DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 179 



They had at pleasure the privilege of indulging in a bath of or drinking 

 the semi-fluid matter in the streams passing through their inclosures, 

 coiQposed of old and recent manure, with au admixture of the black soil 

 and material of a like character conveyed to them from sties titty or a 

 hundred miles above. They might also at their pleasure, after such 

 recreation, bask themselves in the sunshine (with the mercury in the 

 nineties) on the hill-side the livelong day. 



Fed with corn that had been exposed to the snows and rains of one 

 and sometimes tico years ; heated by the sun in summer, cooled by the 

 snows of winter, washed by the rains of spriiig, and fauned at pleasure 

 by rude Boreas, is it to be wondered at that animals so treated, and 

 from v.hich so much is expected, should become diseased and die, and 

 that, following the example of the farmer who said that he woidd " ship 

 Ms hogs as soon as he was satistied disease was in his herd," the " hog- 

 cholera" should continue, being spread by rail over a great extent of 

 country, di'opping some here and some there f True, all are not so treated, 

 and where they are treated in a rational manner few are lost. 



If the same attention was given the hog that is bestowed on other 

 domestic animals there woidd be less cause for complaint, and it is use- 

 less to attempt to remedy the matter except by a radical change in the 

 treatment of the animal. 



Many farmers keep their corn in cribs without covering, and one who 

 was losing hogs every day told me that he had been feeding them on 

 corn that had been exposed to the elements for two years. I have found 

 that in proportion to the care taken so was the ratio of health and dis- 

 ease, all other things being equal. 



The causes, then, in my opinion, which develop the disease known as 

 " hog-cholera" are of two kinds. First, contimial close hreedi7ig, which 

 has a tendency to lessen vitality, produce a scrofidous condition of body, 

 with less power of resisting disease ; second, want of proper treatment, 

 which includes Ibod, quarters, and general management. 



SYirPTOMS OF DISEASE AND MODES OF ATTACK. 



First mode of attach. — Generally the hog is sick a considerable time 

 before it is noticed, and he is not cut off as suddenly as many suppose. 



The hog's external depurating apparatus is said to be fixed in the 

 posterior portion of the fore leg and the nose. When the disease sets 

 in the discharge fi'om these parts ceases, and often (especially in young 

 pigs) a sweUing of the fore leg may be noticed, extending to the shoul- 

 der. The nose becomes dry, and the hog now has the fever. His bowels 

 become constipated, and when moved by the administration of a cathartic 

 his discharges are of scybala, coated with mucous or epithelium. His 

 appetite fails, and he eats what is unusual for him in a state of health, 

 such as dirt and herbage, that, when weU, he vv^oidd pass by. He lies 

 down, or leans against the side of the inclosm-e, and when started up 

 moves wearily. Two moist streaks may be seen, one from each eye; 

 holds his head down, and his ears faU; when lying doA^^n rises ui> and 

 falls down; stumbles along as though he had rheumatism; is weak in 

 the fore legs ; becomes lousy, and if he does not die by the disease which 

 fixes itself upon the brain and spinal cord, he may recover, but is often 

 left entirely bUnd. If recovery or deatli does not take place in this 

 first mode of attack, he passes into the condition of those imdcr the 

 second mode of attack, and the force of the disease is exerted upon the 



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