DISEASES OF SWINE AXD OTHER ANIMALS. 7 



months closely packed in dry bran. The same may be inferred of all other situations 

 -n-hen it is closely packed and Tvhcrc the air has imperfect access. These t^yo last 

 pomts are of immense importance as bearing on the question of the preservation of the 

 poison in infected iieus and yards alike in Avinter and in summer, to say nothing of 

 its i)ossible conveyance in fodder, «S:c. The different modes in which the disease may 

 bo conveyed in the vret and dry condition, and in the bodies of rabbits, and probably 

 sheep and other animals, speak in the strongest terms against keeping np the pro- 

 duction of the poison by preserving sick animals, unless where they can be secluded 

 in thoroughly disinfected buildings in which even the air shall be constantly charged 

 with disinfectants. 



In most of the States in wbicli investigations have been made, the 

 examiners have fonud the symptoms and post-mortem appearances of 

 the disease the samCj and hence agree as to the propriety of desig- 

 nating the affection under the head of a general disorder. Dr. Detmers 

 has, therefore, given the disease the name of " Swine-plague," and Dr. 

 Law has named it " Hog-fever." While either designation woidd seem 

 to be eminently x)roper, that of " Swine-plague" will no doubt be gen- 

 erally adopted. 



As in almost all general disorders, a certain variety of organs were 

 found affected and diseased. ^larked changes and extravasations in 

 various parts of the body were observed, and inflammation of the lungs 

 and large intestines was usually present. The heart, the pleura, the 

 eyes, the epidermis, and many other important organs showed either 

 slight or more serious affections, and in almost every case tested with 

 the thermometer the temperature was found to be above normal heat 

 before any other symptom of the disease vras in the least apparent. In 

 every herd where the disease had prevailed to any considerable extent, 

 no case was found where death had occurred from a local malady, but 

 all the lesions and api^earances unmistakably indicated the existence of 

 the general disorder. In but few cases was death found to have resulted 

 from the affection of any single organ, but on the contrary seemed to 

 have been the result of the various organic changes observed. 



Dr. Detmers says that the morbid process, although in all cases essen- 

 tially the same, is not restricted to a single part or organ, or to a set of 

 organs, but can have its seat almost anyT\iiere — in the tissue of the 

 lungs ; in the pleiu-a and i^ericardium ; in the heart ; in the lymi)hatic 

 system ; in the jjeritoneum ; in all mucous inembranes, especially in 

 those of the intestines 5 in the liver ; in the spleen, and even in the skin. 

 Only the pulmonal tissue and lymphatic glands are invariably affected. 



The most constant and unvarying symptom of the disease is observed 

 in the increased temperature of the body. Indeed, one of the examiners 

 regards it as highly probable that a high temperature may exist several 

 weeks before other symi^toms are manitested, and that the disease may 

 in some cases even be confined to and run its course in the blood with- 

 out i\ localization in any other organ or organs. A few isolated cases 

 are noted wiiere this symptom was lacking, but it may have been pres- 

 ent in a mild form before other symptoms were observed. The external 



