168 THE VETERINARIAN 



will thrive, regardless of the shock from the operation. 

 I may add that it is much better to castrate pigs or 

 hogs when their stomach and intestines are empty, and 

 it is always good practice to feed laxative and easily 

 digested foods sparingly after this operation. 



^ CHOKING 



Cause: Vegetables, such as potatoes, etc., roots, as 

 carrots, turnips and sometimes pieces of bone or glass, 

 lodge in the gullet. Paralysis of the muscular fibres of 

 the gullet is a very common cause of choking in swine. 



Symptoms : The hog is unable to swallow, producing 

 frothing at the mouth and, if the obstruction cannot be 

 dislodged, death occurs in a very short time. Some- 

 times the obstruction in the gullet may be felt from the 

 outside with the hand. 



Tkeatment: The administration of small doses of 

 Raw Linseed or Olive Oil, or Lard, will assist in dislodg- 

 ing the obstruction. Also careful manipulation of the 

 gullet from the outside with the hand assists in either 

 forcing it into the stomach or bringing it out through 

 hog's mouth. If vomiting can be produced, it will dis- 

 lodge the obstruction. If immediate results are not 

 obtained from the above treatments, I would recommend 

 butchering the hog for meat immediately. 



COLD IN THE HEAD 



(Nasal Catarrh) 



Cause: Exposure to cold; a very common condition 

 in cold, wet weather when hogs are allowed to sleep in 

 manure heaps, straw stacks, or pile up together, when 

 they become overheated and later chill. Nasal Catarrh 

 may also be due to inhaling dust or irritating gases. 



Symptoms : The animal is stupid and feverish, cough- 

 ing and sneezing frequently; appetite is poor, eyes 

 watery and inflamed; a discharge of mucus from the 

 nose will terminate in yellow pus and the nose, if ex- 

 amined, is found to be inflamed and ulcerated. 



