be called a disease, yet if neglected 

 will be liable to lead to many serious ailments, and should therefore be corrected as early as 

 possible. Frequently, a change of diet will be all that will be essential to effect a cure. 

 Cotton seed meal, or oil cake given in moderate quantities with warm bran makes an excellent 

 food for relieving a constipated condition of the system; also flax seed tar, or slippery elm 

 water. If these prove ineffectual, an injection of warm water, in which an ounce of Epsom 

 salts has been dissolved, or with a little castor oil or linseed in it, should be given. In 

 summer, plenty of green clover and roots will usually remedy the evil. 



Diarrhea. This disease is liable to carry off many little pigs in the herd, and injure 

 those that survive the attack, which is generally during the first ten days after birth. The 

 difficulty is usually occasioned by feeding the sow improper food, which affects injuriously the 

 character of the milk. Sometimes improper food eaten by the pigs at the time of weaning, 

 or before, will bring it on. It is also frequently occasioned by breathing impure air, drinking 

 dirty water, or by taking cold. Pigs should never be exposed to storms, or be obliged to lie 

 in a cold, wet bed. Pens located on damp, und rained land, will be the cause of many ailments 

 to the swine. 



Give good, nutritious food, and put a mixture of powdered charcoal and salt where the 

 sow and pigs may eat all they will of it. If pigs are attacked before being weaned, give the 

 sow dry food for a few days. Two teaspoonfuls of prepared chalk per day is a good remedy; 

 also fresh scalded milk in which wheat flour is well cooked, it being made into a gruel, will 

 be excellent for the little pigs. Warm ginger tea, in which is a small dose of castor oil, both 

 to be mixed in scalded milk, is also beneficial. Care should be exercised in this disease not 

 to bring on a constipated condition of the bowels, by giving food or medicine that has too 

 much of an astringent tendency. By looking well to the cause, of the difficulty and the 

 sanitary condition of the swine, the disease may be avoided altogether. 



Fractures. Fractures occasionally occur in swine, but from the obstinate nature of 

 the animal, but little can be done in the way of treatment. When the fracture is of a simple 

 nature, put the animal by himself, giving him plenty of good food and drink, and let nature 

 effect the cure; but if it be of a serious nature, the animal had better be slaughtered at once 

 for food, and put out of its misery, as this would not only be the most humane, but the most 

 economic way of disposing of him. 



Hog Cholera. This disease is known by various names, such as swine plague, hog 

 cholera, hog fever, stye fever, etc. This is a terribly fatal disease among swine, more losses 

 having been sustained from it than any other disease known to swine breeders. In some 

 herds it will appear in a mild form, and it may be weeks and even months before the disease 

 is recognized; in others, large herds will be almost entirely swept off in a few days. It is 

 very contagious and virulent, and if not generated directly by unsanitary conditions, such as 

 crowding together large numbers, foul pens and yards, eating improper food, drinking impure 

 water, breathing poisoned air, etc., such conditions cause it to develop very quickly when the 



