138 DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 



elude that these three diseases are the only contagions diseases wliich 

 have attacked hogs in the last two years. After describing each dis- 

 ease, its sym])toins, conrse, stage of incubation, pathological lesions, 

 causes of death, and exciting causes, we shall take ui> the subject of 

 predisposiug causes toward the contraction of these diseases. Then we 

 shall ])oint out the best plan of treatment, both hygienic and medical, 

 for curing the siciv and preventing the s]iread of any contagious disease 

 among healthy animals. 



TYPHUS PEVER. 



Definition. — A specific continued fever, attended with increased tem- 

 peratoe, usually above 105° F. ; stupor ; congestion of brain ; swelling 

 of forehead; stiffness of joints; excessive soreness of all tissues ; a pro- 

 fuse eruption on the belly and inside of thighs, with costive bowels dur- 

 ing the first few days, and usually terminating in death within fourteen 

 days. 



Symptoiiis. — Headache, as shown by wrinkled forehead; partially shut 

 eyes ; nose held near the gTound ; loss of appetite ; stupor; indisposition 

 to move; excessive soreness of all tissues, the slightest pressiu'e causing 

 excessive pain ; swelling of forehead between the eyes ; tongue gener- 

 ally large, white, and tlabby, especially if the disease is complicated 

 with malarial poisoning. There is also great restlessness, shortness of 

 breath, and cough. The sick hogs are frequently lame in one limb, and 

 cannot even put it to the ground. The heat of the body is excessive, 

 the temj)erature rarely ranging below 105° F., and generally reaching 

 as high as 108'^ to 109° F. ; and if the hog is not carried oif from the 

 fifth to the seventh day a copious eruption appears on the bowels and 

 on the inside of the thighs and other soft parts. The bowels are 

 almost always costive during the first week and the discharges hard and 

 dark colored. Thirst is excessive, and the hog will often drink until 

 it falls over dead. During the second week we have increase in the 

 severity of symptoms. Sordes collect in mouth ; small watery i)imples 

 appear on nose, eyelids, and ears ; there is great i^rostration of strength, 

 with staggering gait when forced to walk. Costiveness may now give 

 place to cUarrhea ; urine is passed while lying down, and convulsions or 

 fatal stupor intervenes ; enlargement of glandular structure, especially 

 in the neck, is a common symptom, but in no case have I found abscess 

 with healthy pus, but rather thin sanious fluid. A common symptom 

 during the second week is thumps, and I have never known a case to 

 recover when this symptom was present. The thumps appear to be 

 nothing more than a spasmodic action of the nerves, like hiccough in 

 man, and denotes great prostration and approaching death. In advanced 

 stages of the fever these are the main symptoms, and this alone is a 

 common course of the disease, as I have observed it. But there are 

 many exceptional cases. Many hogs, especially those debilitated by 

 errors in food or from the effects of malaria, will succumb to the influence 

 of accunuilated poison acting on the brain and nervous system, and die 

 within twenty-four hours. This is of frequent occurrence, especially in 

 young pigs and shoats. Others will die frojn obstinate constipation, the 

 impacted feces causing ulceration and rupture of descending colon and 

 rectum. In some herds convulsions, from congestion of the brain, occur 

 dui'ing the first day, and unless relieved the case terminates in death in 

 a few hours. Tubercular deposit in the lungs and in the mesenteric 

 glands is very common. In this disease, as also in typhoid fever, the 

 smouldering spark of scrofula is fanned into a flame by the fever, and the 

 tubercular matter is deposited in the lungs and glands, and the patient 



