THE HOG. 223 



The principal diseases to which swine are liable are : — ]. Fever; 2. 

 Leprosy; 3. Murrain ; 4. Measles; 5. Jaundice; 6. Foul skin; 1. Mange; 

 8. Staggers; 9. Cracklings; 10. "Ratille," or swelling of the spleen; 

 11. Indigestion, or surfeit; 12. Lethargy; 13. Heavings; 14. " Diar- 

 rhcea;" 15. Quinsy; 16. Tumors; 17. Catarrh. 



All which dangerous and often fatal maladies may be prevented from 

 occurring by the simple attention to cleanliness already recommended, 

 with judicious feeding. A hog can be relieved by bleeding, when such 

 an operation will effect relief, whether he like to submit or not ; but it 

 is very questionable whether he can be compelled to swallow medicines 

 without his perfect consent and concurrence; these, therefore, will best 

 be administered by stratagem, and the hog's aiypetite is the only assail- 

 able point he has. 



Fever. — The symptoms are, redness of the eyes, dryness and heat of 

 the nostrils, the lips, and the skin generally ; appetite gone, or very de- 

 fective, and the presence, usually, of a very violent thirst. Of course, 

 BO symptom can be regarded as individually indicative of the presence 

 of any particular disease ; these, which 1 have named, might, indi- 

 vidually, indicate the presence of many other disorders, nay, of no dis- 

 order at all, but collectively, they point to the presence of fever as 

 their origin. 



Let the animal, as soon as possible after the appearance of these 

 symptoms, be bled, by cutting the veins at the back of his ears. The 

 pressure of the finger raises the vein, and you can then puncture it with 

 a lancet. If the bleeding from this channel be not sufficiently copious, 

 you must cut off a portion of his tail ; and after bleeding let him be 

 warmly housed, but, at the same time, while protected from cold and 

 draughts, let the sty be well and thoroughly ventilated, and its inmate 

 supplied with a constant succession of fresh air. The bleeding will 

 usually be followed, in an hour or two, by such a return of appetite as 

 to induce the animal to eat a sufficient quantity of food to admit of 

 your making it the vehicle for administering such internal remedies as 

 may seem advisable. The best vehicle is bread steeped in broth. The 

 hog, however, sinks so rapidly, when once he loses his appetite that no 

 depletive medicines are in general necessary or suitable ; the fever will 

 usually be found to yield to the bleeding, and your only object need be 

 the support of the animal's strength, by small portions of nourishing 

 food, administered frequently. 



Do not, however, at any time suffer your patient to eat as much as 

 his inclination might prompt; the moment he appears to be no longer 

 ravenous^ remove the mess, and do not offer it again until after a lapse 

 of three or four hours. It is a singular fact, that as the hog surpasses 

 every other animal in the facility with which he acquires fat, he likewise 

 surpasses all others in the rapidity with which his strength becomes pros- 

 trated when once his appetite deserts him. The French veterinarian 

 practice recommends the addition of peppermint to the bread and broth. 

 If the animal be not disgusted by the smell, it may be added ; and if 

 the bowels be confined, the addition of castor and linseed oil^ in equal 

 quantities, and in the proportion of two to six ounces, according to the 

 size of the hog, should not be omitted. 



