DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHEE ANIMALS. 217 



hue, and frequently interspersed witli petecliice. In young animnls convulsions and 

 coma are frequent concomitants ; in gro'^'u, delirium and deafness, sometimes great 

 restlessness, running round towards one side, until at length the x^atient breaks down 

 and lies helpless and insensible, or in a muttering dehriiun, till at length death ap- 

 liroaches silently, and life ends without a struggle. The temperatiu'c is high until 

 death approaches and bloody uiiuo Hows, when it very perceptibly diminishes. 



The sequeL'B of the disease are : Anasarca (eli'nsion of serum in the cellular sub- 

 stance) ; ophthalmi.i (inflammation of the membraues or coats of the eye or eyeball) ; 

 otitis (inflaumiationof the ear) ; enteritis(iuflammation of the intestines) ; and cynanche 

 parotidia (inllammation of the salivary glands), causing difficulty of breathing and 

 swallowiug ; in grown hogs, affection of the sub-maxillary (mandibular) and inguinal 

 gland, the last mentioned causing the staggering gait in young animals. 



A secondary stage frequently follows, mostly caiised by catching cold or by a dis- 

 turbed crisis; then metastasis (a sudden and complete removal of the disease fi'om one 

 part to another) often occurs. This would seem to account for the fact that medical 

 experts found so many diflerent lesions hj j)ost-moricm examinations. 



The next cause of the disease is an atmospherical contagion, which is always trans- 

 ferable. The infection is therefore double, atmospherical and individual. 



Only constant lesion (and it is questionable whether it can bo considered entirely 

 characteristic) is the want of coagulability of the blood and the petechial eruption ; 

 all other lesions may bo considered incidental ; sometimes scarcely one organ of the 

 body is foimd that is not the seat of some anatomical lesion. 



If we consider the hog-cholera as an independent disease, and the malignant throat 

 disease as a partial symptom of it, or the latter disease as an independent typhus dis- 

 ease, an infection of the blood, and the first as a partial symptom of it, has been up 

 to this time, so far as I know, not ascertained, and the jirocess of this epidemic is still 

 a mystery, as in other epidenucs. 



In single cases and in epidemics it has sometimes the character of a local affection 

 (malignant tlu'oat disease) ; in others, more the character of a general illness (infec- 

 tion) ; or it may be distinguished by this, that it occurs in all forms intermixed. 



I have seen in diiferent hygienic conditions swine affected with the disease, but, by 

 perfect cleanliness, which necessitates the separation of the sound from diseased, and 

 the free use of disinfectants, the poison, even generated or introduced, will be virtually 

 starved out. In neglected hygienic conditions, I saw patients without care and treat- 

 ment recovering, and ou the contrary, the best rules and remedies designated for the 

 prevention and most careful treatment could not prevent them from dying. These are 

 sporadical cases. If the epidemic has existed for a length of time, the disease will 

 seem to become more mild, and a much larger jiroportion will recover, while the first 

 cases that occur will be very severe and will nearly all i)rove fatal. 



In my i.ractice as a veterinary sxu'geou I have tried many recommended remedies, 

 but without much success. 



I have ado}>ted the following rules: As a preventive, disinfection of the atmosphere 

 and the surrounding objects, and disinfectants for the free use of the aiumal. Protect 

 them from the hot-bed of manure and close sleeping-places, where they are huddled 

 together in great numbers; supply them with sufficient fresh straw for bedding in 

 dili'erent x^laccs, as far as possible from each other. Supply them with fresh water and 

 a succulent diet. 



When the disease exists the sick should be placed by themselves, and the healthy 

 ones taken to a fresh and disinfected place. Very sick hogs, without any hope of re- 

 covering, should be instantaneously taken from the herd, killed, the carcasses interred 

 very deep, and with quick-lime and sulphate of iron overstrewed, so that no noxious 

 emanation takes place. 



For disinfection of fecal matters of stables, pens, or other places giving rise to nox- 

 ious emanations, till up a bucket with a strong milk of lime, add about one-half pound 

 of sulphate of iron before separately dissolved in water, and sprinkle it upon the 

 l)laces Wiiich you intend to disinfect. 



For disinfection of siuTonnding ol>jecta, as stable-walla, tr(nighs, pen-rails, &c., take 

 a strong solution of chloride of lime (1 pound to VZ pounds water), and whitewash 

 Ili» objects. This operation devoloi)8 much chlorine, which destroys the contagion 

 and piuiiies the surrounding air. 



A specific remedy in general never will be fotmd; disinfectant, diaphoretic, sedative, 

 refrigerant, astringent, saline, cathartic, antiseptic, and antizyniotic agents, one or 

 more of them, according to the demand of each form and stage of the disease, are bene- 

 ficial. 



Of greater importance, and more useful than the medical treatment, is the preven- 

 tion of it. From the peculiar construction of .the larynx in hoga it is sometiniea not 

 possible to give nfcdiciue in form of a drench without their vomiting a part of it, or 

 dying from sufibcation ; beside, this isnot])racticable with a great number of animals, 

 and would hardlj- compensate lor the trouble and expense necessary to secure tlie life 



