458 THE COMMON HOG. 



January, 1774, measured, from the nose to the end 

 of the tail, three yards eight inches, and in height 

 four feet and a half. When alive, it weighed 1410, 

 and when killed and dressed, 1215 pounds. 



Notwithstanding the excellent flavour of well-fed 

 pork, and its wholesomenes as food, many persons 

 have such an antipathy to it from nature, habit, 

 or prejudice, that they not only refuse to eat it, 

 but are not able to bear even the sight or smell of 

 it when placed near them at table. The Jews and 

 Mahometans, from a religious principle, abstain 

 from it as food, and consider themselves, in some 

 measure, defiled even by touching it. The in- 

 habitants of China, on the contrary, are so ex- 

 cessively fond of pork, that multitudes, from this 

 partiality only, are said to have been prevented 

 from joining themselves under the institutions of 

 Mahomet. 



There are few parts of the bodies of Swine 

 which may not be converted to some useful pur- 

 pose. Their skins, when properly dressed, are in 

 great request by saddlers, bookbinders, and other 

 artisans. The blood, feet, tongue, and fat, are all 

 used as food. The bristles are made into large 

 brushes for painters, and are also employed by 

 shoemakers, in the place of needles. 



With respert to the diseases of Swine, so little 

 attention seems hitherto to have been paid, that 

 even the best writers on live stock have been able 

 to afford us scarcely any information whatever. 



It 



