172 DISEASES OP SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 



chilly lookiiio-, I would, after the first stage of lowering the pulse has 

 passed, recomiueud a teacupful of a strong infusion of the leaves of dog- 

 wood or the same quantity of a strong* cold infusion of boneset. In 

 either case add a teaspoonfnl of powdered ginger or thirty drops of the 

 oil of black pepper, to be given morning, noon, and night regularly. 

 Chlorate of potash, two drams to a pint of water, for drink at will. 



I think the hog is peculiarly susceptible to the influence of malaria, 

 therefore they had better be kept in the woods, or in a pen, or on high 

 and dry places where there is not much grass, and fed on corn, oats, and 

 buckwheat, with a proportionate admixture of fruits, vegetables, and 

 slops. Soapsuds, all the preparations of potash, hickory ashes, soda, 

 saleratus, «&c., are anti-febrile, and will be found very beneficial when 

 given in slops. In my opinion the throat and the adjacent i^arts, the 

 upper and the posterior portions of the lungs, are the only really vul- 

 nerable portions in the animal economy of the hog. Protect these and 

 you thereby protect the whole hog. I have no doubt that in one epi- 

 demic in this hog disease you may have it so dressed in the livery of 

 pneumonia that the most accurate observer might diag-nose the disease 

 to be primarily pneumonia. In another case you may have an exudation 

 of membrane, thereby simulating very closely diphtheria. Again, you 

 may have rofheln, but the disease si)reading to the parenchymatus por- 

 tion of the lung and on to the i)leura, producing rotheln complicated with 

 pleuro-pneumouia, and so on. To show that the stomach of the hog is 

 not very susceptible to the action of poison, I will state a fact known to 

 almost every one in this region of country, that the hog can feed sump- 

 tuously on the rattlesnake, moccasin, and the poisonous copperhead with 

 perfect imi)unity. Again, unless the snake bites the hog about the 

 throat, and on the jugular vein and carotid artery, there is no harm done, 

 but if over either of these blood-vessels the bite is speedily fatal. The 

 internal remedy upon which I most rely, both as a preventive and cura- 

 tive agent, is that invaluable remedial agent, chlorate of potash. Dr. 

 L. P. Dodge, in Georgia Medical Companion, December number, 1873, 

 page 717, says : 



The thorapcutical effects of this agent are obtained by direct application and by 

 absorption. "When taken into tlie stomacli it imparts a cooling sensation to the month 

 and throat ; the circulation is somewhat depressed. Hence it has been classed by au- 

 thors as refrigerant, and from increased action of kidneys diuretic. By some it 

 has been supposed to exert hepatic action. Without doubt it does, but to what ex- 

 tent we are not ijrepared to state. When applied locally to ulcerated surfaces of the 

 mucous membrane, as in ulcerated stromatitis and many other diseases of the mucous 

 membrane, and also to iilcers of the integiiments, it has a stimulating action, as shown 

 by increased sensation of the jiarts and excited vascular action, which becomes alter- 

 ative, and, therefore, salutary. Its most decided effects are obtained when taken into 

 the system. Chlorate of potash, we think, has a specific action on the mucous mem- 

 brane — the glandular and cutaneous systems. In scarlatina it is universally recog- 

 nized as the best remedy. In diseases of the mouth and throat, whether ulcerative 

 or inflammatory, chlorate of potash has a salutary effect. In diphtheria it is one of the 

 most reliable remedies for lesions of the throat. In no disease is its alterative action 

 better shown. Given to an adult in tablespoonful doses of the saturated solution 

 every hour for twenty-four honra, and there will be a marked change in the general 

 appearance of the diseaseil ])arts. The exudation will bo diminished, the fever re- 

 moved, the surface paler, the swelling diminished, the vascular action less, the sensa- 

 tion ameliorated ; the skin becomes cool", the puLso less frequent; in fact, .a large per 

 cent, of the incipient foi'm of diphtheria reqiiiresiio other i-euiedy. 



You can, then, safely give the hog one good dose of calomel in this 

 disease, and then rely with an abiding confidence on the chlorate of 

 potash. 



Respectfully submitted. 



ALBAN S. PAYNE, M. D. 



Markhaim, Va., November 25, 1878.. 



