36 HOG CHOLERA 



The acute form, which includes the great ma- 

 jority of cases, begins with high fever (105-109 

 F.), arched back, chilling, rough coat, drooping 

 ears and tail, and general depression. The appe- 

 tite is impaired. The affected animals may crowd 

 to the trough in the usual greedy fashion, but 

 after drinking sparingly of any liquid that may be 

 contained in the feed, they return languidly to 

 the nest in advance of their associates, slowly 

 draw the litter backward with alternating fore- 

 feet, and then settle to sternal recumbency with 

 the snout hidden beneath the litter, seemingly in 

 an effort to keep warm. Intermittent attacks of 

 chilling shake the body, the reflexes are dulled, 

 the eyes closed, and a general stupor prevails. 



Conjunctivitis, mild or severe, is practically al- 

 ways present, causing an exudate of a seromucous 

 or seropurulent type to appear, gumming the eye- 

 lids together, or forming crusts which remain in 

 the internal canthus and on the margins of the 

 lids. 



Early in the attack, constipation is noted. The 

 fecal balls, usually dark in color and often cov- 

 ered with mucus, are voided with difficulty. 

 Later, if death does not ensue, diarrhea sets in, 

 and continues pending the advent of death or con- 

 valescence. The character of the food determines 

 the color of the feces. 



As the sick hog lies undisturbed in the nest 



