500 HANDY-BOOK OP HUSBANDRY. 



" has little external covering to protect him against cold. Nature 

 "has provided this immediately vi^ithin the skin, in the deep layer of 

 " fat which surrounds the full, plump hog. Fat is one of the best 

 " non-conductors of heat, and the pig u^hich is well fed bids defi- 

 "ance to the intense cold, which would produce great suffering 

 "and consequent disease in the ill-conditioned animal. By the 

 " observance of a proper medium between too much fat or lean 

 '^ for the store or breeding swine, and providing them with com- 

 " fortable beds and proper feed, nearly all disease will be avoided. 



"• For cough and inflammation of the lungs^ bleeding should be 

 " immediately resorted to, after which give gentle purges of castor 

 " oil, or Epsom salts ; and this should be followed with a dose of 

 "antimonial powders — two grains, mixed with half a dram of niter. 



"For costiveness or loss of appetite, sulphur is an excellent 

 " remedy, given in a light mess. 



"• Itch may be cured by anointing with equal parts of lard and 

 " brimstone. Rubbing-posts, and a running stream to wallow in, 

 " are preventives. 



"The kidney worm is frequently fatal; and always produces 

 " weakness of the loins and hind legs, usually followed by entire 

 " prostration. A pig thus far gone is hardly worth the trouble of 

 *' recovering, even where practicable. 



" Preventives are, general thrift, a range in a good pasture, and 

 " a dose of half a pint of wood-ashes every week or fortnight in 

 *' their food. A small quantity of saltpeter, spirits of turpentine, 

 '* or tar, will effect the same object. When attacked, apply spir- 

 "its of turpentine to the loins, and administer calomel carefully; 

 " or give half a tablespoonful of copperas daily for one or two 

 " weeks. 



" Blind staggers is generally confined to pigs, and manifests 

 " Itself in foaming at the mouth, rearing on their hind legs, champ- 

 " ing and grinding their teeth, and apparent blindness. The 

 *' proper remedies are bleeding and purging freely, and these fre- 

 " quently fail. Many nostrums have been suggested, but few are 

 "of any utility. It is important to keep the issues on the inside 

 " of the fore-legs, just below the knee, thoroughly cleansed. 



