DISEASES OF SWINE TREATMENT 253 



Symptoms. Some indications are loss of desire to eat ; fever ; great thirst ; 

 much distress ; diarrhea with feces showing red ; weakness ; and the mouth is 

 dry and hot. 



Treatment. Keep the pig on liquid food for a few days and apply water 

 and mustard to the belly each day. Any good cathartic can be given to move 

 the bowels and after the action ceases to be caustic a healing remedy like 

 olive oil should be given. 



Epilepsy. 



Overfeeding on rich food when the hogs are not receiving enough fresh 

 air and exercise ; exposure to changeable, stormy weather ; injuries ; faulty 

 circulation ; and other ailments cause thick blood or inflammation. 



Symptoms. First symptoms ; dullness ; hog is not inclined to move ; and 

 acts dull; blood-shot eyes; constipated bowels; and hard and quick pulse. 

 Later symptoms poor appetite; delirium (the hog runs about wildly, gen- 

 erally in a circle. He seems blind and runs into things. The breathing seems 

 rapid and laborious). 



Treatment. Remove the cause if possible. If the attack occurs in hot 

 weather put the hog in a cool shed. Move the hog's bowels by giving a dose 

 of from 2 to 3 ounces of epsom salts. Tincture of aconite in four drop doses 

 should be given every three hours. Caution: Do not give aconite if it makes 

 the animal vomit. Rub a strong liniment on the neck twice daily at the point 

 where the brain and spinal cord meet. Apply ice packs to the neck until the 

 pig improves. Another good remedy is to give a teaspoonful of calomel im- 

 mediately. Next slit the skin on the head clear to the bone above the eyes 

 and put salt and pepper in the opening. If this does not set up a counter 

 irritation, apply a strong liniment on the upper part of the head and around 

 the base of the ears. 



Erysipelas. 



This is a very frequent contagious disease of swine, and is known by the 

 inflammation of the skin and tissue adjoining. Wounds on the skin admit the 

 germs to the blood cells. People are very much affected by this disease. 



Symptoms. First symptoms : weakness ; dullness ; unsteady gait ; refusal 

 of food; rooting in bedding; often burying of head or whole body in straw; 

 lying down more than usual; changeable temperature; chills, with feverish 

 heat following ; fast pulse ; constipated ; excrements passed being dark colored 

 and hard; efforts to vomit in some cases. Later and more pronounced 

 symptoms; red spots on inside of legs, on abdomen, breast and neck; these 

 spots soon turn to swelling; small blisters on parts of swollen surface ; increas- 

 ing fever ; labored breathing ; later the hind quarters of the hog are paralyzed, 

 convulsions set in, and death results if the disease is allowed to run this far. 



Treatment. Open the bowels with salts or castor oil. Feed milk and 

 eggs. Rub parts with hot milk. Open the blisters and apply a solution of 1 

 teaspoonful of carbolic acid in 1 pint of water to them. Give the hog lots of 

 clear, fresh water. 



