LECTURE LIII. 

 COMMON DISEASES OF SWINE. 



RHEUMATISM. 



This disease is rather common in swine and affects eidier tlie 

 muscles or joints. 



Cause.— Frequently due to cold damp quarters, and yet 

 cases of rheumatism appear under the most favorable conditions. 

 It is not thought best to discuss the physiological chemistry in- 

 volved, in view of the uncertainty v/hich still exists. 



Symptoms. — Affected animals are lame and sore. The exact 

 symptoms depend of course upon the location. Very frequently 

 the ankle joints are swollen" and very tender. There is a rise of 

 temperature in the acute cases. Food is refused and movements 

 are very painful. This disease in swine, as in other animals, ex- 

 hibits a tendency to move about from one limb or from one joint 

 to another. 



Treatment. — Physic freely; two otmces Epsom salts or two 

 ounces castor oil, or two compound cathartic pills, then 15 drops 

 oil of Gaultheria in one-half ounce of bland oil, like linseed oil 

 or sweet oil, together with potassium iodide in ten grain doses 

 three times a day, given either in water or feed. For local stimu- 

 lant over the joints, apply the following liniment: 8 oz. tincture 

 belladona ; i oz. tincture opium ; and i oz. fluid extract aconite. 

 This treatment should be applied freely on flannel cloths rung 

 out of hot water dry as possible. Fnr swollen joints that are not 

 especially painful a blister gives more satisfactory results. 



POSTERIOH PARALYSIS. 



This is a rather common and serious disease afTecting espe- 

 cially older swine and involving the hind quarters. In most cases 

 it is probably a disorder of either the spinal cord or the spinal 

 nerves. Ihe exact pathology has not boon denionstrared. 



