DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER 4.NIMALS. 127 



peratiire may exist several weeks before orlier symptoms are manifested, 

 or even iliafc the disease may in some ca^^es beconJinedto, andruu its course 

 in, tlie blood, without a locuhzation in any organ or organs. Such a 

 viesv is also sustained by the often-observtd fact that when the cholera 

 exists in a herd, animals, which sht-w no positive signs of sickness, are 

 found in an unhealthy condition, and cannot be made to thrive and 

 fatten. This point, however, remains to be cleared up by future inves- 

 tigations. An objection may be brought to the lower temperature here 

 recorded, that according to otlier observers it is common to find a 

 temperatui-e of 103° F. to 104'^ F. in healthy animals. This, however, 

 does not agree with the observations which I have been able to make. 

 In one herd of ten, the last of a much larger number which had been 

 reduced by this disease, all of which appeared healthy and thriving, not 

 one showed a temperatm-e by my thermometer as high as 103° F. In 

 several other herds of healthy animals "svhich I examined, but notes of 

 which were not preserved, the temperatiu'e was found to range from 

 96° F. to 102i° F. In nearly aU these cases the animals were called up 

 from fields where they were running at liberty, and were immediately 

 examined. So that, although there may be differences in thermometers, 

 I think there can be little doubt fi-om these observations that an increase 

 of temperatm^e precedes other symptoms by a number of days. 



The fii'st symi)toms apparent externally are a dullness of the eyes, the 

 lids of which are kept nearer closed than in health, with an accumula- 

 tion of secretion in the corners ; there is hanging of the head with lopped 

 ears, an inclination to hide in the litter, to lie on the beUy, and keep 

 quiet ; as the disease advances there is considerable thirst, more or less 

 cough, a pink blush, rose-colored spots, and papular eruiition on the 

 skin, particularly along the beUy, inside of thighs and fore-legs, and 

 about the ears. There is accelerated respiration and ckculation, increased 

 action of the flanks in breathing, tucked-up abdomen, arched back, 

 swelUng of the ^^llva in the female, as if in heat ; sometimes, also, of the 

 sheath in the male; loss of appetite, and tenderness of the abdomen; 

 occasionally there was persistent diarrhea, but generally obstinate con- 

 stipation. In some cases large abraded spots are observed at the pro- 

 jectiag parts of the body, caused by separation and loss of the epidermis; 

 in these cases a slight blow or friction on the skiu is sufficient to produce 

 such abrasions. In many cases the eruption, blush, and spots are entirely 

 absent; petechise were formed hi about one-third of the cases; in one 

 outbreak, chiefly confined to pigs in which the eruption was remarkably 

 plain, there was considerable inflammation of and discharge from the 

 eyes. Some animals have a very disagreeable odor even before death. 

 In nearly all cases there is weakness or partial paralysis of the posterior 

 extremities, and occasionally this paralysis is so complete in the first 

 stages of the disease as to prevent walking or standing. 



Tlie percentage of animals aflected and the violence of the symptoms 

 N'ary greatly, according to the time the disease has existed in a locality. 

 In the early part of an outbreak from 70 to 90 per cent, die, and most of 

 these in the ffrst stages of the disease, from deterioration of the blood or 

 apoplexy. In one case there was a loss of 102 out of 107 head ; hi other 

 cases whole herds of 30 or 40 succumbed ; later, many of t^ie animals 

 linger for Aveeks, and finally die from persistent lesions of the lungs or 

 bowels. In some instances a considerable number of those aflected — 20 

 to 25 per cent. — recover: many of these lose all their hair, and often the 

 epidermis as well. Of those recovering, a very few fatten rapidly and 

 do well, but by far the greater part cannot be fattened, and are always 

 unthrifty and profitless animals, 



